In theory, moving to a new place signals a fresh chapter. But in reality, starting over often comes with steep, unanticipated costs—both financial and emotional. It not only involves investing in a deposit on a new home or rental, but it also involves unexpected maintenance, gas to pay for transportation to the new home, moving assistance, child support, and so much more. While Americans may move for various reasons — more affordable locations, family support, or simply to start anew — these costs can blindside them.
We surveyed 1,000 recent movers nationwide to explore how complex these changes are. Beyond receipts and rental trucks, respondents reported financial strain, planning missteps, lifestyle trade-offs, and stress levels that left many questioning whether they were truly prepared.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
▸ Over half of recent movers (54%) went over budget, with nearly 1 in 5 (18%) exceeding it by $1,000 or more.
▸ 42% of moving households said inflation and rising prices made their move more stressful, with 34% overpaying due to bidding wars, and 27% citing limited affordable housing options.
▸ Nearly 4 in 5 over-budget movers (77%) found their move stressful, compared to just 58% of under-budget movers.
▸ Only 20% of those moving described the experience as overwhelmingly positive, with stress, burnout (21%), conflict (14%), and isolation (12%) affecting many.
▸ Gen Z movers were most motivated by family (45%), while Millennials were most motivated by affordability (44%).
▸ 2 in 5 recent movers delayed their move due to rising prices, while others cited limited PTO, higher housing costs, or settling for less desirable options.
Budget Control and Emotional Well-Being
Out of all the stressors involved with moving, budgeting was one of the most significant. Our respondents corroborated this fact, as we found that people were more likely to feel less stressed if they were on top of their moving budget. Among those who went over budget, 77% described their move as stressful. In contrast, a smaller percentage (58%) of those who stayed under budget said the same.
Of our respondents, those who exceeded their budget often did so because of unexpected charges, such as truck rentals (39%), professional movers (28%), and utility setup fees (27%). These unplanned expenses added pressure to an already demanding process, likely contributing to the higher levels of reported stress.
How Closely Did Movers Stick to Their Budgets?
When moving, unexpected charges aren’t just a couple of dollars here and there. Many of our respondents blew hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over their budget when moving.
The most common outcome was going over budget by $500 or less. Nearly 20% of movers exceeded their budget by more than $1,000, while 16% came in under budget. About one in ten didn’t set a budget at all. When moving, costs can spiral, even if you have the strictest budget and the best intentions.
Financial Friction in the Housing Market
For many Americans, moving wasn’t just about packing boxes — it meant navigating a highly competitive and increasingly expensive housing market. According to a 2024 Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies report, the housing cost index has risen 47% since 2020, with an annual rate of 6.4%. While housing costs have cooled since the 2024 report was released (with a 2.1% inflation rate in 2025 according to Zillow estimates), our study found that respondents still encountered inflation and rising prices when moving, and 42% cited it as a stressor.
Because of these market dynamics, one in three movers (34%) said they overpaid due to bidding wars, while 27% struggled to find affordable housing options in the first place. Another 23% got outbid on their preferred home, forcing compromises on location, size, or timing.
These findings reflect just how tightly many people tie their personal financial stress to the national housing crunch. Even with all the best plans in place, external factors can very easily disrupt your well-planned move.
Economic Pressures Are Forcing People to Delay Relocation
For many Americans, the decision to move wasn’t just stressful — they had to postpone entirely. Four in ten movers (40%) said inflation or rising prices delayed their plans, while 34% couldn’t move at all due to higher mortgage rates. Others needed more time to save for moving costs (28%) or grappled with higher-than-expected rent (27%). While there is more housing inventory since 2019, interest rates are the highest they’ve been since 2007. To boot, many Americans’ paychecks aren’t rising at the rate housing costs are, which are quickly outpacing most movers’ budgets. Because movers have to account for these economic pressures, on top of moving costs, many Americans are postponing their moving plans until the waters clear.
However, economic pressures weren’t the only reason why Americans postponed their move. Work schedules also complicate timelines. One in four movers (25%) reported delaying their move because they couldn’t secure enough time off — a reminder that relocation isn’t just a financial decision, but a logistical one shaped by job flexibility and personal resources. For example, many Americans moved during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic due to the rise in remote work, thanks to the flexibility it offers. Now that many organizations have returned to at least a hybrid setting, moving rates have declined.
Necessity vs. Aspiration Movers
Every person has their reasons for moving. Maybe they’re moving to an apartment with a cheaper rate. Maybe they’re moving to a bigger home to make room for a new baby they’re welcoming into the family. Maybe they simply want a change of scenery. While these reasons may seem arbitrary, we found that they could predict the amount of stress and regret respondents would feel during the moving process. Overall, we found that those who moved out of necessity—typically for financial reasons or to downsize—reported higher levels of stress and regret than those moving for family proximity or lifestyle.
Over 77% of necessity-driven movers described their experience as stressful, compared to 70% of those with more aspirational motivations. Regret was also more common among this group: 38% wished they had started packing earlier, and 28% regretted not buying more new items after the move.
Financial pressure and emotional well-being are the most significant factors when assessing the success of a move, and they’re more closely related than anyone thinks. Going over budget increases stress, resulting in rushed decisions, leading to more overspending.
Dave Collins, GM of Marketplace at Storable.
There is a way out of this cycle. What we’re seeing is that those who fare best are the ones who control what they can control and plan for the rest.
This means planning for unexpected hiccups that inevitably blow your budget: renting a moving truck that’s too small and having to pay for upgrades or multiple trips, scrambling to find places to put furniture when moving dates don’t align, or realizing mid-move that you need to pare down.
Give yourself permission to move in stages and build in buffers, like extra time, off-site storage, to help ease the mental load by reducing time and space-induced stressors.
Generational Gaps in Stress and Regret
Regarding regret, we also found another demographic that was more likely to feel it than others: younger movers. Over half of Gen Z (52%) and millennials (55%) said they would set a more realistic budget if they had to do it again — the highest rates across all generations. Gen Z also led in regret over not decluttering more thoroughly (54%) and not starting to pack earlier (45%).
But for many, the impact extended beyond planning mistakes. Only 13% of Gen Z described the experience as overwhelmingly positive, while 17% reported feeling isolated or disconnected after their move — both the highest emotional tolls across age groups. Millennials expressed similar stressors, with 44% regretting not packing sooner and 42% taking time off work to manage the logistics — more than any other generation.
Older generations reported fewer regrets overall, though the differences were more gradual than stark. Among Gen X, 51% wished they’d budgeted more realistically, and 46% said they should have decluttered more. Boomers showed the lowest regret rates across all categories, but even they weren’t immune to hindsight — 45% wished they’d budgeted better, and 34% said they should have packed earlier.
Family Ties and Emotional Priorities
Family played a central role in why many chose to move. Among Gen Z respondents, 45% said their move was motivated by a desire to be closer to family—the highest rate of any age group. Millennials followed closely behind at 38%.
While family was a driving force, financial factors were also significant. Affordability was a top motivation for 44% of millennials and 41% of Gen Z. Both of these generations have other financial concerns as well. For instance, Generation Z has an average of $22,948 in student loan debt, while millennials have $40,438. As these generations share a majority of the spending power in America, movers will increasingly look to emotional and economic pressures before deciding to move.
Identity and Belonging Also Shape Where People Live
Younger Americans weren’t just moving for cheaper rent or better jobs. In our survey, 56% of Gen Z and 49% of Millennials said political or social alignment influenced where they chose to live. This may involve moving to more liberal states on either of the northeastern or Western coasts or more conservative, rural inland states. Either way, this influence to move is just behind affordability as the top motivator for relocation.
Still, other factors mattered to respondents. For example, 44% of Gen Z and 40% of Millennials cited job opportunity, while 39% and 43%, respectively, said lifestyle improvements were a reason.
Gen X and Boomers leaned in a different direction. Most moved to be closer to family, and just 15 percent of Boomers said political or social fit played a role at all.
Across all generations, 37% of Americans said political or social alignment influenced their decision to relocate. That isn’t the leading reason — but it’s not a fringe one either. As more people weigh cost alongside comfort and community, belonging has become part of the equation.
Storage as the Overlooked Planning Cost
For many movers, storage was not the most expensive line item, but it was one of the most overlooked. Across generations, a significant share admitted they regretted not budgeting or scheduling storage earlier in the process. This planning gap added to financial pressure and logistical stress during already complex transitions.
Setting a more realistic budget or decluttering were common regrets; storage stood out as a distinct oversight. Nearly two in five Gen Z and millennial movers wished they had accounted for storage earlier, noting how they underestimated the role it plays in a smooth, successful move. For baby boomers, the lower rate suggests experience or different moving circumstances may have reduced their reliance on storage.
Among those who used storage during their move, nine in ten recommended it to others. The top reasons included gaining more flexibility with timing (49%), avoiding rushed decisions (45%), keeping items they might later need (42%), and having extra time to secure more affordable housing (27%). Additionally, 20% said storage helped them stage or sell their previous home, as they were able to store enough of their clutter away.
Understand that you have options. Everyone is motivated to move for different reasons: family, job relocation, cost of housing, so do your research. If you don’t have to act in haste, don’t. But if you have no choice, research services that can support your moving needs within your planned budget, and give yourself a little extra padding.
Dave Collins, GM of Marketplace at Storable.
If your lease is ending but you haven’t found the perfect place, consider short-term storage rather than jumping into an overpriced rental out of desperation.
Downsizing and storing items temporarily can help you avoid the costly mistake of buying or renting a space that’s too large or too expensive just to fit everything. Storage costs dramatically less than other real estate square footage – so take advantage of that. Breathing room when it comes to time and finances will always help you make a smarter decision.
The Hidden Emotional and Lifestyle Costs of Moving
Moving isn’t just about boxes and budgets — it can upend routines, strain relationships, and reshape daily life. One in four movers (25%) said they lost a sense of routine or community, and 21% experienced stress, anxiety, or burnout during the process.
Many respondents also discussed other vulnerabilities they faced because of moving. Up to 15% said they had to trade their quality of life for a more affordable home, while 14% faced conflict with a partner or family member. Emotional disconnection was another common theme, as 12% reported feeling isolated after their move, and 10% struggled with leaving loved ones behind.
Only 20% of respondents described the experience as overwhelmingly positive — a reminder that for most, moving is more than a logistical challenge. It’s a life shift that impacts mental well-being, relationships, and emotional stability long after the boxes are unpacked.
How To Make the Next Move Easier
Most people didn’t move to chase a dream. They moved because they had to. Financial pressure, job changes, family needs, or housing shortages pushed them into fast decisions. Even those who planned ahead often found themselves stretched thin. The process wasn’t just expensive, but overwhelming.
Still, not every move was regrettable. Some people relocated for a better lifestyle, to be closer to family, or simply for a reset. But even for those with clear goals, the logistics took a toll. Movers who started earlier, gave themselves flexibility, and set realistic budgets were less likely to feel burned out. Their preparation helped them manage the stress.
Moving won’t stop being disruptive anytime soon. But the difference between chaos and control often came down to basic planning. When expectations match reality, people are better positioned to land on their feet.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults who had moved within the past three years. Responses were self-reported and grouped by generation to explore how different age groups approached moving, from stress levels to budgeting habits, and what motivated the move. All percentages have been rounded and may not total exactly 100%.
About SpareFoot
SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage solutions, helping people simplify life transitions with innovative, flexible options for managing space and costs.
Fair Use Statement
We conducted this research to shed light on the real costs of starting over. You’re welcome to share or reference our findings for non-commercial use, provided you credit SpareFoot and link back to this page.
Maggie Stankiewicz
Maggie is a writer and senior content manager who brings a decade of content expertise to the wonderful world of self storage. By day, she blends data and human-driven storytelling to craft content you'll actually want to read. By night, you can find her dissecting horror films or hiking trails with her dog in the foothills of North Carolina.
