So, you have found your beautiful new home.

The euphoria may wear off quickly when you start to investigate what it will cost to move into it. Hiring a moving company can be expensive and many people forget to factor the cost of the move into the budget when they give up one home for another.

Remember, you will also want some money to decorate your new place, so it is worthwhile figuring out ways to save on moving costs.

Ask friends for a helping hand

Getting a few friends to help you move your stuff is a fantastic way to save money. It can also result in an enjoyable day well spent with friends if you plan it right.

Of course, you would not expect even your closest friends to do this for free but paying them money can be awkward. There are some clever ways to reward them for their time and hard work.

The simplest idea is to provide plenty of free food and drink during the day and maybe throw a moving-in party. Or, you could check what they might need done around their house and help them out.

If any of them is planning to move house soon, you can repay the favour by helping them move their stuff.

Don’t move stuff you don’t need

Moving house is the perfect opportunity to clear out the old stuff you no longer need. As well as giving you a fresh start without clutter, getting rid of some things means that you won’t be paying to move useless stuff around from one place to another.

You probably have more belongings than you think, so set aside plenty of time to sort through everything before the big day. Be ruthless in weeding out those old clothes you’ll never wear again as well as other possessions whose day in the sun has come and gone.

This is a great chance to donate things to a local charity or to find a friend or relative who could use some of the things you no longer need.

Don’t buy moving supplies

The cost of boxes, packing paper and other moving gear can quickly escalate, especially if you have a lot of possessions to take with you. Anything you can do to save some cash is worth doing.

Why not look for free boxes and newspapers? This could be as easy as asking the local supermarket if they have any old boxes or checking out the recycling areas in your building or office.

If you know anyone who has moved home recently, ask whether they have any leftover moving supplies they can give you. Don’t forget that you will use these things only once before throwing them away.

Any money you can save on materials can be used on something more useful in the long term, such as new furniture or decorations.

Move on your own, but bit by bit

If it comes down to a straight choice between doing it all on your own or paying a firm of removal experts, you might think it is an easy decision. After all, how could you possibly be expected to move all of your belongings by yourself?

But with some planning and forward-thinking, it might be possible for you to move everything gradually. For instance, could you start storing stuff in your new home before the actual move-in date?

Alternatively, if you have a friend or relative living near your new place, you could ask to store things there until you get the keys to your new property. This way, you could do the move in stages for free rather than having to pay to have it done all in one go.

Get everything ready for moving day

Assuming that you have no option but to pay for a removal company, it is still possible to save some money. Companies typically charge for the time they spend on the job. So, the better prepared you are, the less it should cost you.

Pack everything you can and have it all in position to go. Mark each box clearly with the contents and which room it is going to. Indicate which things are heavy or fragile.

This will help the movers to work more quickly, hence, charging less based on the time they spent working.

This article first appeared in The New Savvy.

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