Hiring Movers, Looking for Rentals

Time is running out and we're exploring our options. The "flexbox" (pod-like boxes) option seems to be too pricey right now, so we might as well hire movers, so we don't have to do all the packing ourselves, only of boxes. Problem is, you know we're broke and the university that has hired K does not pay for our moving expenses -- they're only going to provide us with a thousand dollars.

We've also put the plan of buying a house on indefinite hold and are looking at rentals in VA. We were thinking that since many moving companies seem to offer one month of storage free, we might wait to rent only in June, after the closing. That way we'd have some wiggle room if the other university invites K for an interview. (It's been three weeks and we haven't heard anything back -- maybe the search has been brought to a close without them hiring). However, K just got off the phone after talking to several movers and it looks like we may have to rent right away and get moved in soon after the closing because the monthly storage is not "free" after all. :-(

If we do use movers it'll be a "first" in our lives. Every time we move (and there have been five moves in the past 14 years) we say to ourselves that "next time we're hiring movers" and that never happens.* Maybe the first time is here! (gotta try to look at the bright side). Too bad it's so expensive.

*We didn't qualify for relocation when K got the job at big pharma b/c we lived less than 50 miles from there. He did get a fat bonus, but we ended up doing it all ourselves once more (with Flexbox) to save $. Ah... the thriftiness that seeps into one's very bones is here for life!