Moving on to a tight budget can be stressful because everything costs money. To reduce the stress of the move, you should follow some tips to help reduce the costs. These tips will help you stay within your budget and are easier than you might imagine.
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Move During The Off-Season
If you have flexibility with the moving date, you should look at moving in the offseason. Of course, this is not a tip that everyone can bring to use. If you are moving for a new job, already have a contract for the property or are selling your current home, you need to stick to that timetable.
If you can, you should plan to move in the fall and winter. This is the offseason for movers because more people want to move in the warmer summer months. As there is a lower demand for their service, moving companies will charge less during this season, and you could save up to 30% on the costs.
Get Rid Of Stuff
One of the best ways to lower the cost of your move and stay in budget is to have fewer things to move. There are a lot of items that you can get rid of that you might not realize. Of course, you will need to be ruthless if you want to save a lot by getting rid of stuff.
An excellent place to start is your wardrobe. If there are any items of clothing that you have not worn in the last year, you need to get rid of them. This will include any shoes that you have not worn in the previous year. If you have not worn the item in 12 months, it is unlikely that you are going to wear them any time soon and they are just going to increase your moving costs. Your clothing can be sold or donated.
If you have a lot of CDs or DVDs, you should consider if you can find them on music streaming platforms. If you can, you should get rid of the CD. The same should be done for any DVDs. If you have an account with a streaming service, you get rid of the DVD because you can watch the movie through the streaming service.
You should also look at items in your kitchen because they are usually bulky and take a lot of box space. Any items or appliances that you never use should be sold or donated. This could be the fondue set you have used once or the juicer you have but never use. If you have excess crockery, you need to get rid of it.
Do Not Buy Boxes
Boxes are an expense that you do not need to have. There are a lot of ways to get free boxes that you can use for your move. If you live in an apartment building, you should ask to save any boxes for you. You may be surprised by the number of boxes you get from other people who have moved into the building.
Your workplace is another place to look for boxes. If your office has deliveries, you should ask if you can have the boxes. Many stores are happy to give you the boxes their deliveries come in. The benefit of these boxes is that they are generally heavy and strong so you will not worry about them breaking.
Be Creative With Packing Materials
Bubble wrap can be expensive when you are moving, but you do not have to use it. There are a lot of alternatives you can use, which cost you little to nothing. If you or someone you know still gets a newspaper, keep them and use it as packing material. You can wrap glasses, crockery, and ornaments in the paper to protect it.
If you do not have access to newspapers, you can use towels, linen, and clothing instead. Wrapping your fragile items in these materials will keep them safe and will not cost you anything. You will also reduce the number of boxes you use for all your items when you multipurpose everything.
Use Portable Containers
Portable containers are a great alternative to hiring professional movers. A storage container will be delivered to your current home, and you will pack all your possessions into it. Once everything is loaded, the container company will transport it to your new home. You will then unload everything, and they will collect the container. This is a good middle ground for people who do not want to move or hire professional movers.
There are many tips that you can use to move on a budget. Reducing the amount you are moving is a good idea, but you should also find affordable moving companies that can reduce the cost of moving and also the stress associated with moving. Portable containers can also save you money as they are generally cheaper than a professional moving company.
