Estimated Monthly Savings: $300
Moving is stressful. Between the packing, paperwork, and expenses, you may feel like you need a vacation when it is all done. While we can’t make the packing or paperwork go away, we can help reduce the costs of your move. Here are a few helpful tips to save some money on your next move.
Don’t Waste Money on Boxes
Use what you have. Take a look around your house and see what sort of storage containers you have lying around. Plastic bins and boxes from old purchases work great for moving. You can also stop by the grocery store and see if they have any extra boxes. Most of the time they are glad to hand over these boxes that just end up being tossed in the recycling.
Do the Move Yourself
Moving companies will charge anywhere between $800 and $2000. While it may seem overwhelming to pack up and move the whole house yourself, the savings will be huge. When packing the truck, make sure you don’t overpack it. Filling it to the brim will cause the truck to get poor gas mileage, costing you more money. Also, try not to do your move during busy traffic times. Not only will it be frustrating sitting in traffic and prolonging your move, it will also use up more gas.
Get Rid of the Junk
Many of us don’t realize how much stuff we have until we have to put it all in boxes. You may find yourself going through your possessions wondering “where did that come from?” Don’t bring these unwanted things with you. Sell them instead. The big items should be posted on Craigslist or local selling groups to get what they are worth, while the smaller items can be sold in a garage sale. Selling your unwanted items is a great way to bring in extra cash to help pay for the move. If you still have extra stuff after the garage sale, take them to a donation center or give them away to friends. You don’t want to haul unwanted items to your new place and you definitely don’t want to throw them in the trash and get charged extra for overfilling your trash bin.
*Bonus tip: If your move is because of a work transfer, keep those receipts. Work-related moving expenses can be itemized on your tax return.
