With a little know-how and the right preparation, moving doesn’t have to cost as much as you might think. The following advice could save you considerable time and money.
THE CULL
Excess baggage can add considerable costs to your moving fees, especially heavier items like books. So, when in doubt, throw it out. Old clothes, books and toys can take up valuable space that might be better utilised by truly required items. They don’t have to go to waste, though. Consider donating to a charity, family member, or even having a pre-move garage sale. With regards to food, toss anything past its use by date. Anything else you don’t plan to use prior to the move can be donated to a charitable organisation.
DO IT YOURSELF
Yes, you can save considerable costs by hiring a truck and doing it yourself, but this is no mean feat, particularly when friends or family are involved. There will be a lot of heavy lifting, overcoming the Tetris-like challenge of filling the truck in the most efficient way, and knowing how to appropriately protect and load furniture and more fragile items. Do your research, and weigh up the pros and cons of each.
BOXES, BOXES & MORE BOXES
Collect boxes in advance, and strongly consider purchasing larger, professional grade cartons designed specifically to fit and protect certain items to maximise carton space (and hence truck space). Make sure you fill any empty spaces with butchers paper or bubble wrap, and avoid using newspaper as the ink can mark your belongings.
DAILY ESSENTAILS
Ensure that daily essentials such as toiletries and phone chargers will be easily identifiable and accessible the day you move in. Otherwise, avoid putting them into the moving van and simply take with you. You don’t want to have to needlessly waste money buying another toothbrush, bottle of shampoo or can of deodorant because you forgot what carton you packed these into or simply can’t reach underneath that pile of boxes. If you’re confident that these types of items will be easy to locate and access, ensure cartons are clearly labelled with a marker or labelling machine.
