How
to Save Money on Your Move
Moving
is not only a huge pain, it can also be very expensive. From renting
the truck to hiring the movers to buying the boxes and packing
supplies, you can easily spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars,
depending on how much stuff you have to move and how far you are
moving.
You
don't have to break the bank to move into the house of dreams or to
follow opportunities for your career. There are plenty of ways to
save money on your move with a little planning. Here are a few ideas:
Downsize
As Much As Possible
Before
you even start packing, take an honest look around and see what you
can downsize. Moving is a great time to assess your belongings and to
determine what deadweight you've been carrying around. Identify the
things you no longer need and then sell the items that have value and
donate the rest to Goodwill or charity.
The more
you are able to downsize, the less you have to move, helping you to
save on packing supplies and movers.
Get
Free Packing Supplies
There
are so many stores and manufacturers that throw their shipping boxes
in recycling everyday that you should never have to buy a single box.
It may take you a little more time to collect what you need, but
calling around to stores and other businesses can help you get their
leftover boxes for free.
You can
even get packing peanuts, tape, and other packing supplies for free.
Ask for leftovers from businesses, or look on sites like Craigslist
or Freecycle for leftovers that people give away after their own
moves.
Borrow
a Truck from a Friend
If you
have a friend with a truck, you can save yourself the expense of
renting a moving truck. The truck will likely be much smaller, which
means you'll have to take more trips to move your big items and may
have to pack several carloads for smaller items like boxes. If you
are moving in town, this is a cost-effective -- though less
convenient -- way to move your things.
Plan
to Move in the "Off" Season
Many
people move around the same time of year: Between May and August when
college students are moving into and out of their dorm rooms and
apartments. As such, rental trucks and movers can be in short supply
during those times -- and can be more expensive. If you're able to,
plan your move in the off season when you'll have more access to more
services for a lower cost.
Hire
Some Locals
Hiring
movers can be one of the biggest expenses of moving. You can cut this
expense all together by moving your items yourself with the help of a
few friends and family members. However, if you don't want to put in
the sweat time, or you don't want to bother your friends and family
to haul your stuff, you can hire a few people in the community for
less than you would pay movers.
Put up
an ad on Craigslist or another classified marketplace offering to pay
$50 a person for some moving help. Usually one or two strong guys
will be enough to get your things where they need to go.
Barter
Services
You can
get a professional moving company for absolutely free if you have
some services that they also want. Maybe you are a great online
marketer or you know how to create stunning websites. You may be able
to barter these services in exchange for some help with your move. It
will only cost you your time!
Moving
doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. Try out some of these
simple tips for saving money on your move and making it as
stress-free as possible.
What
other tricks do you use to save money when you have to move? Share
your tips in the comments!
About
the Author:
Bridget
Sandorford
is
a
freelance
food
and
culinary
writer,
where
recently
she’s
been
researching
culinary
school
in
Rhode
Island.
In
her
spare
time,
she
enjoys
biking,
painting
and
working
on
her
first
cookbook.
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