Moving from one area to another is awesome. You will meet new people in the new place, experience the new environment, and learn several things about the new place.
However, moving can be expensive and tiresome. Whether it is a long-distance move or a local move, the costs can be very high. You need to purchase the right packing materials, hire a moving company, and be ready for any unexpected expenses.
Hence, you need to plan and have a budget for moving. Happily, there are many ways to reduce moving expenses. One way is through packing most of your belongings yourself. You will reduce a big percentage of moving expenses if you save on packing. Below are a few affordable ways to pack for a move.
Five cheap ways to pack for a move
1. Declutter
One great strategy to save on packing when moving is to declutter. Keep in mind that the fewer items you move, the fewer packing materials you will purchase, and the less expensive the move will be.
Moreover, it is good to get rid of items you do not need in the new home. So, before you start packing, sort out your belongings and only keep what you need to move. Whether a household move or an office move, make sure you declutter before your hired movers arrive.
Doing away with items you do not need will save you a lot of money. For example, if the professional movers are charging by the hour, it means fewer boxes and thus fewer trips from your house to the truck in both places.
In addition, you can make money by selling some of the items. If you have an appliance, for example, which you do not need in the new home, you can sell it. Also, you can donate or throw away other items you can live without.
There are higher chances that you will find many things you forgot you had. You will find clothes, books, shoes, utensils, and others you do not need.
2. Pack your belongings
Another way to save on packing expenses is to pack your items yourself. You may not need to pay someone to pack your household things. Whether you have time or you are busy, you need to look for time to pack the items by yourself.
If you start packing early, you can pack all your belongings. Moreover, you will manage to get rid of things you do not need. Do a little-by-little every day; you will be able to pack the entire house.
For instance, you can spare 15 to 20 minutes every day to pack a few boxes. And by the time you reach the moving week, you will be left with fragile and large items.
If you cannot disassemble the large furniture pieces, you can hire a professional to do it for you. But make sure you have done what you can.
3. Avoid expensive packing supplies
Since packing supplies are expensive, this is another sector where you can save a lot of money. However, most people are not aware of this strategy, and they end up spending a lot of money on packing boxes and other materials.
For instance, you do not need to purchase moving boxes from a moving company. You can get suitable packing boxes from stores, restaurants, and other shops that throw out boxes after use. Some of them will give you the boxes for free.
Also, you may not need to purchase bubble wrap. You can be a bit creative and use the materials you have. For example, you can use blankets, towels and linens to wrap your breakables. The only item you need to buy is the packing tape.
Hence, it is possible to avoid buying expensive packing materials. By being creative and searching for free packing boxes, you can save a lot of money.
4. Compare professional moving companies
Professional moving companies do not charge the same. Some are more expensive than others. Hence, it is a good idea to compare various companies. However, the moving cost should not be the only determining factor.
Nevertheless, it would help if you made a little comparison. It is possible to get a reliable moving company that is cheaper than others. In addition, make sure you ask whether there are hidden charges.
5. Move off-season
You need to note that most movers charge more during a moving season. Hence, if you want to save on moving expenses, it might be a good idea to move off-season. Moving off-season means relocating during the winter months and on weekdays.
Since most people love relocating during the summer months when kids are at home or weekends, you can reduce the move charges by avoiding peak months and days.
Bottom-line
Packing is a tiresome process. However, you can make it simpler by being prepared and starting early. You should avoid packing at the last minute or when the movers are on the way.
Hiring a reliable, professional moving company is very important. You do not want to engage with movers who do not know how to handle valuable items. Also, you want a skilled crew who will save on time and money.
