Moving is a chapter in your life that opens doors to exciting adventures like discovering local restaurants and exploring the city’s hidden gems, but do you know how to save more money during the move?
Whether you’re just getting started or are deep into apartment or house hunting, creating a plan and a budget for your move is essential to staying in control of your finances. Here are five recommendations to maximize your time and money while moving on a budget:
1. Declutter before the move.
Take time to declutter every room in your home prior to moving. Knock out decluttering faster by creating piles of items you’ll keep and donate to stay organized. You can even add a few dollars back to your savings by selling gently used items on websites like Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist. As you complete one room at a time leading up to your moving date, you’ll spend less money on packing supplies and less time packaging items you no longer need.
2. Make a moving budget.
Budgeting is key to a financially successful move. While most people hire movers, the average cost for a local move ranges from $600 to $1,650, and an out-of-state move averages between $2,200 to $5,700.1 Instead of hiring professional movers, organize a self-move to put the expense toward savings or other moving needs.
Get moving easier by knowing exactly how much you need to save.
Create a budget specific to your moving expenses with our complimentary goals-based savings calculator.
3. Get creative with your packing material.
Did you know boxes, packing paper, and packing tape can add up in your moving budget? A studio can require $69-90 worth of moving supplies, and supplies can cost $311-404 for a three-bedroom home. Packing paper can be $9 per roll, and a dolly for heavy items can be about $35.2
Cut moving costs by using towels, linens, and casual clothing to wrap delicate items, and newspaper or shopping bags to substitute packing paper. Regardless of what materials you use to pack your items, make sure everything is wrapped as best as possible for your items to arrive in one piece.
4. Pack what you can in advance.
Save more time by packing items you know you won’t need during the move. This might include kitchenware, extra clothing, or electronics. By packing these items ahead of time, you’re paving the way to an easier move and can focus your energy toward bigger items like furniture and appliances on your moving day.
5. Shop for the right insurance coverage.
Make sure you shop for renter’s or homeowner’s insurance to save more money while staying covered with an affordable, dependable policy. If you’re looking for insurance policies with the best pricing possible, FAIRWINDS Insurance Services, LLC can help you navigate through premiums, limits, and requirements.
Now that you have several time-saving and budget-friendly strategies, you’ll stress less about breaking the bank and spend more time enjoying your new home. Do you have a family member or friend making a move soon? Share these recommendations to encourage them to save and create a moving budget ahead of time.
For even more tips on how to save money, be sure to check out the Financial Freedom Education Center by FAIRWINDS for the latest quick reads, webinars, videos, and more.
1 How Much Does it Cost to Move? - https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/storage-and-organization/hire-a-moving-service/
2 How Much Do Moving Boxes and Supplies Cost? - https://home.costhelper.com/moving-box-supplies.html