While moving to a newer home is exciting, the stress of costs and unexpected expenses can quickly take the excitement away. Add a cross-country move where you’re shifting states, and the expenditures increase significantly.
Unfortunately, when it comes to an interstate move, no magic number tells you how much you must save up before you shift houses. For every individual, the expenses can vary depending on your lifestyle, family size, where you’re moving, and how much stuff you have. However, in this unpredictable economy, many experts agree it’s best to lay aside at least three to six months of your living expenses before taking the plunge. The primary reason for this is that despite all the planning and detailing, there will always be unanticipated costs you’ll have to take care of. But while building an emergency fund can be beneficial, taking a budget-friendly approach to move is still helpful.
So, if you’re planning on shifting states and are looking for budget-friendly tips, you’ve come to the right place. Here we list the top seven tried and tested ways to make your move incredibly economical and convenient.
- Hire the best movers
Most people make the common mistake of assuming that handling the move themselves can be cost-effective. On the contrary, when you hire professionals to do the job, you receive several benefits and avoid the risk of unexpected costs, potential damages, or other concerns. Additionally, with so many moving companies now in operation, you have greater chances of finding one that perfectly matches your needs. A simple and quick search online for the “best interstate movers near me” can direct you to the top professional movers in the country. Do thorough research and compare prices before picking a company that provides excellent services with additional benefits.
- Declutter before moving
The more stuff you have, the higher your moving expenses will get. Therefore, before you start packing your belongings, maybe it’s a good idea to take a good hard look at them first. Put aside things you don’t need, and that is only collecting unnecessary space in your house. With lesser things to shift, you’ll need fewer packing materials and transportation shifts to and from the new place. Decluttering has proven to be an effective strategy in making a move budget-friendly and allowing homeowners to set up their new homes more easily. Whether it’s old clothes, furniture, house décor, or any other item—start decluttering by selling or donating possessions you no longer use. Holding a garage sale or going online to sell some of your stuff can also bring in some extra cash that may be useful during the move.
- Plan ahead of time
By preparing, organizing, and planning your move carefully, you can save plenty of money. This is because when you start making sudden changes, several things get left behind, or you simply forget to take care of them. Often this results in having to make multiple trips you could’ve easily avoided if you had planned things correctly. Additionally, many moving companies offer better rates and services when you book them in advance. Besides helping save valuable dollars in relocation expenses, this also allows you plenty of room for any date changes you might want to make before the move.
- Pick the right moving day
Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a good moving day. The exact date you make an interstate move can substantially impact the cost of moving services and mitigate other unexpected expenses. For example, summer break and weekends are often the most popular time people make long-distance moves. While these periods may also be convenient for you, they come with an additional cost since they’re peak seasons. In contrast, you’ll likely get better rates when you pick an off-season date, like on a weekday or during non-peak months. In most states, even real estate has peak seasons. And so if you invest, you’ll have to pay extra for the house, and the move can also be costly. Picking an off-season date also improves your chances of receiving better flexibility in negotiations, promotions, and securing discounted prices from companies.
Additionally, since most rental leases begin on the first or last day of the month, you’ll probably incur additional expenses if you plan your move during these days. But by strategically picking a date before or after the lease starts, you can easily avoid inflated costs.
- Find free supplies
When making an interstate move, the amount of belongings you’ll be shifting will be substantial. And as such, the costs of boxes, plastic, bubble wrap, or packing paper will quickly increase. While in the grand scheme of things, the cost of packing supplies may seem insignificant, saving money wherever possible is wise. Local grocery shops or bookstores are excellent places to secure these valuable supplies, often free of cost or at bare minimum prices. Their boxes are also quite sturdy, so using these to pack your things can be an added benefit. However, it’s important not to leave this task till the end. Even if your move is months away, start collecting these packing supplies whenever you can and avoid running into chaos as moving day nears.
- Recruit friends for help
Another game-changing strategy in making your move budget-friendly is to recruit your friends for help when packing and moving things. They can provide invaluable assistance without any cost and significantly contribute to the emergency savings you might need after moving interstate. While you might still have to hire professional movers to transport your load to the new state, friends can assist with the packing, loading, and unpacking. They can also help keep track of the moving process and ensure you get all your tasks done when needed.
- Get creative with how you pack
Taking on a cost-effective approach often means getting creative with how you work. For instance, you don’t have to pack all your belongings in a box or wrap every item in store-bought packing material. Instead, you can use soft linens like towels, blankets, bedsheets, or pillow covers to wrap your fragile and sensitive belongings. Besides protecting your valuables from potential damage, you pack multiple things simultaneously.
Conclusion
Although several other strategies can make your interstate move budget-friendly, it boils down to one thing: planning. Since moving can be incredibly stressful, give yourself time to plan each task and check off each item on the list one at a time. Other than that, follow these tips above to guide you and make your next move cost-effective and convenient.
James Martin is a passionate writer and the founder of OnTimeMagazines & EastLifePro. He loves to write principally about technology trends. He loves to share his opinion on what’s happening in tech around the world.
