Most of us have to move a few times in our lives. And while moving can be a fun and exciting time – after all, it often means getting a fresh start – there’s no denying that it’s not always sunshine and roses.
Moving can be incredibly stressful. Any kind of change brings some stress, and there are a lot of things to arrange when it comes to moving. On top of that, it can cause a lot of financial stress, since moving isn’t generally a cheap thing to do. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to save money during your move, and we’re here to share them.
Buy good packing materials
You may think that, if you’re trying to save money, you should always opt for the cheapest option. In some cases, that may be true. However, when it comes to packing materials, you should rather spend a bit more on better-quality materials.
Why is this better than buying cheap boxes and tape? If you buy low-quality packing materials, you will likely find that they break easier. Boxes won’t be as strong, and you’ll need more tape to close a box. This means you will need to buy more material and spend more money in any case, so it’s best to just buy proper things right from the start.
If you buy these items in bulk, you may also be able to save some more money. Have a look at crystal carton sealing tape to see if it meets your needs.
Get your timing right
When you’re moving, you need to get your timing right. Ideally, you would give notice at your current place of living in time for your contract to end on the day your new contract begins. If you don’t do this, you might pay double rent for a month, which can be a very big expense.
Be sure to read through your lease so that you know how long before you move out you need to give notice. You can also click here to read a sample notice for your landlord to let them know that you are moving out.
Move your own items
Of course, hiring a moving company will be the most convenient method of moving your items from one location to the next, but it can also be a massive expense.
In some cases, you have no other option. If you’re moving across a long-distance or you have a lot of big pieces of furniture, a moving van will be needed. However, if you’re not moving too far and you don’t have a lot of things that you need to move, you may consider moving your own things if you have a big car. You can also rent a trailer. This method may take you a few extra tips, but it will certainly save you a lot of money.
Budget
If you ever want to save money in any area of your life, you need to start by setting up a budget. You should never underestimate the value of a budget. If you don’t budget for your move, you could end up spending more money than you intend to, or than you can realistically afford to.
Sit down, and list all of the expenses that you will need to cover during the move. Then assign an estimated amount that you expect to spend on those expenses. This will allow you to see whether you have enough money to cover the move, or whether you need to cut down on other expenses.
Plan
One thing that is sure to make you spend more money than you want to during your move is a lack of planning. We’ve already covered budgeting, but you should plan in other ways as well.
For example, you may be tempted to get takeout or eat out for a few meals during your move because you don’t have energy to cook a meal. If you can afford this, great! If not, rather try some of these make-ahead dinner recipes so that you’re not tempted to spend unnecessary money.
Be careful
Things often break during a move – it’s often inevitable. However, you should still take every possible precaution to wrap and pack your items in a careful manner. The more things break, the more items you will have to replace, and the more money you will spend.
That’s why it’s better to take some extra time and make sure that your items are well-protected for the move, especially when it comes to fragile or valuable items.