Whether you’re going to college or moving to a new state, everyone has to move out of their parents’ house eventually. Deciding on what’s worth bringing can depend on the scenario, but one thing’s for certain: it is healthier and more cost effective to toss out or flat-out replace a lot of major mainstays.

It’s no secret that you can save on moving costs by making smart decisions when packing. To know for sure, it may be helpful to compare the costs between renting a moving van, hiring movers, or moving with old-fashioned manpower.

Of all the changes you are going to be thinking about in your new home, you have to focus on what’s right in front of you. When moving out, there’s a lot of things to think about before you find local movers. Think about the distance — are you moving across the country, or are you moving a few hours away?

If you’re moving to a new state in a new time zone, it may cut costs to leave a lot of stuff behind or dispose of things you aren’t using. If you realize that the reason you want to bring along certain items for sentimental reasons, it may mean that you should leave them with your parents to keep in your old room.

Otherwise, it may be tempting to bring the essentials with you like your bed and desk, but it may actually be costly for you to do so. All of the big ticket items need to have this thought process. Is it critically necessary to bring a bed that’s old and sunken in? Can you risk damaging your current desk or wardrobe, or even buy a desk that’s cheaper than your current desk?

If you’ve decided they aren’t necessary, there are other options for you to make it worth your while. Sell off or recycle some of your old stuff so you don’t have to move it. If you already had a moving budget, the money you would have spent on moving costs can now be spent on furniture. It can even be used for travel budget while you table the rest of your moving day needs.

The perk of this is that before you get to move into an apartment, you can begin envisioning how you want it to look. Consider going to furniture stores that offer attractive, collapsible bedroom and living room objects of all the items you plan to replace.

It’s important to think about these things — these large objects are the kinds of items that require a moving van. Things like clothes and other smaller items can be packed into suitcases. Even if you leave all of your favorite furniture in a dated bedroom for now, it’s still important to itemize your bedroom and think critically about what to do with what’s left. Pick what you pack carefully so you’re conservative with your time, space and money.

Moving vans can be pretty spacious, but certain objects can be cumbersome to pack into the truck.  For example, mattresses, box springs, and bed frames, which don’t fit neatly into any moving company boxes, may save you time and energy by leaving behind or tossing out.

If you are moving just a few hours away from your parents’ house, moving is a lot easier. A new city is a lot less of a commitment and you can take all of your stuff in shifts. Parents may offer to help, but if you’re moving more than a few hours, you may need to look at other ways to move.