One thing that is extremely stressful for most people is moving to a new home. Part of this stress usually comes from the financial burden. Moving can be very expensive. However, there are ways to save. Below are some tips you can use to save money on your next move.
Price Compare to Find the Cheapest Option
Many people make the assumption that renting a U-Haul truck is cheaper than paying for professional movers to do the job for you. However, this isn’t necessarily true. Not only are some professional moving services possibly cheaper than renting your own vehicle, you may also be saved from having to do most of the back breaking labor yourself.
Research
If you choose to use professional moving services, make sure to do the appropriate research. This should include a background check on the moving company. It should also include reading reviews from previous customers. You can even ask for references. This is a smart thing to do, because the moving company will be handling some of your most valuable possessions. Choosing the wrong people to do the job can result in your possessions being broken while in transit or even stolen. Do thorough research.
Choose the Right Time to Drive
If you end up deciding to rent a vehicle, make sure to plan your drive so you avoid rush hour traffic. Instead, choose off-peak hours like early in the morning to avoid most of the traffic. This way you will get better gas mileage and save some money before you hand the truck back in.
Get Free Boxes
One thing you will need to move is a lot of boxes. Don’t actually pay for them. That expense can add up rather quickly. Instead, attempt to get as many as you can for free. First, see if you can get some from your office or place of work. Many companies order printer paper in big cardboard boxes that are large enough to hold a lot of your possessions. If that fails, try some local grocery and retail stores. They get piles of cardboard boxes every day and will be happy to give them to you. Even better yet, you can actually sell the boxes to recycling companies that take cardboard and make a small profit on them when you’re done.
Consider Getting Rid of Some Your Possessions
If you don’t really care about keeping everything you own, you may want to consider using some of it to offset the cost of your move. If you can sell some stuff before you move online or to places like pawn shops, you can produce a little extra money. Also consider donating some items to charity. This can allow you to deduct those charitable donations from your income taxes.
Consider Your Utilities
You also need to be strategic about your utility bills to avoid losing money. This is because many utility companies charge you by the month and won’t prorate the bill based on your move date. Try to line up your move with the end of the billing cycle. If this is impossible, consider ending some of the services you receive early so you aren’t paying for them after you leave. You can probably do without things like cable TV and home telephone services for a few days.
Take Advantage of Your Friends and Family
Your family should be there to help you. So should your friends. While you may not want to feel like you’re taking advantage of them, you can pay them a little money and take them out for dinner after the move. This will certainly save on labor costs.
