10 Tips for Moving on a Limited Budget

 

Our country is currently dealing with an economic crisis. And unfortunately, the real estate market has had a direct effect on the financial situation, which means that a lot of us have to move house in order to keep our heads afloat. Moving house though, can be an expensive process and since it’s a time of belt-tightening, we need to look for ways to cut down on the cost of relocating. Below is a list of things that you can do to make your move as inexpensive as possible.

 

1.) Start Planning

 

If you’re planning on relocating to a distance that’s far away, start searching right away for cheaper deals on flights or hotel rooms. If you don’t have a car, but it’s a somewhat drivable distance, save yourself the cost of air fare and plan on renting a car or taking the bus or train.

 

2.) Appeal to your Friends and Family

 

Instead of hiring movers, ask your friends and families if they’d mind helping you move your things. If you have some big, unwieldy items like a piano, you can hire movers that can just help you with that specific item. No need to hire them to move the whole house if it’s just one or two items that you’re concerned about.

 

3.) Do Cost Comparisons

 

Don’t just pick the first moving company that you see listed in the phone book. Call around and do some price comparisons. Determine how long you’ll need the truck for and take that into account when doing your pricing. Some company’s have cheaper prices for a one day rental but their rates skyrocket if you need it for longer so make sure you take that into comparison.

 

4.) Start Saving your Newspapers

 

As soon as you realize that you’re going to move, start saving your newspapers immediately. Newspaper makes great wrapping material, and since you pay for it anyway, why not reuse it in your move? Since moving usually requires a lot of paper, be sure to ask your neighbors if they can save their newspapers as well.

 

5.) Have a Garage Sale

 

There’s no point in packing up a whole bunch of stuff that you aren’t going to use and will possibly throw out once you get to your new place. It costs time and money to move things, so have a garage sale instead. That way, you can get rid of some of your goods and make some money off of it to help with your move. And at the end of your garage sale, give your unsold stuff to a charity shop. If you were willing to sell it, you probably didn’t want it any more, so there’s no point in paying to bring it with you to your new place.

 

6.) Save your Old Blankets and Sheets

 

Although your saved newspapers are great for wrapping most of your items, there are probably some belongings in your house that need more of a soft cushion. Pictures and mirrors all need to be wrapped in something with a bit more of a cushion, but instead of purchasing expensive wrap, use some of your old blankets and sheets to protect your goods.

 

7.) Buy Recycled Boxes

 

Buying boxes from a place that sells recycled boxes is a great idea. They’re cheaper and often you can return them to the store when you’re through and make some of your money back. Even though you’re trying to save money, it’s a good idea to buy your boxes instead of picking them up at your local grocery store, as those boxes often have unpleasant bug eggs in the glue, which could be quite costly to get rid of!

 

8.) Pack your Own Boxes

 

It can be overwhelming to look at all of your belongings and think about packing. The temptation is definitely there to hire packers to have them handle the job, but it’s not a very economical way to move. Take it one step at a time, one box at a time, and you’ll be glad that you saved your money.

 

9.) Save your Perishables

 

One of the biggest expenses in moving house is the final grocery bill. If you aren’t flying to your new house, try and save your perishable goods, so that you don’t have to replace time right away after you move, and thus pay for your food twice. Get a couple of coolers to pack your food and you’ll save yourself a lot of money.

 

10.) Plan your Meals

 

Instead of spending lots of money on takeout over the days of your move, take some of the food you haven’t packed and make some quick, easy meals in advance that can be eaten on the go. There’s no need to get a big food bill at the end of your move when you can eat the food you have in your refrigerator. It just takes a little bit of planning ahead of time in order to accomplish it.

 

Moving can be a stressful time and an expensive one. By planning ahead and cutting corners you can save some money to make the expense of moving your home a little less burdensome.