Moving home is an expensive process, and we don’t just mean the solicitor and estate agent fees. That means that it is important to make your money stretch as far as possible; even covering that first night takeaway in your new home. Here’s a list of 8 tips that you can do to save money when moving home.
1 – Plan ahead
Planning ahead can help you to consider every cost and reduce the chance of you having to find extra cash for things that you have not budgeted for. You should try to plan absolutely everything that you need to do in the build up to your move, the move in day itself, and the period post move.
2 – Declutter
Moving home offers the perfect time to declutter. What’s the point in packing and moving things over to your new house that you no longer use/need? This will help the move cheaper as if you use a removals company they will charge on how many items you are taking with you, and if you are moving by yourself then you should have to take fewer trips back and forth. You could also raise a bit of money by selling some of these unwanted items, which could contribute towards the moving costs.
3 – Compare house moving services
There is a comparison site for everything these days. Booking your house removal through an online comparison site will help you find professional companies quickly and at a fraction of the price. Also, the majority of comparison websites will only work with trusted, verified and fully insured companies to give you peace of mind when moving.
4 – Don’t waste food
You should try to use up all the food in your fridge, freezer and cupboards before you move. If this isn’t possible, you can always donate unopened tins and cans of food to food banks or charities. It may also be an idea to order a small food shop to be delivered to your new house after you’ve moved in to avoid spending money on takeaways or eating out in the first few days of moving in.
5 – Compare utility providers
Moving house is the best opportunity to compare electric, gas and water suppliers in your new area. You may find that the location you’ll be moving to will offer better deals on your energy bills. Also, make sure to check your account after you’ve left your old provider, as you may also be due a refund if your account is in credit.
6 – Be creative with your packing materials
Utilise any suitcases, baskets or other storage items by filling them with other things that you are taking with you. Towels and bedsheets are great shock absorbers for transporting fragile items such as mirrors and photo frames. If you have filled all of your own storage items, ask friends and family if they have any spare boxes. Additionally, local shops, cafes and supermarkets will have a variety of cardboard boxes every week from deliveries that they’ll be more than willing to let you take away for free.
7 – Packing carefully
Saving money also means not having to replace things further down the line. Ensure you pack your items with care, label fragile items clearly, and try not to load too many heavy items into one box, or too many boxes on top of each other. Make sure you know the limits and inclusions on your insurance, so if anything is damaged you can cover the costs.
8 – Labelling
Using a colour coding system for each room, or just simply labelling each box with which room it belongs can help avoid the frustration of not being able to find something when unpacking. Also, consider creating an ‘unpacking kit’ with things like scissors, tools, cleaning supplies and anything else you might need during the moving process.
