How can i make moving from chicago to santa barbara, ca without a car easier?

Question

my boyfriend and i plan on putting a majority of our money together to move from the suburbs of chicago, to santa barbara, ca. unfortunately, he doesn't drive and i very highly doubt my car will make the trip. therefore, that leaves us with either the bus or train (flying is too costly). we plan on using public transit and biking to get around once in SB, but now we're faced with a new dilemma: how do we get our larger belongings like a couch, bed, etc, cross-country without a car?

if there is such a way, what would be some cheaper options, if any? or would we be just better off buying new furnishing once out there?

any help is majorly appreciated. i'm counting on you, guys! thanks in advance. :]

Answer 1

Rivardau has some excellent ideas for getting ready to move...Once you decide on what you can't live without, I highly recommend that you get a moving company to do the chore...I have moved twice between CA and GA with the same mover - United Van Lines (highly recommended)...They are bonded and insured and they know how to move anything you have...The cost is based on the estimated weight of your possessions and they will give you a quote before you decide...I can assure you that if you do it yourself, if will cost you more, not to mention loading and unloading your stuff...Check around and see what your best options might be.

All the best.

Answer 2

you could pay to move or store all the furniture and stuff, but why?

sell as much as you can here - furniture, kitchen stuff, bath stuff, etc, give away the rest of furniture and things to charity, shred/recycle all old papers/documents that you dont need, donate most of your books to your local libraries (decide on keeping 1 box of most important books), rip all your music cds into your computer hard drive and sell/donate the cds.

books are the most heaviest thing to move/ship, and invariably other libraries will have most books or they might even be online now.  so dont pay to move them.

then, whatever is left is small enough stuff to fit into boxes.  then you can either ship the boxes as package express with greyhound or amtrak, or you can send it via ups/fedex/usps/dhl/etc.  then buy your own tickets for amtrak or greyhound and off to californ-i-a !

ive done most of this, making the last cut this summer before moving to europe in december.  ive made hundreds $$$ from selling stuff, liberated myself by shredding my 1990's bank statements/etc that ive been paying to store, and trying to get my life into 10 boxes or less.  

once you move, you are going to want other stuff anyway, your chicago-stuff wont be the right decor in santa barbara.  to re-buy stuff on the cheap, find someone else who is moving/selling everything - it will be perfectly fine stuff, save money, and recycles things, and saves fuel consumption by not shipping stuff all over.

Answer 3

You do realize you are moving to a very expensive part of California where a lot of millionaires live?  And you are going there without money?  The best I can think of is try and get a medium sized Uhaul truck.  Either that or don't take any furniture with you, just live light til you have the money to start anew.  Good Luck on the move!!!

Answer 4

It will probably be cheaper to sell your furniture and buy new stuff once you get there.  

But there are plenty of moving companies.  Check the yellow pages.