Moving into a new home is exciting, but it can also be stressful and expensive. Fortunately, there are some surprisingly simple things that you can do to lower your expenses and preserve some of your sanity on moving day. Here are just a few to keep in mind.

1. Establish a Budget

Before you do anything else, determine how much money you will need for your move. Factor in how much you can afford to spend on hiring movers, renting a truck, buying packing materials, setting up utilities for your new home, and anything else that will cost you money during the moving process. Include a contingency fund of around 5% of your budget to cover any unexpected expenses.

2. Scavenge for Cardboard Boxes

You’ll likely need a lot of boxes and other packaging materials for your move. While you can always buy high-quality boxes and containers, that can get expensive if you need a lot of them. Instead, scavenge cardboard boxes wherever you can find them. Ask your employer if they have any boxes that they’re throwing away, or check local grocery stores and supermarkets to see if they have anything you can use. You’d be surprised at what they can give you. In the meantime, save any cardboard boxes that you have in your home; you’ll almost certainly find a use for them.

3. Move at the Right Time

You can save a lot of money by choosing the right moving day. You can usually hire a moving company at a lower rate if you move in the middle of the month. Leases usually expire at the beginning or end of a month, so rates are generally higher during these times. Avoid moving between May and September if you can help it, as this is the peak moving season. Not only will moving companies be more expensive during this time, but it will be harder to book movers unless you schedule your move weeks in advance.

4. Downsize Before Your Move

Your move will be much easier if you can get rid of any belongings that you no longer need. You can always donate clothing and furniture you don’t need to a good cause, or you can sell some of it at a garage sale to help offset the costs of moving.

Call Integrity Movers for Assistance

Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, Integrity Movers will be happy to assist you and keep your expenses manageable. We specialize in residential and commercial moving, so contact us at our Warren, MI location to learn more about how we can help make your move as easy as possible.