How to Save Money On a Move: Local and Long Distance
Moving can be a stressful situation, whether it's short or long distance. The entire process can eat up your time, your physical strength, and your money. We can help you resolve one of those issues, however. We can give you some tips to save money on a move.
Depending on where, when, and how you decide to move, the cost of moving may vary. But regardless of that, you can always make choices which will save you some money. These are 20 things you can do to reduce the costs associated with relocating.
1. Create a Budget To Save On Bills
The first thing you need to do before you start your moving journey is to create a budget to save on bills. List all the expenses you expect to have, including fees that you might think are unimportant. The goal is to overestimate a little so that you won't be blindsided when you start accumulating costs.
Calculate your available funding after you've gathered all of your financial resources. Create a realistic budget that aligns with what you have and then stick to it. The tips that you will read in this blog will help you to stick to the budget you set and save money on a move.
2. Ask Your Employer For Relocation Assistance
If you want to know how to save money on bills for a move, you can start with your employer. Your employer might be able to cover some of the costs of your move if you're doing it for a new job opportunity. Ask your employer if they offer relocation assistance packages. They may provide you with a straight stipend that you can use for your move, or they may reimburse you for what you spend on certain aspects of the move.
Relocation packages cover a wide variety of costs, such as moving company expenses, fuel costs, food, lodging, and more.
Every company has different guidelines. You can save thousands of dollars on your move if you have a generous employer.
3. Use Your Paid Time Off To Move
Another way you can save money on a move is by using your paid personal time. Many employers offer PTO time to their employees, and the employees accrue them as they work.
Paid time off allows you to earn the same hourly wage that you earn when you're at work while you're enjoying a day off.
Therefore, you can take a few days off for your move and still earn money as if you were at work. Check your benefits to see if you've accrued any PTO time, and use it to make your journey less stressful on your finances. That's how to save money on bills.
4. Compare Utility Providers
You're going to have to set up utilities before you move, and you're going to want to save money on them. You can cut some of the costs of your utilities by comparing providers in the area. The comparison tool will help you save on bills by listing the providers and the costs they charge for each unit of energy. If you're fortunate, your new residence will have several providers who can serve you.
Use a reliable comparison tool to search for the provider that offers rates that are the easiest on your wallet.
Conduct additional research to ensure that the candidate companies provide excellent products and customer service. Choose the one that you feel is the best choice.
5. Sell Unwanted Items Online Or Offline
Decluttering is an excellent way to save money on a move. The fewer items you have, the less room you'll require for truck space if you have to rent a moving vehicle. Your best option is to go through your garage, your shed, and your entire home and look for unwanted items that may be of some value to someone else.
You can use a variety of platforms and processes to sell your items:
You can set everything up on tables and have a yard sale over the weekend.
You can rent a table at the flea market and sell your items.
Alternatively, you can list them online on an auction site like eBay.
You'll kill two birds with one stone that way. You will earn extra money, and you'll lighten the load for the move, as well. It's a win-win situation for you.
6. Sell Your Recyclables To a Scrap Mart
Recycling companies will pay you cash upfront if you bring them items that they can use. Recyclers will buy electronic devices, appliances, batteries, cans, and more. You can even get some cash in your pocket if you have a junk car you no longer want.
Search for reliable scrap marts in your area and request a quote for the items you have. You may be surprised at how much money you can get for items that you didn't think were valuable.
7. Donate To Charity For Tax Credits
Donating to charity has many benefits to it:
First, you'll feel good about yourself because you gave something to someone who needed it.
Secondly, it will reduce the number of items you'll have to lug with you when you move.
Another perk is that you can claim a tax deduction for each item you donate to charity.
Win-Win Situation
You can use the IRS website to search for charities that will qualify you for the deduction.
You can donate items such as clothing, cookware, automobiles, cellular phones, and more.
Charities need caring people such as yourself to offer goods that can help other people. You need the tax deduction, so doing it will give you another win.
8. Apply For a Loan To Save Money On a Move
It might be a good idea for you to apply for a loan to help you with your moving expenses. It might not save you money in the traditional sense, but it will allow you to keep money in your pocket and repay the loan proceeds over a comfortable stretch of time. We can help you find a loan that matches your needs so that you can have a hassle-free transition to your new home.
9. Take Advantage Of Promotional Deals
One of the best tips on how to save on bills we can give you is to look for promotional deals. The time that you are relocating is one of the best times to save on bills. A lot of phone companies and cable companies offer fantastic deals and discounts to new residents. You should take advantage of this by visiting the websites of some providers and taking notes on the deals they offer.
You might come across something that gives you a discounted monthly price in exchange for a 12-month contract.
You might stumble upon a deal that gives you the first month off of service.
Alternatively, you could grab hold of a bundled deal that you can't deny.
Set aside some time to search for new resident promos and save yourself a heap of cash when you get to your new location.
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10. Hunt For Free Packing Boxes
A lot of the money that people spend on moving goes to the packing boxes. You will need heaps of boxes to put all the things you intend to take to the new location. One way you can cut the cost is by going on a scavenger hunt for free packing boxes.
Start by looking around the house to see if you have any boxes left over from items you had people ship to you in the past.
Next, you can visit local grocery stores and convenience stores to see if they'll be willing to give you their unused boxes. Try to visit them on a day that they have a truck delivery, and they're putting out stock. They may be willing to give you the boxes just to get rid of the mounds they have in the store.
Another place you can find boxes is right at your place of employment. Go to your employer's receiving area and see what you can find. You'll save hundreds of dollars on boxes, and you'll have fun on the hunt, too.
11. Find Substitutes For Packing Materials
You will also need materials such as bubble wrap and packing peanuts that will keep your items secure while you transport them in the moving vehicle.
You can substitute the moving materials with newspapers, cardboard, used linens, and other things.
You don't have to buy fancy packing materials if you want to save money on a move. All you need to do is create a safe boundary for each item. You can do that with household items. Of course, you'll have to go on another scavenger hunt to find those things, but we promise you'll have fun. The only thing you may have to spend money on is the packing tape, but it's relatively inexpensive.
12. Claim Your Moving Expenses On Taxes
You can save money on a move by getting a credit applied to your taxes. Keep all the receipts you accumulated for various moving expenses. Add them up, staple them, and put them in a safe place. Claim them when you do your income taxes, and you'll see a pretty decent tax deduction. Make sure you keep your receipts if you e-file as the IRS may want to see proof of what you claim.
The rule-of-thumb process is to keep your receipts for at least three years.
13. Shop At the Dollar Store For Refreshments
You may have to buy food for the people who are taking their time to help with your moving project. You don't have to kill your wallet to do so, however. You can take a ride to the dollar store and find a vast assortment of refreshments, snacks, and whole meals that everyone can enjoy.
You can even find a cheap grill and have a cookout if you want to be an extra-generous host. Your moving helpers will probably love you forever if you do that. Make sure you buy plenty of water so that everyone stays hydrated while they're doing all that hard work.
14. Find Someone With a Moving Truck
Another way to cut the costs associated with moving is to find someone who has a reliable truck or van. You can negotiate with that person and agree on a reasonable price for their help. They might help you move or lend you their vehicle for a few days so that you can move yourself. You could pay a flat rate and agree to fill the car with gas when you're finished. That way, you can skip hiring a moving company and stay within the budget you set.
15. Compare Moving Companies
You can still save money on a move even if you do have to hire a moving company. The key is to make a comparison so that you find the best rates for all the services you need. This is something that you have to be careful about and take your time. Don't rush.
Compare at least five different companies before you make your decision.
Conduct in-depth research of each company so that you know how each one of them handles their customer service. Speak with a representative about deals, discounts, and promotions to ensure that you get the best price and the broadest range of coverage. Take a deep breath and let the professionals handle the entire move if you so desire.
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16. Move During the Off-Peak Season
The time you move has a lot to do with the prices you pay. Try to move during an off-peak season if you can delay the move until then. The best time to move is September through April. Moving experts say that more than 70 percent of moves occur during the spring and summer months. Therefore, you should move when there's a lower demand for movers. You'll have a higher chance of getting a price that fits into your budget. You could also be more specific with your move time and set it up for the least expensive day of the week and time frame. Weekdays are less costly than weekend days, and early mornings are better for traffic. Additionally, you might want to move in the middle of the month when the demand is slightly lower.
17. Hire Your Family Members to Help You Move
You can save money by enlisting your family members to help you in all aspects of the moving process. That way, you won't have to pay for a moving company. Make a kind request to your spouse, teenage children, friends, and loved ones to assist you with packing, loading, and maybe even driving the moving vehicle. If the kind request doesn't work, you can always back it up with a financial offer and some amazing snacks. The more help you get from your support system, the more you can save money on a move.
18. Use a Cashback Gas Card
Fuel costs make up a considerable portion of long-distance move expenses. You can offset those expenses by using a cashback gas card for fueling and refueling. Cashback cards reward anywhere from 1 percent to 5 percent to cardholders who purchase gas. It's not something you will see right away, but you will get some money back. You can redeem it in cash, or you can use it as a credit to pay your credit card bill. The choice is yours.
19. Use Apps to Find the Cheapest Gas
Another way to save money on a move is to find the cheapest gas. Many smartphone applications are available that can help you do that. Gas Buddy, Waze, and Gas Guru are just a few examples of some available apps.
It's important to save every penny when you're in the midst of a relocation. Take a few seconds to download one of those apps so that you can find the best prices during your journey.
20. Buy a Toll Pass to Save Money on a Move
Now, we'll tell you how to save money on bills for your transportation. A good way to save money on a move is to purchase a toll pass. This is especially helpful if you are making a long-distance move. The toll pass will allow you to breeze right past the toll booth without having to take any money out of your pocket to pay for the toll. Buying a pass can save you both time and money. It can also be helpful to you after you move if you travel a lot. Check with the Department of Transportation to find information on toll passes that can help you save money on a move.
Final Thoughts
Take those tips and use as many of them as you can to save money on a move. You'll find that you have more money left in your pocket that you can use to spruce up your new home the way you like it.