• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives
  • 100 Words

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

5 Ways to Save Money on Your Moving Expenses

By Enero Febrero

A happy young man signing for a delivery of packed cardboard boxesMoving to a new home is stressful enough without additional financial worries. After all, there are many costs involved in the moving process. For example, you may need to hire housecleaners, long distance moving companies and perhaps even secure the right boxes and packing material, among other things.

The good news is there’s no need to get bogged down with those dreaded moving costs; doing so will only detract from the fact that moving to a new home can also be exciting as you start a new journey in your life. With that in mind, here are five tips to help you save some money the next time you decide to pull up stakes:

Plan Ahead

Organization is a key component when moving to a new location, so make sure you have a detailed plan of what exactly needs to be done, when it needs to be done and who needs to do it. Make a detailed to-do list to work off, and be sure to add each item to your calendar so nothing is forgotten.

It’s also important to plan your budget ahead of moving. And if you’re a homeowner, don’t forget to consider potential costs such as real estate settlement fees. On the other hand, renters need to make sure that they’ll have the cash on hand to pay for things like a security deposit and first and last month’s rent.

The best way to do this is by mapping out the maximum you can spend and then giving each item an allocated amount; this will help prevent overspending.

Declutter

Long before it’s time to pack, try eliminating things you don’t need — it’s a great way to save yourself a little time. This will also save you money as the less stuff you have to move the cheaper the quotes from professional movers will be.

The best way to declutter is to take stock of what you own and then identifying only the items that you really need. Use the Internet to sell everything you don’t use for extra cash that you can use towards your moving costs. Websites like eBay, Amazon, Gumtree and Craigslist make selling online quick and easy.

Get Your Moving Supplies

You don’t have to spend a fortune in sourcing your moving supplies — especially if you’re crafty about the packing material you are going to use. For example, if you need a lot of boxes, then buy them in bulk from Amazon or eBay. If you don’t want to pay for them at all, then visit your local supermarket and see if they’ll let you take a few empty boxes off their hands. Just make sure they’re good quality boxes because breakages will only end up costing you more money.

Another way to cut down on spending money on boxes is to make the most of your suitcases and backpacks. Ask friends, family, neighbors and co-workers if you can borrow their suitcases just while you move house. You can also use items like laundry bags, bag holders etc. to lug your clothes to your new home.

Do Your Research

Unless you own a truck or a large van you’ll probably need help on moving day. Research professional movers and get some quotes to compare. Don’t forget to check out any customer reviews before committing to them; you can use online delivery comparison websites to get free and quick quotes from local movers in your area.

Of course, if you don’t have a lot of stuff to move it may be a cheaper to hire a van and do it yourself. Get some van quotes and compare them with quotes from the professional movers — but don’t forget to factor in fuel. Just remember, hiring a van yourself also means you have to do all the heavy lifting!

Pick The Right Moving Day

It’s vitally important to choose a good day to move. Most people tend to choose the weekend because they think it’s easier but, if possible, move midweek. In the end, you’ll save a ton of money — and the roads will no doubt be much quieter too.

Photo Credit: stock photo

September 23, 2016

Comments

  1. 1

    Jayson says

    I agree midweek is the best day to do the move. There is less traffic jam. Great tips Len.

  2. 2

    Karen Kinnane says

    Sell most of your stuff! You can replace so much by a couple of weekends of shopping yard sales in your new home town. it’s a lot cheaper to sell your things, move less, and buy pre owned at your next new town.

    • 3

      Len Penzo says

      More good advice, Karen. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

  3. 4

    Yun Fei says

    Some folks baulk at the hassle of shipping items once sold hence they are reluctant to sell them, this may seem applicable to large bulky items but I can assure you that I have seen several people who can’t be bothered with getting disposing of small items because that just can’t be bothered to take it to the post office!

The Question of the Week:

How is your investment portfolio doing this year?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • Grandfather Says: Net Worth and Real Value
  • The Top Daily Deal Sites on the Internet
  • Proper Financial Planning for Individuals With Irregular Income
  • 14 Things You Should Never Spend Money on While Traveling
  • 18 Amazing Facts You Didn’t Know About ATMs
  • Black Coffee: Chunk and Run
  • 100 Words On: Why Tracking Your Net Worth Is So Overrated
  • Six Ways to Create a More Professional Social Media Presence 
  • How to Get Great Deals with Drugstore Coupons
  • 11 Ways to Ensure Your Summer Vacation Doesn’t Bust Your Budget

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. The 6 Most Valuable Grocery Store Products
  2. 2. Series I Savings Bonds Are Now Paying 9.62%; Here Are Their Pros & Cons
  3. 3. 25 Examples of Shrinkflation That No Longer Fool Consumers
  4. 4. 7 Big Reasons Why a Roth IRA Isn’t the Best Way to Save for Retirement
  5. 5. 3 Ways That Great Sleep Helps You Get Richer
  6. 6. What’s the Fastest Way to Pay Down Your Mortgage Early?
  7. 7. How to Save Money on Dental Care So You Won’t Go Broke at the Dentist
  8. 8. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodity Prices
  9. 9. Tip Inflation: We’ve Got Nobody to Blame But Ourselves
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending You the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2022 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2022