Moving is such a pain. I have moved 9 times since I got married, and we aren’t even military!!!! It’s always a lot of hard work and never any fun. And it can cost a small fortune.
But if you have to move and you are on a budget, there are a few things you can do to save a few bucks.
1. It’s always cheaper if you do it yourself. Hiring a moving company to pack up your things, load a truck, drive it for you, and then unpack all those boxes can cost thousands of dollars. You can save a big chunk of change if you do as much as you can yourself. There are times when it makes sense to hire someone to do all or part of the above steps, but most circumstances don’t warrant hiring someone else to do everything.
2. Don’t pay for moving boxes or packing materials. You can get these free from www.craigslist.com or if you go dumpster diving. You can also use some of your own household items to protect your breakables, like using hand towels in between plates, or wrapping glasses in pillowcases.
3. Shop around. If you must get some help for your move, then call around and do some comparison shopping. Prices vary widely. Search for on-line coupon codes, see who will beat competitors prices, and ask for any applicable discounts. We just rented a U-Haul trailer (they are the only company that has trailers for rent one-way across the country) and when I first reserved the trailer a month before our move, it came the $521, plus tax and insurance. I checked back 2 days before we were to pick it up, and the price had dropped to $440. Of course I called and was given the cheaper price. This happened another time and we saved over $100 that time. The Post Office offers coupons either on-line or in their change of address packet.
4. Avoid paying for storage long term. Many people pay good money to store things that could easily be replaced for the same or less money. Long before you move, start giving away things you do not use or have a few garage sales. Moving is certainly a pain, but it’s also a good time to clean out your closets and get rid of clutter. If there are some items you will need to store, figure out if that’s cost effective; it may be cheaper to sell those items and replace them later after figuring in storage costs.
Looking to save money? Maybe make some money? The government gives away billions of dollars a year, and if you know how where to find it, some of it can be yours! Free money is out there for anyone who takes the time to find it: money for women entrepreneurs, college students, and even free money for your retirement down the road!
When it comes to saving money during a move, preparation and knowledge are key. And if you have some strong friends with trucks, that helps too!
Stumble it!