Regardless of where you are moving to, you can always significantly reduce the overall costs. The key to achieving a less stressful, less expensive, and less hectic move is to plan and get organized prior to moving and throughout the move. There are several ways to minimize your moving costs, some of which are quite simple and straightforward while others are less obvious. Here are some ideas for saving money on your upcoming move:

Weed Out the Junk

NYC Moving companies usually base their charges on factors such as the weight of your cargo and number of vehicles offered. As such, your upcoming move provides an excellent opportunity to rid yourself of unused items. Lightening the load means a significant reduction in costs.

Take a Tax Deduction

You can earn some money by selling your unused items or by donating them to charity. If you choose to donate to charity, you can take a tax deduction for your generosity. Just make sure you ask for a tax receipt and provide this to your CPA before they start working on your return.

You can take a tax deduction for items donated to non-profits like Goodwill or Salvation Army. Just make sure to ask for a receipt for your tax file.

Find Free Boxes

The cost of packing supplies adds up quickly, but it’s also one of the easiest ways to save money. Start saving the large boxes from your everyday purchases if you plan to move soon. You can also obtain moving boxes from some of the local businesses such as drugstores, liquor stores, or even from offices. All you need to do is ask. For instance, copy-paper boxes are suitable for moving purposes, especially since they are strong and ideally sized for packing household items.

Take a Do-it-Yourself Approach to Packing

Packing your items on your own as opposed to paying movers helps to trim your moving costs. You must, however, make sure you pack them well to avoid potential damages while in transit. Wrapping your fragile household items in thick blankets, towels, comforters, sheets, and old newspapers could ideally eliminate the need to purchase plastic foam packing peanuts and bubble wrap.

Move During Offseason

Schedule your move sometime between September and May since this is when the rates tend to be at their lowest. Moving companies are busiest during the summer months since most families, particularly those with school-age children, opt to move during the summer vacation. Additionally, professional moving is just the same as any other business, which means higher prices on weekends as opposed to weekdays.

Most people move during the summer months, so if you can schedule your move during the winter months, you can likely negotiate a better rate with the moving company.

Opt for Alternative Moving Packages

Alternative packages when it comes to moving can help you save considerably. Look around for a moving company that offers a transport-only option. If you lack the stomach to drive a big truck cross-country, yet you do not want to pay the full charges for a professional move, get someone else to drive. Some of the moving companies have packages that allow you to fill a storage container over weeks or several days once they drop it off at your current residence. The container is then picked up for delivery to your new home once you are ready. You will also be responsible for the unloading and moving of your household items into your new place.

Find out how much your move costs!