Help! Starting a relocation from MN to AZ and can't think straight! If you have moved across country with kids and pets tell me how you did it!

I'm chasing my own tail. I'm trying to be tight and save money. A few details.
DH is going down first to secure a job. He is leaving this week, driving. He has a few interviews, and with his qualifications, it will be a matter of him choosing a company.
He will be in a hotel for a few nights, then renting a room in someone's home for awhile.
When he feels he is stable in his job, myself, 3 kids, 7 birds, geckos, and turtles will be joining him.
We will be in a rent to own situation.

I'm trying to find the best way to get everyone there safely, and ideas for transporting my pets, rehoming is not an option for me. We aren't sure if we should pay someone. They said it would run $2900 for a professional move. Or it will run about $1500 for us to do all the work. Gas not included. We have three cars. A boat. Four wheelers and a three bedroom home full of stuff. My head is spinning. I can't think straight.... I'm also scared of the uncertain. What if we spend all this money from our tax return to get Dh working and it fails for some reason? But if we stay here we are failing!! He get's laid off every winter! We are in a rut and stuck. We really want this to happen. Ugh, freaking out. Any input???

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Asked by Musicmom80 at 12:45 PM on Feb. 6, 2012 in Travel

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Well youre going to have to have omeone else drive with you. I've done two cross country moves by myself with kids and pets. It's not really hard you pick. You los, you drive. Keep your pets in cages.

Answer by Mrs_Harsh at 12:48 PM on Feb. 6, 2012
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Omg effing auto correct got all over me In that post

Answer by Mrs_Harsh at 12:49 PM on Feb. 6, 2012
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I'm just soooo overwhelmed. I'm wondering if I shouldn't start getting rid of stuff now. We wouldn't move until spring.

I'm thinking of having a friend come with me to drive, then giving them a one way flight home.

Comment by Musicmom80 (original poster) at 12:51 PM on Feb. 6, 2012
Credits: 78745 Level 36 Travel 101
You need to sell anything you won't need and put the money away,,I would drive a car out to visit and fly back,, I just got a one-way ticket on southwest off the internet for $100 one way to Orlando,, they have "web only" deals at the last minute, I think that you could consolidate everything into 1 large U-haul, and perhaps take the pets before you move your stuff,, our vet gave our kitty some kitty valium for the ride,, I also transported her seperate from the dog,, you might have to make a few trips, but I don't think you really need 3 cars, 4 wheelers, boat and etc,, I think you need to try and drive the birds straight through by yourself,, it should take about 15 hours so fun right? I am glad he is getting a new job, but the more you sell the more money you will have to get started on the right foot, good luck!

Answer by kimigogo at 12:53 PM on Feb. 6, 2012
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It was a nighmare for us. We moved from the west coast to the east coast. No kids, but we did have 2 BIG dogs. We rented and loaded a 28 foot Uhaul. Hubs drove the uhaul and I followed behind in the new car with the 2 big dogs. Before the end of the first day both dogs had puked in the new car, the uhaul was already showing signs of breaking down, and we were exhausted. If I had it all to do over again I would have seriously downsized in what I thought was important to bring, and then I would have hired professionals OR taken my brother up on his offer to hire him to drive the uhaul and at the end of the trip fly him home.
All I can say is GOOD LUCK.

Answer by meooma at 12:57 PM on Feb. 6, 2012
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Really weigh out what would cost you more to transport than it would cost you to just replace when you get there, and throw out what you truly don't need. For example, An old kitchen garbage can that you can replace with a newer, nicer one when you get there is NOT worth packing. Plastic cups and disposable glad "tupperware" probably isn't worth packing and taking either. Have a garage sale before you go to help offset the expense of replacing the things you decide aren't worth taking. I would try to get it down to 2 loads, and see if someone could watch the kids while you drive the first load. Take the pets first so DH can manage them and you have a few less living things to worry about during your second trip when you bring back the kids.

Good luck! It is definitely stressful!

Answer by Mom-2-3-Girlz at 1:12 PM on Feb. 6, 2012
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By the way. The birds are conures, so their cages are HUGE. We are talking 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide. I have two of them. Oye vey....lol

Comment by Musicmom80 (original poster) at 1:21 PM on Feb. 6, 2012
Credits: 78745 Level 36 Travel 101
Your DH will have to fly or drive back to help with the move.

When my oldest DD was only 11 months old (no other kids), we moved from NY to TX. We hired professional movers, it was really the only way. My ex had to work & I couldn't pack everything while caring for an infant. I flew to TX first with my DD & stayed at my aunt's house. My ex husband stayed while the movers packed. And, then drove from NY to TX with our 2 cats. We sold one our cars prior to the move.

Answer by 3libras at 2:35 PM on Feb. 6, 2012
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Can anyone in the family help drive vehicles?

This is kind of an aside, but there are always by-the-hour workers hanging around Home Depot here in Calif. Perhaps you could hire a couple of "strong arms" for the loading into a moving van.

Answer by tasches at 2:55 PM on Feb. 6, 2012
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We are relocating across country this summer. Very little of our stuff is worth the cost to bring it with us. We are selling almost everything and replacing it (over time) when we get there. We bought a small tow-behind RV and we are only bringing what fits in it. We've narrowed it down to our kitchenware, a couple of small appliances, our artwork and a few knickknacks and sentimental items, and 1 box each for the kids (of whatever they want to put in it) and 1 garbage bag per person of clothing.

We are only bringing one pet and it is a cat. He does not travel well, so we are leaving him with my folks for a couple of weeks and having him sedated and shipped after we've arrived. I would look into the cost of having the animals flown out vs. the cost and stress on them of packing them into a car.

Answer by riotgrrl at 3:11 PM on Feb. 6, 2012
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