The average family moves every five to seven years. Moving can be an exciting adventure. It can also be stressful and expensive. To keep your frustration levels low and more money in your pocket, keep these top 5 moving tips in mind.
1. Set up a travel emergency fund in advance.
Buying a new house, or putting in the first and last month’s rent and security deposit are pricey. Getting moving boxes, hiring a moving van and moving company, and setting up utilities will also cost a pretty penny. But these are all things that most movers are well aware of. Unfortunately, a lot of people forget about some other expenses that could crop up during a move.
It’s not uncommon for people to have unexpected car trouble occur during their move, or have their travel plans delayed for other reasons, which can all add up. It’s a good idea that movers set up a modest, travel emergency fund before the big day. That way if you have to pay for an unexpected hotel room or car repairs, you won’t be scrambling to get the funds and watching yourself go gray (or grayer) in the process.
Fortunately, though, most people won’t have any emergency issues. But having an emergency fund in place can give you a little peace of mind. When you get to your new house, you can take that emergency fund and go celebrate.
2. Plan your meals.
People usually don’t worry about what they are going to eat in the weeks or days before their big move. Which brings us to our next moving tip – move with as little food in tow as you can reasonably get away with. Moving companies typically charge per pound of items moved. So, transporting heavy food items like canned goods can add a lot to your bill. Moving companies won’t carry frozen food either, so you will waste food and ultimately, money when they get left behind.
Plan your meals out at least one week before a long-distance move so you can enjoy your favorite foods without wasting money and increasing your overall moving costs. If you have any canned goods or non-perishables left, you can donate them to a local food pantry.
3. Book Your Mover Early
Moving, especially long-distance, requires a lot of time and preparation on the part of the person or family who is moving, and the moving company. Long-distance movers can quickly fill their schedules, especially during the peak moving months in the spring and summer. Pick your moving company at least a month before the big day. This will help you rest easy knowing that you’ll be able to move on the exact date you’ve chosen.
Planning and preparation can go a long way to lowering your stress levels and helping you save a bit of cash when you have to move. Keep these tips in mind if you’re gearing up for a long-distance move anytime soon.
