Moving into a new place means you’ve probably already spent a pretty penny on moving costs already for a down payment, closing costs, and broker fees. If you’re like most people, cost is probably a major factor when planning your move. After all, the cost of moving can quickly add up, and if you’re not careful, you could end up spending far more than you intended. The last thing you want to do is spend more than you planned.
Lucky for you, we’ve got a few tips and tricks to help you move without blowing your budget! Let’s get started!
1) Create a realistic moving budget
The first step to saving money on your move is knowing how much money you have to work with in the first place. By creating a budget, you’ll be able to track your spending and ensure that you’re not overspending on your move.
Creating a budget may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be!
Start by evaluating your moving costs and factoring in things like:
- The cost of renting or buying moving boxes
- The cost of packing materials
- The cost of hiring professional movers (if applicable)
- The cost of gasoline or other transportation costs associated with your move
Once you have an estimate of these costs, you can begin setting aside cash to use for the move when it arrives.
2) Set aside cash for the move early on
You don’t want to wait until the last minute to start saving up for your move. Instead, start setting aside cash as soon as you know you’ll be moving. This way, you’ll have a head start on covering some of the costs associated with your move.
If possible, try to save up at least $1,000 to use towards your move. This can help cover things like transportation costs, professional movers (if applicable), eating out during the moving days, days you’re taking off work, etc.
And if you’re looking to save? Try cutting back on unnecessary expenses in the months leading up to your move. Forgo that daily coffee habit or eat out less often and put that extra cash towards your move instead!
3) Don’t pay to move items you don’t need
The first step to saving money when moving is to declutter your home and get rid of anything you don’t need or use. The less stuff you have, the less there is to move, which means you’ll save money on both the cost of renting a moving truck or container, as well as on labor costs if you’re hiring a professional.
Don’t know where to start? Begin by going through your closets, drawers, and cupboards, and set aside anything you haven’t used in the past year. Once you’ve sorted through your belongings, you can hold a garage sale, donate items to charity, or sell them online. Not only will getting rid of unwanted items save you money on your move, but it’ll also give you a head start on unpacking and settling into your new place.
4) Avoid taking off too much time from work to move
Moving is an intensive and time-consuming endeavor, and many people take much longer to get moved when they attempt to do it on their own. Keep in mind that time is also money! The more time it takes you to move, the more time you might have to take off work. On average, it’s going to be less expensive to hire a professional moving company than to try and move everything yourself. Professional movers are experts that move tons of people every week, so it’s better to just leave this process to them.
If possible, try to schedule your move for a weekend or over a holiday when you won’t have to take time off from work. Not only will this save you money on lost wages, but it’ll also give you more time to get everything done. And if you do have to take some time off, See if your employer will offer to pay for part of the cost of your move as an employee benefit.
5) Take Advantage of Free Packing Materials
When it comes to packing for a move, one of the best ways to save money is to use free packing materials. Many moving and storage companies will offer used cardboard boxes for free or at a reduced cost, so be sure to ask around. You can also check with local grocery stores, liquor stores, and pharmacies, as they often have boxes they’re looking to get rid of.
Another option is to look for free packing materials on websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Just be sure that any boxes you use are clean and in good condition, as you don’t want your belongings packed away in something that’s going to fall apart. If you have friends or family members who have recently moved, see if they have any leftover boxes that you can use.
When it comes to packing tape, consider ordering an off-brand pack of tape and a dispenser online. You’d be surprised how much cheaper it is to purchase a pack of off-brand tape rather than going to Lowes or Home Depot. The same thing goes for bubble wrap. Buying in bulk and off-brand is the way to go. You can supplement the bubble wrap by using other kinds of material such as newspapers too.
6) Use A Mobile Storage Container
If you’re looking for an easy and cost-effective way to move, consider using a mobile storage container. With this option, you can pack and load your belongings at your own pace, and then have the container delivered to your new home. This is a great solution if you’re moving long-distance, as it’ll save you money on both gas and lodging expenses.
Using a mobile storage container is a great budget option, especially if you can’t afford to hire a company to help you lift boxes from point A to point B. With a mobile storage container that’s delivered to your address, you can pack boxes a little bit at a time during your off-hours. Using this method may even reduce your need to take off work since you can pack your container over an extended period.
Just be sure to do your research when choosing a mobile storage container company, as there are a lot of them out there. Be sure to read reviews and work with a company that offers high-quality containers that are both secure and protected from the elements. At Badger Box Storage we take pride in offering the highest quality containers available for rent in the Wilmington, North Carolina market. Our containers have been specifically designed to offer the utmost functionality and protection.
7) Hire professional movers
When you book a portable storage container, you’ll still need to move your boxes and furniture into the unit. If you want to save more time, you could consider packing all your boxes and hiring a moving company to move all the items into the storage container. Once the storage company has delivered your container to the new address, the movers can also help you move all your boxes and furniture into your new home.
Why not just hire the movers to do everything? Well, even with professional movers, they only have a single truck in most cases. This means that they are going to have to make multiple trips to and from each location to move items. This is going to cost you for the day and the mileage. However, if you use a storage container, then you can move everything in one trip, and only have to pay for the movers to do the loading and unloading.
This method is going to save you money and it will save your back too!
8) Hire your friends to help you pack
You can save both time and money during your move if you can enlist your friends to help you with the packing part. Start asking your friends early on if they want to help you pack a few boxes in return for some pizza and beer. This is a great way to get some extra hands to help you with the packing process, and it’s also a great opportunity to catch up with your friends before the big move.
Just be sure that you don’t wait until the last minute to ask for help, as your friends are likely to have busy schedules. Try to give them at least a few week’s notice so they can clear their schedule and make time to lend you a hand. If you’ve already booked your mobile storage container at your residence then they might also be able to help you with the loading process as you pack.
9) Get moving insurance
No matter how well you plan your move, there’s always a chance that something could go wrong. That’s why it’s important to get moving insurance to protect your belongings in case they are damaged during the move. Moving insurance is relatively inexpensive, and it can give you peace of mind knowing that your belongings are covered in case of an accident.
Accidents happen, even when you’re being careful. That’s why it’s important to have moving insurance to protect your belongings. If something does happen and one of your boxes gets damaged, then you’ll be glad you have the coverage.
10) Eat at a friend’s house during your moving days
If you’re going to be moving over a few days, then it’s likely that you won’t have time to cook your meals. To save money, see if any of your friends or family members are available to cook you a few meals during your moving days. This will save you both money and time, as you won’t have to worry about cooking for yourself.
Plus, it’s a great opportunity to catch up with your loved ones before the big move. They might even be able to help you with the packing process!
There are plenty of ways to cut costs when moving, but these are some of the best tips to keep in mind. By following these tips, you can successfully relocate without breaking your budget. We hope you found these moving tips helpful. If you are moving to Wilmington, North Carolina, or surrounding areas, and need to book a portable storage container with Badger Box Storage, contact us today!
