How to Save on Moving Costs

There are a lot of things to consider when you are preparing for a move — and everything comes at a price. While many moving expenses can’t be avoided, there are some clever ways you can keep costs down, just as long as you plan ahead of time.

Here are 5 simple ways to save money on your next move: 

Do It Yourself (DIY) 

You may be able to save a significant amount of money by not hiring professional movers and instead opting to do the brunt work yourself (and hopefully with the help of friends and/or family). According to HomeAdvisor hiring professional packers or movers will cost, on average, $270 – $2,200. But if you do it yourself, you’re only looking at the price of the boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, etc. And if you enlist the help of friends and family, you may want to thank them by buying them dinner. That being said, hiring professionals can relieve unnecessary stress and labor from your already hectic list of to-dos. So if you have some wiggle room with your budget, it may not be a bad idea to employ the help of professional movers. 

Insider Tip: If you do decide to go with a moving company, make sure to shop around for the best quotes. 

Cut the Costs of Renting a Moving Truck

If you can easily and conveniently move all your stuff without a moving truck, it may be your best option for saving money. But if a moving truck is essential, you’ll want to find ways to cut costs, as renting a moving truck will typically fall in the range of $1,550 to $3,250, depending on the size of the truck and the distance of your move. 

Luckily, there are many ways to save money on your truck rental move. Follow some of these helpful tips to cut the costs of a truck rental:

• Get rid of stuff you don’t need
• Get quotes from several truck rental companies
• Get the right truck size
• Check for discounts
• Ask about price matching
• Don’t pay for extra damage protection
• Watch the odometer
• Refill the gas tank before returning your truck

Insider Tip: If you’ll also need a storage unit at some point in your move, some companies offer moving truck and van rentals along with storage space, so be on the lookout for deals. 

Find Free Packing Supplies

The majority of your packing supplies will consist of cardboard boxes. Boxes can be bought at a variety of self-storage facilities, improvement stores, truck rental companies, and online. You’ll likely pay around $1 – $2 for a small box, $2 – $3 for a medium-sized box, and $3 – $4 for a large to extra-large box. But an easy way to save on these costs is to look for free moving boxes from local stores, recycling points, office buildings, and schools. You can also find boxes and other moving supplies online on sites like Nextdoor.com, Craigslist, U-Haul Box Exchange, and local Facebook groups.

Insider Tip: Specialty moving boxes, such as picture boxes and wardrobe boxes, tend to cost more than your standard cardboard box.

Utilize Discounts and Deals

Before planning your moving costs, you should look for any potential discounts and deals. You can save money by searching for online offers and discount promotions. There are also discounts out there for individuals who fall into a certain demographic, such as seniors, military personnel, students, and teachers. 

Here are some moving discount opportunities you should look into:  

• Cash discounts — Many moving companies provide a discount if you can pay in cash. Just make sure to get a receipt!
• AAA (American Automobile Association) membership discounts — If you’re a member, AAA can get you a discount on services such as moving trucks. 
• Vocational discounts — Some moving companies offer discounts to teachers, military members, union members, EMTs, firefighters, and students. 
• Online coupons — Coupon sites like Groupon and RetailMeNot can be used to find lower rates on moving companies, storage units, and moving supplies in your area. 

Choose a Less Expensive Moving Date  

Did you know the date of your move can affect the overall cost of your relocation? It all has to do with demand for movers and moving companies — the higher the demand, the more rates go up. Typically the demand for moving services is highest on weekends and during the summer months. In general, it’s best to opt for a mid-month or mid-week move, as this is typically when demand for moving companies is lowest. If you have the flexibility, it’s better to move during the week and off-season, like in the late fall and winter months.