How To Cheat On A Dity Move

Every military family has thought about doing a Personally Procured Motility (PPM) or DITY move at some point along the mode. Was it the time the screws to the crib were lost, or you lot had to sleep on the air mattress for the 14th night in a row?  For our family unit, it was when just one-half of our HHG arrived at the new duty station. We had a dining room table with no chairs, an office chair without a desk, and box springs sans the mattress. Information technology took another two weeks to go the effect resolved. Two weeks! And later on hearing PCS horror stories from other war machine families, we realized how lucky we were!

We vowed to do a full DITY motion (now known equally a personally procured move or PPM) the next time. Information technology went so well we have never looked back. Here are our tips to maximize preparation time and minimize move time.

Prepare for a DITY motility: collect boxes

Summer isn't the only time military families PCS. If you lot know orders are coming in the side by side twelvemonth, information technology's helpful to start collecting complimentary supplies sooner rather than subsequently. We all come across the posts on the local spouse pages advertising costless boxes, so go pick them up! Mattress and wardrobe boxes are the best. If you get "surprise orders," y'all can still put out a PSA on the same pages and come across if anyone has whatsoever boxes left over that they are willing to unload. Liquor stores take lots of boxes they will let you accept off their hands, and they frequently come with dividers in the wine boxes. Can we say makeshift dish packs? Y'all can besides check the Exchange or Commissary to run into if they accept leftover broken down boxes nigh their loading dock. Gathering your own packing supplies tin hateful major savings on your PPM!

Go organized

Dedicate a space in your house where you can put all the packed up boxes. A garage is an fantabulous option if yous take one! Pack up one room at a time, starting with the least used room, and work astern towards the kitchen, which volition probably go packed in the last days before the move. It's as well a skilful opportunity to donate any items y'all haven't used for an extended catamenia. Military families don't jump make clean; we PCS make clean! Characterization the boxes with the items inside and their destination at the new firm. (i.eastward. "Christmas Decor- Storage Room" or "Books and Awards-Function") Stack your boxes in your defended infinite every bit y'all go.

Getting to your new duty station

You take a few options here and can determine what works best for your situation. Some families choose to use a service similar U-Pack and accept their HHG shipped for them. This is a great option! If you want to booty the load yourself, Penske and U-Haul offer military discounts. We propose renting a dolly and some moving blankets with your truck. Your larger furniture items are ameliorate off covered, and the dolly is a lifesaver on moving solar day. You can also elect to tow your car behind the truck. The inside of the automobile being towed doubles every bit storage and tin be packed with last-infinitesimal boxes, suitcases, or even houseplants. The DoD typically just covers mileage reimbursement for ane vehicle during CONUS moves, and no shipping fees for extra vehicles, so you lot will accept to determine every bit a family who is driving cars or moving truck to the side by side location.

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Loading day for your DITY move

Have your boxes neatly organized in the garage then y'all can back the POD or moving truck correct up to it. It will have less fourth dimension to load with everything organized and a few anxiety away. Ask your friends for a solid 3 hours of their time to help elevator and load. Heavy appliances should be loaded offset, confronting the truck'southward back wall, and evenly distributed rather than all on one side of the truck. Heavier and sturdier boxes should go along the bottom of a row, with the lightest or almost fragile boxes near the elevation so they won't get crushed. Try to pack your truck into sections going all the style upwardly to the roof. Every 5-10 anxiety, secure the section either using tall pieces of furniture, mattresses, a tarp, and/or bungee cords. This will aid prevent things from shifting or falling while you drive, and volition allow you to maximize your space in the truck.

After the truck is packed, feed your friends as a thank you lot. Also, brand sure to put a good lock on the back of the truck to prevent anyone from breaking in. Information technology is pitiful to say, but a packed truck is sometimes besides tempting for some.

Travel smart

The truck is loaded, the house is cleaned, and all things not in the truck are packed into the car being towed, or a secondary vehicle. If yous are as OCD as we are, you accept mapped out your road to be a door-to-door military machine movement!

Things to consider when traveling include: the speed governor on many moving trucks doesn't allow the truck to travel much over 60 mph, then it'll be a nice steady bulldoze. Traveling with kids can be a challenge, then make sure to discover fast food restaurants with indoor playgrounds. Terminate at parks along the way for some much-needed time outside of the car. If it's an option along your route, hotels on military machine bases add extra security, which is a consideration since your entire life is in the moving truck. Many hotel chains offer armed services discounts, and pets stay for free at La Quinta. Don't forget that kids eat free at many places. Sure, yous get a daily per diem, but free meals are a peachy way to save money on food!

Unload and relax!

Y'all've traveled smart and have arrived at your new duty station! Since you probably don't know a ton of people nonetheless, y'all could look into hiring some hourly movers to aid unload. Maybe you'll stop upwardly with neighbors who come over and offer to aid with the heavy article of furniture similar we did! Your boxes are clearly labeled with where to put them, and then it'll be easy to offload. Now you lot tin unpack at your speed and not take to worry about what is missing or broken.

File all receipts

All branches, except the Navy, are encouraged to employ the Government Travel Card for PCS expenses. We recommend still filing abroad the receipts for proof of purchase or in example of whatever discrepancies with finance or transportation. If you have a service member like mine, an After Action Report (AAR) will be in order to see how nosotros can do better and maximize our money next fourth dimension.

Treat yo cocky!

Once y'all get the reimbursement for the motility and per diem, exercise something fun as a family as a reward. Military moving is hard piece of work, and you deserve to gloat your accomplishment. Put some money in savings or peradventure replace the 1 item that you broke along the way. The heaven is the limit with your extra cash!

Moving your entire home by yourself is not easy, only you CAN practice it. If you love to command every aspect of everything, you might even relish the process!

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Source: https://www.pcsgrades.com/cms/blog/dity-move-tips

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