How to cut moving costs

Posted by Ryan Prato on December 4th, 2018

You must plan your moving steps carefully, two months before the moving day, if possible. Timing is essential. Usually, the end of the month is busy for movers, because of the expirations of closing dates. You need to avoid this period to save money. It is a good idea to avoid summer months, to spare the moving costs. During the summertime, the children are out of schools and families are more willing to move.

General tips                        

If you need to travel to move your boxes and furniture, make the travel plans two months ahead of time. You also eat differently than you used to eat before. Avoid grocery shopping and eat out. Be creative with what you have in your refrigerator and freezer. Use perishable items and frozen foods. These items can't be transported and will increase the box's volume.

Don’t forget the items that must be cleaned, repaired or stored. Try to get a partial refund for your gym membership. Maybe you can transfer your membership to the new location.

Never forget to notify the authorities about the change of address. You can do it online. You also must report your move. You need to check the moving out of state checklist if necessary.

You can save money learning how to pack for a move. You can pack and unpack yourself if you planeverything weeks before the moving date. You also need to lighten your load because the weight of your shipment influences the total cost.  Get rid of items you don't need anymore to save money. You can sell your unwanted items in a garage sale. You can also go to a flea market. Local flea markets are a good means tosell your items. You can find professional second-hand bargain hunters.
Another solution is selling your items online. You can showcase your items for sale; describe every item, including a good quality photo and your chances of sellingwill increase.

Sometimes, secondhand stores can accept items as a consignment. And at last, you can donate your items to charity and claim on your income tax return.

Alternatives to hiring a moving company

There are alternatives to hiring a company to help you move. You can rent a moving truck, load it yourself and save thousands of dollars. It’s a cheap way to solve the moving problems, but take into account the fuel and the loading supplies. You can learn how to move online and save money.

As an alternative to hiring a professional mover, there’s also portable moving containers,. The costs depend on the container size.

Family and friends can help. You can ask them to help you and this will be a great opportunity to get together for family activity. Don’t forget to provide juices, wine, pizzas, and cookies!

Before starting the move, you need to estimate the cost. There are moving cost calculators online. You can have a correct estimation and make plans accordingly.