In May, I graduated from a university in Michigan and immediately got my first post-grad job in New York City. Since I am a broke college grad, I needed to find the most cost-effective way to move to the city. Initially, I flew with my cat and some basics with plans to fly back to Michigan later and then drive a moving van to the city. 

I changed my mind when I looked at the costs associated with my original plan of flying and driving. 

If I were to fly to Michigan from New York, a one-way ticket would cost about $200. Then, renting a moving van, including the necessary insurance, would cost $1,131.17. While that includes gas, the truck rental and the plane ticket combined would cost me $1,331.17. 

That doesn’t include the money I would spend on food while traveling and the time I would need to take off of work, unpaid, since I can’t take paid time off for my first six months at the company. Not to mention I didn’t even think my belongings were worth that much. I didn’t have anything that I was especially attached to or that was worth a lot of money.