How to Move on a Budget and Save Your Hard-Earned Cash

Let’s face it: Moving can get expensive. However, if you’re willing to get a little creative, there are ways to do it without breaking the bank entirely. We’ve shared some of our best tips on how to move on a budget below. With a little planning and forethought, you should be able to keep costs down to the bare minimum.

Research your moving options

In order to move on a budget, the first thing you have to do is conduct some research to get a sense of what your costs will be. There are different levels of professional moving help to choose from, and they all come at different price points. You’ll need to decide which one makes the most sense for you.

The most common options are:

• Full-Service Movers: Full-service movers are the easiest option, but also the most expensive. They handle the whole process for you, including packing. If you decide to go this route, you’ll want to get at least three quotes from different companies before making your decision. For the best results, opt for in-home estimates, which cuts down on the possibility of getting up-charged on the big day.
• Flat-Rate Movers: You guessed it — flat-rate movers do the work for a flat fee. With this type of service, it’s important to research each company to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting for your money.
• Pods: A middle-ground between hiring professional movers and moving on your own, Pods allow you to pack up your belongings into a shipping container and have it delivered to your new location.
• Moving on Your Own: Moving on your own is obviously the cheapest option. In this case, your biggest cost is gas, rather than labor. However, make sure you’re prepared to do the heavy lifting.

• Schedule your move off-season

  Once you’ve budgeted your options above and come to a decision, the next step is to schedule your move. If you’ve decided to get help from the pros, you should be able to save some cash by moving during an off-peak time. Moving season picks up from June to September; if you can, think about moving in the fall or winter to take advantage of slow season deals.
  That said, even if a job or prior commitment dictates that you have to move during the summer months, there are still ways to save. Since most moves happen at the beginning or the end of the month, aim to be in the middle. Additionally, rather than moving on a weekend, shoot for mid-week when movers’ schedules will likely be a little slower.
  
   

  Don’t pay for packing materials

  After you’ve decluttered, it’s time to actually pack up your belongings. This is where you can incur one of the other biggest costs to moving: buying boxes and other packing materials. However, with a little legwork, you can defray this cost. Liquor stores and wholesale grocery chains often give away their extra boxes for free. Additionally, it’s worth checking local freecycle sites to see if anyone is getting rid of their boxes after a move.
  You can also get creative and save on bubble wrap. Rather than rushing out to buy it, consider using soft items that you already own to protect your belongings. Items like sheets, towels and oven mitts are perfect for protecting your breakable items. They also come at no additional cost.

Smart Moving Supplies That Will Make Moving Easier

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If you’re getting ready to move, you probably have an idea of the basic moving supplies you’ll need: boxes, tape and paper. However, we’ve compiled ten smart moving supplies you’ll want to add to make your move easier. These eco-friendly options will organize and protect your valuables for the big day.

1. Tag-A-Room Color-Coded Moving Box Labels, $10

Save time unpacking by labeling all moving boxes with the room they belong in. These color-coded, pre-printed labels make the task of sorting items (and finding them after the move) much easier.

2. 4 Bedroom Labeling Tape, $24

3. Sortly Smartphone App

With Sortly, you can create a visual inventory of all of your possessions for a move by simply snapping pictures of the items with your smartphone. Share your list of items and their value with your movers, add detailed notes or instructions for items or boxes, or create moving checklists. You can sort your item inventory into boxes and create custom labels with QR scan codes that tell you which items are inside the box.

 

4. 32 Glass Cardboard Divider, $21

This collapsible cardboard divider can fit into a box, bin or bag and keeps fragile items apart safely. You can also pack drinking glasses, candles, vases, spillable liquids, ornaments and bottles to protect and sort quickly.

5. Self Adhesive Brown Paper Tape, $13

Brown paper tape is sturdy and easy to tear from the roll. The adhesive sticks to nearly any surface. Once you’ve sealed your boxes with it, you can also write on it for labeling purposes, making it one of the most versatile moving supplies.

6. EcoBox Biodegradable Bubble Wrap, $27

This bubble wrap is an earth-friendly alternative to the standard kind. It’s biodegradable, so it doesn’t end up as part of the growing landfill problem.

7. Ransack Geami WrapPak Kit, $72

For an alternative to bubble wrap, try this recyclable padded wrap. The honeycomb cuts in the brown paper add dimension and cushioning, while the dispenser lines the honeycomb paper with white tissue to protect your fragile items.

8. Moving Bin Rentals

Concerned about the sustainability of buying and disposing of cardboard boxes? Why not rent reusable plastic moving bins instead? You’ll save a few trees and protect your items in stackable, water-resistant bins of all shapes and sizes. There are several moving rental bin services across the country:

Minimize Your Hassle With 3 Tips to Save Time When Moving

There’s no getting around it: Moving is a hassle. Fortunately, a little prep work can mean the difference between a minor headache and an all-out life takeover. Putting a few tips to work can help you save time when moving so you can get to the fun part – enjoying life in your new place – faster.

The key to a successful move is getting set up before the movers arrive. Moves get challenging because there are so many pieces in play at the same time. Handle some of them in advance and you’ll give yourself breathing room. You might even find that, when you’re not feeling so rushed, you enjoy the process of packing up and getting organized in your new space. Here are three key things you can do to save time when moving.

1. Look around before you buy packing materials

Investing in packing materials costs you more than money. Think about the time you spend picking them up and the time you spend taping boxes together. That’s enough of a hassle, but you also have to factor in time on the other side of the move. You know those pesky piles of cardboard and newspaper that accumulate as you unpack? It can take a whole afternoon to get rid of them.

Instead, use what you already have. Don’t pack up bedding; use it to pad fragile items. Laundry baskets come in handy, especially if you’re making multiple trips between your old and new place, since they’re easy to load up and lug. Instead of buying and constructing a wardrobe box, grab a trash bag from under your sink. Snip a hole in the top and thread your hangers through it, and your clothes are ready to travel to their new closet.

2. Change your address the easy way

One of the most annoying parts of relocating is updating your address. It can take time to get everything changed over and, all too often, you won’t remember that last account until months later. Minimize the headache of missing your mail by updating your address with the USPS.

Filling out this online form lets the USPS know that you want all mail forwarded to your new address. Buy yourself some time to go through all your accounts by taking five minutes to let the post office know about your move.

3. Pack a go bag

Before you pack anything else, pack a bag with everything you’ll need on night one in your new place. You’re probably going to be tired when you finally settle in for that first night. Nothing’s worse than thinking you were done with the major task of moving, only to discover you have no idea which box (or, worse yet, boxes) holds the stuff you need to finally climb into bed.

More ways to save time when moving

We’re here for you during your move. If you want even more tips to help you streamline this process and shrink the inevitable moving headache, we’ve got you covered. If you have any more tips, we’d love to hear them below.