How To Save Money On Moving Costs

One thing that’s not often spoken about is how during the moving process, our emotions are often all over the place. We’re excited to live somewhere new, but there will always be some varying feelings of sadness when we leave somewhere we called home. It's no wonder that this, the high cost of moving (especially when buying somewhere rather than renting), and the number of things we need to do to be ready can cause stress. They say that moving house is as stressful as a loved one's death or a divorce, and although that might be a slight exaggeration, it's certainly not easy to deal with. 

Something that can make the situation less stressful is reducing moving costs. This is a part of the move where we have some control. With that in mind, here are just a few ways you can save money on moving costs. 

Declutter 

The first thing you can do to reduce your moving costs is to declutter ahead of your move. If you can do this, you will only take the most important, essential things with you and won't waste time and energy packing things you don't need. When you consider that you'll then be paying someone to move these unnecessary items, you'll see how it's worth cutting back on how much you take if you can. 

The more you can get rid of, the less you'll have to pay for moving since you'll be saving the removal company time and effort. If you can't stomach the thought of parting with particular goods but know moving them would be expensive, find a climate controlled storage unit to keep them in. You can then have them delivered later when you have more money or space. This will save money and reduce stress. 

Move Off-Peak

Of course, it isn't always feasible to move when you want, depending on the other people involved, but if you can schedule it to be 'off-peak,' your prices will be cheaper than if you move when most other people are choosing to do the same thing. 

The majority of people choose to move during the summer months. This is so they can enjoy their new home in the better weather and get settled in before the festive season begins. Furthermore, the days are lighter and brighter, making packing and unpacking less burdensome. 

Moving throughout the winter, especially during Thanksgiving or Christmas, should allow you to save a significant amount of money, even if it doesn't sound ideal in terms of logistics. If you really must move before then, try to do it during the week rather than over the weekend, since this will be less expensive.

Free Packing Materials 

Packing supplies are an expense that is sometimes forgotten at the beginning of the moving process and may not even be thought about until you get to the point where it's needed, and you suddenly realize it's going to cost a lot of money. You'll need boxes, packing tape, and other protective supplies like bubble wrap. Having a lot of stuff to move can get expensive, as you'll need more packing supplies.  

But if you are well-organized, you can get free packing supplies, which can save you a lot of money. Begin stockpiling boxes as soon as you know the date of your move. Saving them from deliveries or asking relatives and friends for some could be an option. Local stores and supermarkets may well have items you can use, so be sure to ask. If you get started sooner rather than later, the costs will be lower.