Moving on a budget 101

So, you thought moving was hard? How about moving on a budget. This is a whole different ball game. Sure, it is doable, as is everything else in life. However, the doability of this is extremely difficult. I know that may not be an actual word, but I am using it as such. Moving on a budget is a dreadful task, and we are sorry you have to go through it. The good news, however, is that it is far from impossible. In fact, if you are willing to heed our advice and follow a few tips we are about to share, it might not be as bad as everyone says it is. And by the end you can decide if hiring cheap movers is the right choice for you.

Moving on a budget will mean a lot of extra work for you. However, this should hardly come as a surprise. You simply won't be able to pay someone to do everything for you. And this is ok. In a very weird way, it becomes more interesting the more you are involved. Of course, this brings a certain dosage of stress into the mix. But hey, you can't save nerves and money. It usually comes down to one or the other. And, given that your budget is limited, it's not really a choice, is it?

Moving on a budget - Advice

Well, again, it's not mission impossible. So, don't start stressing about it before it even begins. It's contra productive, to say the least. There are tricks for you to follow in order to make this work. You can't really think that you are the first person forced to move on a budge. Well, you are not. And, fortunately for you, your predecessors had kept a log of things they did to save money. This is something that we'll share with you. If you follow these steps, you will save both money and time.

Speaking of time...

While we are on the topic of time, this is your prime money saver. The fact of the matter is - if you have time you might end up saving money even if you weren't on a tight budget. If you have time - you have a choice. Furthermore, there is a trick almost all moving companies do. The fact of the matter is that work is not super busy all year long. There are certain parts of the year when business is slow, and this is normal. This is your window. Moving companies offer significant discounts when it comes to booking them well in advance. So, this basically translates to the following. If you know that you will move more than 6 months in advance, you will save a ton of money.

This discount can be so large that you might not even have to do anything yourself. You might be able to pay for full pledged services at almost half the price. This is the best possible scenario you could hope for. You save money, time and nerves. Plus you don't have to do anything yourself.

Speaking of doing stuff yourself...

The second thing you might have to do, in order to continue moving on a budget, is to do stuff yourself. There are certain things you should not do yourself, but there are things that you should. Simply to save money, not because it is entertaining or anything. The first thing you do not want to hire someone to do for you is packing. It may not be the best job in the world, but you sure can do it right. There are countless online guides showing how to pack properly for a move. This works for both large scale and small scale moves. Packing is not difficult, it is just obnoxious. So, grab the boxes, mark everything and pack!

Second, you should not have someone carry the 'small' stuff for you. All the boxes that weight up to 15 pounds should be handled by you and your friends. The only things your movers should take care of are the heavy things and possibly transportation. They are simply trained and equipped for the job. You might want to attempt the heavy lifting on your own, but if you drop something you will end up losing far more money than initially saved. Definitely not worth it.

You don't need to carry everything

Your move calls for a purge. You should completely re-evaluate everything you own and see how many of those things you actually use. There are bound to be countless items that you use for absolutely nothing. These things should not be traveling with you. And what better way to get rid of them than to sell them! You can do it easily by posting them on Craigslist.

By selling these things you will actually make some coin. Furthermore, you will relieve yourself of any items you won't be using. The less you pack the cheaper it gets. The fewer items you own - the less your trucks will go back and forth. You do not only save money - you actually make money. This is something you really should consider doing. And for the things that you are left over with but you don’t want to get rid of them there is another solution. Find cheap but reliable storage solution and keep your things safe, while you decide what you want to do with them.

Insurance

This is an extra cost - isn't it? Purchasing insurance? Well, we are thinking about moving on a budget, and your budget may not call for insurance. But, have you considered what could happen in a case of an accident?

Nothing will be refunded and you will be at a large loss. However, the insurance that you have so cleverly purchased has compensated for this loss, greatly. Think of insurance as an investment. A very good one for that.

My name is Betty and I have been writing expert articles in relation to the moving industry for the last couple of years. Besides this specific area, I am also experienced in other spheres pertaining to the concept of relocation.