Moving to a new home is exciting. At the same time, however, it also can be quite stressful. There are a lot of details to take care of, and the moving costs can quickly add up. If you aren’t careful, you can wind up draining your bank account, with your moving expenses costing a lot more than you anticipated.
Fortunately, there are some ways to keep moving costs down. The tips below will teach you how to move on a budget so that you can optimize your spending on your next move.
1. De-clutter
The fewer belongings you have, the less it will cost you to move. Before moving day arrives, go through everything that you own and get rid of as much as you can as it will help you in estimating moving costs. Try not to overlook things. Instead, with each item, ask yourself whether or not it is worth paying to move it to your new home. Here are some ways that you can decide whether to keep, donate, or throw away various items:
– When was the last time that you used the item? If it has been six months or longer, you probably don’t need it.
– Is the item in good shape? Items that are dirty, broken, or worn out should be thrown away. It doesn’t make sense to pay a moving company to bring them to your new home.
– Could you replace the item for less than it would cost you to move? For instance, if you have a huge dining room table, it may be cheaper for you to sell your current table and buy a new one from a thrift store, consignment shop, or the classified ads after you get settled into your new place.
Make sure to get a donation receipt for any items that you donate. You can deduct charitable donations like these at tax time, which could help lower your tax bill.
2. Find Used Boxes And Packing Materials
Moving boxes are a lot more expensive than you might think. Instead of buying old boxes, try salvaging and repurposing them. If you order a lot of products online, you probably already have some boxes stashed away. You can also ask your friends or neighbors if they have any boxes you could use. Check with local stores, as well. Many of them will let you pick through their boxes so that you can take whatever you need. Another solution is renting reusable moving boxes in Los Angeles or any other city where there are services that offer affordable moving boxes. This will lead to a way less stressful experience.
Instead of buying bubble wrap or other expensive packing materials, try using pieces of clothing to wrap delicate items. You can also crumple up a newspaper or junk mail to provide extra cushioning for fragile items.
3. Pack And Unpack Your Boxes
Instead of paying the moving company to load items into boxes for you, pack the boxes on your own. Make it easier to get settled in your new place by carefully tracking which items are packed in the various boxes. An easy way to do this is by numbering the boxes. Then write down the box number along with a list of all of the items that are stored inside.
After each box is packed, write the name of the room where it belongs in your new home. For instance, if you pack a box full of dishes, write the word “kitchen” on the outside of it so that you know where to put it in your new place. This will make unpacking a lot faster, easier, and more efficient. Estimating moving costs can be a tricky job when weighing different packing and moving options.
4. Look Into Moving Containers
Instead of hiring a traditional moving company, consider looking into moving containers. With this option, a company drops a large storage container off at your home. You load all of your items into the container, securing them in place. Once the container is full, the company will then come to pick it up and move it to your new home.
Not only is this cheaper than hiring a moving company, but it also can be more convenient. Having the storage container on-site allows you to take your time when packing your belongings. This can take some major of the stress out of the move, giving you a little bit more breathing room in terms of how quickly you need to get things done.
As a bonus, the containers can act as storage units for extra items before or after your move. You can pay for these containers on a month-by-month basis, allowing you to take as much time as you need to get settled into your new place.
The downside to moving containers is that you have to do all of the heavy lifting yourself instead of having a relocation company do it for you. If you have some strong friends who can help, however, the effort is usually worthwhile from a cost standpoint.
5. Plan Your Move During The Right Time Of The Year
Most people move during the summer months. Moving companies typically take advantage of this by charging higher rates during the busiest months of the year. When winter rolls around, however, far fewer people are moving. As a result, moving companies tend to lower their prices. You save a lot of money if you can plan your move during the off-season.
Another thing to look into is moving during the middle of the week rather than on the weekend. Weekend rates are sometimes higher, which could wind up costing you extra money. If your schedule allows it, moving during the week is a good way to keep your expenses down.
Learning how to move on a budget can help you save a lot of money. A good place to start is by getting rid of anything that you don’t need before you move. Next, search for used boxes and get creative with your packing materials.
Packing your boxes can also wind up, saving you a lot of money. Compared to the cost of using a traditional moving company, renting a moving container is an affordable option. Finally, try scheduling your move during the off-season or during the middle of the week to lower your expenses.
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