Moving on a Budget – Finding Cheap Ways to Move

Relocating your home or office is usually a non-optional task. Many who move are doing so because they are forced to. Whether it be because of a career change, downsize, or other reasons, it may be in your best interest to move for as cheap as possible.

There are a few parts of the relocation process where you can save big and a few that you just have to deal with. Here are a few areas where you can save money during your move.

Packing Materials

Many moving companies will sell their boxes to the customers and they are not cheap. Movers will charge anywhere from $1 to $10 depending on the box, and by the end of the move you realize that the best packing materials to use when moving can cost hundreds.

A good place to go (besides using dirty, broken grocery store boxes) for inexpensive boxes or packing materials is Lowe’s or Home Depot. They recently added a moving section to their stores and are quite reasonable with the prices. Another great place to look is Craigslist by simply searching for “boxes” in the search box of your city. You can also look for others who are moving into you neighborhood and see if you can buy their boxes for a discounted price. Ask your movers if they will rent used boxes. Some movers will do this for a small deposit.

Other materials such as tape and packing paper are cheap enough as is but if you are really on a budget then you can bargain for such items with the movers in exchange for your business.

Get a Head Start on the Move

When moving on a budget you can easily save a lot of money by moving and packing certain items yourself. This usually pertains to local moves. Since local movers charge by the hour, any packing or moving you can complete ahead of time will certainly save money. Leave only items such as dressers, beds, sofas, tables, large appliances etc. Any part of the move that can be done yourself, you should take advantage of the opportunity to save money.

If you are moving long distance, then you can save money by selling some items. Long distance movers charge by the weight of your goods. If you have items such as a weight set, it may be more expensive to move that across country then selling it and buying another one at the destination. Other items such as large entertainment centers or any others that are going out of style anyways should probably be sold. Furniture items are getting less and less bulky nowadays so take advantage of this opportunity on your long distance move.

Find Good Movers

Find a moving company that offers a good price. Don’t always go with the cheapest moving company because many cheap movers provide cheap services. Never hire a cheap moving company because usually they are low balling the price in order to get your business. Go with a company that offers reasonable prices and has excellent reviews with the Better Business Bureau and Yelp.

When to Move

In some cases, moving companies will charge more on busier times of the week, month, or year. Usually moving companies are busiest on the weekends, end of month and summer season. Not all movers have different rates but it can’t hurt to ask them if they can discount your move if your schedule is flexible.