How to Save Money on a Long-Distance Move
A long-distance move can be an expensive affair, but there are ways to successfully complete the process without breaking bank. First, it’s imperative that you create a relocation budget. This will help you keep track of your expenditures so that you avoid spending more than you can afford.
When creating a budget, you should account for every stage of the relocation process. A spreadsheet program, such as Excel, is ideal for organizing budget items in a clear and understandable fashion. Any realistic budget should include the following costs:
- Costs of packing supplies like boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and packing paper
- Moving company fees
- Tips for the movers
- Cost of airfare to your new home
- Cost of transportation to and from the airport
- Fuel costs if you’re driving to your new home
- Food and miscellaneous expenses while traveling
Start the budgeting process early so that you have time to research all available options for each budget item and choose the most cost-effective ones. Rest assured, you will find ways to save. Here are a few of them:
Schedule Your Move for the Off-Peak Season
Many moving companies tend to charge more in the summer. By scheduling your relocation for some time between September and May, not only will you be able to save money, but you’ll also have more moving companies to choose from due to wider availability as well as more choices for convenient moving dates.
Pack Your Items Yourself
Purchasing packing supplies, then gathering, organizing, and packing your items yourself can seem overwhelming, but it can trim an appreciable amount of money from your relocation costs. You should take only what you need, and sell, donate, or discard the rest. This way you’ll save on packing materials and packing time, and you can decrease the cost for transporting your belongings. And remember, when shopping for packing supplies, it’s always cheaper to buy in bulk.
Travel Cheap
Check travel sites for inexpensive airfare and research all viable travel options, like trains or buses, for even more economical choices. If your arrival date at your new home is not of vital importance, you may want to consider driving there. The fuel you use on the drive is certain to be much cheaper than airfare. Plus, you will save on the cost of shipping your car to your new home.
The experts at Atlantic Relocation Systems can help you make informed and confident decisions about your upcoming long-distance move. We offer competitive estimates and outstanding moving services. Moreover, our consistent A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau speaks to our reputation as one of industry’s premier moving companies. Contact Atlantic Relocation Systems today to learn more about our long-distance moving services.
