Face it… moving is expensive. Most of the time, people might not be really prepared for costs associated with moving that can include things like packing supplies, truck rentals, and/or mover fees. Even when the move is one that is just right across town, it can be expensive. However, knowing what you will need to spend as well as knowing where you will be able to save a bit, and with proper budgeting, you can keep quite a bit of money in your wallet (especially if you have visited Mega Reel).
Budget for It
This is a vital step for any move. If you don’t prepare and stick to a moving budget, you might be quite shocked at what you end up spending, and this can then lead to debt and frustration. Before you create a budget, read through this article to find out what you will need to spend on and where you can save. Remember that you will need to make decisions such as when and how to move and more.
Professional or DIY?
You need to decide if you will be hiring professional movers, like Allied movers, for the move, or if you have the time, energy and a back strong enough to do it yourself. It helps to know all of the fees that will be charged if you do hire pros for the job. Some companies might charge for things like line haul charges or even extra carrying fees. That said, there are also ways that you can save money. These include moving when it isn’t the peak moving season and haggling for a better price.
Trash It
One way to save money on a move is to get rid of the things that you no longer need or want. When you are packing is a great time to do this because you will be going through all of your stuff anyway. Make a few different piles for the things you will be getting rid of. Some things you might be able to give to family members, another pile might be for things that can be sold on Craigslist, eBay, 5Miles, or LetGo, or even at a yard sale. The last pile should be for things that will be going to charity. Make sure to get a receipt for everything donated because this can be used as a deduction on your taxes.
Don’t Forget the Hidden Costs
When you move, make a moving budget. This cannot be stressed enough. You need to know more than just how much it will cost to move and to clean up the old place. You also need to look at costs that will be incurred at the new place. This includes things like utility deposits, fees for homeowner’s associations, costs for any improvements that need to be made right away, and more.
Truck Rental
Sure, renting a truck doesn’t have to be as difficult as hiring professionals to do the job, but it does mean more work for you. You will also need to know what size truck you will need, whether or not you will need to take out insurance, and what other things you might need (a hand truck) to make sure that your move goes just as smoothly as it can. Before you rent a truck, find out about all of the costs and necessities (don’t forget gas) because if you go in blindly, you can waste a lot of money.
Packing Supplies
It is a given that you will need boxes for the move. If you hire pros to do your packing as well as the move, you will more than likely need to purchase boxes from them. If you will be packing yourself, you can save quite a bit of money. This is because you can get boxes for free. As soon as you know you will be moving, you can make the rounds of your local grocery stores, liquor stores, and offices to see if they have any empty boxes. Most of them will and will just give them to you. You can also save money on bubble wrap by using sheets, towels, blankets, and comforters to wrap all of your fragile items in.
Yes, moving is expensive. However, if you know what to do and where to go, you can save quite a bit.