Moving can be expensive. It can also be a daunting task to plan on your own when you don’t have much money. In this blog post, we are going to show you some tips and tricks that will help make your move far more affordable than it otherwise would.
1) Get Rid of your Clutter Before Moving Day
It’s tempting to take everything with you, but this isn’t necessary or even feasible with a limited budget, so get up and load up the donation truck! A cluttered home is bad enough; a cluttered moving truck will only drive up costs.
2) Move During off-peak Times
If you’re able to be flexible with your move-out date, it’s a great opportunity to save. Moving during the summer months – from May through September – is usually pricier than moving in the wintertime or early spring/late fall. Plus, most movers will charge more for a weekend move than for one during the week. So if you can, try to avoid moving out on weekends and national holidays as those are typically when prices are higher. Planning ahead means taking advantage of savings!
3) Stock Up on Inexpensive Moving Items
Finding things such as tape, bubble wrap, sharpies for labelling, and other items is really easy if you make a trip to the dollar store! This will help you get the items you need to start packing your stuff up for cheaper. Also remember that there are many places that you can get boxes for free from! Make a few calls in your area to find places that recycle boxes and give them away for little to no cost.
Scout around your home and you’ll be surprised by the variety of packing materials already at your disposal! From suitcases to briefcases, shopping bags to garbage bags (yes, even those!), hampers, baskets, plastic bins and dresser drawers can all make great containers when it’s time to move. Utilizing what you already own is a great way to get started on the packing process.
4) Ask for Possible Discounts
If you can plan your move during off-peak times, contact the moving company and ask for a discount. If there is no such discount offered, try talking the price down and see how low the company will go. Sometimes they will offer better prices if you pay cash or if there is no time limit put on your move.
5) Ask Your Friends for Help
Don’t let the financial burden of moving overwhelm you – recruit your friends and family to lend a helping hand! If possible, give them plenty of advance notice so they can fit it into their own schedules. Remember to be specific about what kind of assistance you need and offer something in return if you’re lucky enough to get help from someone with a pickup truck.
Make sure your pals know that helping out doesn’t have to be a drag – provide snacks, drinks, and turn up some good tunes for a fun atmosphere. Moving on a budget isn’t always easy but with the right people around it can become an enjoyable experience!
6) Consider Hiring Movers
Hiring professional movers can be very costly, but it may be your only option if you don’t have any friends or family that are willing to help. To save money, try connecting with local movers who will do the work for cheaper than other national companies.
Bottom Line
Moving can be a daunting task, but with the help of these tips and tricks we hope that you find it a little easier to save money during the process of your big move.
