If you have hired a moving truck and movers to handle the bulk of your items and will be driving separately or you are forgoing the typical moving experience and bringing only the essentials, there are several ways to save space for a cross-country move. Reducing the amount of items that you bring will help relieve some of the stress involved with moving and ensure that you will not be too cramped during the drive.

Transfer Photos to an External Hard Drive

Photographs of family, friends, and vacations can all be very important to you, but they can take up a lot of room if they are printed out physically. An easy way to get your photographs all organized and keep them safe during the move is by transferring everything to a hard drive. An external hard drive can easily be kept with you and will eliminate the need for bringing along a large box of photos.

Ship Some Items Ahead of Time

An easy way to increase the amount of space you have in your vehicle is by getting some boxes out of the way. To do this, all you need to do is ship a few boxes to your home ahead of time. Books, DVDs, and even computer disks can all be sent through media mail, allowing you to save money on shipping and get everything transferred to your new home.

Use Compressed Bags for Clothes and Linens

Clothing, bed sheets, and towels can take up a lot of room in your car, whether they are packed into boxes or stuffed into bags. Saving space with these items is as easy as using a compressed bag. Unlike vacuum bags, compressed bags just need to be rolled up and can reduce the amount of room these items take up considerably.

Keep Pets in a Secure Carrier

If you are going to be traveling with any pets, it may be tempting to leave them loose in your car to save space that would otherwise be taken up by a carrier. This can be both dangerous for you and your pet since they will be unprotected in the event of a car accident or can escape the car during break stops. Keeping them in a secure carrier will help make it easier on your pet during the entire move.

Moving across the country is a big transition in life, making it important to plan ahead of time. By figuring out how to save space and get your items organized neatly inside, you can drive more comfortably during the move.