Moving isn’t a walk in the park, and amidst an array of other concerns, what many people are worried about are the expenses that are going to materialize one by one as the move progresses. Of course, moving is going to cost you not only time and effort but money too. You’re essentially packing up a life’s worth of belongings and relocating them to an entirely new location. Everything from fuel and service to customs and tips is going to come with a price.
For people who are planning a move on the sole foundation of affordability, shedding lots of money while executing the said move can be paradoxical and stressful. If you’re in the same boat, you’ll be relieved to learn that there are many ways to make sure all expenditures that come your way during a move can be minimized. We’re gathering all the possible ways to save money while moving.
Boxes and packaging do not need to be purchased.
If you’ve moved before, the first area where your money is headed is buying the supplies you need to pack your things. In reality, there are ways to go about it where no purchase of any kind is necessary. Offices, stores, and factories are filled to the brim with boxes and packing material that they’re down to discarding in any way possible. Most times, they’ll simply hand it to you free of cost to lessen their own load.
Your friends and family must also have undergone moves at some point in their lives. Ask them for any storage material they can provide you with. You’ll soon enough see that this clever networking will have you with all the boxes and supplies you could possibly need and then some. Just reaching out at the right time to people around you can be an excellent way to save money when moving.
Shed the load.
Moving companies draw estimates of their rates based on the amount and size of your belongings. If you’ve made the mistake of packing everything in sight without considering its usefulness to you, then you’ll be in for a hefty bill and a lot of regrets. Take moving as an opportunity to finally pile out the junk that’s been hiding in all of the things you own. Not only will you be lessening the moving load, but sorting through your things at long last too.
Another advantage of clearing useless things from all your other items is that you’ll be making the packing and loading process a lot easier. Lesser stuff means that you might not even have to hire movers or a moving company. This is another cost that could be cut from the entire process and, hence, an excellent way to save money as you move.
Make some extra cash to help with the move.
The saying that parallels one person’s trash to another’s treasure can very well work in your favor during a move. Since you’ll be out to get rid of as many unneeded things as possible, a way to also get something in return is by selling these items. You can either put them up online or ask friends and family if there’s anything they’d buy off of you from your belongings. Remember to be realistic in this matter and not be tempted to auction off items that you need.
Spread the word of a yard sale among neighbors as well. You’ll be surprised at how many people show up in support. Also, selling things off is an advantageous way of following through with the previous point of lessening your load for moving days. Ways of saving money while moving also include ways you can generate some extra pin money for the move. So, remember to be creative.
Opt for alternatives to a moving company.
Movers and moving services seem really attractive when you look around at the absolute mess of items that make up your home. While nothing sounds better than having people do the hard work for you, passing that work off means paying a lot of money. Movers are certainly optional, but what most people don’t know is that moving companies are too. With moving companies, you’re not only paying for the fuel it’ll cost but additional service charges as well.
A better and cheaper way is to rent a truck that you can load and then drive yourself. Another option is to rent a decently sized container, especially if you’re moving a significantly larger distance. This is the part where minimizing the load of your belongings comes in handy. It will be far more convenient for you to place your belongings in the moving truck and unpack them later on too.
Try striking a good bargain.
If hiring a moving company is the only thing that makes sense for you, there are some ways to save while doing that. While most moving companies have a fixed price for their services, some offer the option for deals with customers that are either regulars or ones they end up having great experiences with.
While it’s true that not all moving companies are this generous, there’s no harm in attempting. Establishing a relationship with your service providers might just end up becoming a good way to save money when you’re moving.
Try to save up on taxes.
Whenever you’re moving, make it a point to save all cost receipts that come with the process. Certain circumstances, like moving away from a spouse or being a student, make you liable to save up on all of these expenses for that year’s tax returns. Moving entails a number of different costs, such as the service you might have hired to conduct the move and lots of different travel expenses.
Hold on to the tangible evidence of these expenses, and you just might have them refunded if you’re in luck. Remember to look up different programs, such as whether your workplace offers benefits in the form of moving expenses and so on.
Also Read: The Dos and Don’ts To Follow For A Seamless And Hassle-Free Move