10 Simple & Frugal Tips to Make Moving Easier
Moving doesn’t have to be a drag!
If you’re planning a move, we’ve got you covered with some simple and frugal moving tips to save you money while you’re taking on this daunting endeavor! Read on for our tried-and-true budget-friendly moving advice.
1. Re-purpose shipping boxes.
So maybe you went a little crazy shopping on Amazon (we’re not judging!), and now you’ve got a bunch of shipping boxes. Reuse them to pack up your belongings! Just be sure to reinforce the bottoms with shipping tape to keep items safe and secure inside.
Also, through UHaul Connect you can find other recent movers and score their used moving supplies. If you prefer to purchase new from U-Haul, you can return any unused boxes for a refund.
A few other tips on scoring boxes on the cheap…
- Call stores and ask for reusable boxes. Wine and liquor stores have empty wine boxes which are great for packing glassware since they already have cardboard separators in them.
- Hit up local bookstores for packing boxes since they’re typically very sturdy.
- Grocery store banana boxes are also strong (perfect for books).
- Try big box stores or any place receiving regular shipments in corrugated boxes.
Don’t hesitate to get creative with empty vessels in your house for transporting your stuff, like hampers, large pots and pans, planters, drawers, trash bins, duffle/travel bags… you probably have more than you think!
2. Ask for help when making shorter moves.
Not everyone loves being on the receiving end of the “I could really use a favor” call when it comes to moving, but you can obviously save a TON of money when asking your family and friends to lend a hand. Some best practices to make short moves an easy and seamless job:
- Have everything packed and ready before your helpful crew arrives. No one wants to stand around and wait while you carefully pack up your belongings. Labeling all the boxes for their designated room also helps when unloading into the new house.
- Make a to-do list. If there are certain pieces of furniture that need to be disassembled (that you simply can’t live without before moving day), write out a to-do list for a couple of people to tackle while the rest carry out boxes. This way, anyone can check the list for tasks instead of chasing you down for what to do next.
- Not everyone needs to be on-site to help out. If you have small kiddos or pets, ask if someone could look after them for the day. This way you and your crew can focus on the task at hand without distraction.
- Provide some nourishment before and after. If they’re coming over in the morning, it’s a nice gesture to have coffee available (consider getting a large to-go dispenser so you can simply toss it when you’re done), along with water or sports drinks throughout the day. When the job is done, pizza or takeout will surely have your friends smiling before they leave. And don’t forget a celebratory drink if you’d like to toast with everyone to celebrate your exciting new adventure!
3. Get quotes from multiple moving companies.
Similar to booking a flight, in-demand days and times are going to yield higher ticket prices. The same is true for rental vans and moving companies. If you’re planning a summer move, keep in mind you’ll pay higher prices renting a moving truck during peak moving season.
If delaying your move during the peak season isn’t an option, get multiple quotes from companies like U-Haul, Penske, Budget, and local movers in your area. You can try to price match by calling with a quote in hand from a competitor if one company is more convenient to use than another. Also, check out member discounts like AAA or Military when booking with Penske or Budget.
Another Hip2Save reader favorite is U-Pack by ABF Freight. Their U-Pack service drops off a storage cube for you to pack and fill, and then one of their trucks will come to transport it to your new home. This option is sometimes cheaper than going with a typical moving company!
“I highly recommend ABF if you’re moving between states. You pack (or hire someone to do it) and load the truck up, and they only charge you for the part you use… then they drive it to your destination. We compared prices on two of our cross-country moves, and it was cheaper to do that than U-Haul, Penske, etc., and you didn’t have to worry about driving a big truck cross country.” — HIP reader Tracey
4. Get new subscriber discounts on cable and internet.
One of the nice perks of moving is being eligible for sign-on offers from local cable and internet companies. Call your provider first to see if your current service is available in the area you’re moving to (so long as you’re happy with it), and ask if you could transfer the service while getting a break on the monthly cost for being a loyal customer. If not, consider signing up with a different provider or starting from scratch with your service so you can take advantage of new customer incentives.
You could also use this as an opportunity to cut ties with cable altogether. A growing number of streaming devices and services hitting the market will help you save hundreds on your TV entertainment bill.
5. Sell belongings and furniture BEFORE you move.
Now’s the time to get honest with yourself about the futon you’ve had since college. Do you need it in your new home? If the answer is no (or even if it’s maybe), consider selling it before you start loading the moving truck.
The same goes for any other belongings that you just don’t love anymore. Luckily, there are TONS of resources for selling or re-homing gently used household items, like Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle, or just hosting your own yard sale!
This not only frees up the money and labor having to move the piece, but you’ll also earn some extra cash to spend on new furniture (or, in the case of Freecycle, at least someone can come haul it off of your porch for you)! To make sure you have adequate time to list, sell, and have someone come to pick up the piece, it’s recommended to begin the selling process about six weeks before the move.
“With all items, you really should ask yourself, ‘have I used this at all throughout the year?’ If the answer is no, see ya later. It’s not worth keeping stuff that literally collects dust… and you are basically PAYING to keep it when moving.
As for items to get rid of when moving, a big one is linens. It’s often good to start fresh after you’ve had them for several years, so I plan on getting all new towels and sheets once we move — HOWEVER, towels and sheets are great for using when packing fragile items. So it’s nice to be able to still use them to help with the packing.” — Collin
6. Ask your company to cover the move.
If relocation is required for work, some companies will pay for the moving costs. Instead of having them arrange the moving services, ask if they’ll pay a lump sum and let you handle it on your own (they may be likely to oblige since it’s cheaper and easier for them). If they say yes to this option, you can opt for less expensive services and keep the rest of the cash for yourself — sweet!
7. Sign up for USPS moving.
You’ve likely already started changing your mailing address for bank accounts, doctors, Amazon, and magazines subscriptions, but you’re bound to miss one here or there. If you sign up to have your mail forwarded by USPS, you won’t miss a thing!
It’s only about $1, and you may receive a welcome bundle of awesome coupons for retailers like Lowe’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, and other stores as a way for the postal service to congratulate you on your move. For the minimal spend that it costs for convenience and peace of mind, these added promotions are well worth it.
8. Ship via Media Mail for discounted postage rates.
For any books, videos, DVDs, papers, and the like, ship them to your new address via the Media Mail rate. It’s significantly cheaper than other shipping methods and will save you tons of space by not having to transport the large boxes yourself. Just make sure your package contents meet the following USPS requirements to be eligible for the Media Mail shipping rate.
9. Sign up for IKEA Moving.
Want super rare IKEA coupons?! Sign up for IKEA Moving, and you’ll get a $25 off of $250 in-store purchase coupon to help with furnishing your new home. Plus, the moving guide page on their site is full of tips and tricks for organizing, packing, and making your move a breeze. Oh, and those big blue IKEA bags are great as another vessel for transporting towels, beddings, and clothes!
10. Save on furniture, appliance, & home deals on Hip2Save.
Moving to a new home can result in some hefty costs, like purchasing new appliances or furniture to fill the space. If you’re not familiar with Hip2Save, be sure to check it out and take advantage of the search function on our sister site. Simply type in the item you’re looking for in the search bar to find the latest deals on that product. We also post great home deals right here on Hip2BeHome.
And don’t forget about the HIP community! Visit the Hip2Save Facebook page to get involved and to ask questions on various deals. More often than not, a bargain-loving reader will come to your aid!
Also, be sure to check out the Hip2BeHome Facebook page to ask questions about various home deals or to share tips, renovations, DIYs, crafts, or other home and garden info with us!
There ya go!
Just consider these helpful money saving tips next time you embark on a journey to a new home and save yourself time, money, and loads of stress.
7)You can change your address for free if you go into the post office and use the paper form(PS Form 3575). I refuse to pay anything for something that is already free. Doing this has definitely been worth my time. You may have to ask for the form. My post office no longer has it out next to the shipping supplies.
By the way, the online fee is now $1.05.
Thanks for letting us know Sara!