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Moving long distance doesn't have to be a pain. There I said it. I know you are shaking your head and maybe you even think I have lost my mind, but it honestly doesn't have to cause you too much trouble. If you do it right that is!

A few months ago my husband and I, along with our four children, embarked on a 3500 mile move across the country. Being internet savvy, I searched high and low for moving tips and ideas to make sure everything went smoothly. It didn't, of course, but it was not as bad as it could have been had I not prepared myself and the rest of the family beforehand.

DE-CLUTTER
The first thing you should do when you are moving long distance is to cut down on your belongings. If you are moving by moving truck, you are most likely paying per pound. Let me tell you from experience, 3200 pounds looks a lot smaller packed up then it really is. Make sure you only take what you need. Have a yard sale or donate the items you aren't taking to a homeless shelter. It not only cuts down on your moving cost, it helps you to figure out what you have been keeping for years that you can really do without.

ADDRESSES
Get all the addresses you can. I grabbed a cheap day planner from the dollar store and started adding every address and number I figured I would need. Doctors, schools, previous employers and of course our friends. Then I duplicated it all into my regular address book so I would have two copies in case one was lost in the move. It's easier to have too many contacts then to have to search for the one you need later and not be able to find it.

AT YOUR JOB
Make sure you tie up any lose ends at your job and give them your forwarding address for tax purposes. Take your closest co-workers out for a lunch before you go and have a few laughs. Let them know your new address and email address so they keep in touch. Get references and anything you need to take to your new job before your last day of work. You may very well be thrown a good bye party and important papers may get lost in the shuffle.

DRIVERS LICENSE AND INSURANCE
Check with your state or province as to how long you have before you need to change your drivers license. Some places allow you between 3 and 6 months, other places want you to change immediately if it's a permanent move. Also you may need a drivers abstract from your last insurance company to give to the new company if there are any discounts for safe driving.

FRIENDS
A neat way to make sure your friends keep in touch is to take a picture of you

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