Moving On a Budget? Tips for Saving Money When Moving

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on, it’s that moving can be an ordeal. There’s no getting around it. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, moving is time consuming and stressful, and more often than not it always costs more than you thought it would. However, there are ways to avoid busting the budget when you move. With a little planning, and a bit of do it yourself, you can make that big move and still have some money left in your bank account.

Prepare a Moving Plan and a Budget

The first thing to do when preparing to move house is to develop a definite plan, and set a budget accordingly. Now, many of your budgetary concerns will depend on how much of the moving and packing you do yourself, and whether or not you hire a professional moving company. Still, once you have a plan in place you can set a provisional budget that will help you avoid any sudden financial surprises that can add to the stress of moving house. To keep your moving costs under control, it is always best to do as much of the work yourself as is possible.

Lighten Your Load

Like it or not, we all tend to accumulate things we don’t really use or need. If you want to reduce your moving costs, take a clear eyed look at all of your household possessions, and consider what might be eliminated. Are there dinner services you never use? Do you have a room’s worth of old and battered furniture that you’ve never gotten around to junking? Now’s the time to get rid of those items that you never use, and that are only taking up space. Give them to charity, or have a yard sale. Remember, the less you move the more you’ll save.

Do It Yourself

One good rule of thumb for saving money when moving is to do as much of the work yourself as possible. Hiring a moving service to pack and ship everything in your home can be expensive, and by doing most of the work yourself you can save a considerable amount of money. Pack as much of your household yourself, and only leave the bulky items for the professional movers. Be sure to pack carefully, to reduce breakages and other damages that may cost you money in the long run.

Comparison Shop

Whether you’re renting a truck or hiring a moving service, it’s important to shop around and compare prices. A great tip to consider here is to plan your move for an “off day”. Moving companies get most of their business toward the end of the month, when people are vacating one rental property and moving to another. Plan your move accordingly, and look for discounts that are available at non-peak times. Be sure to also ask about discounts for multiple day rental, and any coupons or special offers that may be available.

There’s no getting around it, moving can be stressful and costly. But with a little forward planning, and the willingness to roll up your sleeves and do a bit of the work yourself, you can make that big move without breaking the bank.

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