Moving on a Budget? Tips To Save Money

Moving can be expensive and stressful. However, you can save money and maintain your sanity. Follow these budget-friendly tips for a cost-effective move.

Use Your Own Packing Materials

While you can buy packing supplies such as bubble wrap and packing paper or rent moving blankets, there's an opportunity to save money in this area. Consider using items you already have, like old comforters, blankets, or sleeping bags, to wrap furniture and valuable items. 

The same approach can be applied to smaller items like dishes and glassware. Instead of buying wrapping materials, you can save newspapers and flyers or even use bath towels and tea towels to wrap fragile items. This not only cuts costs but also eliminates the need to pack blankets and towels separately in another box, saving space.

Additionally, use your luggage. Utilize suitcases, duffle bags, and backpacks to transport items you're taking with you.

Declutter Your Home and Sell the Excess

Gather valuable items that you no longer need and can sell. Consider whether these items are worth the effort, expense, and hassle of moving. If not, sell them and keep the money to cover your moving costs.

Some decisions are simple, such as selling a television that nobody uses anymore. However, there are more challenging choices to be made. 

Once you have identified the items you won't take with you, determine the best way to dispose of them and make the most money possible.

Avoid Moving Season

Spring and summer are popular seasons for moving due to favorable weather conditions and avoiding unpleasant situations like puddles and ice. However, if you have a flexible schedule, moving during the off-season (usually fall or winter) can result in cost savings. While it requires more planning and time, your budget will benefit from the difference. 

Moving companies often seek business during the off-season, as most people prefer warmer months. This allows you to often take advantage of better deals and potentially negotiate lower rates. Although your family and friends may not be thrilled about assisting you in less-than-ideal weather, they are generally more available during the off-season.

Additionally, winter brings higher vacancies in rental properties, offering opportunities to negotiate rent, utilities, and deposits. Landlords may be willing to overlook credit history to fill their rentals. 

Pack Strategically

Adopt a thoughtful approach to your packing process by placing smaller items inside larger ones instead of haphazardly throwing everything into boxes. With careful packing, you can maximize the number of items that fit into each box. This enables you to reduce the overall quantity of boxes you need to transport, opening up the option of using a smaller moving truck. Choosing a smaller vehicle also allows you to save more money in the process.

Get Quotes From Multiple Moving Companies

Do thorough research and gather quotations from various companies. By doing so, you can compare the per-mile rates and base rates for renting a moving vehicle, potentially finding a company that offers lower prices. 

Moreover, if you plan ahead and make an early booking with prepayment, you may secure an even more affordable rate, particularly if your move coincides with the peak moving season.

Plan Moving Day Meals

Ordering pizza on a moving day is often considered a moving tradition, but plan your meals and snacks before and after the move. Don't forget that you need to pack everything in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry, including some heavy items.

Take stock of your fresh, frozen, and dry food, and come up with a strategy to consume as much as you can in the days and weeks leading up to the move. By doing this, you'll reduce the number of trips to the grocery store or takeout orders, and you'll have fewer items to pack and transport with you.

Are you planning to move soon? Coffee's Moving and Storage provide a personalized service combined with experience, efficiency, and quality—a combination that is hard to find in today's market. Contact us now for more information.