Moving burning a hole in your pocket? We’ve been there, and we want to help. Here are some small things that could go a long way in helping you save money while you move.
1. Find Used Boxes
Boxes are pretty easy to come by in the age of online shopping. Some ways you can find used boxes include:
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Shopping online and saving the boxes that your items come in- as long as they’re big enough to be useful!
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Ask your friends to save extra boxes for you.
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Check the free section of Craigslist for peoples’ used moving boxes.
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Ask local stores if they have any extra boxes from shipping merchandise. Chances are they’ll be happy to recycle them.
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Bonus tip: skip the bubble wrap/packing peanuts. Use these free items instead.
2. Get Free Help from Friends and Family
The more free labor you can find, the better. That’s why people have kids in the first place, right? Here are some tips on getting help while packing:
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Family is most likely to care and want to help you, so start there.
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When asking someone to help you do manual labor for free, consider offering to buy them dinner in exchange. It’s a great way to say thank you at the end of the day.
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Return the favor. When it comes time for your friend to move, offer to help!
3. Get Rid of Junk *Before* Moving
If you’re going to hire movers, you might be paying them hourly, meaning the fewer boxes you have, the fewer hours you’ll need the movers for. If you’re renting a truck and moving yourself, the lighter the truck, the less gas you’ll have to use.
Regardless, there’s no better time than right before a move to get rid of unnecessary items! Here are some things you should consider getting rid of before your big day:
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Furniture you won’t be using. This will save lots of space and energy.
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Clothing that nobody wears. If it’s still in good condition, donate it!
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Old textbooks that you pretend that you’ll reference in the future, but never actually will. Welcome to 2018. We have the internet!
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Heavy exercise machines located under the thick layer of dust in your basement
4. Shop Around for the Best Moving Quotes
When looking into finding movers, junk removal services, or painters to cover up all of the holes you weren’t supposed to make in your walls (oops), you’ll notice that there is a range of prices different people will charge. To find the best price for you, it’ll take a little shopping around. Here’s how to find the best prices:
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Create a list of people who provide the service you need as well as phone numbers for each. Call each of them and get a quote based on your situation. Write this down next to each listed person, as well as your impression of the quality of their service.
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Ask friends or family who have moved recently for recommendations if they had a good experience with their last move.
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Use the Moved app to get a free personal assistant to compare quotes for you, book you services, and get rid of the stressful and time consuming part of coordinating a move!
5. Time Your Move Properly
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to moving. Here are some things you should know when deciding when you want to move:
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Most people move between the months of June and August. If you chose a date in this time period, not only will you have fewer available movers to choose from, but you’ll have no room to negotiate pricing.
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If you live in an apartment and you want to move soon but your lease isn’t up, consider sticking it out those last couple months so you don’t lose your security deposit.
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Plan your move around the start and end dates of utility billing so you don’t end up paying an extra month for a service that doesn’t prorate.
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