Posts Tagged ‘moving cheap’
April 12th, 2011 | 
Author: When you’re planning a move a long distance, it can be a bit intimidating. Do you bite the bullet and pay a moving company to pack and move your stuff, or do you rent a truck and move it yourself. You might just find that it can be surprisingly cheap to rent a one way moving truck.
When you use a full-service service moving company, you can often get them to pack most everything, inventory it, load it in the truck, and unpack it for you on the other end. However, this can be a very expensive way to go, especially if you don’t have enough to fill a full truck. This can be really painful, since you usually pay for the entire truck, even if what you’re moving only fills the truck two-thirds of the way.
A great alternative is to pack and load everything yourself. While it may not sound fun, having done it myself, it isn’t as bad as you might think. It is a cheap way to move compared to a full-service moving company, and you can control your schedule more than when you set up a time with a mover. You’ll also always know exactly where your stuff is.
You can usually choose from several sizes of trucks, from a pickup truck to a 21 foot truck, and can even get something to tow a car behind the larger trucks. One recommendation I would make is to get the car carrier trailer if you’re towing a car. On one move, I used the car dolly that only hooks up to two wheels. Towing that car cross-country by the front wheels actually messed up the alignment of the rear wheels, which added to the cost of the whole move. The car carrier does cost more, but may end up saving you money at the end of your trip.
Keep in mind that if you use the blankets that usually come in the trucks, you’ll be charged for them, and may even be charged to use the dolly to put your items on the larger trucks. In most cases, you’re charged by the mile or the number of days you keep the truck.
You may have to park in a strange way to be able to load the truck, which can sometimes cause problems if you’re only allowed to use a certain number of spaces, like at an apartment. You may want to check with management first to prevent inconveniencing other tenants.
Driving the truck across the country, or even across town, can be an adventure if you have the right attitude, and keep in mind that you’re probably saving a ton of money compared to having someone else do all the work for you.
Posted in 
Tags: 
While thinking about moving cheap I came across an article about a company that sells boxes that can be used as moving boxes and then as a book case. If you have moved a lot then you can probably see the advantages to multipurpose things. Using your boxes this way after a move is so much better than breaking them down and storing them, or trashing your moving boxes and then spending money to buy more the next time you move. The bookcase looks pretty neat to. Go to “Shelf System Built from Boxes Makes Moving Easy” to see for yourself.
You might be thinking that I have lost my mind with these boxes since they are so expensive and you would probably need to order them from Europe. I would completely agree with you, these boxes are not for those of us that need inexpensive solutions to our problems.
I am only showing you that article so that you can start to get ideas. What else could be used in a similar way? I know many of us have used crates as book cases and moving boxes back in collage, and they do work well if you are a kid. If you are not going for the dorm look then finding neat wooden boxes from the craft store or maybe the flee market could work really well.
Of course we need to remember that these types of shelves could fall easily in an earthquake or if a child tries to climb them, so we must always keep safety in mind.
Why are so many of us in need of moving cheap? So much has happened in the last few years that have changed the way we see our homes. Times have gotten so tight and look like they are just going to get tighter before these hard times are over. Is your home a comfortable place to live or is it a financial black hole.
If you are moving to make your budget stretch farther than getting a full service moving company is also going to be out of the question. Moving cheap is the only answer. If you are getting ready for moving cheap this year then here is a list for you to get started with.
Moving Cheap How to List
1. Schedule your moving truck rental early. Don’t wait for the last moment to try to get a moving truck. These days moving trucks are going fast. If you call a rental truck company and they can’t guarantee a truck for you at the location you want on your dates then you need to call another company until you have your guarantees. There is a well known moving truck rental company that is now keeping their customers guessing. They won’t tell you where to pick up your truck until the last minute and you could end up driving an hour each way to get it. Don’t use this company unless you have no other choice. You will pay extra in miles and gas.
2. Exhaust all sources of free boxes first. There are so many ways to get free boxes, you just need to ask. Go to all sorts of stores, hospitals, and neighbors that have recently moved. I have extensive posts about where to find moving boxes on this site to give you ideas.
3. Get friends and relatives to help you pack the truck. Sometimes it can be hard to ask for help, but if your money is tight you are going to have to do it. I have moved several times with just my husband and I doing all of the heavy lifting and I can tell you that moving this way isn’t as much fun as it sounds. Even if you can get a few people to help for an hour or two with your heaviest furniture it is worth it.
4. Plan everything perfectly. Make sure you are packed before you get the truck and you can move straight from one place to the other with as little hotel stays as possible.
Find the cheapest ways of doing everything at all times to keep your move cheap.
Moving Cheap is always a great idea especially now. I have hit this particular point numerous times, but it is so important that we will take another shot at it.
Pack Rats Have The Most Expensive Moves
Most of the time the most expensive part of a move is the moving of your stuff. If moving cheap is a priority to you than hanging onto unnecessary objects is going to bust your budget. If you don’t need it or you haven’t used it for the last 6 month then get rid of it before you move. Of course there are exceptions like seasonal and Things that mean a lot to you.
Even better than just throwing your unneeded things out you can sell them. Think about listing those objects on Ebay, Creags List, Yahoo Auctions, Your local want ads, or having a garage sale. You could help pay for your move with the things you sell.
Most of us do not have the choice of what time of year they can move. Usually there are outside factors that dictate when we move like; a new job, the sale of a house, kids schools, and getting evicted. I hope you are not moving because of eviction, but it does happen. If you do have the choice of when you move and need to be moving cheap then pick winter.
Many places around the country have a ton of ice and snow during certain months. You should probably avoid those times. Moving trucks usually don’t have studs or snow tires. But you will have to use your own judgment on that. Moving cheap is also quite possible in the early spring and late fall. Just avoid the summer.
Why should you avoid the summer if at all possible? Everyone and there dog is trying to move during the summer. You are going to be competing with a lot of other people for movers, moving trucks, and those containers for container moving. Just remember the law of supply and demand. The demand is higher than the supply in the summer so they can charge a premium. In the winter the demand is much lower than the supply so they are more likely going to give you a discount to get your biasness. Moving cheap in the winter is definitely the best way to go if you can.
Winter can also be a better time to get a rental or buy a home. Since most people are not looking in the winter so you might get to work with a desperate seller or land lord. This of coerce depends on the housing market. It does not hurt to try.
Moving in this economy can be tricky. Most of us out there are very interested in saving every last penny that we possibly can. Moving is generally down right expensive and can cause a lot of stress. Saving money by moving cheapis simply a must to ensure we can enjoy our new home instead of just being overwhelmed by all the money it took to get there. Here are a few things to do to keep your move cheap.
Move less Stuff
If you are moving cheap than this is the best way to save money. When you move your biggest expense is moving your stuff. You pay a lot to get your belongings from point A to Point B. Call a moving company or self moving truck rentals to get a quote for moving all of your stuff. Now with that quote in hand make a list of your things and how much it would cost to replace them or if you could easily live without it. This will be your biggest indicator of what to sell or give away. The time you spend doing this will be worth it in the end.
Do your own Heavy Lifting
Movers charge a lot for the convenience of loading and unloading the truck for you. If you are moving cheap than do your own heavy lifting. Also skip having your furniture and breakables packed and unpacked for you because it is going to cost a bundle. If you really need the extra help than call in some fevers from family and friends. You could also hire a shout group or some neighborhood kids to help. Then get a rental moving truck or a moving container.
You’re moving to a new city because of a new job, but you don’t know where you will live yet. You book the first moving company you see in the phonebook. They come to your house to get your stuff and pack it into there truck. When you get to your new city you find out that finding a place to live is going to take longer than you thought. The moving company says “no problem we can store your things in our where house for an extra fee. One month later you have finally found a decent place to move into and you are ready for your furniture and clothing to be delivered.
How much was that storage bill?
To avoid the extremely expensive storage fees that moving companies like to charge try these.
1. Find a temporary home to rent that can hold your things ahead of time. You can use it as a base to explore the area and take the time to find the perfect place to live permanently.
2. Get the moving company to deliver to a storage facility of your choice. Any other storage is going to be cheaper than what the moving company is going to charge you for using their where house. Keep in mind that you will need to spend a little more money when you are ready to move your stuff into your new home.
3. Use a container moving company with storage facilities. This can be expensive and you will need to do your own loading and unloading, but it is still going to be cheaper than the above scenario.
I am as cheap as they come, even when it comes to moving house. So, anytime someone tries to get me to pay extra on anything, I can’t help questioning the expense. Every time you move you are taking the chance that your belongings could be damaged or the moving equipment you are using could be damaged and you would be liable. The question is if you are moving cheap, should you get moving insurance.
Check the insurance that you already have
If you are renting a moving truck then check with your car insurance to see if it might cover your rental truck as well. Most cat insurances don’t, but a few do. If you are concerned about an expensive piece of furniture or electronics than check your home owners or renters insurance.
Are your things worth insuring?
How hard would it be to replace your most breakables? If you are using movers for your cheap move then it is almost a given that something is going to get damaged. If you don’t care if one or two of the items being moved are destroyed then don’t bother insuring your stuff.
You have to think of everything when you are moving cheap
How much of the stuff that you have do you use all the time? Generally the biggest expense when moving is getting your stuff from the old place to the new one. It doesn’t matter if you hire a professional moving company, get a moving truck rental, use moving pods, or transport everything in your own van or truck the less stuff you have to move the cheaper it is going to be. Even that last option is cheaper in gas if you can make fewer trips. Here are a few things to keep in mind while deciding what is worth keeping and what can go.
Start with the things you have permanently stored. Separate the seasonal things like Christmas decorations and lawn furniture that you use every year out from the rest. Then pull out the keepsakes you have to keep. The rest is just a waste of space and moving costs, just let it go.
Thin out everything behind doors and in drawers. Chances are you only use what is in front and on top. Go though coat closets and junk drawers. These tend to be dumping places. If you don’t know what to do with it or where is should go then you probably don’t need it.
Go though your clothes. Most people only wear 20% of there clothing. Figure out what you haven’t worn in the last year and then try to get rid of the rest.
Books, magazines, movies, and music are heavy and take up a lot of room. Try to get rid of as much of them as you can. You can sell some books, movies, and music to earn a little extra moving money.
Good luck moving cheap, I know you can do it.
If you are finding yourself needing to move in the cold dark winter then you are probably feeling pretty abused right now. If you need to be moving cheap or just want to then winter is a great time to move.
Most people do not move in the winter so it is easier and cheaper. You don’t have to book your movers, moving truck, or moving pods as far in advance in the winter, and the prices are more competitive.
Gas in the winter is naturally cheaper then the summer. I don’t know if you have noticed, but so far gas is a lot cheaper now than it was last summer.
If you find yourself moving a good distance north and need to be moving cheap than I have really good news for you? In most cases it is cheaper to move north than south. Why that is the case is a subject for a different post.