Moving can be a stressful event made even more so if you are also buying and or selling a home for your move. Expenses related to moving tend to add up quickly, but a plan can help things from getting too far out of control. Here is some advice to use that will save you money when you move.
Get Free Help
When friends and family ask if there is anything they can do to help say yes! It really does take a village to move, and the more help that you have, the better it will go. From cleaning to packing to actually hauling your stuff from one home to the next, support can be crucial.
Feed your crew during the move and don’t forget to throw a bit of a thank you party or offer a small gift.
Storage and Stuff
Ah, here is some experience talking. When we made our last move, we were a bit under the gun. That meant that the strategy was to pack everything up and sort it out later. But movers charge by the pound and it is much cheaper to rent only one moving truck instead of three. Storage costs money, too.
Find a way to get rid of as much stuff as you can before your move in order to save money. Some easy things to justify tossing include magazines, books more than a year old that you haven’t read (get them from the library), clothes that don’t fit, furniture that won’t fit in the new home and anything you don’t really use.
Get Free Supplies
The cost for moving supplies can get expensive, but what else can you do? Get free supplies of course. Here are my favorite secret sources for free moving supplies.
Local bookstores often will give you sturdy boxes for free just for the asking. Liquor stores have boxes that are perfect for breakable knick-knacks, glasses and more.
Ask for moving supplies on freecycle, facebook and other social groups.
Get end rolls of newsprint from local newspaper offices. They will give or sell them to you cheap, and you won’t have to buy packing paper. You can also use your sheets and towels to wrap and cushion delicate items.