Relocating home is often considered as one of the most stressful events - even for those who have a lot of experience. Unfortunately, another factor makes everything even harder - and that's moving on a budget. As the moving day is coming closer, the costs are increasing, as well as the stress related to both lacks of money and time. That's why if you happen to be moving soon, be sure to have a detailed plan of your moving tasks, and more importantly - the plan of your moving budget. And we came up with some of the useful money-saving tips to help you create this budget plan and help you move more efficiently and affordably.
Should you hire a moving company when moving on a budget?
This is the most difficult questions people face when they have a limited moving budget. Should you hire a moving professional or move on your own? Even though hiring professional movers seems like a more expensive option, it's actually for a good reason. If you don't have the right experience, equipment, and time - moving on your own can be very risky and even more expensive. So, picking a reliable, affordable mover can save your money and time and help you relocate safely.
Hiring a moving company - avoid unnecessary costs and risks
If you decide to hire a mover, be sure to make decisions that will not put you at risk and increase costs even more. Here are some tips on picking the right moving company safely and not making 'expensive' mistakes:
hiring a mover without an in-home survey is something you should avoid - only a detailed estimate will give you the precise amount you need to pay, without surprising costs;
don't go for an offer that's too good to be true - an unusually cheap estimate often hides costs that will cause you a headache after the move is done;
blank documents are always suspicious - never sign anything other than a precisely described contract between you and the moving company;
protect your valuables and transport them on your own;
don't put your body at risk - if you need to move and carry heavy items, use proper lifting techniques and helping tools, to avoid injuries and damage that can cost a lot.
Moving on a budget - decluttering as a way to save money
Almost every home has several items people don't need anymore, as well as the general clutter that only eats up space. Getting rid of these will not only save your space but also significantly reduce your moving costs. The fewer items you move, the boxes will be lighter and therefore the moving costs will be lower.
Bonus tip: If any of the items you don't need anymore is in a good condition, why don't you try selling them online and even making some money for the move? If there are a lot of these items, you can also organize a garage sale, too.
Choose the moving date wisely
One of the biggest factors that affect the moving rates is moving off-season. Some dates and months are busier than others and result in higher moving rates. So, if you choose the right season, you can get a lower moving estimate. Most of the time, the busiest seasons in the moving industry are spring and autumn, so be sure to avoid them is you want to save.
Pack on your own
You don't need to take all the services a moving company offers. There are things you can do on your own and therefore save some dollars. Packing is surely one of them. However, you shouldn't underestimate the difficulty of the process. If items are not packed safely, you can damage some of them and therefore increase the costs of your move. Be sure to give yourself time to pack everything safely, use the proper packing supplies, and don't save on protection. This will ensure your items are safe during transport, and your move is stress-free.
Use the items in your home as packing containers
Moving a largo home requires a lot of moving boxes, so the bill for packing supplies can be a bit higher. There's a way to avoid that when moving on a budget - be creative with packing containers you already have in your home. There are plenty of items that can serve as moving boxes - use your gym bags, beach bags, suitcases, briefcases, baskets, and even plastic trash bags for less fragile items like clothes or linens. Furthermore, you can fill drawers with certain lighter items, so they are not too difficult to carry. These are all great alternatives for moving boxes that can reduce your moving bill a lot.
Cleaning the house
As you will have to clean both old and new home, try to save on cleaning supplies as much as you can. First of all, use up as many of the supplies you already have before you buy anything new. Also, visiting a dollar store can be a huge money-saver. And finally, use coupons as much as you can - even though it doesn't seem like a lot, it actually piles up and you can save a lot of money on groceries, cleaning supplies, etc.
Plan the utilities
One of the ways people spend more when moving is by paying double utilities. Make sure you plan the move well, so you can set the timing right when the old utilities should be switched off. In the same way, you want your new house all set up when you arrive, so be sure to contact the new utility company and start the services on time.
Have an affordable move!
When moving on a budget, be sure not to overdo it - sometimes, trying to save more than possible will only cause you additional problems and increase the risks. That's why on-time planning and efficient organization will lead you through a stress-free moving process.
