Moving out can be such a hassle. Not only is it time consuming, it can be pretty costly as well – especially when you’re living the high life in big cities like Manhattan. The stress of cleaning, packing, and paying for moving costs can be pretty overwhelming. But although we can’t do anything for the first two stress factors, we can introduce you to cost-effective methods that will lower your expenditures during the moving process.
If you’re interested to hear pro tips about moving costs, then this 5-minute read is definitely your cup of tea. Make sure to let every word sink in.
Before we even do the math, let us first suggest a couple of ways that can help you cut back on moving costs before you even begin the actual move. You’re probably thinking “What? How is that possible? How can you save on moving costs if you haven’t even begun your move yet? Well, it’s all about advance preparation.
What To Do Before A Move
People move out because of a variety of reasons. Some people need to change their residence due to work demands or opportunities. While others, well, they simply want a change of pace. Whether your motive behind moving is to escape the past or embrace a new future (or both), the amount of work involved in the process is technically the same.
First things first, we want to introduce you to ways that will help you prepare for the move easier and at the same time help you cut back on moving costs. Think of it as hitting two birds with one stone.
Get Rid Of Stuff You Don’t Use
People often say “You can have everything you want as long as you want it enough.” Well, my dear friend, don’t take it too literally – for your own good, please. Thing is, you can’t have it all. If you did, you’ll end up being a hoarder and as of 2013, it means you’re sick in the head (read more). Yes, there is now such a thing as a hoarding disorder. Don’t catch it.
When you haven’t been using an item for 6 months or longer, then the chances of you ever using that item in the succeeding years of your life is pretty slim. It’s just going to add to all the junk you’ve been accumulating for the past “who-knows-how-many” number of years. You really need to get rid of it.
When you begin packing, organize your belongings and isolate everything that you don’t use anymore. This includes items that have stuck in storage for a very long time, clothes that don’t fit you anymore, furniture you seldom use, and defective appliances. There are so many things around you that you won’t need in the next of your life. Separate them from your “essentials” and consider the following methods of disposing them below.
Do A Garage Sale
If you want to get rid of your old items productively, you may want to consider hosting a garage sale. You don’t need much when doing a garage sale. If you have a lawn, then you’re good to go. Actually, scratch that. Even the sidewalk or gutter would work for a garage sale. You simply lay out all the things you want to sell in a long spacious table and people will naturally get drawn towards you. It’s a good way of decluttering and earning a little cash on the side at the same time.
You know how people would say “Your trash may be other people’s treasure?” Well, it’s true. The things you may not have any use for are actually what other people really need. Turn trash to cash real fast by doing a simple garage sale! Here are more helpful tips to hosting the best garage sales ever: http://www.thespruce.com/how-to-organize-a-successful-yard-sale-1313837.
Give Back To The Community
If you’re more of a philanthropist than a businessman, then you may want to give (not sell) your old, unused stuff. Some people are not privileged enough to live comfortably like you; they can’t afford the same things as you. Rather than storing items you don’t need, why not donate them to the less fortunate? Surely, there are people out there who are in dire need of these things. You can grant them a bucketload of happiness just by extending a small gesture of kindness and generosity. If you have old clothes, shoes, bags, toys, and whatever else in storage, don’t throw them away or leave them to rot. Give them back to the community. They will definitely put it to better use than you.
Now that you have trimmed down your possessions, you should end up with less to carry during the move. With less baggage, you will not need as much space or storage to hold your things. I’m pretty sure an NYC moving company will appreciate you having lesser things as well.
Also, this allows you to consider cheaper moving options, such as:
Small Movers
In the moving industry, there are two ways to do a move – you can either go small or go super big. If you have less stuff to transport, small moving trucks can accomplish the job effortlessly. This will benefit you a lot as small movers typically charge cheaper than large moving trucks. Lesser loads cost less. This is why you should make an effort to cut down your baggage. Make it so that you can carry everything with you in a single trip!
Partial Movers
Nowadays, almost everything can be shared. You can share a ride to work by carpooling with other employees in the area. You can buy an extra cup of coffee at a local diner and leave it there for people who can’t afford one. You can share your extra change to fund activities and projects you find meaningful through online platforms like gofundme.com. Fortunately, moving trucks can now be shared as well and we refer to them as “partial moves.” Through partial moves, you can save on moving costs because you only have to rent the space you need. For example, if you only need to occupy a fourth of the truck, then you only have to pay ¼ of the total cost. Pretty neat, huh?
