5 frugal ways to make moving easier

One of the most important moving tools can be your calendar.

Gaylord has moved a few times himself, and he's coached clients for their moves. His advice is to prepare a calendar, then give yourself deadlines for packing various rooms in your home.

Don't be afraid to make alternative arrangements as you go, he says. For instance, once you pack up your kitchen, you will be dining out, grabbing fast food or gobbling no-cook food off paper plates until you get to your new home.

You can also use the "priority" box system, he says. As you pack each room, put items you'll need immediately (can you say, 1 pound of French roast and the coffee maker?) in one box. Then mark it with the room name and "priority" or something similar, says Gaylord.

If you want to go all Dan Brown, you can even use a funky symbol or code you devise yourself.