Ah, if I only knew then what I know now. You can save money on moving expenses.
We made our last move six years ago. I had three children ages five and younger, with two of them in diapers. If that wasn’t stressful enough, we wound up spending too much money on our move. We did save on moving expenses in some areas, but overspent in others. If you are contemplating a move, learn from both my successes and my mistakes and save money.
Don’t Pay for Boxes
While buying boxes (both storage facilities and moving companies sell them) may seem convenient when you are tired and stresses and just need to get packed, it is an expense that isn’t necessary. There are many free boxes out there. Bookstores have good, solid boxes in a convenient size, liquor stores have wine boxes with dividers for glasses and breakables, grocery stores have many different shapes and sizes, and more. There are often ads for free moving boxes (including wardrobe boxes) on Freecycle and Craigslist.
Compare Moving Costs
Review all of your options when moving, from the conventional (hiring a moving company) to the unconventional (having your stuff hitch a ride with a half-empty transport truck. Depending on the amount of stuff you have (weight and volume), where you are moving from and to, and unexpected factors (opportunities that arise), prices can really vary. Do you research, and you can save hundreds of dollars on your moving expenses.
Don’t Move It, Remove It
The less stuff you move, the cheaper it will be for you, and it may even open up the opportunity of a free move, if you can move all of your stuff yourself or with the help of friends. Before you move, hold a yard sale or two, sell items online or donate them and take the tax break. Anything that costs little to replace but takes up a lot of space, consider ditching it and replacing it in your new location, especially with long-distance moves.