Moving is a stressful undertaking. It can be even more difficult when you are on a tight budget and have to find ways to save money while still getting the job done. This post will give five tips to help you get through your move without breaking the bank.
We all know moving can be expensive.
List of Costs Often Involved When Moving:
– Storage costs for your household items before, during, or after relocation
– Moving truck rental cost
– Gas cost for your car or a rental truck
– Cost of packing and moving supplies
– Cost of moving company
Fortunately, there are ways to keep the costs down. Here are some tips:
1. Pack and Move Only Necessary Items
It is important to get rid of clutter before you move, otherwise it will only add more stress and expense. When decluttering your home, remember:
1) Make sure to go through every single room and any storage areas in the house
2) Start with the easy stuff like clothes and toys
3) Don’t forget about closets and pantries
Declutter one area of your home at a time. Get the boxes and start sorting through what you have. If there’s anything you can donate, do it! If there’s anything you want to throw away, get a big garbage bag and toss it in the trash! Anything else that doesn’t belong in this room goes into a box and gets labeled for its journey out of your home.
Focus on decluttering one room at a time:
Living Room – go through all of your furniture and electronic appliances
Kitchen – go through all food and supplies
Bedroom – go through all clothes and toys
Garage – go through everything stored in your garage
Closets – clean out your closets of clothes you never wear
Rest of house – take a look at the entire house and see what still needs to be decluttered.
If you can, start with something that’s taking up a lot of space or is difficult to get rid of. Tackle the things that are easy to let go of last!
2. Sell or Donate
Once you’ve decided which items you can get rid of before moving, here are some ideas:
– Put anything you don’t need on Craigslist or have a yard sale
– Give some useful stuff in good condition to Goodwill or the Salvation Army
– Take good quality clothing, housewares, and furniture to your local donation center
3. Ask Friends for Help
If you’re moving with friends, ask them if they can help with some of the moving. It may be worth it to offer to pay them in advance for their time. This might be an easier way than relying on one person’s help all day long. Plus, it’s nice to have help when you’re on a tight budget.
If you aren’t moving with friends, find out if your family members can help. Friends and family are an awesome resource when it comes to saving money on a move. Ask them to drive their truck to save rental costs for a full-size truck.
Friends and family can also help out with moving by providing assistance with packing, hauling boxes, and helping load the truck. They’ll also be able to loan trucks or vans that you need to move stuff. You might also want to ask them to help clean before they leave. Friends can make it fun for you too by coming over for pizza and beer to pack boxes.
It’s always nice to have a helping hand when moving. Utilize the resources you have and ask for help!
4. Find Free Moving Supplies
If you’re on a tight budget, you might not be able to afford moving supplies. Luckily there are some ways that you can find free boxes and packing materials.
The first place to check is your local grocery store or food outlet. Many times they’ll provide their boxes for free as long as you bring your own supplies like tape and packing paper.
You can also contact your local food banks to see if they have any extra boxes, packing materials, and other items like tape and dish soap. Some shelters will also put aside extra boxes for people who need them.
Start by gathering everything that needs to go into the box: clothes, shoes, books, toys, dishes etc. Get into the habit of packing one room at a time. This will make the process go by quickly and you’ll be less likely to forget something important.
You’ll find lots of great resources just by searching for “free moving supplies” online. Check out these 3 websites for free moving boxes:
www.uship.com/local-movers-freesamples/
www.freecycle.org/
www.givedoorsawayfreebies/
5. Do an Off-Season Move
Moving during the off-season is a great way to save money. Moving during the off-season can save you up to 30% on your move! Here are some reasons why:
- Not as many people moving
- Less competition for available movers
- Movers will be more willing to negotiate rates and discounts for empty space on their trucks
- Security systems and inspections will be lower than busier periods so shipping costs and times will be less
Besides saving money, one of the other great things about moving during the off-season is that it’s less stressful. You’ll have more time to plan your move and there won’t be as much traffic on the roads leading up to your new location.
If you can, plan your move for the off-season. You’ll be glad that you did!
Here are a few more tips for a smooth, low-stress move:
Pack your essentials in a suitcase or duffle bag, so that you have everything you need for when you get to your new place. This includes clothes, toiletries, bedding, and any other important items. You don’t want to have to search for your toothbrush when you’re exhausted from moving all day!
- Label everything. This will make it easier to unpack and put away in your new place. It’ll also help if you have to move again in the future.
- Create a packing schedule and stick to it. This will help keep you organized and on track.
- Rent a storage unit if you need to. This will keep your belongings safe and dry until you can unpack them. It’s also helpful for storing items that won’t fit in the new place such as large furniture or appliances.
- When moving day arrives, it’s best if your home is as empty as possible so that all furniture is easily accessible when needed. The last thing you want when trying to move is to have to maneuver around piles of boxes.
- If you’re renting a truck, be sure to get one that’s big enough for your needs. You don’t want to have to keep making multiple trips back and forth, so think about how often you’ll need access to the truck during this time period
- Pack everything in boxes arranged by room or category to make it easier when unpacking at the new home.
Moving on a budget is certainly possible. Follow these tips for a successful move that won’t break your budget. Best wishes on your move!
We hope you found this blog post Five Tips For Moving on a Tight Budget useful. Be sure to check out our post Moving In Winters – A Small Guide To Help You Shift In The Cold for more great tips!
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