People dread moving for a lot of reasons. There’s the time spent on packing and traveling to your next destination, of course, as well as the stress of deciding what to take and not take. But more than anything else, it’s the expense.
The bad news is no one is going to get to move for free. The good news is there are simple steps they can take to cut costs. For those who aspire to save money on their next move, the following list can set your course in the right direction.
Save Money on Your Move
The time to think about how to save money on moving costs is before the move arrives and you find you have limited time and options. Not all these ideas will work with everyone. But if you choose the ones that work for you, your wallet will be a bit thicker once your next move is over.
Save on Boxes
One of the things you don’t want to do is spend more on boxes than needed. One option is to get boxes through the moving company, meaning you will not pay for more boxes than you need (nor will you come up short on boxes). You can also potentially find boxes online on Craigslist, Freecycle, U-Haul Box Exchange, Nextdoor.com, and local Facebook groups.
Look for Discounts
Moving companies will sometimes offer discounts on certain dates or for other reasons. For example, Good Greek Moving & Storage offers $500 worth of free boxes for those who go through Good Greek Realty to buy or sell their home.
Donate or Sell Your Items
Getting rid of stuff is one of the best ways to save money. The fewer items you have to move, the less the move will cost. There’s a step-by-step way to declutter your home and throw out unneeded items. They include:
- Throwing out any clothes you haven’t worn in a year
- Going room-by-room and tossing everything that you don’t regularly use
- Cutting back in the kitchen by removing all cookware and dishes you haven’t used in a year
- Throwing out old magazines, paperwork, paper bills, and other clutter
- Going through memorabilia and figuring out what you really want to keep
- You’ll make the biggest difference by getting rid of heavy furniture you no longer need
The garage and attic are usually where you will find the most stuff that you can discard. It’s amazing how fast it accumulates!
Pick a Less Expensive Date
A straightforward way to cut down on cost is to choose a moving date when movers are not so busy. The date and time of a move can make a big difference in the cost of moving. For example, movers tend to have the busiest times between May and August. Also, a mid-week and mid-month moving date tends to have a lower rate. If you have this option, put it to use.
Shop Around for Movers
If a mover’s offer sounds too inexpensive to be true, that’s probably because it is. On the other hand, you also want companies with a good reputation who will not try to overbill you for their services. A smart approach is to look at customer reviews then call the companies that make your shortlist and see how you are treated. Also, make sure the company provides all the services you need. A cheap company may offer little more than a couple of guys and a truck.
Do Your Own Packing
The best movers offer the option of packing your stuff for you (as well as packing supplies if you do it yourself). If you decide to do it yourself, you can save on additional charges. It also will motivate you to follow through with the “donate or sell your items” phase.
Take Your Tax Deduction
Make sure to save all the receipts from your move. The IRS may allow you to deduct moving expenses if the move occurred because of work. The costs are taken as a deduction on your 1040.
Keep these ideas in mind to save money on your next move. Moving doesn’t have to be so stressful if you put yourself into the hands of the right movers and take steps to ensure that you spend as little as possible while still getting quality service.
