Your Financial Health Checklist to Make the Most of Moving Day

Moving can be expensive – in fact, it often is – but that doesn’t mean you have to overpay for the process. Being aware of your own financial health going into a move can help you save money and avoid unnecessary fees. Here are six areas to focus on when trying to get the most bang for your buck while moving.

Shop Around for Full Service Movers

If you’ll be working with a moving company, obviously you want full service movers that are also affordable movers who also have a solid reputation. Call around and check prices and availability.

Sometimes, doing something as simple as moving in the middle of the week, or the middle of the month can help knock a significant amount of money off the price since moving companies are less busy during those times.

Also, be sure to consider the true cost of DIY. While it can be cheaper in some cases, don’t forget to factor in things like gas, days off work, and whether you can make the move in one trip. Some people are very surprised to find out that it is cheaper overall to hire professional full service movers.

Declutter Before You Move

A lot of what you pay for moving depends on how much stuff you are bringing with you. This is true whether you’re using professional full service movers, or simply loading up a rental truck yourself.

Square footage equals space equals money. Anything you can get rid of before moving day means fewer boxes, less packing tape, fewer trips back and forth, less stress, and a lot less to lift. It’s definitely worth it to do this.

Notify All Utilities and Payees of Your Address Change

You’d be surprised how many people get hit with late fees simply because they forgot to notify a payee of their address change. Go down your list, and make sure everyone from the credit card companies to the magazine subscriptions know that you’re moving.

Also, when you call your utility companies, ask about startup fees. Many companies charge a small fee to connect service at your new home, but these “small fees” add up when you consider that you’re transferring seven or eight different utilities. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so you can plan for them.

Consider Insurance

You took the time to pack up everything you own and place it carefully in a truck, what happens if there’s an accident? Moving insurance can save literally everything you own.

Look into some pricing and consider adding it on as a financial safety net.

Avoid Waste

As you get closer to moving day, you should be tapering off the purchase of new items, up to and including groceries. Avoid bringing too many new things into your old house.

Try to use up the food you already have on hand, so you do not end up throwing hundreds of dollars’ worth of groceries into the trash on moving day.

Budget for Before and After the Move

Budgeting for the move is important, but don’t forget about the expenses that pop up after you are in your new home. Everything from a few nights of take-out food to new locks, to curtains, to extra trash cans, to lightbulbs, etc. all really add up.

When you’re writing up your moving budget, just remember that the expenses do not stop on moving day. In fact, in many ways, they are only getting started.

Make sure you can absorb the financial impact of living in a new home and if necessary, come up with a budget and timetable for purchasing new items.

Keeping these few tips in mind can mean the difference between an affordable move and an overly expensive one. Good luck with the big day, and just remember to keep an eye on your budget.