When it’s time to move, especially across the county or start, it is easy to get immediately overwhelmed. One common stressor for families or individuals during a move is financial stress. From hiring a moving truck to putting a down payment on a home or apartment, it feels like moving is all about emptying your wallet. But, fortunately, there are several ways to save money during a move, and it only takes a little extra elbow grease.
Sometimes, you cannot help when you have to move. But when you are creating a budget for a move, timing is everything. The cheapest times to move are in the fall and winter seasons, on weekdays, and days in the middle of the month. In addition to potentially lower prices, you may also receive more attention from moving companies during these times due to a slower schedule. And to save time on the day of your move, try to avoid driving during morning and evening rush hour traffic. If you are able to put your moving off, or forward to a less desirable time, this flexibility is going to be a time and money saver for your moving budget.
As you are preparing for your move, do whatever you can to avoid paying for boxes. Do you have diaper containers, old Amazon boxes, containers that you’ve cleaned out during a decluttering day? These are great options - free options - that keep you from running to the home improvement store and spending too much on boxes. You can also ask around to friends and family, office colleagues, and even your local supermarkets if they have boxes you can have to aid in your move.
But what about packing materials? Commonly needed and used packing materials include shrink wrap and bubble wrap, two materials that keep fragile items safe throughout the move. However, if you have enough towels and sheets, you can avoid paying out of pocket for packing materials from a home improvement store. Towels, which are already going with you on your move, are great materials for wrapping fragile knick knacks are as an in-between layer for glass, framed photos, or art. Sheets, linens, and even casual clothing can help you keep your fragile items safe.
From modern 3 bedroom apartments in Albuquerque to simple studio apartments, your moving budget is yours. Don’t take items that you won’t use in your new apartment - saving you room in a new place and during your move. Sell whatever you don’t need, donate these items, or toss them.
