Most people move between the months of May and September. If you want to save money on your move, you can do it during the off-season, rent your own moving truck, and minimize what you move by selling or tossing unneeded belongings. If you are moving to another state, don’t forget to research cheap auto insurance, since your current policy may not move with you if the company is not licensed in your new state. Here are some other tips on how to make a smart move threemovers.com local movers support.
Let it Go
Moving is the ideal time to figure out what you want to keep and what you want to toss. Chances are high that you own a lot of ‘stuff’ that isn’t useful anymore. You can’t move what you don’t have, and moving fewer items will cost you less not just in dollars but also in physical and mental effort.
- Have a yard sale to sell items and make money that can go toward the move.
- If you have time before the move, consider placing items on a sale platform like Facebook Marketplace.
- Donate items to a charity.
- Sell or donate heavy, cheap furniture that will be costly and awkward to move.
- In the weeks leading up to the move, use up the items in your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. You’ll save money by not purchasing any additional food during this time period and you will have less to move.
- Consider donating the food that is left to a food bank. Again, what you don’t have to move you’ll save money on and you can start fresh with food stocking in your new home.
Packing It Up
The second element of moving holds a lot of room for cost savings. It might be a bit overwhelming, to move an entire house full of items, but when you’re consistent and organized, you’ll find yourself ready to go in no time.
- Start as early as possible. The more time you give yourself to pack things up and donate or sell items (and therefore don’t have to pack up) the fewer expenses you will have. Waiting until the last minute will create urgency and raise the cost of your moving expenses.
- Look for the least expensive packing supplies. You can find items like tape guns and mattress bags from retailers on Amazon and tape and packing paper at dollar stores.
- Moving boxes can be purchased at places like Lowes, the U-Haul Store, and Home Depot but keep in mind you might be able to snag small boxes for books and collectibles for free at liquor stores and grab other free boxes at grocery stores (just ask the manager).
- Find free boxes and other packing supplies listed on Offerup, Letgo, and Craigslist.
- Use your own blankets to cover and protect furniture if you’re moving. If you’ve hired movers, you won’t have to worry about any of these supplies (though it will cost you more).
Do It Yourself
Most people hire movers to move all of their belongings from one home to the next, but you can still cut costs by packing everything up yourself. This won’t just save you money it will give you a better idea as to where things are – and subsequently where things should go in your new place.
The counter side to this is that when you pack everything up yourself you don’t have the protection if something breaks like you would if you hired movers to do it. So, make sure to pack those breakables properly.
Hiring Movers
Since May through September is the busy time for professional movers, if possible, move between October and April instead. Rates will go down because they aren’t as busy and you’ll end up paying less for the move.
Moving during the week will save you money as opposed to moving over the weekend, especially toward the end of the month, which is the most popular time to move. Ask several moving companies for their rates, and discounts, and be sure to read their recent reviews.
Fresh Start
Moving into a new place is always fun and exciting but it can also be stressful. You may be faced with turning on various utilities, setting up cable, and even filling the house with some necessary furniture. You might be in an unfamiliar area and not know where to start. Here are some tips:
- Putting a new cable account in your spouse’s name after canceling your account will possibly get you into a discount or new customer deal.
- Use Craigslist to find inexpensive (even free!) furniture like dressers, coffee tables, nightstands, etc.
- The dollar stores are your best friend when it comes to bowls, utensils, cleaning supplies, kitchen towels, etc.
Take some of the stress out of moving by figuring out how to cut costs beforehand. This way, you will have more money to spend on important items you need once you get to your new location!
