Tips For Saving Money The Next Time You Move
Moving your household can get expensive. You may have to pay deposits on the utilities, down payment, and legal fees when buying a new home, deposits on rental houses, cleaning your old place for the new occupants, and, of course, the actual cost to get your belongings to your new place. While some of these expenses can't be avoided, here are a few simple ways to save some money the next time you have to move.
Have a Yard Sale
Most people have accumulated a lot of stuff while living in one place. Some of this is probably no longer necessary. It may be broken or outgrown, or maybe it just won't fit in the new place properly. Having a yard sale will not only bring in a bit of money but also reduce the amount you need to move. Even if you are going to be doing the actual move on your own, it will reduce the number of trips you need to make in the trucks, saving gas money. If you plan on having a professional moving company do the move, less stuff means a lighter load and a lower price. Most moving companies charge by the weight of what they need to move.
Plan the Move in Advance and During the Week
Most people move on weekends and at the beginning or end of the month. To save money on renting a truck or hiring movers, plan your move for the middle of the month, during the week. Many moving companies will have special deals for those times. By planning in advance you can be sure to get a good deal and all the equipment you need. This will also give you time to get the packing done so you don't have to pay someone to do that for you.
Hire a Moving Company
While you may think that hiring a moving company is going to cost you more money, take a minute and consider the following. Unless you have a large truck or friends with large trucks, you are going to have to rent one. This will cost you a rental fee plus gas and mileage. Using your own vehicle may save you from the rental fee, but you will still have to pay for the gas, and with a smaller vehicle you will end up making a lot of trips and using a lot of gas. Remember, a moving company will charge by the weight of your stuff and how far they have to move it. In addition, you can have the moving company do the job while you are at work so you won't be missing out on any pay.
When it comes down to it, a moving company will set you back a bit of money but not as much as you initially think. However, you will save yourself and your family a lot of hassle and frustration, and you cannot put a price tag on that.