Cut Household Expenses for Your Big Family Move

Moving can be expensive even if you “Do it Yourself”. There is the truck rental, gas, time off of work, pizza for the “helpers”, plus depending on the timing of the move you might have to pay rent twice for that month. In addition, you will probably have to pay deposits for your new utility services which can add up to hundreds of dollars. All of that can be expensive.

But, you can ease your financial strain by finding ways to cut household expenses before you relocate. By implementing the right money-saving strategies, you’ll be able to devote more money toward getting moving supplies, hiring movers and other costs pertaining to your move. Here are four budget cuts that you should consider making before your family move.

Declutter

The more stuff you have to move the more expensive it will bs so start decluttering early. Organize and begin packing things you won’t need before the move and then sell, donate or recycle things that you no longer need or use. This way when the time comes to actually move your boxes will be organized and there will hopefully be fewer of them. Also, long before you actually move, begin paring down your refrigerator and pantry. If you eat it, you won’t have to move it.

Subscription Services

The amount of money that you pay for monthly cable TV, internet service and phone service can be lowered if you look for providers who have cheaper fees. Your current provider might also be willing to offer you a deal if you express interest in shopping around for another provider that can give you cheaper service. Another good idea is to check to make sure that you aren’t still paying monthly or annual subscription fees for services that you no longer use, which might include gym memberships or magazine subscriptions.

Leisure Activities

You and your family will have plenty of time to devote to recreational activities in your new location, and cutting leisure expenses now can make things much easier for everyone. Instead of going to a cinema to see new movies, you can likely find plenty of free movies that come with your TV or internet service. Choosing to eat more often at home instead of going out to restaurants can also help save money. Shopping is another leisure activity that you might want to cut back on before you move to reduce expenses.

Time Your Move and Do It Yourself

Summer is the busiest time to move so if you can time your move at some other time you will save on moving costs. Yes, you can pay someone else to pack, load, drive, unload and unpack but that is very expensive. Any of the steps you can do yourself will drastically reduce the cost. The most obvious is packing and unpacking, you know your stuff and where you want it. But don’t just throw it in boxes. Breakable items need good padding, heavy items should be in as small a box as possible, boxes should be labeled with the destination room and all the contents so you can find things in the jumble easily. The next thing you should consider doing yourself is driving the rental truck they are not that much more difficult to drive than an SUV or mini-van.

You might consider hiring helpers… often when you rent the truck they give you the option of hiring helpers at one or both ends of the move. Helpers are strong and quick and can eliminate the back strain and make a long day MUCH shorter and easier. Instead of doing the heavy lifting, all you have to do is direct traffic and stay out of their way! 🙂

Excessive Home Maintenance Work

Some maintenance work may need to be done before you sell your home, but fussing too much over the small details can waste a lot of your time and money. Problems with your current home’s roof, wiring and foundation will need to be addressed, but certain minor cosmetic flaws and updates can be left for the new homeowners to manage. A qualified real estate agent can give you more detailed information on what you should fix and what can be left as is. If you are currently renting, reread your rental contract and make sure you are in compliance so that you get your full security deposit back.

Transportation

A lot of your money might be going toward gas and vehicle maintenance, and you can hold onto more of your cash by taking public transportation whenever possible. City bus and light rail service can often be used inexpensively and get you to your destinations without having to waste money at the gas pump. Using a bicycle is another option that won’t require any fuel or extra money. When driving, you can conserve gas usage and save more money by not letting the engine idle when starting your vehicle and driving slower so that less gas will be required to run your vehicle.

Relocating can be less draining financially if you take steps now to cut expenses. Saving money may be as easy as slightly modifying certain activities in your life.

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