Moving is a lot of things -- expensive being one of them! If you're preparing to move and you want to save a little bit of cash as you settle in your new space, here are some tips to help you out.
Pack Everything Yourself
If you, like almost 28% homeowners, get the urge to move every five years or so, you're probably all too familiar with the unappealing prospect of packing up your whole house. But it doesn't have to be all bad! And when your moving goal is to save as much money as possible, packing your own boxes seems like a small price to pay. You don't have to complete this task all on your own, either! If you have a few close friends who are willing to help, make an event out of it! Order in and stage an all-day packing party together. This is also an excellent opportunity to get your family involved in the move. Task your kids with packing up their rooms to give them license over how their belongings are put away and to take a little bit of the burden off of yourself.
Downsize Before Your Move
Practically speaking, your move will likely be less expensive if you have fewer items that need to be moved. The weeks and months before the big day are a golden opportunity to downsize your possessions. It's possible you can make a little bit of money while you're doing this, too! If you're not sure where to start when it comes to downsizing your belongings, here are a few tips to help you decide what to do with what needs to go:
New Items - If you have items that have never been opened or used before, it's not a bad idea to consider selling them. If you have the time, it might be worth staging a yard sale for some of these items. You could also gift them to family or friends before you move or consider donating them.
Lightly Used Items - If you're unsure about a lightly used piece of furniture during your move, it's not a bad idea to list it on an online marketplace to see if you can get some money for it. This is a great way to put some cash away for furnishing your new home, too. Lightly used clothing and electronics can be donated.
Heavily Used Items - Heavily used items, unless they're in superb condition, should be tossed or recycled. Heavily used clothing, in particular, is likely better off with a recycling program than it is at a secondhand store or donation center.
It might be tough to part with some of your belongings, but this is a great way to put a little bit of extra money in your pocket and save yourself some trouble during your move. And considering that the average home spends between 65 and 93 days on the market, you have plenty of time to get this sorted out!
Rent a Moving Truck
This might sound like a little bit of an investment, but the truth is that renting a moving truck will save you money in the long run. When you invest in a moving truck for your big day, you're eliminating a few things. First, you're eliminating the need for a moving service to come and load up your belongings to deliver them to your new house. Second, you're cutting down on back-and-forth trips between your old house and your new one. The less time you spend on the commute, the better. In addition, you can rest easy knowing that your truck is secure and in excellent shape. Your sedan or family SUV might not be able to handle the same load that a moving truck can!
Saving money on moving expenses means you can splurge on other items once you're settled into your new home. For instance, if you want to invest in a video surveillance system, which is the most effective burglary deterrent, it pays to save some cash while you're moving.
No comments:
Post a Comment