Weddingbee boards

FH and I are planning to move to the Newark, New Jersey area in July or August of this year, after our June wedding, for me to attend graduate school at Rutgers. Currently, we live in the Austin, Texas area with my mom in my childhood home (FH and I both grew up in this area and parents still live here). We've both lived on our own and with other people (including each other) in dorms and apartments before, but we moved to my mom's house to save money during our final year of college.

Also - I've never lived anywhere besides my mom's house, FH's parent's house, my dorm, and 3 different apartments within a 5-mile area. FH went away to college for the first 2 years before moving home (parents declared bankruptcy and he dropped out for a while to get a job and help them), so he's lived out-of-state before (LSU in Baton Rouge).

So... the idea of moving across the country, 2000 miles away, is thrilling and frightening all at the same time. I've been trying to think of all the financial things we're going to have to take care of with the move, and what to prepare for once we have moved.

I know we're going to have to take care of:

- renting and returning U-Haul with car hitch

- lodging, food, and gas during the move (lodging where we don't have friends to stay with)

- security deposit for apartment and utilities

- monthly bills: health, car, and renters insurance, cell phone, rent, utilities, mass transit passes, groceries, ... others??

- eventually, NJ drivers license and car registration

And before we move up there:

- Find an apartment... we're actively emailing complexes we're seeing online, and I'm going to take a trip up there in May to see places and hopefully pick one (mom and bro might join me... I also have a lot of family in the area)

- Look for jobs... He's looking to teach K-12 music and I'm hoping to find a position at Rutgers (or... if I must... a crappy part-time job at a mall or something, like I have now)

Am I missing anything? What else should we be planning for, financially or otherwise? I've never done anything like this before, so even though I feel like I'm well-prepared, I still have my doubts.

Thanks!!

@crayfish:  I haven't priced out what a moving company would cost because we really don't have too much stuff, especially living in other people's homes for the past year, so we're just renting a small truck and moving into a studio or 1/1 apt. My sister moved to Iowa a couple years ago with her family and used a U-Haul, so I figured it was the way to go. I'll look into what a moving company would cost.

Luckily for us, we shouldn't have to pay too much for hotel stays on the road. I've mapped it out and we have good friends to stay with in New Orleans LA, Auburn AL, Asheville NC, Norfolk VA, Newark DE.... all the way along what we've deemed 'the low road' (not the most direct route to New Jersey - swings through the south).

Thanks for the advice! 

@MissAsB:  We're both in school to be teachers and we're willing to move to wherever we can find jobs, so hopefully we won't be stuck in retail forever! :)

Just a small thing with U-Haul or do-it-yourself type moves that often gets lost -- you'll want to elect the temporary insurance for the vehicle, if not your belongings. Those trucks are, like, $30,000!! Professional movers may even require/offer it but I know U-Haul and Penske are around $70-$90 if I remember correctly (have done several cross state and country moves).

It may not be fun, but sleeping in the moving van might be worth it. I've moved all but once by myself so I learned to park in a well-lit spot and obviously lock the doors. Since there will be two of you, one could drive while the other sleeps. Driving a big truck with a car trailing isn't as intimidating as it first might seem (I think I did my first one when I was 20 and went through some of the most mountainous terrain in the US). Yeah, you'll be tired but you'll be going on adrenaline/excitement long enough to perk you up to move your stuff in.

Pack snacks you can eat or a small cooler with simple picnic type foods.

Obviously, gas is gonna kill you alone but the sleeping/eating thing is something I've learned to do to save hundreds of dollars.

Oh, and be sure to leave at least one roll of toilet paper, hand soap, paper towels, personal care toiletries (shampoo, toothbrush, etc), bath towels, and a set of sheets to your bed. I usually put all of this stuff in one bag or even a laundry basket in the front seat of the car (since you're towing, you'll have very easy access to it and obviously won't take up any space in the van cabin).

Once you get everything moved in, I can 99.9% guarantee you that all you're gonna wanna do is order some pizza or get something quick to eat, take a shower, and go to bed. Having this stuff right ready to go (make bed/take shower while you're waiting for the pizza, lol) will make your world a million times easier!

If it's available in Austin, look into shipping your stuff on Amtrak.  It's way cheaper than shipping boxes and probably cheaper than renting a U-haul.  You can send boxes of stuff including bikes but no furniture.