Moving Cross Country

[SPC Maines]

Yo!

So over the past few months, I've been working to see if I could move somewhere else to work and not be stuck in Maine my entire life like it feels like every day. After searching I found a job that pays better in a place that has a cheaper cost of living, located in Washington state. So my question is, what advice would everyone have for someone like me with little debt and at the young age of 21 when moving cross country? All the advice/help would be appreciated!

Regards,
Maines

[MSG (Ret) Main]

Pay yourself. grab a savings account and contribute to it. it could be as little as $10-20 per week. I would recommend 10 % of your pay check if you cover your cost of living. You can use the money for a rainy day fund- car breaks down, or a big trip to somewhere awesome. You dont want to live pay check to pay check.

Pack light.

[SFC (Ret) M. Brewer]

Where to in Washington?  If I had to move somewhere the Seattle area is where I'd be.  I have family out South of Seattle and it's an awesome place to visit. 

[Karr]

If you are driving take a friend! If you do that make sure to plan the trip out so that it takes a few weeks. You will make some kick ass memories. Once you get there and get situation live cheap. Right now you have little in terms of bills and/or responsibilities so use this opportunity to get situated. Prioritize things (I.E. I can eat out this week or I can eat pb and j and then buy a lift pass to go snowboarding at the end of the month... go with the lift pbj and lift pass option). Now is the time to have fun but don't put your self in a bad situation that you will have to deal with later. Lastly, get a credit card and put your water bill on it, nothing else. Set it up for auto pay and then cut the card up or freeze it in a bag of water (so you have to think about using it before you can use it) Try your very hardest not to use it for anything but that water bill. Then pay it off at the end of every month. Build up your credit, it will help you in the long run.

[R. F. Nelson]

If you're asking about driving advice for such a distance, I have some tips (being that I used to drive 24+ hours straight between uni and home).

Find your "sweet spot" regarding the amount of time between driving and having some sort of a break. For myself, every three hours I'd find a gas station+rest stop, top off the tank, do the restroom goodness, and have a little walk. Bypass lots of coffee/energy drinks, as though they are yummy, over such a long haul they will turn your stomach (and your butt) into a hate machine.

Some people can drive 20+ hours and still be a little sane. It may sound silly, but if you're driving such a period of time without sleep, and excess caffeine, you may see weird things: taillights looking like faces, bushes on the road-side looking like children, etc. I've seen all these things and more, when driving such hauls, and it makes it rather unsafe. Should you feel out of your element, find a rest stop, and grab a nap pronto. Also too much caffeine and then a nap will make you crash (not your car, but maybe), and you'll look like a fool as you're driving in a shivering, chattering, shaking mess. You'll look dumb, and it's not safe. Don't do it.

Have good tunes. Lots of good tunes; singing tunes.

It's been mentioned already, but take your time with the trip. If you see a sign for Largest X In The State, go have a peek. All kinds of memorials and oddities you'll find just by driving interstates.

Your newfangled devices like GPS are nice and all, but learn how to read a road atlas (map). When you start getting into the mountains and valleys, such services can be spotty. So take a moment to know what interstate you'll be driving for 40 hours.

Speaking of interstates: bypass Chicago by all means necessary. Also Joliet. Traffic if those areas is a nightmare, and the drivers are stupid. On a map, if may take you longer in miles to go around, but the headache, hassle, and stress you'll save is worth it. This rule applies for pretty much any large city, especially if you're driving through during peak times (avoid doing this).

Adding onto that, your most likely interstate (which I suggest you keep to, they're well maintained) will be I-90. It's what I took when driving from Illinois to New Hampshire, and it's a Seattle to Boston route. Quite literally runs from one side of the country to the other, and you can't get lost. Eastern side of the country, I-90 has good facilities (or did when I drove it), and the road maintenance was quality.

Turn to Side B for Life Advice.

[Karr]

Speaking of interstates: bypass Chicago by all means necessary. Also Joliet. Traffic if those areas is a nightmare, and the drivers are stupid. On a map, if may take you longer in miles to go around, but the headache, hassle, and stress you'll save is worth it. This rule applies for pretty much any large city, especially if you're driving through during peak times (avoid doing this).

Adding onto that, your most likely interstate (which I suggest you keep to, they're well maintained) will be I-90. It's what I took when driving from Illinois to New Hampshire, and it's a Seattle to Boston route. Quite literally runs from one side of the country to the other, and you can't get lost. Eastern side of the country, I-90 has good facilities (or did when I drove it), and the road maintenance was quality.

Turn to Side B for Life Advice.

I am not sure where you are driving from but if you take a southern route avoid the entire state of Texas. Why you might ask? well it is miles and miles and miles of nothing with no change. You will feel like you are not making any progress which can make the trip a bad time haha. When going from state to state it is really rewarding to cross a state line but if you are going across Texas this reward will feel like it is never going to come.

[Bazarnicki]

I am not sure where you are driving from but if you take a southern route avoid the entire state of Texas. Why you might ask? well it is miles and miles and miles of nothing with no change. You will feel like you are not making any progress which can make the trip a bad time haha. When going from state to state it is really rewarding to cross a state line but if you are going across Texas this reward will feel like it is never going to come.

This is how I felt driving across North Dakota.

My advice for long driving is basically restating what Nelson said: Know your limit if you are driving the whole way. Driving while tired is said to be as bad if not worse than drunk driving, and driving while texting, because of a phenomenon called Microsleep. Don't be in a hurry, pull over, take a walk or a nap, and then continue on.

Something I have always done on long drives is, take a cooler. Get some ice, fill it like 1/2 to 1/4th full and get some drinks and snacks in there. Bottled water, gatorade, put some sandwiches in there, maybe a resealable bag of carrots or something. Might seem like a no brainer, but it always helped me.

Other then that, enjoy it. Road trips are a great way to see the sights.

[2LT Ridders]

I recently moved across Canada from Montreal to Calgary, so I have some recent experience.


In my case, I moved with two suit cases. The cost of shipping my stuff across the country was more than the amount it would cost to replace it with new items.


My suggestion is to draw up a budget. One for transporting your stuff another for replacing it once you've moved.

[Jameson]

I recently moved across Canada from Montreal to Calgary, so I have some recent experience.


In my case, I moved with two suit cases. The cost of shipping my stuff across the country was more than the amount it would cost to replace it with new items.


My suggestion is to draw up a budget. One for transporting your stuff another for replacing it once you've moved.

^ This
It will be far cheaper to sell the "normal" things and re-buy them at your new place. Only take items it will be hard to replace, heirlooms, ect.

Plan a daytime route so you can see what your driving through, and plot motels to sleep over the night. Depending on how much stuff, add in some places you've always wanted to see on the route, and make it a mini-vacation.

Ikea is your friend for the first year at a new place

[SGM (Ret) Shepard]

Where to in Washington?  If I had to move somewhere the Seattle area is where I'd be.  I have family out South of Seattle and it's an awesome place to visit.

You'll have a hard time affording to live anywhere to the East or North of Seattle, and the cost of actually living in Seattle is insanely high. If you have any questions about the Western Washington area, let me know Maines. Lived there for most of my life.

[SPC Maines]

Where to in Washington?  If I had to move somewhere the Seattle area is where I'd be.  I have family out South of Seattle and it's an awesome place to visit.

You'll have a hard time affording to live anywhere to the East or North of Seattle, and the cost of actually living in Seattle is insanely high. If you have any questions about the Western Washington area, let me know Maines. Lived there for most of my life.

Im actually moving just West of Seattle, in Bremerton, if the job permits. We've found that the cost of living is actually better then my town I live in now. But yeah, Ill get in contact with you at some point after I get accepted at the job (IF) to scout the area.

[SGM (Ret) Shepard]

Bremerton isn't a bad spot, as long as you don't mind riding the ferry across to Seattle.

[SPC Maines]

Bremerton isn't a bad spot, as long as you don't mind riding the ferry across to Seattle.

Was planning on it if I ever went into the city. Is it expensive? Take a long time?

[SFC (Ret) M. Brewer]

Bremerton is a nice area.  Close to Seattle and like an hour or a little more drive the Pacific Ocean and a few hours drive up into the mountains.  That's one of the things I love about that area.  Temperate winters, barely ever stays below freezing for too long.  Not going to be a winter like you're used to that's for sure!

[Ja.Pratt]

Set a date save up as much as you can and then just hop in the car and go. Only take what you can fit. Never look back :PS: Take a camera with you because you are going to need it