Today’s guest post comes from Dixie Somers is a freelance writer and blogger for business, home, and family niches. Dixie lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and is the proud mother of three beautiful girls and wife to a wonderful husband.
She is sharing with us ways 5 ways to save money when moving.
I hope you find them helpful!
5 Ways to Save Money When Moving
Moving can be an expensive experience, from buying a new house, paying for gas to move and buying take-out food more nights than not after your pots and pans are packed away. However, some of the biggest expenses come in the actual boxing up and moving of your belongings. If you are moving on a budget and are looking for some smart ways to trim costs, look no further than this money-saving guide.
Get Rid of Belongings
The more you take with you, the higher your costs will be. This is particularly true if you are hiring a moving company, which often charges by the pound. You should get rid of anything that you have no plans for using in your new place. Consider holding a rummage sale to make a little cash on the side, or donate your used belongings to a non-profit organization to get a tax deduction at the end of the year.
Gather Your Own Packing Supplies
Early planning can really trim costs for you. As soon as you know you are going to move, start asking around for boxes, newspaper, bubble wrap and other packing supplies that your friends may have. Head to the grocery store, liquor store or bookstore, all of which normally have a supply of great boxes that they are throwing away.
Do the Packing for the Moving Company
It can be tempting to get the moving company to do most of the work for you, especially when it comes to packing bulky items. However, it may nearly double your moving costs to have someone else do the packing. Do all of it if you can, but if you feel like you need some help, get just the breakables packed by professionals.
Move during the Off-Season
Your biggest cost savings may not come from whether or not you hire a budget company but rather from when you choose to make your move. You can save small amounts if you ask movers to load and unload on weekdays rather than on weekends and if you are flexible with your moving days. However, the biggest savings can come from moving during the school year rather than during the summer when the majority of families move.
Get a Written, Binding Estimate
You will certainly be surprised at the expense of moving if you do not get an estimate from the moving company first. Make sure that you have the estimate in writing and that it is labeled as a “binding” estimate, which means that the company will not be able to charge you more than they estimated even if they guessed incorrectly on the weight.
A great deal of money can be saved simply by planning and staying organized during your moving time. Disorganization can lead to last-minute purchases, which can ding you big-time when it comes to your bottom line. Instead, find ways to cut costs by doing as much of your packing yourself and by refusing to pay for boxes, padding, and other packing materials.
I have a good clear out every time we move. I hate the thought of taking loads of stuff we don’t need or use to a new place.
Louise x
Great tips! Very true that most families move during the summer months, at least my family always has, and I’m actually getting ready to move in July/August! Moving companies can definitely be expensive. It’s good to have a lot of friends that are able to help!
These are great tips. I love your advice on getting a binding estimate. I feel like I’ve always been burned with hidden, inflated costs with movers. The ending price was always different from the quote by a large amount.
I wish I would have known this tips years ago when we were moving around due to my husband’s job training.
This is helpful. Part of the reason why we haven’t moved is because of the expenses!
These are all great tips! I never knew about the cost being lower during the week or during the school year. That is really good to know, thanks!
I totally agree with your list having just moved from Michigan to Texas last year. I would add that once you think you have getting rid of enough stuff, get rid of more. It’s unbelievable how much we accumulate!
I have only used a moving company once and that was when work was paying for it. The rest of the time I moved myself and yes, used most of these tips!
Being a military family who has moved oh so many times in the last 19 years I have to say these are spot on tips. Specially about down sizing and moving in the off season and packing yourselves. Plus, less likely things will get stolen if you are not traveling with your belongings!
Yup! Staying organized is key. Planning is super important in accomplishing what you want to happen.
Great tips. We always seem to spend too much when we move.
This will come in handy in a year or so when we move. I’m starting to purge now so there is less to pack!
These are great tips. We went through a move recently. Fortunately, we had enough family and friends to put to work that we only had to rent a truck but having a binding estimate is absolutely essential.
🙂
Traci