Moving from home to home can be an expensive experience, but there are a lot of things that you can do to make the process less expensive. When it comes to moving and many other things in life, timing is everything in more ways than one. The sooner that you can start packing, the better. Unfortunately, sometimes moves are unexpected and require you to act quickly. There are a lot of things that you need to consider when moving, everything from mortgages to whether or not you are going to handle the packing and moving by yourself instead of hiring a professional.

Start Packing Early

Starting to pack early is important as it gives you more time to sort your possessions and get rid of the things that you no longer need or want. One of the inevitable things about moving is the fact that you will have some things that you will not know what to do with. You are just not sure about getting rid of them yet. While you may not know exactly where some of your items will fit in your home, you also may not be ready to part with them just yet. This is when storage units can be a great option for those things that you are not quite sure of or that you just don’t have room in your home for.

Make Plans in Advance and Move Off-Season

Planning things in advance will always be the best way to save money when you and your family are going through a move. The extra effort won’t just save you money, it could also allow you to save yourself a lot of stress. If the time frame lines up, planning for a move to take place between the late fall and early spring can save you a whole lot of money if you are planning on using moving services. The demand for moving services is at its highest during the peak season, which occurs during the late spring through the early fall. During this time, these companies generally raise their prices in response to the increase in demand. You can also call around different companies to see who can offer you the best deal for your move and ask for a fixed price for the move instead of just a general estimate.

Rent a Moving Truck and Do It Yourself

Not only are professional moving services cheaper during the season, but you can also often find good deals on renting a truck if you are planning on handling the move yourself. Moving can be a very expensive process, especially if you are planning on moving out of state and these discounts can have a huge impact on your wallet. Handling the move yourself like this may be difficult, but proper planning can make the savings more than worth it.

Save Money on Packing Material

With just a little bit of searching and asking around, it won’t be that difficult to come across boxes suitable for a move for free. Some of the places that you can look are stores, the office, and even mailrooms. Instead of purchasing a lot of bubble wrap and peanuts for the move, you can always start collecting newspapers and magazines to use as packing material. If you or someone that you know does a lot of online shopping, chances are that they throw away a lot of packing material that can be used for your more delicate possessions. It’s important to be careful of ink getting on your possessions and pack accordingly.

Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need or Want

While there are a lot of things that you will want to put into storage, there will likely be many things that you are willing to part with. Consider donating the gently used items to a local charity. Not only will you be helping others, but you may even be able to get a tax write-off. There may also be a lot of things that are better off being disposed of. It’s a good idea to try to recycle as much of it as possible, even if it won’t necessarily save you money.

Yes, moving is a lot of work. If you plan ahead and get the right help and tools, it will go much smoother. Soon the move will just be a distant memory.