Moving On A Budget
Get discount boxes and moving supplies for quality packing on a budget.
Need to move house but can’t afford paying for a rental van? Don’t despair. There are many ways to cut down your expenses when it comes to moving and relocating. Some are obvious, while others would be considered… well, creative.
First things first: work out a budget. Figure out what’s the minimum amount of money you need to move and what things you can’t do without. For example, if you are moving cross-country or to another state, you won’t have much choice but to ship or mail your boxes there. And if you have collectibles or fragile items, you may need special packaging to protect it during the move. Don’t skimp on the basic moving supplies.
See if you can find some free moving boxes. Find empty packing boxes or reuse some from previous moves. Use strong plastic bags for light items such as pillows or for last-minute items that you find when looking around the house for the last time. Let people know that you are moving and see if they have anything to offer.
Barter for the expensive stuff. Places like Craigslist.org allow you to post a notice stating what you need and what you can offer in return. For example, you could find somebody with a truck to help you move your furniture and pay that person with an hour of personal training or tax preparation help. When bartering, be creative. Think not only of objects you can barter but also of services or even your time.
Move slowly. If you can afford to move over a period of a couple of weeks, why not use the local public transportation to move the small items? That way you’ll save time and money, as you could either move the large items using a smaller truck, or, better yet, sell them for a profit or leave them behind.
Downsize. Finally, the best way to save money when moving is to get rid of things you no longer need or want. This will result in a smaller load to move and, as a result, a lower price!
