Relocating is an expensive endeavor, especially if you have lots of moving boxes to take along or details to finalize. While it might be the last thing in your mind, figuring out when to move can save you not only lots of money but also a number of headaches.

One of the most important things to consider is the cost of your mortgage. If you already own a home and are planning on buying another in your destination city, you need to decide how you’ll manage the expenses associated with it. Are you planning on selling the old house before you buy the new one? Can you handle two mortgages? Would it be better to rent a home until the old one sells? The answers depend on how much money you have available or whether you can pay two mortgages at once.

Moving expenses and shipping your boxes to another state might be cheaper during the summer or at the end of a calendar month, since these are the preferred times for moving and moving companies can get away with charging higher fees. If you’re shipping moving boxes that you need immediately upon arrival, keep in mind that winter weather can cause delays on the roads and complicate your plans.

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Packing up the garage can be a little intimidating. Not only do most people keep all sorts of mechanical equipment here, but the garage is usually where unused items, broken or discarded pieces and even off-season decorations end up. When you’re ready to start packing your garage, here are a few tips to make the process as painless as possible.

Decide what things you absolutely must bring with you. Get rid of anything that you use only occasionally or that has passed its useful timeline. Sell heavy or bulky items such as patio umbrellas or grills unless they’re one-of-a-kind and it would be too difficult or expensive to replace them.

Buy heavy-duty cardboard boxes that will stand the weight of equipment and metal parts. Secure them with packing tape all around before you start boxing things away, as the boxes might be too heavy to maneuver properly after the packing is finished.

Secure tools and small metal parts with plastic tabs or place them inside Taperware containers. Make sure you fill the containers to the top so there is no shifting. Place the full containers at the bottom of the cardboard boxes to avoid damaging other items.

Take apart any moving parts, blades or glass sections. Wrap everything individually using bubble wrap for fragile items. Pack everything in bags (so the parts don’t become separated) and then pack inside the same box. Dismantle patio furniture if possible.

Contact a car shipping company if you’re planning on taking your car along. If you’re not moving too far, consider driving the car yourself. Not only will this save you money, but you can also use the backseat and trunk to move extra items that are not allowed in moving trucks, such as plants, or items that are not protected by insurance, such as photo albums, jewelry and CDs or DVDs.

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When packing boxes to move, it makes sense to put aside a few items that you will need during the process. A survival cardboard box should contain items that you will need right before you’re leaving and after everything else has been packed, as well as items to be used as soon as you arrive to your new home and before you start unpacking. Examples of things to put in these such moving boxes include:

· A couple of sheets or large towels. You can use one to cover yourself and one to cover the window in the bedroom, so the light doesn’t bother you in the morning. This is especially important if the curtains are still not up in your new home.

· Toilet paper, toothpaste, soap and toothbrush.

· Any medications you need to take on a daily basis.

· A couple of light bulbs, in case there aren’t any already there. You want to make sure you have lights on your first night there.

· Cleaning supplies, including garbage bags, paper towels, small broom (take the handle off so it fits in the box), a multipurpose spray cleaner, bleach and a few rags.

· Basic kitchen utensils, such as knives and forks, a couple of plates and cups and instant coffee or tea bags. You should also research in advance for local food delivery shops and write down their phone numbers in a piece of paper, so you can get pizza or Chinese food (instead of cooking) on your first night.

· Small tools to assemble furniture or fix doorknobs and other essentials on your first day.

· Pet food and their dishes.

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As you prepare to pack and move, you probably are keeping track of the big things, such as buying moving boxes, contracting the moving company and getting your stuff packed. In the chaos of the move, however, it’s easier to forget the smaller things. Things that can make the move a lot less painful and the start of your new life a lot easier.

1. Let everybody know you’re moving. This includes the post office (so they can forward your email), magazines you subscribe to, friends and family members, and bill collectors and credit card companies.

2. Talk to your insurance company to inform them about your new address and to ensure coverage continues without interruption.

3. Call companies to schedule turning off your utilities at your old home and turning them on at your new address. You can arrange this in advance and simply give them a date and time (morning, mid-afternoon or end of the day).

4. Find out in advance if you need special paperwork to move your pets with you. If you are planning on stopping en route and sleeping in a hotel, make sure to call in advance and find out if they accept pets. Make a reservation if possible.

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Moving out of a rental place is a lot different than selling your house and moving. For starters, moving dates are usually not flexible. This means you will have to much of the prep work in advance and ensure that everything is packed in moving boxes and out the door by the time you’re meant to turn the keys in. Not doing so could result in penalties or problems with the landlord. Depending on your lease contract, you may need to give advance notice about the move. The requirement is usually 30 or 60 days and you may have to forgo the security deposit if you’re moving before your lease is officially over.

When packing household items in boxes, keep your camera out. It’s always a good idea to take photos of any damage you caused, so they are properly documented in case of a disagreement. This is especially important if you had previous run-ins with the landlord and have a reason to believe he may try to keep the deposit. If possible, arrange for the landlord to tour the place with you after you’ve finished packing all your boxes. That way there’s no mistake about what’s going and what’s staying.

Before the tour, make sure you clean the apartment. You don’t have to shine the floors or shampoo the rugs, but make the place presentable. And always place all the cardboard boxes (already sealed with tape) in a single room, so you can move around freely and inspect every corner.

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Moving doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, moving can be done for just a few dollars if you plan it well and are willing to creative when it comes to packing boxes, organizing and delivery.

1. Go through your stuff before you buy moving boxes and packing moving supplies material. Discard everything you don’t plan on taking along, decide what needs to be boxed and what can be wrapped or shipped as-is and then make a list of the moving supplies you need. That way you won’t buy more than needed.

2. Throw away and discard as much as you can. Only take along things you love. It will save money on moving and storing. Donate, sell or give away what you can replace for little money.

3. Do not use a storage unit. Make sure movers have a place to deliver your things to. Either wait a few days longer so the lease is already running or get there in advance so you can wait for it to be delivered.

4. Ask friends for help. Don’t abuse their generosity, but do ask for help if you’re running out of time or simply can’t afford to pay somebody to help you pack. If you ask for help, be specific. Tell the person what you need and make it easy for them to get on it.

5. Drive your own truck. Hire or borrow one if possible. Avoid the all-included moving experience, in which professionals come around to help you pack. It’s comfortable (and a must if you have antiques or valuable objects) but also expensive.

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Packing your moving boxes for a smaller place.

Downsizing has become increasingly popular, as people are trying to live more simply, save more money or buying their own (small) space. If you’re moving from a large place to a much smaller one, packing boxes and getting ready is essential for a smooth transition. 

Don’t pack anything moving boxes until you are completely sure it will fit into your new home. If the house is smaller, chances are the spaces to fit furniture will also be. Measure walls, windows, floors and ceilings to know what you can still use and you will need to leave behind.

There are certain items that fall into the “maybe” category, as in “maybe you should leave them behind.” These are: modular seating, love seats, pillows and rugs and glass coffee tables. These are all difficult to place in a home with a different floor plan, are cheaper to replace than move or have too much of a chance to break during transport to be worth the effort.

When it comes to packing items inside moving boxes, be ruthless. Unloved books, big potted plants, appliances you never use, artwork (unless it’s valuable or you really love it) and old, worn up bric-a-brac should be donated or discarded.

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Having a garage sale before you move can not only earn you some money to help you pay for the moving expenses such as moving boxes, but it can also save you the cost of moving heavy equipment. If you’re thinking about setting up a garage sale, these are just some of the things you should consider selling rather than moving:

• Large appliances such as refrigerator, washer and dryer and freezer
• Fireplace screens and tools (even if you have a fireplace in the new home, chances are it will be a different size)
• Chandeliers
• Shelving systems
• Workout equipment such as treadmills
• Paints, lighter fluids and even butane tanks used in camping stoves
• Pool table (unless you’re willing to pay for special handling)
• Firewood
• Swing set or playground equipment, including sandboxes
• Holiday decorations (unless Christmas is next week and you won’t have time to replace the tree)
• CDs and DVDs (take just the few you truly love)
• Toys (especially if your kids have outgrown them)
• Furniture that doesn’t match the color or style of your new home, unless you plan on reupholstering or repainting everything

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If you don’t love it, don’t pack it into the cardboard moving boxes to begin with. Moving stuff is expensive and if you can easily and cheaply replace something once you arrive, then don’t take it along.

1. Wardrobe moving boxes can become heavy when packed to the brim. Be ruthless when going through your clothes. If it doesn’t fit, you don’t love the color or you haven’t worn it in over a year, toss it instead of packing boxes with it.
2. Other things that make no sense to pack into moving boxes and take along (unless they have sentimental value or they’re antiques): rugs, workout equipment, handyman tools, playground equipment, heavy furniture and CDs and DVDs that you don’t plan on watching again anytime soon.
3. Don’t pack anything moving boxes that may be difficult to insure or may affect your claims. This includes items forbidden by moving companies, such as flammable items, aerosol cans, frozen foods and valuable paperwork. They should be either left behind or carry in smaller moving boxes that can fit in your own car.
4. Buy your packing boxes and moving supplies well in advance and pack with time. This will allow you to throw away whatever you don’t want or need and to donate things that still a useful life but you no longer need.

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One cost you may not be aware when moving is repacking. Every company has the right to check your moving boxes and larger items to ensure they are properly packed. This is a way for them to protect themselves against insurance claims that arise because an improperly-packed article broke during transport.

If the company establishes that your items are not properly packed or protected, they may ask you to repack. However, if time is tight and the inspection doesn’t happen until the moving boxes are already on the moving truck, you may be charged a repacking fee for packing boxes or items like this.

To avoid this, make sure your items are secured and properly placed inside moving boxes. Larger items should be covered with moving blankets or bubble wrap that has been taped in place to prevent movement.

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