Personal Finance

6 Tips To Save Money and Plan the Most Efficient Move Yet

When talking about stressful events, few are more stressful than moving: other than having financial difficulties. Combine the two and welcome to a tailor-made environment perfect for making life harder than it needs to be.

But, don’t fret, there is still some hope. Even if you’re moving from a very affordable Eugene, Oregon apartment all the way to a micro apartment in New York City, you can still save money and plan an efficient move. (Note: you can find research on the rental markets, such as Eugene on ABODO.)

Instead of trying to cut all the corners you can, here are six easily-implementable tips to save money while moving.

6 Tips for Cutting Moving Costs

1. Purge

The simplest way to save some money on moving is by having fewer things to move. It may be hard, but getting rid of unnecessary possessions will greatly reduce the costs of moving. By purging you will be saving more time by not moving things and can get done with your move more quickly. Often times, people will think they must move everything from their current home to their new one. Rather, by purging, you spend less time away from work and earning money, making the entire cost go down.

2.   Hunt for Boxes

Boxes are both a blessing and a curse when it comes to moving. On one hand, they make sorting and storing your items incredibly convenient. On the other, finding or buying them can be a nightmare for both your wallet and your sanity. Rather than buying boxes from the post office or another establishment, consciously save larger boxes leading up to your moving day so that you have ample resources for your move. Another option is driving around on your trash day for boxes, or checking behind retail stores on days they get shipments in. The process may be a pain and seem unnecessary, but it will save you significant time and money.

3.   Visit the Dollar Store

It may come as a surprise, but the dollar store can be a godsend to those ready to move on a budget. Dollar stores are perfect because of the sheer variety that they have to offer. Interestingly, dollar stores usually have excellent deals on knock-off cleaning supplies that work just as well as name-brand cleaners; if you’re trying to save as much money as possible, getting those supplies to clean your home and prep it for selling may be vital. Dollar stores can also have cheap blankets that can be used to wrap around fragile possessions that could get scratched during the process.

4.   Check the Fridge

This step can relate to our first tip, but it also pertains to saving money. Perishable goods can be a hassle to move because it’s quite difficult to keep them cold when on the road. Additionally, if they do go bad, you lose money replacing them. Before moving, go through your fridge and either throw things away that may be or are expired, and secondly, use any foods that could go bad and prepare meals for when you move. Moving is stressful and can often lead to ordering out food impulsively. By preparing food to eat while getting ready to move, you are not only using food that may go bad during the move, but ensuring you don’t carelessly spend money on take out.

5.   Shut off the Utilities

If you have a specific move-in day for your new home, make sure to contact your existing landlord and tell them what day you would like to have your utilities shut off so that you don’t get charged for unused resources. If you don’t have a specific day that you are moving, try to move out before the next cycle of bills begins so that, again, you don’t get charged extra for something you won’t be using.

6.   Pros/Cons of Hiring a Moving Company

This may seem like the most obvious tip, but it is very important to understand that DIY moving is often more cost-effective. Depending on where you are moving to next, movers can range in cost. Renting a truck and having friends chip in is usually a more fiscally frugal option. That said there are times when moving companies do make more sense, especially when you are physically challenged when it comes to lifting objects.

However, before making the decision not to, do a cost-analysis to make sure. Calculate how many hours or days it will take for you to move, then calculate how much money the movers would be, and lastly how much you could be making if you were working during those days. If the cost of movers is more than how much you could be making while working, it’s likely the best idea to not hire anyone and do it yourself. It may be a struggle at the moment, but your wallet will thank you later.

If you follow those six tips you will be well on your way to a successful move without breaking your budget. For additional tips on how to make your move as painless and cost effective as possible checkout Moving Tips & Trips: Save Money and Reduce Headaches. Happy Trails!