6 Ways to make you save money when moving.

1. Set a Budget (and Stick to It) Moving is notoriously expensive. When you’re juggling a lot of moving (ha) parts, they tend to add up. The price of boxes, bubble wrap, and tape doesn’t seem to be too much individually until you add that together and factor in movers, a truck, insurance, potential storage options, takeout meals (after you pack/before you unpack your kitchen), and all of the new apartments fee and deposits, you can end up spending a lot more than you intended if you’re not careful. That’s why it’s important to set a budget and stick to it when you’re trying to save money while moving. Your budget establishes a baseline, which will be vital when you’re gathering estimates from movers and truck companies. It’ll also help you make decisions regarding what you can splurge on and where you’ve got to reign in your spending to stay within that budget.

2. Move in Winter If you’re looking for deals, your best bet is to move during the offseason, otherwise known as winter. The holiday season, in particular, is actually the best time to land apartment specials. Although moving during the holiday season and the wintertime comes with its own set of challenges, this really is the best time to move if you’re sticking to a strict budget. Since it’s also the least popular time to move, you’ll find plenty of available movers and rental trucks during this time as well. 

3. Find Free Moving Boxes An easy way to cut down on some of your moving costs is to find free moving boxes. Where can you find these free moving boxes, dear reader? You can call up your local grocery stores, bookstores, office supply stores, restaurants, and liquor stores to see if they have any boxes available that they’d be willing to set aside for you. All kinds of stores get their shipments in boxes. All you have to do is ask about them. You can also check online forums such as Nextdoor, Craigslist, and any local Facebook groups. It’s the modern way to ask your neighbor for a hand. If all else fails, ask people you already know have recently moved. They just might be willing to part with their old boxes. 

4. Donate or Sell What You Can You won’t have to move as much when you have less stuff! Selling off the things you don’t use or need will not only lessen the load but also leave you with some extra cash to use toward your moving budget. Even if your old stuff isn’t worth much, donating them will still shorten your move time—and the amount of money you may have to pay hourly movers. 

5. Rent a Moving Truck Instead of opting for a full-service moving company, you can always rent a truck from a service like U-Haul or Penske for a reasonable rate. The cost of renting from a similar service usually includes a one-time fee (around $20 to $50 depending on the size of the truck you’re renting) plus less than a dollar per mile you drive in the truck. You’re also typically responsible for refilling the gas tank to the level it was at when you initially rented the truck.

6. Do the Heavy Lifting Yourself (Negotiate Deals if You Can’t) The cheapest option here is to do the heavy lifting yourself—with the help of willing friends and family members. However, this isn’t always an option. So consider hiring a pair of hourly movers to help you out with the large pieces of furniture you can’t lift yourself. You can hire them for a set number of hours and stick to your schedule so you don’t go over your budget. Don’t skimp on your research before hiring movers! You’ll want to get multiple quotes before you choose the best offer.

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