Moving to a new home should be exciting, not stressful. Unfortunately, the high cost of moving can make the prospect of changing residences a source of worry for some people. But there are some things you can do to reduce your moving costs, thereby keeping your stress levels low so you can enjoy the moving process more fully.
Get rid of anything you don't need.
Most moving companies calculate their fees, at least in part, by the weight of the items they need to transport for you. So, go through your cupboards, closets, and storage areas and get rid of anything you don't want or need anymore. Donate items that are in good shape to charity, and you can even write them off on your taxes to save more money. Consider hosting a garage sale or having friends and family members come over to peruse the items you're getting rid of to see if they'd like any of them.
Never pay for moving supplies.
Make it your mission to go through the entire moving process without paying a cent for moving supplies like boxes, padding or tape. Surely, you have plenty of tape hidden away in boxes or drawers that you can use. String works for tying boxes shut if you don't have tape on hand. Start canvassing your local stores and asking for boxes several weeks before the move; most stores will give them to you for free. Instead of paying for stuffing or padding for your items, wrap more delicate items in softer items like your sheet and towels.
If you're really struggling to find moving supplies, post an ad on Facebook or Craigslist and see if anyone in the area has recently moved and is willing to pass their moving supplies on to you. Many people just want them out of the way and will give them to you if you pick them up.
If you're hiring movers, move during the week.
If you're packing and driving yourself, it makes sense to move on the weekend when friends and family members are likely more available to help you out. But if you're hiring a moving company, be sure to schedule your move for the middle of the week. Many moving companies have lower Monday - Friday rates than Saturday - Sunday rates. You'll get the same quality service without paying so much for it.
Don't double up on insurance.
Moving companies generally offer insurance to protect you if your items should become damaged or lost during the move. However, if you have homeowner's insurance, your policy may already cover damage sustained to your items during a move. So purchasing additional insurance against damage from the moving company is a waste. Most homeowner's insurance does not protect against theft of your items during a move, so you will probably want to purchase theft coverage from your moving company. Overall, though, remember that each insurance policy is different. Read through your homeowner's insurance policy to see what it does and does not cover before you purchase coverage through your moving company. This way, you can avoid paying for coverage you don't need.
Deduct moving expenses on your taxes.
The IRS allows you to deduct moving expenses on your taxes if your relocation is job-related and if your new residence is at least 50 miles from your old residence. If you fall into this category, make sure you save all of your receipts for items related to the move, and give them to your tax professional when it's time to file. You'll get a bit of money back, helping to negate some of your moving costs.
Moving can get expensive, but there's no reason to pay more than necessary to get into your new home. The tips above are all practical, easy to implement, and effective at saving you cash. You can also save money by getting quotes from several different moving companies. Check out a site like http://www.movewithunited.com for more information.
Share26 May 2016
After my husband lost his job, we started having a hard time paying our bills. We realized that if we wanted to stay afloat, we were going to have to sell our home and move into a much smaller place. Unfortunately, we quickly discovered that our new place wasn't going to fit all of our things, which is where storage units came into play. We rented a large unit to house some of our things, and it made it much more simple. We even learned a few great storage tips to keep our items clean and beautiful during the storage experience. This blog is all about storing your family's treasures.