The past week has been rather hectic for our household. We just got back from our honeymoon and now we’re moving into a new house on the other side of town, and our wedding reception is only 3 weeks away. I think I might be going just a little bit insane.

One thing about moving is that there are always predictable costs that begin to add up rather quickly. You can always anticipate the money for beer and pizza to reward the friends who have helped you schlep your stuff. Then there’s the rental fee for the moving truck and the money to return it with a full tank of gas. You may have been able to scrounge up boxes by borrowing them from friends and hitting up your neighborhood liquor stores. But eventually, you’re going to have to cave in and buy some boxes, plus endless rolls of packing tape. And if you’re a renter, don’t forget that you’re going to need cleaning supplies to make sure that your old residence is clean enough to get your security deposit returned. Good grief, this move is getting expensive!

You should always expect the unexpected, though. So far, I have had to replace a can opener, an office chair, dish soap, and a garbage can. I’m sure I’ll find other things that managed to get lost in transit. Things inevitably get lost or broken during a move. But how do you lose a whole chair?

In the process of unpacking and realizing that I can’t find things, I started to wonder: how much money should you budget towards the unexpected when you’re calculating the cost of a move? And if you’re deducting your moving expenses on your taxes, what counts as a legitimate moving expense as far as the IRS is concerned? Will Uncle Sam pick up my beer tab?

What’s been your experience with moving? How much money do you think you spend on odds and ends? And is there really any way to avoid getting nickled and dimed in the processed?