Moving to a new house is often thought to be one of the most stressful and tiring occasions in life. Not only is it physically and emotionally taxing, but moving can also exert a strain on your wallet. From the cost of conveyors and estate agents if you are looking to buy a house, to the removal company, you will have to shell out quite a bit of money. This is not good news if you are on a tight budget.
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to save money on your move.
- Declutter your house. The more items you need to move, the more your removal company will charge, so take stock of everything in your home. Take a look at each one of your items and categorise them based on whether you need it at your new house or not. Getting rid of items you don’t need really goes a long way when it comes to lowering the price for your movers.
- Sell the items you don’t need, either online or in a car boot sale, to raise funds to offset your moving costs.
- Get moving boxes and supplies for free! Stop by your local supermarket and ask for any unused boxes – they are usually more than happy to offload their boxes. Ask friends and family for any boxes they have. And instead of using packing papers, try using newspaper, linen, or clothing.
- Time your move to avoid periods of high demand. Most people move on the weekend, during bank holidays, or at the last or first day of the month. Try moving on a weekday or during off-peak months to get a discounted price.
- Know the factors that affect removal company prices. If you know how movers calculate their prices, then you can find ways to save money easily. For example, extra services such as packing can drive up prices quite a lot. In this case, you might find it better to pack all, or at least some, of your items to save on movers.
- If you are looking to furnish your new home, consider looking for secondhand furniture – these usually go for cheap or even free! Or try making the most out of what you already have. With a bit of fresh paint and DIY imagination, you can transform any old chair or table to match your new house.
- Customise your needs with the services of removal companies. To find the best match, get quotes from multiple movers to really see which company has the most value for you.
- Once you move, resist the urge to splurge. Only make purchases that are absolutely necessary, and even then, make sure you find the cheapest option. If you start spending immensely as soon as you finish moving, all of your efforts to save money will have gone to waste!
Moving house is a lot of hard work and can be very expensive. However, with some effort, you can take advantage of many opportunities to save. With these tips, you’ll be able to lower moving costs significantly—money that can be spent on more important things like family or your new home!
Do you have any other tips to lowering your moving costs? Please share them in the comments below!
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You never know how much stuff you have until you start to pack. When moving – especially for long distances – secure packing can often make a significant difference in the condition of your possessions once they reach your destination, so make sure that you have enough boxes, tape, and bubble wrap on hand.
Start collecting packing materials as soon as possible. Ask for old boxes at work (some companies have special policies about taking boxes or used packing materials home, so be sure to ask your supervisor before you start grabbing boxes) and ask friends and neighbors for their boxes, old milk crates, and packing materials.