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When you opt for house moving, neglecting the financial aspect of a move is often a huge mistake. This is especially true if you are moving on a budget.
If you are a bit tight regarding finances but need to move, trying to cut down on moving expenses is a smart and logical move.
Still, the question begs to be answered: How can you possibly cut down the costs of such a chaotic and potentially stressful event?
Well, opting for affordable packing services is an excellent way to ensure that you save a few dollars but get all of your possessions to the new location safe and sound.
Apart from that, there are several great tips for moving that can help you lessen the financial burden of this process, and in this blog entry, we’ll explore all these possibilities.
Cutting down moving expenses the smart way
Plan out your budget ahead
Planning out your moving expenses is probably the smartest thing you can do to save on the entire process. As such, make sure to create a relocation budget. This will guide you when you are distributing your money on different services and tasks, giving you more insight into where you actually stand in the entire process and money-wise.
Such an approach can give you more control over your overall spending and will also make expanding the budget less of a problem (naturally, if needed).
Carefully plan the timing as well
Learning about great packing tips for moving is only one aspect when it comes to saving up money. To optimize the entire moving process as it is, you should also carefully choose the best moving date.
If you book everything early in advance, the moving company might give you a discount, and if you book an arrangement out of peak-moving season, you might be able to get 20-30% off of regular moving rates.
Organize your time
Time management is another essential factor you should consider when it comes to valuable tips for moving.
Create a detailed moving calendar enabling you to fully utilize your free time that you can use to pack some of your things and perform other moving-related tasks.
This way, you won’t be unprepared on moving day, which may result in unplanned expenses.
Research the moving companies
Some say that cutting down moving expenses starts with finding a moving company that offers the lowest rates. Honestly, this is easier said than done, but if you do your research correctly, then you will surely find reliable movers to handle the job.
Doing your research is paramount. You should ask for recommendations, browse different companies online, ask for quotes, make comparisons, and then opt for the company that offers the best services within your budget.
Going with the least expensive option might cost you more than you think. We’re not saying that cheap moving companies are unreliable, but if the movers lack the experience and don’t handle your things with the care they deserve, relocation may become even more chaotic and costly.
De-clutter to move less stuff
When you are moving on a budget, one of the smartest things you can do is to take with you only the things that you will surely use. This way, you will have less overall shipment weight, translating into lower costs.
So, make the best of what you’re not using anymore. De-clutter, give unwanted items away to charity, host a garage sale – there are several options, but the point is to cut down the number of things needed to be packed and shipped.
If you opt for selling your things, you will also make money during the process, helping you expand your budget, at least a bit. If you’re not a fan of garage sales, you can always opt for selling your unwanted stuff on specialized websites like Craigslist or eBay.
Free moving boxes
It might come as a surprise, but buying cardboard boxes to pack up all your belongings can add up pretty quickly and can be surprisingly expensive. Still, if you are able to find free moving boxes, you can save a pretty massive chunk of money.
If you have friends who’ve also moved recently, consider getting second-hand boxes from them, or ask a couple of local businesses who must recycle all of the boxes and don’t need them.
Save on packing materials
Apart from using free moving boxes, you can also opt to substitute at least some of the moving supplies with things you have at home.
Trash cans, buckets, suitcases, baskets, drawers, blankets, bed sheets, socks, and towels can all make fine cushioning and wrapping materials. While they might not be fully-fledged, high-quality options, they can do the job quite well if you are moving on a budget.
Why not pack by yourself?
Even if you are comparing the cheapest moving companies, you can save quite a bit if you handle the lion’s share of packing on your own.
Sure, precious and expensive should be left for professional packers, but there are probably a metric ton of things that you can pack yourself. If you make a day of it and invite a few good friends, you can save a lot of money, no matter whether the relocation’s local or cross-country.
Consider a DIY move
As professional movers, we don’t really recommend this, but it can work if you are moving on a budget and that budget is really tight.
Ask your family and friends to help you with everything and get a right-sized moving vehicle. Take only the necessary household items to your new location. Minimize any potential risk for damage – then a DIY move can be a feasible move.
Explore every option
Cheap moving companies and free moving boxes are only some of the things that can help you when finances are tight and you need to move.
For example, if you are moving because of work, then asking the company whether they are willing to pay a specific amount to aid you in the moving process can be a great idea. In some cases, you’ll get a relocation package that will cover all of the costs.
On the other hand, if you are moving because of work and your new job is located farther than 50 miles from your new house, then you might be able to get a tax deduction for transportation, packing, and storage costs.
You can still move on a budget
Moving isn’t a cheap and smooth endeavor; there’s no arguing about that. However, when you plan on time, and intelligently, you can eliminate the lion’s share of unnecessary stress, and you can also reduce the expenses of the process.
If you want to learn more about saving tips for moving, feel free to reach out to us, and we’ll see what we can work out.
