Remember when you went away to college, and there was a collection of your peers there waiting to help you and your parents move you into the dorms? They all wore matching shirts and were really enthusiastic in helping you schlep all your shit out of a car, into a big grey bin and into your room.
These people do not exist in your adult life. Your adult friends work, have families, and if you’re in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s+, most definitely have some sort of physical ailment. No one is interested in spending a previously free Saturday afternoon hauling your crap in and out of a truck/house.
Hire movers. It is that simple. Depending where you live, how far you’re moving and how much junk you own it will probably be at least $1000 dollars. There is no amount of pizza and beer that you can offer to your friends that equals the sweat, pain and annoying lifting and pivoting through your staircase…and did I mention taking up a free Saturday?
I think of it this way; if you can’t afford to leave a decent tip for a bartender, you should be drinking at home. If you can’t afford to drop some cash (or charge it!) on some movers, then you shouldn’t move. And if you’re really desperate, I’ll donate some money towards your movers, but I will not actually help you move.
This post is amazingly great. Well said! People need to realize that good friends are the ones that DO NOT ask their friends to help them move.
The only time it’s somewhat acceptable is if the person has barely any money and is in a tough jam, or is really young and doesn’t have much stuff (basically just a few things to move in a small dorm or apartment).
If you’re an adult, FORGET IT! Move your own shit. Hell, I don’t even want to move my own shit — and I don’t. What makes people think other people want to move theirs?
You’re an adult. You’re a big enough boy or girl to afford a huge down payment on a house, then you move yourself. End of story.
That doesn’t mean that other people aren’t helpful, or don’t want to be. It’s merely that the people moving need to acknowledge that adults have all kinds of things going on, busy lives, kids to keep up with, nagging injuries, issues they’re going through. They don’t have the time or strength to be doing this crap, and it’s RUDE to ask them.
Right on, man. I had this old friend ask for help with moving last week. The guy is in mid-thirties, trading up from a townhouse to a million dollar house. Has tons of crap and heavy furniture. I’m dealing with a critical illness, married and generally unwilling to waste my whole day on what is essentially free back breaking labor. What am I getting out of it? Some kind of injury and a beer,that’s what. Screw that guy. When I moved I hired movers and didn’t ask anyone for help.