Relocating from one location to another for work is challenging. It’s even harder when you are moving with a family in tow. Moving expenses also add up and can be pretty significant depending on where you’re going, the distance, and what you’re taking with you. Then you have to factor in whether or not you’re making the drive or having your car shipped, and all of those costs add even more. To help you save some cash on your move, check out these tips for some sound advice.
Consider Shipping Your Car
Shipping a car is a personal decision and can sometimes be the less expensive option than driving to your destination. For example, let’s say you’re moving across the country from the east coast to the west coast. You think that driving is cheaper, so you’re considering taking your family on a one-week drive to get there.
Stop right there and add up the cost of lodging, food, and fuel you can expect to pay if you’re driving two cars clear across the country. It adds up quickly, but there is a way to avoid some of those expenses or at least lower them. That’s where car shipping comes into play. Don’t worry you can easily use the internet to find cheap car shipping companies that will take care of your vehicle.
You may find that shipping one or two vehicles and flying to meet your moving truck at your destination is less expensive than driving. As a bonus, you’ll also save on wear and tear on your vehicle, preventing unnecessary depreciation due to extra mileage.
Be Flexible If Possible
Depending on your company’s needs, you may have room for flexibility in your schedule. If you don’t need to move right away, consider moving during the off-season. The cheapest months to move are during the academic year, between October and April. Demand tends to decline during this time, so if you can wait to move your stuff until then, you might score some significant savings.
For people with families, you might also consider going ahead of your family to find a place to live. It’s cheaper to pay for a single room in a cheap hotel while you’re looking for a place to live than to bring your entire family and your things before you know your destination. With that in mind, if you can go ahead of your family, it can save you money on extra lodging, food, and storing expenses.
Make Four Piles
As you’re going through your house, put everything into four piles: keep, sell, toss, and give away. Start by going through the easiest rooms in your home and look at everything with a critical eye. If you don’t need it, it goes into the sell, toss, or give-away piles.
Downsizing can be physically and emotionally challenging, especially if it’s a home where you’ve watched your family grow up. You’re going to see memories go past you as your children’s baby blankets or favorite toys make their way out of the shadows. It’s hard, and it’s okay to feel how it will make you feel, but you still need to designate which pile it goes into in the end.
If you don’t feel like you can do it, ask a trusted friend or family member to help you make decisions. Once you pare down your belongings to a more manageable amount and you have boxes packed, you’ll be grateful that you did because the bill will be lower once everything is done.
Pack Intentionally
When you pack your belongings, always pack intentionally. Don’t just pack something because it is something you might use that you haven’t used in a while. Pack only what you know you’ll need to take with you.
Some of those needs might include specific appliances like a coffee pot or a slow cooker. Maybe you’re attached to that air fryer you use almost every day. Those types of items are the ones you need to keep.
Be honest with yourself, and if you haven’t used it in over a year, did you need it anyway? Probably not, so it doesn’t get packed. Be okay with giving up the “just in case” mentality and instead go with the “this always gets used, so it goes” thought process. Fewer boxes translate into a lower expense to get your stuff moved.
It’s a Wrap
Relocating can be challenging, depending on your circumstances. Remember to be as flexible as possible to help you save some money along the way. Also, declutter to reduce what you’ll be taking with you. By doing so, you’ll have fewer boxes to pack, which also means saving some cash. Don’t forget to think about shipping your car because that can also save you money, not to mention it can make your move easier, too.