As almost anyone who’s ever moved knows, moving can be a big expense. When it’s time for you and your family to relocate, budgeting quickly becomes the name of the game. From the cost of buying or renting a new home to paying for transportation for your items, there are plenty of new things to pay for during this busy time. But of course, most of us don’t have unlimited funds. Typically, people have a fairly predictable amount of funds available to them from month to month. Making this amount work effectively for your relocation may feel incredibly daunting, but it’s far from impossible. Looking for some smart tips on how to save money during a move? Discover seven of our key steps to keep your wallet intact as you relocate!
As you prepare to move to a new home, your first step should always be to create a budget for the coming months. Understanding the costs, you’ll incur during this time is important to your peace of mind. The more thorough and detailed this budget is, the better. Take into consideration your household’s income, any savings you may have, and the amount of money you’ll be required to spend. Then, you can factor in any optional costs depending on how much wiggle room you have within your spending. Being prepared in this way ahead of time can be very beneficial and decrease your stress levels for the rest of the move.
When you’re trying to cut costs during your move, a declutter can be a game-changer. In general, decluttering is ideal when moving. It allows the perfect timing for you to rid yourself of items before arriving at your new home to truly reset your space. Without some of the extras you don’t really need, you can make room for what you actually want and need in your home. This task requires you to split your belongings into four different categories: donate, sell, trash, or keep. It’s best to tackle this job by going room to room, handling each room one by one, and allowing yourself plenty of time so you can do a little bit each day.
The more you’re able to donate or throw away, the more you’ll be able to save during your move. You then won’t require as much space in a moving truck or storage unit, allowing you to downsize a bit. If you’re able to sell some of your belongings, even better! This option allows you to even earn some money back. A garage sale is a wonderful tactic to sell lots of what you no longer want at once.
If you’re planning on enlisting the help of a state-to-state moving company, the best way to do it is to book in advance. Understandably, this method allows for much more organization, minimizing the stress of trying to book things at the last minute. But financially, this tactic can also manage to save you some money. How so? First, booking ahead of time sometimes earns a discount from the moving company of your choice, depending on if the movers offer this type of promotion. Next, this gives you some more choices, perhaps enabling you to book during the offseason or on non-peak days of the week. Plus, having this handled in advance gives you some extra time to budget for it.
If you’re opting to hire a moving company in Columbus, it’s best to get estimates from at least three or four movers to ensure you snag the best deal possible. Search for reliable movers in the area, and look online to see how their reviews are. Crowdsourcing people’s opinions and experiences on the various services will be beneficial in making sure you invest in a worthwhile company. Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a few reputable companies, you can then request quotes from each of them. Ideally, each company will provide an in-home estimate to make sure they offer the most accurate quote possible. Be sure to get this quote in writing so you can refer back to it if needed.
Although you’ll want to save as much money as possible, it’s important to note that any suspiciously low estimates should be handled carefully. For instance, if one company provides a much lower quote than the rest, you may want to consider further investigation on the service and their credentials before moving forward with their assistance. Oftentimes, these extremely low prices can be red flags indicating a scam.
When you need to pack your belongings for a move, you need plenty of supplies – from boxes to packing tape to bubble wrap. Wherever possible, repurposing items you already own can be very conducive to saving money. Rather than purchasing new boxes, you can reuse boxes you may have around your house. If you don’t have enough already at home, you can ask local businesses if they’re willing to give away some boxes from their surplus. If you need bubble wrap, packing paper, or any other form of protective packaging for your fragile items, you can instead consider using soft items such as blankets and towels. This gives you a way to protect your belongings and pack things you already needed to pack while giving them a new purpose.
Another great way to save space and subsequently save money is to pack your belongings strategically. Wherever possible, placing your items into any sort of empty space is critical. For instance, if you have a large pot or a set of drawers, it’s in your best interest to put smaller items inside of them so the space isn’t wasted. This makes efficient use of space in your moving truck or storage container and allows you to keep everything consolidated as much as possible. Giving yourself plenty of time to pack so you can strategically pack your items and spend ample time maximizing your space is a great way to cut down on costs.
In the weeks leading up to a move, many people end up wasting money or overspending on food. This happens for a few reasons. First, plenty of people wind up buying more groceries than they can feasibly finish in time for moving day. When that happens, they are often forced to throw away any perishable items. Additionally, it can be easy to spend a lot of money on take-out as your move nears in an attempt to avoid buying too many groceries. Especially with how hectic moving can be, it may feel a lot easier to just order out rather than take time to cook.
Because of this, food can be a great category to strategize in order to save money. It can be very helpful to plan ahead and make a meal schedule of sorts so you know exactly what groceries you’ll need to buy without overspending on things you don’t need which you’ll be forced to throw away. Things that you can cook ahead of time and then reheat are often the ideal solution in these scenarios.
Prepared with these tips and tricks, being financially smart during your move feels much more possible. If you’re seeking long-distance movers in Columbus, Ohio, count on E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co. for all your needs. Since 1881, we’ve committed ourselves to quality moving services at an affordable price for our customers. Request a free in-home estimate from our experts today!
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