If you have furniture or other unnecessary items in your new home, host a garage sale or sell them on consignment or online marketplaces. Donate any nonperishable- food you don’t plan on eating to a local food bank.
Moving yourself is the cheapest option, but also stressful and time-consuming.
Be Organized
Getting organized ahead of time can help you save money on your move. Start with a plan and create a checklist to stay on track. Make sure you have the proper packing materials before you begin. Moving boxes, bubble wrap, and tape costs can quickly increase. Instead of buying these items, try reusing what you have. Grocery stores often give away boxes for free. Also, ask friends and family members if they have any boxes you can borrow for your local move.
Lastly, clean out your pantry and fridge to avoid moving food you won’t need. You can also donate nonperishable food to your local shelter or food bank to save on moving expenses.
Move on a weekday rather than a weekend. This will reduce your moving costs since moving companies charge per hour. Plus, fewer people are likely to move on the weekends, so you’ll have less competition for their services. Research and compare quotes to find the best deal when choosing a moving company.
Hire a Moving Company
Moving is a time-consuming and stressful process that can cost you an arm and a leg. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to reduce your moving expenses and save money on your local move.
If you plan to hire NYC movers, get quotes from multiple companies and compare the services offered. Ask each company about their prices, insurance coverage, and hourly rates. It’s also important to read customer reviews and find out if there are any hidden fees.
Decluttering and selling items you no longer need or want will also help cut costs, especially if you’re paying movers an hourly rate. You can also post items on local buy-nothing groups or donate them to charity.
Inviting friends and family with trucks to help with your move will save you the cost of a professional moving company. However, you’ll need to front the cost of pizza and beer. Alternatively, you can borrow a friend’s truck or rent one cheaply. You can also save money by moving during the fall or winter when moving companies charge lower rates.
Pack Everything Yourself
A move is a great time to go through your items and get rid of things you don’t need. Consider having a garage sale, placing items in local buy-nothing groups, or donating to a thrift store before moving day. Decluttering will also help you reduce the boxes you need to pack, reducing your overall moving costs.
Purchasing packing materials like bubble wrap, boxes, and paper can add up quickly. Look for low-cost or free options, like using linens and towels to wrap delicate items or substituting old newspapers with packing paper. Additionally, ask your local grocery or big box stores if they will save their cardboard boxes for you, as many are happy to give them away.
When you are ready to start packing, consider asking friends and family members for help. They’ll happily support you and your goal of saving money on your move. Be sure to properly label each box with the room it belongs in and what’s inside so your items arrive at your new home intact.
Rent a Moving Truck
One of the biggest costs for a local move is renting a moving truck. The type of truck you need, how long you’ll need it, and whether you’re doing a roundtrip or one-way move will determine your total cost. Before comparing prices, make sure you’re clear on what’s included in each quote and avoid any extra fees or charges that may be added at the end of your move.
If you’re doing the DIY route, consider inviting friends with trucks to help. Although you’ll have to pay for pizza, drinks, and possibly a rental truck or gas money, this is still significantly cheaper than hiring professional movers. You can also save by asking family members to borrow or rent their trucks and finding free or low-cost packing supplies.
If you have many items you don’t want to take to your new home, consider donating or selling them. This will help you recoup some moving expenses while eliminating unnecessary clutter. This will also reduce the number of boxes you need to pack, reducing your moving costs.
Donate or Sell Items
A local move can be less expensive than you might think. If you have a big pile of items you don’t plan on bringing to your new home, consider donating them. You can also save on packing materials by using household items as cushioning. For instance, you can use linens or blankets to protect television and computer monitors. You can also find free boxes at grocery stores, ask neighbors to save theirs for you, or browse online marketplaces to see if people are selling used cardboard moving boxes.
Before your move, go through each room in your house and decide what you will keep, donate, or sell. This will reduce the amount of stuff you need to pack and save money on storage or a rental truck. It will also make the process of unpacking faster and easier.