Photo: Kurhan (Shutterstock)
With every big move, there is a moment when it hits you: Oh, that’s right … moving is really damn expensive. You can forget how much all the costs pile up, from packing materials and the truck itself to the cost of cleaning, painting, and security deposits – and even new furniture that will better fit your new space. However, there are ways to make it less costly as long as you are strategic about it.
Do a browse before you move
Moving is a good time to start over in many ways. You’re about to be in a brand new room so make sure you really want to fill it with all of your old trash (no shade for your trash; I’m sure it’s great trash). If you get rid of a few earthly possessions now, your new location will at least have a trouble-free start, lower the costs associated with transportation, and earn you extra money for moving costs.
You can do a browse sale and advertise the old-fashioned way with some neighborhood flyers, go to Craigslist to post an ad, or use newer platforms like Facebook Marketplace, LetGo, and OfferUp to attract potential buyers.
If no one bites you can check your city’s pickup schedule and depending on what you find, leave some items on the curb as freebies. Not only could this save you money on moving all of your goods, but it could also be helpful for another moving company in your area and earn you a little good karma.
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Speaking of …
Go “bend over”
If you live in a big city, you know the classic practice of picking free furniture from the curb. If you live in New York and spend time on Instagram, you probably know the account that makes this even easier.
@StoopingNYC has 185,000 followers who dutifully take pictures of discarded furniture in the five boroughs and send them to account holders along with location details. The owners, in turn, post the photos and relevant information about the account’s story and grid, and encourage New Yorkers to get involved.
“Bending over is the hunt for discarded freebies on the street, which has the added benefit of being both an activity that you can do outdoors and one that ultimately enriches the space that you are likely to spend all of your time in : Your apartment or your house! ”The couple behind @StoopingNYC told me.
It enriches the space and enriches your pockets at the same time as you don’t pay for the coffee table, mirror, dresser or couch in question. (And that’s just a small sample of what @StoopingNYC has to offer on any given day!) If instead you don’t live in a big city that regularly bends over, grab something cheap by checking out the best of the next weekend work out local yard sales or go to all of the online marketplaces where you are actively throwing away your old stuff to make room for the new (for you) stuff your new place needs. (Craigslist also has a “free” section where people often give away items.)
A word of caution in both cases: make sure to clean the products well and use caution when choosing fabrics made of fabric such as sofas or armchairs. Do you know what isn’t cheap? Exterminator, that’s something.
Decide if you want to hire movers (or if you want to beg your pals)
Moving workers are great, especially when you have particularly valuable items, lots of furniture, or a long trip ahead of you. However, there are other ways to transport your items.
Don’t ruin your relationships or anything, but consider making some friends for the big move. Promise some pizza and beer or cash if your friends help you haul your things. They take care of you and probably charge less than real moving companies – but keep in mind that you might get what you pay for here too.
“Honestly, if you can afford moving companies, get moving companies,” said Shannon Palus, a Brooklyn-based writer and editor who has moved more than a dozen times in her life and made her last move for less than 60 US dollars. Dollar made it. “It’s really very nice when people transport your things. I think if you go the U-Haul and Friends route, you hire someone from a service like Task Rabbit to help out with the heavier stuff. I think all the money you can spend on the move should be done. You say you should spend money on experiences to be happy, right? Spending the day doing something other than lifting boxes is the ultimate good experience. “
However, there are ways to compromise here. You can hire movers for the big, expensive items and cough with your friends for the small, cheap items. Palus also pointed out that her most recent move cost less than $ 60 because she used ride-sharing apps to call cars and only had to move small items. (“Don’t have too much stuff!” She said. “I recommend that.”)
“Be communicative, let it happen [the driver] refuse and tip really well, ”she said. “I don’t move anything about Lyft either; I do some subway rides.
Finally, remember that moving companies are human too and can destroy your valuables. It happens all the time – and it will cost you money for replacements unless the moving company has an insurance policy. However, the value of some items is sentimental rather than monetary. So, consider all of the results when deciding who exactly will handle your stuff.
Get creative with packing
Instead of buying bubble wrap for your vases and plates, use your thick winter clothes to wrap them up. Instead of buying cardboard boxes to move items around, ask local businesses if you can grab some from stock that they wanted to recycle – or save the boxes from your own online shopping supplies for a few months before moving . If you have a storage stool, suitcase, solid handbag collection, or household items that can hold other household items, you know what to do.
While you are busy thinking outside the box, you expand. Ask moving companies about discounts or flat rates for moving. Don’t be afraid of being rejected; Better to ask and get a “no” than not to ask when you may have got a “yes”.
Keep calm, try to be organized, don’t put anything you might need right now – and then spend money on a replacement – and remember that when it’s all over you will have a glorious new home .
