Moving is one of the most stressful activities you can go through in your life. It involves hiring movers, days of packing, and security deposits, not to mention the actual move. The expenses incurred add to the stress.
The good news is that there are cheaper alternatives that you could consider. A move means you are given a chance to start a new, but you don’t need to spend a lot of money on it. What follows are some tips to save on moving costs.
- Prepare for the Move
You need to do proper planning before moving and be proactive. Planning will ensure that the move goes smoothly, and you stay within your budget. You also need to prepare yourself physically and emotionally for the event. You should create a checklist of things to do so that you can stay calm during the process.
Before you move, you should determine your moving budget. Look into your savings account and find out how much you can spend. Your budget should include hiring movers and packaging supplies. You should also add in the expenses for your new home, including supplies, groceries, and repairs.
If you don’t have enough savings for the move, but you can’t postpone it, consider taking out a personal loan. You can get one and pay it off with your next paycheck. A $5000 personal loan can help remove some stresses in what a tremendously difficult ordeal can be.
- Get Rid of Unwanted Things
Moving will make you realize that you own many things that have become irrelevant, useless, or obsolete over the years. You might have books that you will never reread in the future. You can donate them to a charity or a library. Consider shipping books that you want to keep instead of paying movers to pack and haul them.
Your old CDs and DVDs will have become dust collectors over time. You can easily listen to music through iTunes or other online music providers. You can also watch TV shows and movies on Netflix or Amazon. You don’t need to keep those DVDs that will only take up space and cost you extra money to move.
The kitchen is another room in the house that collected a lot of unnecessary stuff over the years. You might have dishes, utensils, or appliances that you haven’t used for a long time. You can also get rid of the collection of mugs that you don’t use. They don’t need to go with you.
By getting rid of unwanted stuff, you save money on the move. You also save space in your new home. If you have time before moving you can sell your unwanted stuff and can put the money toward your moving expenses. If you don’t have the time, then you can just donate, give away, trash, or recycle it.
- Look for Cheap Packing Materials
You will need packing tapes, many boxes, and other packaging materials for the move. There are institutions that offer used boxes for a cheap price—or even free. You can also try asking liquor stores and groceries for used boxes.
Another way to save money is by using available items as packaging materials. Pillows, clothes, crumpled-up newspaper, and zip-top bags can substitute for packaging materials. You can use food storage containers for small items.
Use newspaper, not bought tissue paper, to wrap glasses, plates, and other fragile items. For white items, use a plastic grocery bag first before wrapping in the newspaper in order to prevent stains. If you don’t have any newspapers, you can use soft clothing and towels for your fragile items.
- Search for Affordable Movers
When you are on a budget, you might be tempted to do it on your own. However, this will be more expensive, difficult, and risky than hiring the services of a moving company, especially if your new home is far from your present location.
Movers are reliable and less likely to damage your property. They will also fit into your budget if you use movers them for the heavy stuff, while you will carry the other things in their truck. You can also save a great deal of money by packing your things up yourself.
To find the right moving company, you should request estimates from at least three different companies. That way you can compare quotes based on rates, services, and terms.
Before signing anything, you should ask if there are any additional fees. Some companies charge extra for disassembling and assembling furniture and moving things from the second floor, just to name a few possible additional costs. You should also ask about promos and deals, as well as available discounts for students or military members.
It is better to employ the services of a flat=rate mover. That way, you know that there will be no price increases or unexpected additional charges. You will only pay the price that they gave you before the process.
- Choose the Right Time
The time you choose for the event can affect the price. The peak season for moving is summer, and the busiest times are at the end of the month and weekends. If you want to get lower rates, consider moving during the week or in the middle of the month.
The off-season is in winter and fall. Most movers offer deals during those months. You can save as much as thirty percent on movers’ rates.
- Optimize Shut-Down Dates of Utilities
If utility companies don’t prorate your bills, consider ending their services, early so you don’t pay for an extra month. However, you can’t do this with water and electricity. Some utilities you can cut early are phone lines and cable.
- Stay Organized
While it is hard to stay organized during a move, you should strive to do so. You should label all boxes with the room name—either the room they came from or the room they’re going to— when packing. Another great idea is to tape bolts, washers, and screws to the bottom of furniture. Before the day of your travel, plan the arrangement of your furniture. That way, you can settle into your new home faster.
These are things to consider that would make your move cheaper and filled with less stress. Planning will make a huge difference between a smooth transition and a long, difficult and expensive moment in your life. Do yourself a favor and follow these tips to make the move on a low budget.