How to Make a Friendly Moving Budget & Stick to It
Moving to a new home often comes with a bunch of expenses that can easily drain your wallet dry and leave you super broke. As such, the only way to avoid a financial crisis after moving is to budget for it well ahead of time. Not only that, but you also need to follow your set budget strictly to ensure that your move is smooth. If you're planning to move any time soon, you might want to observe some of the following budget-making steps and recommendations so that you can cut a lot of unnecessary expenses and spend as little as possible. Hiring local movers in NYC can be a cost-effective solution for a smooth transition. Maxi Moving: Your pathway to a stress-free move. Trust us to transport your belongings with precision and care, making your relocation a seamless journey.
- Establish precisely what needs to be moved
Now, this one may seem quite obvious, but you would be surprised by how many people end up hiring huge trucks that they can barely fill up with household goods. It's very important to ascertain exactly how much luggage you have first before sourcing the transport mode. This will ensure that you incur the minimum possible moving fee, which will save your budget from an unnecessary extra fee for space that you don't need!
To minimize the load even more, consider how much luggage you can carry in your car, especially if you have more than one. Most cars, even luxury ones, can often take up your whole wardrobe in the backseat and the boot space. This means that the only items needing a moving truck are the cumbersome ones, such as grand pianos. You can also minimize the load by selling off some of the cumbersome yet easily replaceable items, such as couches and dining tables, but only if you can get a great price for them. - Make a price comparison
It's never a good idea to simply engage the first service provider that you come across whenever you need something. Despite operating in the same market, service providers such as moving companies can have surprisingly wide margins between their pricing for the same service. This is due to several factors, such as company size, brand reputation, trading advantages, etc. As such, you can save a lot by simply comparing several moving companies and picking out the best-priced one, without compromising the quality of the service, of course! - Avoid rush-fees!
If you're a serial procrastinator, this one is definitely for you! Buying tickets, sourcing the moving company, or packing helpers at the last minute is the worst thing you can ever do for your budget! Companies often charge much higher fees to clients seeking last-minute or rush services. If you're planning to move, be sure to book your airfares (if you're flying), moving company, etc., well in advance to avoid these rush fees, which can be very significant. If the move is sudden, schedule it on less busy days, such as midweek. Moving companies tend to be lenient on such penalties when business is slow. - Time your move
Moving costs drastically change with time. This means that you can conveniently pencil it in during the periods that save you the most expenses. For instance, holiday seasons tend to incur inflated and unnecessary expenses as the demand for transportation and provision is high. As such, avoiding these periods will ensure that you get all your supplies and hire the services you need at their lowest prices. - Budget for the norms
It's easy to get so carried away with the move that you end up forgetting to budget for the regular expenses, which will soon take you by surprise. As long as you are still living in the house, expenses such as gas and electricity will continue to pile up. Ensure you don't cut them out in the excitement, and remember to cater for the same expenses in advance at your destination as well. - Have some extra cash!
Last but certainly not least, reserve a bit of cash for emergencies. We are human, after all, and there's always the possibility that you may forget or overlook some expenditure. Some expenses are just simply unpredictable.
Commonly Overlooked Costs to Consider
As we wind up, several primary and hidden costs can catch you by surprise during the move, which needs to be budgeted for. Let's take a quick look at some of the most common ones:
- Toll Fees
Whether you're driving a rental truck or your personal vehicle, toll fees are needed. You need to ensure that you either have the cash on hand or your electronic payment methods are well funded. Look up your route and determine how many tolls are in your way, if any, and how much you need in total. - Storage Fees
Moving sometimes requires the use of storage fees to clear out the house for the new resident. That implies transportation for the goods to the storage facility, the storage fee itself, and the deposits in case you damage the facility during your tenancy. These costs can amount to be very significant, so research them and include them in your budget. - Road Snacks
You will probably need some food provisions for the road more so if the trip takes more than a day to cover. If you have kids, you better have a hefty budget because bored kids eat a lot, and they're bound to be bored at some point just sitting in the car! You can minimize this expense by packing some attractive snacks and even some properly cooked meals for the road.
Sticking to the Budget
The worst enemy for your budget is surprise expenses! These simply result from a lack of diligent planning that covers all the aspects of your move. Once you eliminate those, you are assured of moving on budget as every necessary service would have been catered for. Having a travel itinerary will also help you to figure out any other hidden expenses that you may need to incur on the journey. Jot down your movements and figure out the expected expenses at each rest or refueling stop along the way. Safe travels!