PREPARATION
- Figure out your budget. If you have savings, you should consider how much of it you will need to use for the move. You don’t want to use all of your savings for it, so put aside just a portion.
- Plan on extra expenses. Most people underestimate the amount of money they need for their move. Be sure that you have a little extra saved to account for any unexpected costs that come up during the move.
- Start researching the costs months ahead of the move. The more time you have, the more money you’ll be able to save because you’ll be able to find a better rate for just about anything. The extra time will help you determine what you really need or what you can wait on until after the move.
- Decide what you’ll take to your new place. Before you start moving, go through your possessions to decide what you will bring with you. For everything else, you can either throw it away or donate it to Goodwill or Salvation Army. You may even want to sell some of your items on Craigslist or eBay.
- Collect free packing materials. You can visit grocery stores and retailers like Walmart to ask for boxes. These can come in handy while you’re packing. You should also look out for cheap linens to use as packing material rather than buying bubble wrap.
- Ask for help from friends and family on moving day. If they can help you move your possessions that is a big money saver. However, if they physically can’t, you can use them in addition to using a moving company. They can help you clean your current home for its new occupants.
You probably can come up with some more money saving tips for moving. Help out our readers by leaving a comment with your ideas.