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Money Saving Tips- Penny Pinching While Relocating

October 9, 2019

Penny Pinching: How to Save Money on Relocation

Let’s face it: Moving is about as appealing as having to endure a root canal procedure. Unlike the pain caused by a root canal, moving leaves a lingering pain that can lasts for months, if not years. For the proverbial icing on the moving pain cake, you also have to deal with the typically expensive cost of relocation.

Let’s review a few creative ways to get more bang for your buck during relocation.

Timing Matters

Have you wondered why there are so many moving vehicles on the road during the summer months? The answer as to why is pretty clear. With kids out of school and parents taking time off from work, the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the most active days of the year for relocations. This brings us to the classic supply and demand economics paradigm. More requests for moving supplies and vehicles equals higher prices for relocation products and services.

Move after Labor Day and before Labor Day to save money on relocation.

Less Stuff Equals a Lower Relocation Bill

Moving companies present moving estimates largely based on the weight of the cargo you plan to transport to your new home. To save money on relocation, one of your priorities should be to reduce the amount of stuff you take with you. You can accomplished this in two ways. First, hold a yard or a garage sale to lighten the load. You will not only save money on relocation by decreasing cargo weight, you will also earn a little extra cash to defray the other costs associated with a move. Second, consider donating some of your things to a charitable organization, such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

Perform the Move Yourself

Hiring a moving company to complete a move across town or cross country will alleviate the stress caused by performing the move yourself. However, hiring a moving company will increase the final relocation bill by hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Do you really need to pay someone to pack and unpack your stuff? An even more important question is do you trust a stranger with your things? Unless you are relocating to Calcutta, consider planning and completing a relocation yourself.

Recruit Helpers

Now that you will perform a move yourself, you can turn around and recruit help to make the move go smoother. Yes, trying to recruit help for relocation can be difficult, but by throwing in a few incentives, you can have more muscle to get the job done right, without having to take out a second mortgage on your home. Start by recruiting family members, especially family members that owe you a favor.

Saving money on relocation requires thorough planning, from obtaining the most affordable quote to detailing every step of relocation in a logical order. Write down every step of the moving process, as well as make plans to stay with a friend or a family member, if relocation requires traveling a long distance.