Moving On A Budget: 3 Tips To Save Some Moo-Lah
Statistics say that roughly 40 million individuals in the United States move every year. If you're considering a move in the near future, you will likely want to save money whenever and wherever you can. Here are a few tips to make your move a bit more affordable so that you can stay within your budget:
1. Use Your Unneeded Belongings to Fund the Move.
Before you pack, you need to determine what you will take with you and what you don't need. If you have a lot of stuff in the house that you haven't used in a year or longer, then there is a pretty good chance you don't need these items. Once you've deciphered what you use and don't need, you should consider selling those unneeded items, as long as they're in good condition. You can sell things from home online or you can host a garage sale. If neither of those sound good, you can always donate and receive money back later in the year when you file your taxes. Either way, you'll have money that pays for your move (now or later), and you'll save on the actual move, since you won't have near as much to transport.
2. Choose to Move During the Most Affordable Time.
The day of week and time of year that you choose to move will have a major impact on how much you'll be paying. Try to make sure you are flexible with your dates so that you can get a discounted rate. You should try to move during the middle of the month and during the week. During the spring or late fall are good seasons to move during. The busiest and priciest times to move are weekends and toward the beginning or end of the month. Summer is the worst season to move in, as this is peak moving season since kids are out of school and there is vacation time built up for adults.
3. Pack Your Belongings More Efficiently.
The way you pack your items can play a huge role in the costs that will come out of your pocket for the move. This is true whether you move yourself or hire movers to move for you. Use clothing, linens and towels to pad your moving boxes rather than purchasing foam or bubble wrap. You should also consider getting boxes from a local recycling center or any store in the area rather than purchasing them from the moving company. This will help you perform a "greener" move as well.
Although a do-it-yourself move would cost significantly less, you may feel as if you have saved enough by performing the above steps. If that is the case, contact your local moving company to receive a quote. Consider getting two or three quotes and negotiate a bit before finalizing the papers. Click here for more information about hiring a moving company.