Moving Sacramento to Washington DC (ABF, upack, truck, cheap)

[sfgirl101]

I will be moving from Sacramento, CA to a suburb of Washington, DC (in MD) within the next 3 months. I have a small studio apartment out here and will be moving back home. I need a cheap method of doing so. My father is a bit on the older side, and I'm a girl in my twenties, so we'll need help loading a truck (and therefore don't think ABF is a good choice for me). Ideally, I'd like to get all my clothes (I have a lot) and a small bookshelf worth of books, as well as my queen size bed, small sofa and a small bedside table. If that is not possible, just my clothes, small belongings and the books. Any inexpensive alternatives to conventional moving that would actually help with the loading process?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by sfgirl101

I will be moving from Sacramento, CA to a suburb of Washington, DC...
I have a small studio apartment (which can't possibly hold much stuff)

...inexpensive alternatives to...

Sell or give away EVERYTHING that won't fit into a box.
Sell or give away what will fit but isn't a family heirloom or is otherwise irreplaceable.
Leave those things with Mom & Dad in CA.

Drive east with your car packed full of clothes and books (or mail those boxes).
When you get to DC start replacing your other used but OK "stuff"...
someone elses used but OK stuff.

[reed303]

If the ABF U-pack ReloCube would otherwise work for your actual shipping, ABF can recommend helpers for loading or unloading at either or both ends of the move.

See their webpage re Moving Help here:
http://www.upack.com/packload/packload.asp

Otherwise, like MrR said, sell or give away everything that is replaceable on the other end.