Moving is a lot of work and an activity that many people dread. Apart from the elbow grease and heavy lifting required, there is also the price tag to consider and a lot of unexpected expenses such as those extra boxes you didn’t think you needed, or having to buy a new bed because your old one literally does not fit up your new staircase. Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, renovating, or waiting for your closing date, moving expenses can add up quickly.
From packing supplies and truck rentals to temporary housing and those unexpected purchases, even a well-planned move can stretch your budget. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce costs and make the process less stressful!
Here are six practical ways to save money during your next move:
1. Declutter Before You Move
Don’t move things you don’t use now and will never use in the future.
One of the easiest ways to cut moving costs is to reduce how much you’re moving in the first place. Before packing, go through your basement, garage, closets, storage rooms, and spare bedrooms and really assess what you have and if you need it now or later. If you haven’t used something in years, consider whether it’s worth transporting to your new home. Many families opt to:
A temporary storage rental can be especially helpful when you’re between homes, downsizing, renovating, trying to stage your home for sale or in a transitional stage of life. We’ve met a lot of people over the years who have sold or donated items, only to regret their decisions later when they transitioned into a new life stage. They realized that what they got rid of was something they really needed or wanted later in their life.
2. Be Smart About When You Move
When you move - day of week, time of month or time of year - can impact your moving costs.
Remember that YOUR time spent on moving is also a cost to consider. A lot of employers will give one paid day as a ‘moving day ‘. Some don’t so this means that you may have to take time off without pay or use vacation or personal days. Moving on a weekend or day you’re not scheduled to work will help you prevent loss of income and save those precious vacation days.
If you move during off-peak times, you can usually negotiate better rates with movers. Moving companies are usually busiest:
If your schedule allows, consider booking a move during these times, as it can often help you secure lower rates for moving companies and truck rentals:
Planning ahead really can give you more flexibility and help prevent or minimize last-minute or unexpected costs.
3. Save Money on Packing & Moving Supplies
Boxes and packing materials can become surprisingly expensive. Before buying new moving boxes and packing supplies, check with your local grocery stores, hardware stores, local retailers, and friends or neighbours who have recently moved.
Reusable moving boxes are another option to consider. Check out Green Box Rental or FROGBOX. These boxes are eco-friendly, reusable, and very strong.
You can also save space and reduce damage by storing non-essential items temporarily instead of overcrowding your moving truck or new home. Here at Storage Solutions, our storage rentals are affordable and flexible (min of 28 days).
4. Ask for Help Where You Can
Professional movers can save you time and heavy lifting, but you don’t necessarily always need them to get the job done. They are, however, nice to have if you can afford them.
Here are 4 ways to reduce labour costs when moving:
Tip: A flexible moving timeline often leads to lower costs and less pressure overall.
5. Keep Your Receipts for Tax Season
Be sure to keep all your receipts in case you can use them when you’re doing your taxes. Depending on your move, some moving expenses may qualify for tax deductions. Keep receipts for things like:
Visit the CRA website for the most current information or speak with your accountant for professional advice.
6. Create a Realistic Moving Budget
Moving costs are easy to underestimate. Planning ahead helps reduce surprises and gives you a clearer picture of your overall costs. Creating a simple budget spreadsheet can help you track important things like:
There is an excellent and very thorough moving checklist on the Home Depot Canada website, that you may find super helpful. Be sure to check it out!
Moving doesn’t have to become overwhelming or expensive. With a little planning, smart scheduling, and the right support, you can make your move more organized, affordable, and manageable.
Need extra space during your move? Short-term self-storage from Storage Solutions can help simplify your transition and reduce clutter while you get settled. We offer a wide variety of sizes of storage units and different types of storage at our 5 locations:
Visit our YouTube channel to check out our different storage rental facilities and units for rent.
Not sure what size storage unit to rent? No problem! Use our storage size tool to help you compare varied sizes and determine the right size for your needs.
Ready to rent? We make it super easy and fast:
We strive to give customers a simple, safe, and affordable storage rental experience, which is why you can pay your rent online and move out online too!
Keep up with our blog and follow us on Instagram & Facebook. We’re funny people (really we are!) and share lots of advice, tips, and tricks so that you get the most out of your space at home and get the most out of your storage unit rental.
Your friend in self-storage,
Storage Solution
