Moving is a complex process at any stage of life. It costs both money and time. You can spend more money to save time and stress by hiring professional packers and movers, but what if you don’t have a lot of cash to spare? Here are a few tips about how to save on moving costs.

Tip 1: Moving is an exercise in time management and budgeting

If you haven’t moved often or at all, you’ll quickly learn that moving house is an exercise in organisation, time management and budgeting. It involves much more than packing and moving boxes. It’s best to start the process as soon as you know you’re moving, even if that date is months away.

There are hundreds of tasks involved in a successful move, and if you fall behind, it will cost you on moving day. Make a plan with achievable tasks for each day. Stick to your plan, and if you fall behind, ask for help. While this doesn’t directly save you money on moving costs, it will prevent you from paying more than you expected.

Tip 2: Start decluttering before you pack

Decluttering your house will save you money on moving. It’s a simple equation. The less you have to move, the less it costs. Decluttering also has many other benefits, including being great for your mental health and well-being.

Decluttering involves sorting your belongings into three groups: what you’ll keep, what you can sell, and what you can donate, recycle or throw away. Selling any excess belongings that you don’t need puts money back in your pocket as well as lightening the load.

Tip 3: Hacks for packing materials

Boxes

Keep an eye out for any boxes that are still in good shape. You can use normal boxes for any items that aren’t breakable, like clothes, linen, bedding, soft toys and towels. You can also pack items like books, but make sure you’ve secured the bottom with packing tape, as heavier loads can make the bottom of the box fall out. If you’re collecting boxes from supermarkets or food stores, watch out for food scraps as these attract pests.

Use proper packing boxes for your breakables, as packing boxes are stronger and more impact resistant. It’s fine to use old packing boxes if you can get them and if they’re still in good shape. We sell recycled moving boxes at our box shop. They’re cheaper than new ones.

Wrapping paper

You can use old newspapers to wrap items if you’re really short on cash, but it should be a last choice as the ink gets on everything. If you have no choice, be prepared to do a lot of cleaning when you unpack.

Better free alternatives to packing paper are old towels, sheets, linen and clothing. You can hunt through charity shops for more if you need them. Use these to wrap furniture, and for padding and protection in boxes. You can also use items like balled up socks to plug gaps in boxes. Make sure you pack everything properly, but you can get creative with your materials to save cash.

Tip 4: Use as much as you can from the kitchen pantry

We tend to forget we have to include food as part of our move. It takes up space and adds weight to boxes. The more you have to pack the more it will cost. The reverse is also true. If you can lighten the load, you won’t pay as much to move it. Use up as much as you can from the pantry and fridge and don’t replace those items unless absolutely necessary. This saves both time and money on moving day.

Tip 5: Hire the pros

Yes, hiring professional movers can be cheaper than hiring a truck and trying to do it all yourself. Professional movers have the equipment, skills and experience to manage moves faster and more efficiently than DIY movers. Use a reputable company who discloses all the costs up front in their quote.

To avoid unexpected costs, do the following:

• Not all moving companies are equal. Get three quotes to compare services to price. Find out if there are any potential extra costs before you commit.
• Stick to your plan and have everything ready to go on moving day. If you’re not ready to go and the movers have to wait, it could cost you extra.
• 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.