First things first. Is moving on a budget possible? Yes! Will it be as easy as moving without a determined budget? Unfortunately, no.
In order to figure out your budget and organize your relocation with it, you will have to make some sacrifices and prepare properly. If you don’t, you will not only blow through your budget, but you may even put your entire relocation at risk. So, let us go step by step and figure out how you should deal with relocating on a budget.
How to prepare for moving on a budget
Moving on a budget is only possible if you prepare for it properly. So, the first thing I would advise you to do is to start preparing for your relocation the moment you decide that you are going to relocate. Learn from other people that were in your situation, and from professionals like Master Moving Guide, in order to tackle your relocation properly. As you will soon learn, there are numerous things that will require both time and money to deal with. And, the more time you spend preparing, the less money you will have to spend. You may be extremely lucky and deal with everything in record time. But, as a general rule of thumb, you shouldn’t expect do deal with a last-minute relocation on a limited budget.
The sooner you start researching your relocation, the better.
Cost-effective movers
The most important thing you will have to deal with is finding cost-effective movers. Mind that I specifically used the term “cost-effective”, not cheap. It is a common mistake for people to look for cheap movers when moving on a budget. But, make no mistake. Cheap movers are a fairy tale. There is no way that a moving company can offer you a service that is twice or trice as cheap as the competition. What they can, and will do is to take your items and hold them hostage until you pay them a larger amount. Unfortunately, this mostly happens to people who are trying to move on a limited budget. So, don’t look for cheap movers. Look for cost-effective ones. Even if it means that you will have to take out a loan.
Where to look for them
Start looking for your movers online. See which moving companies operate in your area and get moving estimates for all of them. The more estimates you have the better you will know how much your relocation will cost, which will help you find the right assistance when moving on a budget.
Online moving estimates are free, which is why you shouldn’t shy away from getting as much as possible.
As a rule of thumb, you should focus on your local moving companies, as they can provide you with the best service for the lowest cost. This is not because they are good samaritans or trying to help out a neighbor. Instead, it is due to the fact that it takes them less time and fuel to relocate you. The one thing that you should always keep in mind is that you need to work with reliable movers. Without reliable movers, there is no way that your relocation is going to be successful.
Cheap moving supplies
While some moving companies can offer you packing services, I would advise you to deal with it by yourself. By reading a packing guide you can easily learn how to pack so that your relocation is safe and efficient. Furthermore, if you start preparing on time, you can get cheap and even free packing supplies. Simply visit your local stores and warehouses and ask them to save you some boxes. Within a week or two you should have enough to pack your belongings. Mind you, these boxes can be of lower quality, which is why you need to be careful. Depending on your relocation, you might not be able to use them. If that is the case, you should either rent plastic containers or buy better quality boxes. Don’t jeopardize your entire relocation over a couple of bucks.
How to organize your relocation
With capable movers by your side, you should be able to organize your relocation properly. Nevertheless, there are certain aspects that you should be aware of in order to make your relocation budget-friendly. First off, the more time you can give your movers, the cheaper your relocation is going to be. Second, the timing of your relocation will play as big of a role as the number of things you have, when it comes to figuring out the cost. Remember, the more flexible you are, the cheaper your relocation is going to be. So, try to give yourself enough room to change your moving plan if need be.
Timing When Moving
The cheapest period to relocate is during late autumn, winter and early spring. This is the least busy time for moving companies, which is why their services are the cheapest. By the same token, you want to avoid moving during the weekends. Noone likes taking sick days in order to relocate. But if you wish to move on a budget, you just might have to do so.
Moving on a budget is only possible if you pick the right time for it.
There are other factors that will influence the cost of your move, but for those, you best talk with your movers. Simply explain your financial situation to them as ask them to help you out. Capable and reliable movers will do whatever possible to organize your relocation so that it is within your budget.
Final Tips on Moving On A Budget
When preparing a moving plan with your movers, remember that you will need some extra money after you move in. Many things can go not as expected and you might even need to get some extra things for your new home. It will take a while to get used to the new environment, and it is always a good idea to have some extra money for doing so. So, during your planning stage, try to keep all the necessary costs in mind.
