Whether you’re planning to move halfway across the country or just two blocks from your old spot, it will cost you time, effort, and money. Wrapping up your life and getting settled in another home doesn’t happen overnight. The stress of surviving a move is a topic for another day!
Unless you have been lucky enough to inherit a fortune from your grandparents, here’s how you can do it on a tight budget.
1. Sale Time
Consider this as the perfect opportunity for spring cleaning. By rule, anything that hasn’t been used over the past year or two is an excess. Host a garage sale to raise funds and supplement your moving budget. You can also donate your possessions if garage sale sounds like too much hassle. The fewer things you have to move, the easier and cheaper it will be.
If you’re moving out of the city and/or country, consider getting rid of everything. You can always purchase it at your new place because sometimes the cost of relocation is too high. Consider starting your life from a new beginning!
2. Free Packaging
You’ll need boxes to pack up your stuff and you can purchase purpose-built boxes from professional movers. As a frugal on-a-budget mover, you can ask your local supermarket (if you have that kind of rapport) to save you some of their bulk packaging. You can always reinforce these with tape.
If your neighbors or family or anyone in your social circle recently made a move, you can ask them for their packaging boxes. Another way to go about this is to checkout dumpsters around your area, particularly if you know somebody just made a move in your neighborhood. People will discard boxes to save space even if they’re in pretty good condition. Take advantage of this wherever you can!
Besides this, use old newspapers and magazines to pack your cutlery. Fragile vases and decorative items can be packed in linen and towels. These packaging materials are inexpensive and need to be moved too. Do your packing yourself so you know what’s where and why.
3. Packing and/or Moving Party
Movers on a budget understand the importance of having multiple hands contributing to a chore. Packing and/or moving party usually gets you a workforce of trusted friends in exchange for food and drinks. It’s a fun way to get your job done without paying anybody and without making them feel undervalued or overused.
If your friends own vehicles like SUVs and/or personal trucks, you can save a great deal when you have them on your side. Make sure you’re hosting your packing and/or moving party just in time. Don’t forget to overlook all aspects of your move; in the end, it is your stuff and you’ll be the one struggling to find items if you don’t know how your possessions are packed.
On the same note, you can even host an unpacking party. You don’t necessarily have to do it alone if you have a handful of amazing friends. Get them to help you unpack and settle on a weekend; you can always end it up with a dinner party and drinks.
4. Rationing Utility Bills
The thing about utility bills is that they’re not computed on pro-rata basis. If the bill dates do not coincide with your moving schedule, consider cutting off your service earlier. You will survive that time period and you’ll love it when you don’t have to pay for the month when you’ve only used the service for a week. The idea is to save as much as possible; this strategy definitely serves the purpose.
This applies to pretty much every utility except the ones you use every day. You can survive without television and internet but you most probably won’t stand a chance if you cut off your electricity or water supply. Appreciate the difference!
5. Coupons
Sometimes, depending on the situation, it might actually be more frugal to hire professional moving services instead of doing it on your own. This holds particularly true if you can get your hands on coupons and discounts offered by such services. You can find them at the local post office if you’re lucky!
6. Timing
Timing is crucial to saving money. If you’re the only one making a move, you might bargain a better deal. But if it’s a peak season, you’re not in a position to negotiate. On the same note, try making a move on weekdays (because most people will prefer weekends in order to not miss work); you might get a discount. Even truck rentals are favorable on weekdays!
7. Reimbursements and Tax Deductions
Some companies will offer reimbursements for moving if it was job-related. Check in with your company’s handbook to figure out if there’s a way to save money this way. Besides this, as per the government policies, you might be eligible for tax deductions under certain circumstances. Consult your tax accountant for an authentic opinion on this.
As the rule of the thumb, you need to have at least one month’s salary in excess to survive a move (before and after). Wish you all the best in your new place!
This is a guest post by Jenny Harrison. She is a passionate technology and lifestyle blogger. She loves to get engaged with the readers who are seeking for home, lifestyle and tech related information on the internet. Follow her on twitter @MJennyHarrisson for more updates.
