Moving on a Budget | 10 Steps for a Smooth Transition

The average American will move 11 times in their lifetime. ELEVEN TIMES! I don’t think I know anyone who thrives on the stress and hassle of moving, not to mention how expensive moving can be. Here are 10 easy steps you can take to save on time and money that will make the packing process, dare I say, therapeutic.

1. START EARLY

The key to a successful move is to give yourself ample time to do it. Every step in this process is time consuming so I suggest starting anywhere from a week to two months out depending on how much stuff you have and how big of a home you’re relocating to. Are you downsizing from a 5 bedroom to a more manageable 2 bedroom? You should bank on a few months to sell items that won’t be making the journey with you.

2. RELOCATION PACKAGES

If ye do not seek, ye will not find. If you’re moving for work, even a short distance, chances are your employer will offer some sort of compensation. Whether that comes in the form of reimbursement, a company card, or a flat check to be used, it never hurts to ask about relocation policies. You’d be shocked to find out what some companies are willing to give and it could save you thousands of dollars.

3. strategize

These next 3 steps all go hand-in-hand so read carefully. When beginning to pack, it’s crucial to your sanity to develop some sort of process. This may be tackling one room at a time or in order of which items you’re less likely to need once you’ve moved. Whatever your strategy is, make sure you stick to it! If I decide to color-code my tape according to which room they belong to and give up halfway through then it doesn’t do me any good when the movers come over. If I decide to put a large “X” on anything that’s fragile, then it’s quick and easy to communicate that to the movers, but I must be consistent.

4. USE UP WHAT YOU HAVE

In the months leading up to your move, try to use up items you already have in the home. Don’t repurchase items in your pantry because you ended up throwing them away because they’re heavy to transport. Instead, make those boxes of jello or cake mix, eat up all that soup and salad dressing, use the paper plates and plasticware you have for entertaining. This will save you money in 3 ways. The first is that long term realization that will ultimately recollect those items once you have established your new home. The second is the comfort that you’re not wasting anything you’ve already purchased. And the third is you won’t be spending money on takeout after a long day of packing. This principle can also be applied to crafting items such as old magazines, paints, markers, or anything else you wish to Upcycle.

5. PURGE

It’s time to make a decision about the items still leftover. Are you going to pack, donate, repurpose, sell or discard it? Think about the value of the item in terms of it being necessary/practical, how frequently it gets used, the condition of the item and whether or not it “sparks joy.” (Yes, I do follow Marie Kondo‘s methods for decluttering). Once you’ve weighed those factors then you can determine what the best course of action is to take. The average home has about 300,000 items in it; crazy, right?! Hopefully this process can help you simplify your moving experience and make reestablishing yourself a lot smoother.

6. REPURPOSE BELONGINGS

Another way to cut costs dramatically is to repurpose some of your belongings by using them to help insulate or cushion your fragile items. Wrap your nik naks or ceramics with scarves. Stuff your mugs with clean socks. Take apart those old magazines and use the pages to keep plates from sliding. Be creative- there are tons of household items that be used to secure or transport your belongings which will save you on moving supplies, which leads me to the next point…

7. DON’T BUY BOXES

I can’t stress this enough! Please, do not purchase boxes. There are a plethora of places that will let you cherry pick good quality boxes for FREE. This can take time which brings me back tip #1: start early. Grocery stores, liquor stores, Dollar stores, and so many others have different delivery dates and should be notified if you want to collect boxes. Call each location, ask when their next delivery date is and let them know you’d like to use the boxes to move. 99.9% places will boxes for you to use.

8. PACK YOUR OWN ITEMS

Taking the time to do this will save you buckets of cash if the movers have to pack your belongings for you. It will also save you time when searching for personal items later because you’ll know which box it was packed away in. Save even more time by clearly labeling the group of items that are in each box. Be specific! If you have an item that doesn’t belong, label that too. Ex.: Books + electric toothbrush.

9. FINE PRINT

You may want to revisit the terms of your lease, specifically what condition your rental is to be left in. Some landlords require all holes in the wall to be filled, sanded and painted while others may not care that the carpet is
stained. Whatever your situation, make sure to go above and beyond so you get the entirety of your security deposit back. This cash can go a long way towards unexpected moving expenses.

10. AVOID PEAK HOURS

Some movers charge by the hour so you don’t want to be stuck in traffic when relocating your belongings to the new pad. Try to coordinate a time with the moving company that will avoid rush hour and the unnecessary added expense of it. You may also consider avoiding the move entirely during summer. No secret, people prefer moving in the summer where there’s less chance of inclement weather, but when it comes to moving rates, Spring and Fall are much cheaper. Moving companies aren’t are busy are more likely to give you a reduced rate during colder months.