I have to admit…this economy makes me a little nervous. I can only imagine what it would feel like if I had to move in the middle of it. Yes, we are a moving company. And yes, we would love to move you – but right now, let’s just talk about ways you can keep moving from being so expensive.

This is just a little brainstorming session for Cheap Moving Tips – feel free to add to it if you’ve got ideas:

1. Do-it-yourself. If you’re able to pack your own stuff rather than hiring someone to do it for you, you’ll save a significant amount of money. Ask your friends and family to help - pizza and drinks cost a whole lot less than moving labor.

2. Have a garage sale. Read Jean’s post - it gives some great moving sale tips. Not only do you make a little extra money, you’ll also have less stuff to move – which should also lower your cost.

3. Pack a lunch. Fill up a cooler up with sandwich fixings, snacks, drinks etc. Eating out and buying convenience store snacks on the road can get expensive. Just think…if you’ve got a two day drive, you’ll probably stop to eat at least four times. If you’re moving a family, you’ll probably spend at least $20 on meals at each stop. That can add up fast! Now, factor in spending $10 on snacks and drinks at every bathroom break and you’ve probably added another $40. There’s definitely room to save.

4. Discount hotel rates. Plan ahead. If you’ve got more than a one day drive and you know what city you’ll be stopping in, use a website like priceline.com to bid on hotel rates – this is a great way to save! Just pick the number of “stars” you want the hotel to be, and the area you want to be in and name your price. Just to give you an idea – I recently bid $60 on a hotel that was normally $179/night, and got it!

5. Drive economically. Although gas prices are dropping (yay!), there are still ways you can save. Did you know that traveling at 55 mph can give you up to 21% better gas mileage when compared to speed limits of 65-70 mph? Also, travelling at fast speeds in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed. Check out these thrifty gas saving tips.

6. Use ABF U-Pack. OK, so I can’t end this without a plug for U-Pack. If you’re moving long-distance, I think you’ll find that it’s a cheap moving solution. The price is comparable to truck rental -especially considering the cost for fuel, tax and insurance when you rent a truck. Your U-Pack price includes the fuel and the driver and sales tax doesn’t apply.

I know choosing a moving company is a big deal. Read customer reviews at epinions.com. People really like U-Pack.