The simplest way to move is to hire professionals to pack up your household and drive away. If you do this, ask several moving companies to come to your home and give you cost estimates. The estimates are generally not binding, but some movers will give binding estimates guaranteed to be your final cost.

Although you will know exactly what your moving costs will be, the binding estimate could actually be higher than the cost based on the weight of your possessions. If, however, your goods end up weighing more than the mover estimates, the mover cannot charge you more.

Packing materials can add quite a bit to the cost of moving. Whether the movers are doing your packing or you are doing it yourself, try to get used boxes from the moving company -- they should cost you about half as much as new. Or visit your local grocery store -- it may have free boxes for the taking.

Even when you use a professional mover, there are ways to cut expenses. If possible, avoid the peak summer season. Minimize accessory charges -- hooking up appliances and moving heavy furniture up more than one flight of stairs. Also, do as much of the packing as you can (leave expensive and fragile items to the movers for insurance reasons) and don't take expendable items.