How to Save Money to Move – Best Budgeting Tips

However you look at it, from whatever angle, relocations are expensive, and you indeed believe there’s no way around it. No two moves are the same, though. Those relocating to another state alone will require a lesser budget than a family that wants to move a four-bedroom house. But no matter if we’re on our own or with kids, saving money to move is essential. Even those who have never been experts on saving up will be able to adjust the relocation budget with some simple tricks and sound advice.

How to Save Money to Move Even Before You Know For Sure That You’re Leaving

First thing’s first. Before you plan to head out of your current home, you should strain to get into a manageable debt situation. By doing that, your budget will grow, both short- and long-term. But, if you aim to move out as soon as possible, the quickest way to collect some extra cash is to take on a new secondary or maybe even a third job. Although you can’t expect to keep up such a pace for a more extended period, it may give you the needed jump start. If you don’t think you can juggle between several jobs, another solution is to temporarily take overtime at your current workplace.

Cut on Some Unnecessary Costs

The next step is establishing your monthly budget and the amount you are required to save to move out. There are many ways to cut down on unnecessary consumption and add more cash to the move-out amount. You should divide your current monthly budget into essentials, non-essentials, and luxury.

Essentials are the things we can’t do without, such as groceries, and utilities, while non-essentials are visits to restaurants and busy nightlife. Luxury are things such as expensive designer clothes or tickets for concerts. Saving up is possible by completely cutting out the extravagances and tightening on non-essentials. Perhaps you can trim even essentials a little. You should start saving right away, even if you haven’t made up your mind 100%. Even if it’s small amounts with each paycheck, you will establish good habits and have enough to afford something more than just relocating essentials for your move.

Decide What’s Better – DIY or Long-Distance Movers?

You’ve probably thought about it – heck, it would be easier and cheaper to handle the whole move without professional assistance. But what you’ll have to keep in mind is several things:

• You will have to decide between hiring a rental truck or a trailer. Both the truck and the trailer will require you to have a valid driver’s license, and keep in mind that driving by yourself will not be easy. Besides, you’ll have to plan other logistics, such as lodging along the way where you can park freely and stops for meals. These temporary accommodations should also be added to the budget.
• Renting a container is only fit for transporting belongings from a smaller home. The upside is that you can use it as temporary storage, and you can move your possessions from it at your leisure. The downside is that it can be a problem for dropping off, especially if you’re relocating to an apartment or into a narrow street.
• Packing is something you’ll do by yourself, and anyone that has experience with relocations knows how much hard work it demands.
• Disassembling and later reassembling bulky and heavy furniture is also up to you. The carrying part also falls on your back, although you should call someone to give you a helping hand.

Before you decide to have a DIY move, you should write down the costs and compare them to a cross-country moving company and its fees. You may realize that, in the end, doing everything on your own will cost you more, besides having to put crazy amounts of energy and hard work into it.

What Does a Long Distance Moving Company Offer?

First of all, finding the right movers isn’t as easy as clicking on the first advertisement and hiring that company. If you want to invest in long-distance moving services but avoid getting scammed and ripped off, you’ll have to tread lightly. Ask for referrals and look at online reviews, as these are usually the first indicators that will steer you towards reputable movers. A good company will have very transparent pricing. Although it may sound pricey initially, it pays off in the end, especially if you bundle up several services together, such as packing service and auto transport service. Some companies will even offer you a free storage service for the first 30 days, which is more than enough to settle in your new abode and figure out what goes where.

Compare Several Companies and Their Quotes

One of the common mistakes we tend to make is to settle either for the first company that we come across in our search or for the lowest bid. A wise choice would be to contact several professional movers and ask them to estimate the value of household goods. The next step is to compare the prices but keep in mind that those far cheaper than others are often scammers. A low ball quote usually means hidden fees that will only add up in the end, and you’ll pay much more than you initially thought.

Pick the Best Possible Date for the Move

Are you wondering what is the least expensive way to move? One of the tips that will also help with budgeting is choosing the best time of year to move in terms of pricing. Although a bit trickier to pull off, relocating in winter may be your best bet when choosing the cheapest time of the year to move. The peak season is between April and September, while June, July, and August are the busiest months. It’s harder to book relocation companies during that time, and the prices are higher. Choosing to move off-season will be much cheaper. Another tip is to move mid-week if possible, as most people choose to do it on Friday.

Your Employer Might Reimburse You for the Move

There are some jobs that require relocation, and it may be just what has driven you to move in the first place. Relocating to get a hold of a better position and advance in the career is very common. If you happen to land a position within the same company but in another city, your employer may want to cover the expenses of your relocation. But even if you’re going to work for a different business, one of the relocation questions to ask the employer should be if they can reimburse you for the move.

Don’t Beat Around the Bush and Onward With the Purge

Downsizing and decluttering is a crucial part of every relocation, and it shouldn’t be done only when we’re relocating to a smaller home. It’s always beneficial in many ways – you’ll have less to pack and transport, which will make the transition more manageable, and shipping fewer things to your new place means it will cost less. But, you shouldn’t simply get rid of everything, and the best tip is to divide the unwanted items into several categories.

Create a Pile of Stuff You Can Donate

You can lower the price of your move, get rid of anything you do not need anymore, and make someone else happy at the same time if you choose to donate unwanted items. Charities such as GreenDrop accept various donations but make sure that the belongings are in good condition. It’s one of the places where you can donate furniture before you move, but also things like clothes, shoes, as well as canned and dried food.

A Garage Sale Will Enlarge the Budget

All the things still in neat condition but couldn’t be donated may be eligible for a sale. If you’ve never done it before, a garage sale can be pulled off effortlessly with good planning. The key to a successful sale is to designate a suitable date (a Saturday morning is best) and advertise it in the neighborhood and on social media. Split your belongings into categories and write the price tags clearly, so the pricing is easily spotted. Any money you earn this way can be added to the budget, and you’ll get rid of some more stuff, too.

Be Honest With Yourself and Throw Away Things You’ll Never Fix

We all tend to keep broken or damaged items that we’re sure will get fixed later. But that later mostly never comes, and we end up with heaps of broken things lying somewhere around the house. Don’t skip checking in rooms such as garages, attics, and tool sheds, and let these items find a way to the garbage bin. Throwing useless things away will lower the number of items you’ll ship to the new place and is one of the cheapest ways to move out of state.

Ask the Cross Country Movers About the Non-Allowable Items

Before you hand over a definite household inventory list to your movers, make sure you dispose of anything that can’t go on the moving truck. These things include anything flammable, hazardous, and toxic. Items and materials like paints, paint thinners, but also nail polish, and deodorants are considered dangerous and won’t be transported. Contact your movers and ask for a thorough list of non-allowables, so you can avoid any problems on your move-out day. It will also help you discard some more stuff. For some good decluttering tips, watch the video below.

Saving Up Will Be Easier Once You Realize There Are Free Packing Materials Out There

Relocations can’t be pulled off without proper materials such as boxes and packing paper. But did you know that you can obtain some of these materials for free? Your local liquor store (book store or retail shop could be a good choice, too) is an excellent look for boxes. They will probably be happy to give them away, and you may even fetch some dividers, which will be perfect for packaging glasses and other delicates. One of the relocating hacks for those who haven’t got enough time to hunt for suitable materials is to look for them on sites such as Craigslist or Freecycle.

Call Your Friends and Family to Help Out With Your Household Items

Although you may have decided to let professionals handle your move, you can still pack by yourself. But since it’s a daunting task (we all own a ton of stuff), some help is required. Call in your friends and family to help you, and make sure you tell them on the schedule you will need them, especially if you are last-minute relocating. It’s a perfect opportunity to spend some more time with them.

Throw a Bbq Party and Use Up the Remaining Food

Even if you’ve decided that you don’t want to bother anyone to help you, you will have to tell your friends you’re relocating and say goodbye properly. Since there’s probably a lot of food left in the freezer and refrigerator, you can make use of it and throw a party where you’ll prepare food for the people you care about. It will also guarantee that there won’t be any spoiled groceries when you unpack after a move in your new home.

Knowing How to Save Money on Moving Will Ease Up the Process

Besides being emotionally draining, and energy leeching, a relocation is financially burdening. But we’ve all come to that point of life when we consider it. Some move out of their parent’s nest, some look to get a job before they move, and some simply get itchy feet. So, how much money should you save up before moving? You have to consider whether you will be renting or buying and will you live alone or share the space. But with these tips, you can even save up in the middle of preparations and take a leap of faith towards your new life with some certainty.