When you or your partner are on active duty, moving is unavoidable. The fact is, military couples and families have to move—a lot. It’s a part of this life. When you’ve moved multiple times within a few years and can only anticipate more Permanent Change of Stations in your future, learning all the ins-and-outs of moving can mean the difference between a stressful mess and relocation perfection. So, what do you do when your PCS ends up being not-so-permanent?

Once you make the decision to conduct a DITY/PPM move, you may not know where to start. This may be the first time you have conducted a move on your own. No worries—we have some great tips and resources to help you along the way.

Almost all military families can agree on one thing: PCS orders are a pain in the butt. Whether your kids are just learning to walk or already learning to drive, there’s never a “good” time to uproot your family and move clear across the country, but it’s a sacrifice military families make every year.

Thankfully, the PPM (Personally Procured Move or DITY Move) program is a convenient and affordable option for military families looking to make the move on their own terms. Interestingly enough, the cost of hiring a quality moving company for a cross-country PPM move is often similar to what you’d pay if you rented a truck and made the trip yourself. Of course, the challenge is finding a company ahead of time that not only fits your budget, but can also guarantee that your belongings will arrive safely and on time.