If like me you are on a budget as in the past or fixed income, which is my present situation.  You are not able to move the way you want but the way you can afford and must.  When doing a long distance or for that matter any move, you must detach from sentiment and materialism. Once the move is done try NOT to replace and start rebuilding unnecessary stuff.

First, I find it necessary to get in a state of mental calm. Answer some honest questions for yourself. Why do I feel I need or want all these things? Usually they make the home look nice, are comforting to you and have some sort of sentimental value. None of those reasons are good enough when moving on a budget or in my case disabled fixed income. Decide what you truly use and need and set it separate from the rest. Then choose what is necessary for your living style (I am a reader and have books so I need my book cases or units). Even here I made cut backs and prioritized. Only books I had not read and my first editions were kept. That eliminated books and storage for them.

Go through the small items as well. You will be surprised at the number of boxes and totes full of things you do not even remember or worse broken and you intended to fix one day, you will find. Let it go!!!!  I found I had over 100 boxes and totes by myself plus furnishings, ridiculous. In my defense I am a writer and artist so much of this can be substantiated but if it is not your case let it go. Had I not had the need for these things they would have been let go of too.  Even with that I have gone through and am donating as well as selling much.

Then there are things we refuse to let go of. Fine, but limit them and be choosy as to which you will take this stand on or you will take it all with you, lol. Which defeats the whole purpose of this lesson.

The loading and unloading help. Find friends you can trust to use care and caution with your things. See if they will accept a meal and liquid refreshment as payment, most will gladly.

Now if you are like me and drive a truck you could opt to pull a large enclosed trailer.  This is about the cheapest route and with real good packing you would be shocked what they can hold.  I used this means previously and between my truck and the trailer I moved all the furnishings and accessories of a 2 bedroom apt including dining table, chairs and a love seat living room suit.  However, the rental truck or pod service is available to look into if you desire.  We did the pod service for our daughter, you get a fantastic rate if you can wait until they have a delivery in the vicinity of your destination.  This worked for my daughter going but not returning.

What is boils down to is be savvy and handle the move like it was a business undertaking and not something personal.  If you were moving your company you would not take the old computers that are stacked in a storage closet.  Nor would the heavy old files with hundred year old never touched documents go.  At the very least you would carefully sort through to be certain nothing of IMPORTANCE was in there.  Take it from a moving pro.  You will be the better for it in the end.  Good luck and have a safe trip!!