How to Save Money on a Move

It’s no secret – moving can be a huge expense. On top of all the stressors associated with moving, the costs can be the biggest headache. Beyond the actual price of the new home you are buying or renting, the costs of new items for your house and supplies to pack and prepare can quickly add up. Moving cheap can seem like an impossible challenge, but with some money-saving tips, it becomes more than possible! Looking for steps for how to move on a budget? We have just what you need. Keep reading, and discover our six top tips!

How to Save Money on a Move?

• Declutter first

For any move, it’s in your best interest to declutter for a variety of reasons. Not only does a declutter save you plenty of time and energy when it comes to packing and moving your items, but it also can be effective in cutting costs. No matter if you’re renting a moving truck and driving it yourself or if you’re working with a moving company, you will find that decreasing the number of items you’re bringing will help to lower your expenses.

As you sort through your belongings, you’ll want to divide them into four separate categories: donate, sell, trash, and keep. If you’re able to maximize items you choose to sell, even better – you will not only cut costs but also make a little bit of money back. Like-new clothes and furniture in good condition are wonderful candidates for being sold at a worthwhile price. You can even opt for a garage sale to get rid of plenty of items at one time! This is a simple and effective way to make some money back for your move.

You may also want to enlist the help of a loved one to help you get rid of items effectively. We all form sentimental attachments to items that prevent us from letting go, but it can be counterproductive to keep too many belongings for these reasons. Having someone there to balance you out in these situations can be extremely useful and rid you of some of the stress involved with decluttering. Once you’ve gotten rid of a good amount of items, you will need to invest much less in supplies and moving companies.

• Consider furniture costs

Another aspect of your decluttering process should involve making decisions about the cost of moving your furniture. Understandably, furniture takes up a lot of space in a moving truck. As you go through your relocation, it’s recommended to disassemble furniture as much as possible in order to make it easier to transport. Despite this, sometimes, it’s easier to simply leave these larger items behind to save money on a moving service or truck. This requires a bit of calculation and some careful decision-making. It’s best to ask yourself if you want to keep these items or if you see them eventually being replaced in your new home. It’s also important to see how much money you would save by buying new furniture at your destination instead. If you would actually end up losing money in the long run, you don’t need to opt for this alternative – but it’s definitely good to consider.

• Create a budget

While moving day steadily approaches, you will benefit greatly from having a budget to refer to. As previously mentioned, moving can require a lot of funds, and that’s not always easy to allocate. Being realistic with your income, your savings, and the amount you’ll need to spend during this process is crucial to avoid financial problems in your move. To properly prepare for the next few months, you’ll want to take the time to create a well-planned budget. Knowing what finances to expect will help lots, and you can then allow for any emergency items that may pop up.

• Source your supplies

For your move, you will need materials such as boxes, packing tape, permanent markers, bubble wrap, packing paper, moving blankets, and potentially other things depending on your own individual circumstances. It’s also important to make sure you’ll have an adequate amount of all these supplies so you can properly pack all of your items. However, the prices of these supplies can certainly add up. What can you do to move on a budget while still having all the materials you require

Source these items for free wherever you can, rather than spending your money on them. Instead of buying boxes from a moving service, see what boxes you have around your house or in your garage from any packages you’ve received over time. Alternatively, you can go to local businesses and see if they would be willing to part with any boxes. Oftentimes, this is a great way to get high-quality boxes for free. You can acquire some of the other supplies by seeing what you or your loved ones have around the house. Items like permanent markers and packing tape are often laying around already, saving you money on buying them at the store.

You can even repurpose what you already own. Things like blankets, towels and thick articles of clothing can be repurposed to act as a substitute for bubble wrap. If you wrap these materials around fragile items or nestle them in between, it can offer them plenty of protection from any movement in transit. Plus, you’d be packing those things anyway, so you end up saving space. Additionally, items such as newspapers can be used as a replacement for packing paper, serving the exact same purpose but allowing you to recycle what you already have in the house.

• Compare moving estimates

As you search for affordable movers to invest in, it’s wise to weigh your options and ensure you’re receiving the best deal possible. Start by looking for reputable moving companies in your area, and always take a good look through their reviews to rule out any poorly reviewed services. Taking the extra time to do this can decrease your risks and increase the likelihood that you spend your money on an excellent company. Once you’ve gone through your different options, you can then reach out to a few companies and receive quotes. Getting quotes from a few places will be helpful to see what a reasonable cost is for your needs. Once you do this, you can move forward with the most affordable option.

• Handle subscriptions and utilities

One final step to decrease costs in your moving process is to take care of your utilities and other subscriptions with ample time before moving day. You’ll want to alert your utility companies – such as gas, electric, and water – about your upcoming termination of service. Doing this ahead of time will guarantee that you don’t incur any unforeseen fees, plus it will take something off of your to-do list. Another thing to consider around the time of your move is any additional subscriptions you may have. Canceling local subscriptions, like gym memberships, is important to remember, as you will no longer need them unless you are moving locally.

Cut costs during your upcoming move!

Moving cheap doesn’t need to feel out of your reach. With our tips, you’re on your way to a simple and affordable move. Interested in finding a reliable moving company that won’t break the bank? Find out what Hollander Moving & Storage Co. can do for you. Our reliable moving experts and tailored moving services offer exactly what you need when you need it. Request a quote today!