Saving Money On The Big Move!

This post is provided by Katherine Smith.

It does not matter if you are moving down the street or across town, you can save money on your move and make the endeavor cheaper than you might have thought. The key to making sure that your move is more cost effective, less hectic, and less stressful is to make sure that you are organized before the move, staying organized throughout the process, and make sure that your attitude remains one that is positive.

There are quite a few ways to save money on your moving expenses. Some of them are pretty blatant, while others, not so much. Here are a few that might help you keep some of your hard earned money in your wallet and a tip or two to make the move easier.

Moving Companies

Moving companies, such as Allied Van Lines, typically base what they charge on things like the number and type of vehicles that will be used for the move and the weight of what is being moved. This means that the perfect time to get rid of your unused items is right before the move. By doing this and making the load lighter, you can actually end up with a bit more money in your wallet. Getting rid of things you no longer need or want is a great thing to do whether or not you use a full service moving company or you choose to move the DIY way.

Pro Tip: One of the things you can do to downsize your home and move is to give your old hand me downs and appliances you no longer need to some of your family members. If that is not what you want to do, you can consider donating them to charity and getting a tax deduction for them. Alternatively, you might consider selling them on Craigslist, eBay, or even just having a good old-fashioned yard sale. If you do sell the items, you can put that money toward the cost of the move.

Boxes

Why would anyone pay for something that they can easily get for free? If you know you will be moving in the near future, start collecting and saving boxes now. If you happen to order from any online warehouse clubs- such as Boxed.com, they send your orders in boxes that are excellent for a move. You might also be able to get boxes from a variety of local businesses such as offices (copy paper boxes), grocery stores, drugstores, and liquor stores. All that it takes is you asking for them.

Pro Tip: If you do happen to hire professional movers for the packing part of the job, they might require that your valuables be packed in boxes sold by them. You can avoid this by packing your own stuff, or at least your fragile and valuable items, before the move.

Other Packing Supplies

If you do decide to pack all of your own stuff, you need to ensure that you pack them well so that they would not be damaged or break. Most people use things like bubble wrap and those little white foam peanuts to pack things in, but this can get expensive quickly. Instead, you can wrap your items in old newspapers, comforters, sheets, blankets, and towels.

Pro Tip: When it comes to packing things that are in drawers, you do not need to empty them. Simply wrap them in plastic wrap (like the cling wrap used for leftovers). You will be able to see what is in the drawers, save space in the truck, and save on packing materials.

Off Season Moves

You can also save a bit of money on your move by moving during the off season. This is the months between September and the end of May. Moving rates are typically lower then. This is because people with children who are school aged tend to try to move during the summer months when school is out.

Pro Tip: You can save money during the peak moving season by scheduling your move during the week as opposed to on the weekends. However, to save the most amount of money possible, try moving during the off season AND in the middle of the week. That being said, moving is the same as anything else, if the demand is high for a specific date, prices might be higher regardless of the season or day of the week.