You can save money when moving by packing and moving items yourself. You can also find ways to cut costs by shopping for packing supplies at discounted stores and getting free moving boxes instead of purchasing them. It also pays off to declutter your belongings prior to starting the moving process. Remember, the fewer items you have, the fewer packing supplies you have to buy, and you can rent a smaller moving truck or container, too.

Renting a moving truck is often the cheapest way to move long-distance, with costs ranging from $1,000 to $2,100. For smaller moves with fewer items, a moving container can cost as little as $700. As the distance of your move increases, using moving pods or containers can become more cost-effective because you can ship them to your destination and avoid transportation costs like gas, mileage, and lodging.

It’s best to pack things that are in storage and non-essential items first. Start by packing up items you are taking from your storage unit, garage or shed, basement, and attic. You should wait to pack essential items such as toiletries and medications last.

Start by removing any obstacles in the moving path, such as side tables, lamps, or other furniture. If your couch has legs, unscrew them. Measure the couch and the stairway to ensure you have enough room; if it seems unlikely, examine the shape and size of the couch and decide whether it might fit better up the stairway and through doorways on its side, held diagonally, or moved in an upright position.

Consider putting the sofa on a dolly to go up the stairs. It should be able to fit upright on a standard dolly with wheels. You’ll still need to lift the dolly—with the couch on it—up the stairs, but it will reduce the physical strain. The person holding the dolly should pull the couch up, while the helper should be on the other side, keeping the couch secure and steady.

If you don’t have a dolly, the person in front should lift the couch slightly higher than the person in the back to create more stability. The person in the back should also be the stronger mover, as most of the weight will be distributed there.