How to get out of helping your friends move

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1
   Step 1

   Tell your friends no

   This is, by far, the most important step. It’s also the hardest. There’s an inherent anxiety in saying no to people we care about. But here’s the deal: if you don’t want to help your friend move, or maybe you physically can’t help them move, and yet you still find yourself carrying their 80-pound dresser up three flights of stairs on a Saturday morning, then you failed at this crucial step. Setting boundaries is a beautiful thing. It allows you to spend your weekends as you choose, not sweating through a shirt you planned on wearing again. A simple, “I can’t help you move” is direct, honest, and effective.

   Will they like hearing it? Probably not. But the sooner you get comfortable saying no, the more free weekends you’ll have.

2. 2
   Step 2

   Tell them no but be nice about it

   If a flat-out no feels too harsh, there’s always the more diplomatic approach: the art of the excuse. This method allows you to gracefully bow out of moving duty without making it seem like you’re just sitting at home eating nachos and watching Netflix (even if you are).

   A few solid excuses:

   • “I have a family thing that weekend.” (Vague, but effective.)

   • “I’ll be out of town visiting [insert name of distant relative you haven’t seen in years].”
   • “I threw out my back last week—doctor says no heavy lifting for a while.” (Add a slight wince when you say this for effect.)

   • “I already made plans.” (Even if those plans involve absolutely nothing.)

   Now, an important rule when crafting your excuse: make sure it’s believable. If you don’t have a dog, don’t say you have to take your dog to the vet. If you don’t have a car, don’t say you’re driving cross-country. Keep it simple, keep it realistic, and above all, commit to the bit.

3. 3
   Step 3

   Be ok with your friend hating your guts

   Let’s be real: at some point, you have to accept that your friend might be upset. Maybe they think you owe them because they helped you move five years ago. Maybe they’re just stressed and looking for all the free labor they can get. Either way, this is where the guilt creeps in.

   You’re imagining them shouting, “I can’t believe you won’t help me! I was there for you when you moved out of your ex’s place! I even carried your mattress down those impossible stairs!” And you know what? That might be true. But here’s another truth: you are not legally obligated to return the favor.

   A real friend will understand that you have your own priorities. Maybe you show up for your friends in other ways—like cooking them dinner when they’re stressed, sending them funny memes to cheer them up, or simply being the person they can talk to. Friendship isn’t measured in how many couches you’ve carried. If they genuinely can’t get over it, then maybe they were more interested in a free mover than a friend. And that’s on them, not you.

4. 4
   Step 4

   Suggest that they call TWO MEN AND A TRUCK instead

   At the end of the day, moving is literally a job for professionals. Movers don’t just take away the stress of carrying heavy furniture all day—they also take away the stress of awkwardly telling your friend no. Instead of pretending you’re busy or accepting your fate as a human dolly, why not just offer a better solution?

   “Hey, I know moving is a nightmare. Why not hire professionals to handle it? TWO MEN AND A TRUCK can do the heavy lifting, and you won’t have to bribe them with pizza and beer.”

   Not only does this get you off the hook, but it also actually helps your friend in a meaningful way. No struggling to carry a fridge up the stairs. No worrying about renting a truck. Just smooth, stress-free moving.

   Stop Losing Friends Over Moving Day. Call the Pros.

   You don’t owe anyone a Saturday full of heavy lifting. Be smart—send your friend a link to TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and let them do the work. No stress, no awkward excuses, no busted backs. Just pros who actually want to move couches.

   Real friends don’t make friends move. They make friends call movers.