Moving costs time and money. Sometimes, we don’t have one, the other or both to spare. Unless you’re an experienced mover, people often think moving is a relatively simple process, but you’ll quickly discover there’s much more to it than moving boxes. Moving  teaches you new skills in time management and budgeting. If you’re short on cash, here are some tips about how to save on moving costs.

But first, we’ll address the issue of time. There are literally hundreds or thousands of tasks to achieve when moving. When you’re balancing this against your usual routine, it puts a hefty demand on your time. If you’re both cash and time poor, take a look at our moving tips and timelines to get yourself organised. If you do have cash for a move, the simple solution to managing your move effectively is to hire professional movers. We can do as much or as little as you need to get you relocated to your new home.

Strategies for saving money on your move

1. Declutter

Moving house always comes at some cost. While we always recommend decluttering for any move, it becomes especially important if you have tight margins in your household budget. The decluttering process is good for your pocket and your mental health. 

Lightening the load means your move will cost less if you’re hiring professionals, or easier to manage if you’re doing it yourself. In particular, selling any unneeded possessions puts a bit of cash back in your pocket and helps to pay for your move.

Take a look at our article ‘Decluttering When Moving’ for more tips about the process.

2. Packing Materials

You can save money on packing materials with a little scavenging or by making some shrewd purchases. Keep an eye out for boxes that are still in decent shape. You can use ordainary boxes for any items that aren’t fragile or breakable, such as linen, clothes, soft toys and towels. Watch out for any food scraps if you’re collecting boxes from supermarkets, as these will attract pests.

Also keep in mind that you can use old towels and sheets to wrap your fragile items before you pack them up for shipping. So don’t be too hasty packing up your old linen. You can also use old clothes in place of paper if you don’t want to throw them away. Get creative with your materials and you’ll add to your savings.

We don’t recommend using anything but moving boxes for your fragile items though. But moving boxes aren’t single use items, so it’s fine to reuse them if they’re not damaged. We sell recycled moving boxes at our box shop. They’re cheaper than new ones.

Finally, check your local charity shops for old sheets, towels or linen. If you can get them cheap, they’re good for wrapping and protecting furniture, or as packing materials for boxes. While you can use old newspapers instead of packing paper, be prepared to wash all your dishes when you unpack.

3. Use your car strategically

On moving day, load your car with any items that would otherwise need specialised handling or packing. You should always take your overnight bags with you, but use any other space for pets, plants or other specialty items.

4. Eat down the fridge and cupboards

Through daily life, we get in the habit of replenishing our fridge and pantry as we use food items. Challenge the cooks in your family to use up as much as they can without needing to replace anything. It decreases the amount of packing you’ll need to do, and that saves time and money.

5. Using professionals

Using professionals is often cheaper than hiring a truck and trying to do it yourself, simply because we’re faster and more efficient at managing moves, but there are ways to ensure you don’t get hit with unexpected costs when using the pros.

• Make sure you get three quotes and compare what services you’re receiving for the price. Find out if there are any potential ‘extras’ before you commit to a company.
• Make sure you’re ready to go before moving day. If everything is ready, you’ll maximise the efficiency for your movers. If they have to wait, you could incur extra costs.
• Make sure your movers have access to your new home on arrival so they can unload straight away. Again, waiting time could be chargeable.

We hope you’ve found these tips useful. Feel free to call us if you need any further help or advice.