Moving is exciting yet stressful, not only because it’s a time-intensive process but also because it can get expensive in a hurry. But relocating doesn’t have to put a major burden on your finances if you don’t want it to. With some smart planning and a little creativity, you can keep your move as affordable as you want it to be. 

Check out these simple yet effective ways to cut down your relocation-related expenses. 

Schedule Your Move Strategically

Will you be hiring professional movers to help you out? If you want to save on the overall cost of your move, try to schedule your move day during an “off” time. What does that mean? Basically, schedule your move so that it occurs during a historically unpopular season or on a less popular move day. 

Since most moves occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day in the U.S., many moving companies increase their rates during the summer season due to the increased demand. Spring, autumn, and winter moves may be more affordable, so if you’re pricing out services, ask around. Moving on the weekend might also be more pricey than moving during the week, so be sure to ask about that too.

Of course, if you’re relocating for a job or you have kids in school, moving during spring, fall, or winter may be improbable, but it’s something to consider nonetheless. 

Get Creative With Packing Supplies

If you’re doing a DIY move, buying brand-new packing materials can get pricey in a hurry if you need to buy a lot. Not thrilled about shelling out tons of cash for packing supplies you’ll end up tossing out when you’re done moving? Get creative with the stuff you already have around your house! 

You can use items you already have around the house as packing materials, and since you’ll need to move those things anyway, why not make them do double duty? 

Plenty of things in the average home can double as packing materials:

  • Tote bags, laundry baskets, and duffels can function as moving containers.
  • Plastic tote containers and bins can function as boxes.
  • Backpacks and suitcases can function as packing containers.
  • Sheets, towels, and blankets can be used for wrapping fragile items.
  • Socks and underwear can be used to fill empty spaces between fragile items.
  • Dresser drawers can be used to transport the clothes they already contain (remove them from the dresser first).
  • Blankets, sheets, scarves, sweaters, and other linens can be used for extra padding.

 

Of course, if you’re hiring professional movers and packers, using household items won’t really work. But the cost of your moving materials will factor into the quote they give you, so you’ll at least know what to expect. 

Sell Items You No Longer Want/Need

Want to offset some of your moving expenses? Sell some of the stuff you already own! There’s a good chance you have items that you rarely or never use, and there’s no sense in bringing those things to your new home. 

If you’re packing, loading, and transporting your items on your own, having less stuff means you may not have to rent a huge (and pricey) moving truck, so you’ll save money there. Plus, the fewer boxes you need to pack and unpack, the smaller your time investment will be. It’s a win-win all around. 

Before you start packing, downsize your belongings, and if your things are still in excellent condition, sell them locally or online. Whether you’re opting for a DIY relocation or hiring a moving company, the less stuff you have to transport, the better. 

Tips for Downsizing Before the Move

If you’re hiring professional movers, they calculate their service fees based on the weight of your goods and the distance they need to be transported. The less stuff you have, the less your entire load will weigh, and the less you’ll end up paying for moving services. 

How on earth do you decide what to get rid of and where to get rid of it? Here are a few helpful tips:

  • Make piles for the items you want to sell, donate, and toss out. Keep things organized so you don’t end up getting confused and spending more time on this than necessary. 
  • If you haven’t used or thought about something in six months (save for seasonal decor and clothing), you probably won’t miss it.
  • Get rid of any duplicate items you really don’t need. (Think: small kitchen appliances, self-care products, etc.)
  • If you have items that are in excellent condition, consider selling them online or putting together a garage sale if you have the time. The money you make can help offset the cost of your move!
  • If you’re not keen on selling your stuff, donate gently used items to a local charity or thrift store. 

Find Free Packing Supplies Online

Even if you get creative with your packing materials, there’s a good chance you’ll need a few boxes and other implements to complete the packing process. But you don’t necessarily have to get them from a supply store.

To save yourself some cash, head to sites like Craigslist, Offerup, Letgo, or Facebook Marketplace to see if anyone in your local area is giving away used packing supplies from a recent move. 

You may be able to score a bunch of gently used boxes and even brand-new packing supplies that someone else didn’t end up needing!

Ask Friends & Family for Help

If you’re DIYing your move, you can cut down on the amount of time you’ll need to invest in packing and loading by recruiting friends and relatives to help you. However, it’d be a little selfish to not reimburse them in some shape or form for their help, so keep that in mind. 

No, you don't have to reimburse them in cash for lending their time, but maybe a dinner out or a gift card might be nice.

Even if you’re hiring professional movers to load and transport your things, it never hurts to see if you can wrangle some friends and family to help you pack. Of course, if you’re looking to save on time, hiring full packing services is your best bet, but be prepared to pay a premium for this service. 

Again, it’s up to you whether you’re more comfortable investing your time or your money, but you’ll need to sacrifice one or the other regardless. 

Drive Your Personal Vehicle to Your Destination

If you’re making a long-distance move, having your moving company transport your vehicle to your destination can be expensive. You can eliminate that cost entirely by driving yourself to your new home. 

That said, driving yourself can be a major time commitment depending on how far you need to go. But, if you weigh the time cost against the cost of a flight ticket or what it would cost you to have your movers transport your automobile, there’s a good chance you’ll end up saving in the end. 

And when you’re planning a long-distance move on a budget, every bit of savings adds up!

Get Moving Insurance

When you relocate — no matter how carefully you pack and load your belongings — there’s always a risk that some of your things will suffer damage during the move. That’s true even if you hire professional movers and packers. Accidents happen, and that’s why purchasing moving insurance is so important. 

If something valuable breaks during your relocation, your coverage will reimburse you for the item or replace it. That alone could save you a substantial amount of money, depending on the value of the items you own.  

If you own your home, the homeowner’s insurance policy you already pay for may provide moving coverage, so check there first. If you’re a renter or don’t have move coverage included in your insurance policy, you can buy moving insurance from a third party for a fairly nominal fee. 

Research & Hire a Reputable Moving Company

Yes, hiring a moving company involves an investment, but that investment will give you back a considerable amount of your time, and your time is just as valuable as money. But before you hire a moving company, do your research and do it thoroughly.

It’s unfortunate, but there are plenty of shady moving services out there, and many people get scammed for thousands of dollars by these services every year. While you’ll inevitably make a financial investment to get professional moving assistance, doing plenty of research to find a top-notch company will prevent you from getting financially burned.   

Does Hiring Professional Movers Save You Money?

Hiring a professional moving company is one of the best ways to save money on your move and get the job done efficiently. While hiring the pros does involve an investment, in many cases, it’s less expensive than tackling the job on your own.

Experienced movers understand how to keep your moving costs under control.

Get Estimates From Several Moving Companies (If You’re Paying for Help)

The best way to ensure you’re getting the best deal on moving services from a reputable moving company is to get several estimates and compare them against one another. Ideally, you should get at least three, but if you want, go ahead and get more. 

Just keep in mind that opting for the lowest-priced moving company may not be the best idea. If you get an outlier mover whose services are priced impossibly low, that’s probably a red flag. 

Before you choose the cheapest moving service you find, do your research to make sure the company is legit. 

Need a Moving Company Near Minneapolis or St. Paul?

Moving is an investment; There’s no arguing that fact. But the amount of money you’ll end up investing in your move can vary considerably depending on how much of your time you can afford to invest as well. Since both are precious, finite resources, you’ll need to decide which one you’re prepared to sacrifice more of. 

Are you planning to relocate soon? Let our team at Ace Moving & Warehousing help you out! For more than 60 years, we’ve been helping Twin Cities residents with all of their moving needs, and we’d love to make your move as simple as possible too. We specialize in a full suite of moving services for local, interstate, intrastate, and international relocations, and we can create a custom move plan for you that’s tailored to your unique needs. 

From full moving and packing services to climate-controlled storage solutions, custom move plans, and more, we offer a wide selection of professional moving services to meet virtually any need. To get started, request a fast moving quote or call our Minneapolis office at 763-755-2045.

We Help Commercial Movers Save Money Too!

Looking for commercial movers? We’re experts! For more than a decade, Ace has facilitated corporate relocations throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro, serving tens of thousands of clients since our founding more than 50 years ago. We offer a full suite of customized commercial moving services to accommodate virtually any need and are fully registered, licensed, and insured.

If you’re looking for ways to make your next business relocation as economical as possible, partner with our team for custom moving solutions.