3 tips to save money!
February 9, 2023
Whether moving across towns or across states, moving can be stressful and expensive. Here are some tips to reduce stress, save money, and make the transition as smooth as possible.
- Leverage online communities:
There are many costs associated with moving, and moving supplies are one of the sneakiest culprits. Hundreds of dollars can easily be spent on specialty boxes alone.It seems they made special boxes for everything: mirrors, TVs, lamps, wardrobe boxes, etc. Packing tape, packing paper, furniture Adding all the other necessary packing supplies such as pads/covers can cost you a lot of money.
Get free moving supplies with online communities like NextDoor, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist. I was able to find almost all boxes, tapes and labels for free online. Many people want to dispose of their moving boxes and paperwork and offer free local his pick up online or sell them for much cheaper than home his depots and movers. increase.
I got 10 fully assembled wardrobe boxes, 3 unused rolls of packing tape, packing paper, furniture pads and box labels for free. I also discovered that the U-Haul store has a special section in the store for recycling boxes. This is a good place to find specialty boxes for free. I scored a few lamps and a TV box just by stopping by U-Haul. hall store.
- Calculate the cost of a DIY vs moving company
You don’t have to hire a mover to do everything.
When my husband and I moved locally, we used a local moving service to pack, transport and unload all our belongings. However, when we recently moved stateside, we weren’t sure if it was worth paying someone to transport everything or if we should do it ourselves. I decided to do a little bit of both that worked. We rented a truck ourselves, hired a local moving company to load the truck, and once we arrived we hired another local moving company to unload the truck. It was much more cost effective and saved me a lot of time and money.
I recommend running the numbers to see if it’s worth the cost, including sane costs. It might be worth having a full move. I like However, it was worth paying the movers for all the loading and unloading.
- Prepare your “Day 1” or “Essentials” box
This is one of the best moving suggestions I’ve received and it saves me having to run to the store to buy things I already have but don’t know where they are. The “Day 1” box is an extra box to keep in your personal car that contains everything you need for the first 24-48 hours. Here’s a list of what I put in my “Day 1” box.
- garbage bag
- paper plates and plastic silverware
- Dish soap, hand soap, and a few dishwasher or washing pods
- dishcloth and sponge
- 1 set of sheets for each bed
- roll of paper towels
- roll of toilet paper
- scissors and a screwdriver.
- Prescription drugs and ibuprofen or Tylenol just in case.
- Shower curtain and some bath towels
- Air mattress if your belongings do not arrive on the day.
- Children’s night essentials (special blankets, night lights, etc.)
- Pet food and water bowls with ziplock bags or Tupperware, food for several days.
We hope these tips are helpful and will save you both time and money!