Tips on Budgeting Moving Expenses

You’re planning a move and it’s nerve-racking. You probably won’t feel comfortable until the moving is done and you start to settle in. You have plenty to take care of months in advance and almost none of it is free. This is why budgeting is so important, like with anything else. The first step is determining what you’re comfortable spending. That might take a bit of research to know exactly what you need and how much certain aspects of the move can cost. The more you know about the different services you’ll need, the better off you will be financially and logistically.

Packing. In almost every aspect of a move, you can do it yourself or pay for someone to do it for you. While you may not think of the packing process in this light, you can actually be assisted by a moving company to pack your belongings. At the minimum, you will have to acquire boxes for your things. Unless you happen to have a bunch of them lying around, you will have to purchase some, along with some other supplies. There are plenty of places to get these, but your mover can likely provide them. It’ll cost more, but your mover could also provide the packing itself. Perhaps the convenience is worth it.

Moving. It’s called a “move” for a reason, and it’s probably the most expensive part. If you’re moving close by, you may have someone who can lend you a trailer or pickup truck. It won’t fit most people’s needs, but if your things can fit and you’re willing to make a few trips, this method will likely cost you a case of beer or your friend’s dinner.

Few people fit in this category, though. You can, however, rent a truck to cut down on your expenses. The cost will vary on the size of the truck you need, so make sure you really know how much room your things require. It’s also typically cheaper to rent on a weekday. So if you have the ability to do the move then, you’ll wind up saving some more.

A moving company will be more expensive than a rental truck, but it’s easily the least strenuous option. A mover can essentially take care of everything, including delicate items and things that need to be disassembled. While you may not have much of a choice, the months of October to April are cheapest because of the demand for movers during the spring and summer. If you are able to move sooner or hold it off for a month of two to fit inside this cheaper period, you could really save on the costliest part of the move.

Loading and Unloading. For most people, it is too much of a pain to think about loading and unloading belongings, let alone do it. So for those who fall into that group, you will be hiring a company to move your things and load and unload them too. But if you need to hire a moving company because of certain logistics and are able to load and unload your belongings, you can simply pay a mover to drive your things to your new home, and that costs less. Just be careful not to throw out your back.

Storage. While it doesn’t apply in most cases, if you are moving but will have a period when your things must be out of your old place but cannot be moved into your new place, you will need storage. The obvious is using a storage facility, but it isn’t necessarily your best option. Full-service movers typically offer storage services, and beyond making the most sense logistically, this could be the cheaper option, especially since you may be able to save on “bundling” these services.

Make sure you’re educated on everything you need in every aspect of your move, and the savings will become obvious.  But also make room for the unexpected, because things happen. And with that, you’re ready to make your budget.