Easy Ways to Save Money During Your Long-Distance Move

Moving to a new home is a big ordeal. If your new home happens to be in another state, the process gets even more complicated.

While we know you must be excited about starting a new job and living in a new home, you’re probably experiencing some anxiety as well. But don’t worry, this is normal.

Yet, it helps to know some tips and tricks for saving money on a long-distance move. After all, one of your biggest concerns is probably the cost of moving your life across the country.

We can help. Keep reading for some easy ways to save money when relocating to another state.

 

Downsize Your Belongings

Learning how to move long distances for less money means saving cash where you can. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by decreasing the amount of stuff you’re hauling to your new home.

Use this adventure as an excuse to purge your life of all the items that are no longer serving you. For example, most people only use about 20% of their wardrobes on a regular basis. There’s also:

• Old electronics
• Unused recreational equipment
• Old furniture
• Outdated decor
• Old bedding sets
• And more

Go through your items, one room at a time, and separate them into four categories – keep, sell, donate, and trash. If you don’t love it, need it, or use it regularly, get rid of it. The less stuff you have to transport to your new home, the more you can save on moving expenses.

Naturally, this is a great way to not only save money on your long-distance move but also earn some cash. Selling a bunch of your old stuff before you go can result in hundreds, if not thousands of extra dollars in your pocket.

 

 

Find Free Moving Boxes

It’s difficult to define the average cost of long-distance moves. This is because the cost depends on so many varying factors, such as:

• The moving service’s fees (if you use one)
• The total distance
• The amount of stuff you’re transporting

Regardless, one way to save money is by collecting your own boxes for free prior to moving day. You can go to retail stores in your town and ask for their unwanted boxes. This includes groceries stores, furniture stores, appliance stores, home improvement outlets, and more.

While moving boxes aren’t necessarily expensive, you can save quite a bit of money by finding them for free all over town.

Rent a Moving Truck

More than likely, you’re not going to be able to transport all of your belongings in your personal vehicle. You might be able to borrow a friend’s truck, but maybe not even then.

However, hiring a moving company to transport your belongings to another state will be expensive. Fortunately, there is another option.

Consider renting a moving truck and driving it yourself to your new home. This will be much more affordable in the long run.

Just make sure you plan ahead and have everything in order long before your moving day. We also recommend investing in moving insurance. You can find more info here on how to prepare for your long-distance move.

 

 

Do All of Your Own Packing and Loading

The cheapest way to move long distances is by doing as much of the work yourself as possible. This means not hiring movers to pack, load, and haul your stuff for you.

However, this doesn’t have to be a physically draining and mentally exhaustive process. Collect boxes (as suggested above) a few months in advance. Then, immediately begin the process of packing up your home.

Start with spare rooms, spare bathrooms, and storage spaces. Progressively pack up the things you don’t need so it doesn’t all have to be done in one go.

Then, as your moving day approaches, you can finish the packing process. We recommend moving all the boxes into the room closest to the front door. Once the moving vehicle arrives, it will be an easier process of loading it up.

Ask Friends and Family for Help

Now, we haven’t decided just to ice over the fact that you’ll probably need help. As noted earlier, you can save a lot of money on your long-distance move by not hiring a moving company. However, this doesn’t mean you need to do everything by your lonesome.

Ask your friends and family members to help you load up boxes and heavier items onto the moving vehicle. This will save you time and a lot of physical labor.

You can thank them for their help by treating them to pizza or taking everyone out for drinks later. Most likely, they won’t mind helping you move, as it gives them a chance to spend more time with you before you flee the state.

 

 

Remember to Deactivate Your Old Utilities and Services

One of the most important long-distance moving tips is to make a list of all the things that need to get taken care of, so nothing slips through the cracks. For example, homeowners commonly overlook canceling their current utilities and services. This includes:

• Internet
• Cable
• Phone
• Gas
• Electricity
• Water
• Waste removal
• And more

Don’t forget about these services and continue to pay for them when you’re gone. This mistake could costs you hundreds of dollars.

Reach out to these companies to let them know when you’ll be moving. Make sure you don’t cancel important services (like water and power) until the day after you move out. Spending your last day in a house without running water or power would be rather inconvenient.

Shop Around if You Need Movers

Finally, if you don’t have a lot of people that can help you move, lack the time, or just don’t want to deal with the process of moving on your own, you can hire a long distance moving company.

However, do some research to find the most affordable movers in your area that handle long-distance moves. Pay attention to their credentials, customer reviews, and policies on damaged items to make the best choice.

 

 

Getting Ready to Embark on a Long-Distance Move?

If you’re planning a long-distance move, follow our guide to save as much money as possible. You don’t have to spend a fortune relocating to a new state. Then, you can move on and start enjoying the new life you’re creating for yourself.

Before you go, feel free to look through some of our other articles to find more relevant advice and tips. Our blog was created to help readers like you make good choices, save money, and be happier.