Moving is a fun new chapter in your life, but it’s also one that has a lot of costs attached to it. When you factor in all the expenses to make your move successful, you’ll realize that there are so many things that want a cut of your wallet—movers, trucks, packing supplies, among others. There are also last-minute expenses, like replacing cleaning supplies you’ve now run out of or technicians for your electricity and utilities. All these could make your move feel like a big headache.
If you aren’t ready for the expenses, all you’ll have is a super hard time and frustration when the budget seems to get too tight. While the costs are a part of moving, you don’t have to go over budget. To enjoy a smoother move, here are some ways you can have more control over your expenses and save:
1. Plan Ahead
Like any other endeavor, you can’t go wrong with advanced planning. When you don’t plan, chances are, you’re going to spend so much more than what you initially intended to. Planning your move months in advance can keep you on track with your expenses. It also gives you more leeway to find cheaper options and researches more if you find some suppliers too expensive.
The earlier you plan, the fewer mistakes you’re going to commit. Remember, for big endeavors, mistakes can oftentimes mean added costs. When you do your research, be sure to go into detail with asking for sample quotations from dependable movers. You need to know how much each mover charges for the items you’re going to move with you. This is the best way you can be sure that you’re paying for the most competitive rates.
2. Look For Free Boxes
Why pay for packing boxes when you could score some for free? If you hit up some local businesses like supermarkets, they may have some boxes they’ll be willing to give out for free. This trick is also very useful if you’re looking for specific boxes. For instance, your local malls or department stores might have boxes of different sizes so you can better fit odd-shaped items.
Here are other ideas that’ll come in handy when packing your items:
Local wine shops may have wine boxes with dividers, which is great for packing your glasses, vases, and other fragile items.
Bookstores will also have thicker boxes for books, which you can use for your heavier things.
You take a huge chunk off your expenses when you no longer have to pay for the boxes, as you may have thought you still needed to do so.
3. Move During The Off Season
The summer months are usually the busiest for movers, simply because everyone seems to be moving. This is also when the rates of moving companies might be more expensive. So if you aren’t pressed for time to move during summer, it’s best to do an out-of-season move.
During the slower months, moving companies usually drop their rates, just to keep the business rolling. So you can take advantage of those months for more generous rates to lower your bill significantly.
4. Use What You Have
Using what you have essentially means being a tad bit more creative with your packing strategy. Go around your home and make use of boxes and containers you already have. Doing so can also reduce your need to use more packing supplies. You can get your move started on the right track when you slowly do the packing yourself and then send those items ahead to your new address.
For instance, if you have a lot of plastic boxes, drawers, suitcases, and other bags; you can fill these up with clothes and other non valuables you don’t mind sending over by ordinary freight. Do you want to save on bubble wrap? Towels and blankets can also be a good alternative so you won’t have to buy as much.
5. Throw, Donate, Or Sell Items You Don’t Need
You don’t need to bring everything with you to your new home. If there are items you’ve identified as not useful, then you could do a major purge. You can throw out, donate, sell, or even give these items to your family and friends.
The fewer things you bring with you, the lower you’ll be charged in your final bill.
Conclusion
With the clever tips here, you’ll have more control over your expenses and make your move stress free. Moving is inherently expensive, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be smart about it and keep the bills more manageable and in control.
Always start with advanced planning. The earlier you start preparing for your move, the more control you can have. This means you don’t have to panic and settle for exorbitant fees, just to get the move done. If you’re moving soon, start your planning today so all you’ll need to worry about is the big day itself.