No matter where you are moving too or how you plan to move, it can be a big budget project. Thankfully, the savvy person can reduce the costs of their move with some determined effort and careful planning. Here are some suggestions to help you along in the process of saving money while moving cross-country.

How Can I Save Money On a Long-Distance Move?

Decluttering Ahead of a Long-Distance Move

Since most long-distance movers create moving estimates based on the weight of a customer's belongings, it's a good idea to declutter your home. By getting rid of any items, you don't want or can buy at your new home, you'll reduce the weight of your household belongings and reduce the cost of your relocation.

How much you save on that move depends on how ruthless you are during the decluttering process. 

You can easily get rid of old paperwork, food, garbage, and broken furniture and old clothing. It's a little harder to let go of things that still seem useful but are a little out-of-date or have sentimental value. 

It's up to you to decide what stays and goes. Always weigh the personal value of the item to you against any potential savings during a move to avoid regret over letting it go.

DIY Your Move

You can save the most money on your long-distance move by doing-it-yourself. If you feel confident enough in driving a moving van, you can rent a van for less than a hundred dollars a day. You can even pack your own belongings and load them in the van. 

The big cost of a DIY move is probably the time involved, the energy needed, and the gas needed for the truck.

Repurpose Items as Moving Supplies

Packing supplies can be surprisingly costly, especially the specialty boxes for things like your television and glassware. You can save money on this part of the move by repurposing items you already own and looking out for freebies. For instance, you can check with your local grocery store to see if they have any used cardboard boxes that they take deliveries in.

Other ideas for repurposing items as moving supplies include:

  • Use linens and pillowcases to wrap dishware and fragile items.
  • Pack items in laundry baskets and plastic tubs.
  • Pack your clothing in garbage bags.
  • Save egg cartons and other foam items to use as packing material in boxes.
  • Use fresh toilet paper and towels as packing material. You can also use these paper items at the new home!
  • Pack items in those oversized fabric grocery store bags.
  • Buy collapsing cube storage at the dollar store to hold items during a move. You can use these same crates at the new home too.

Make Money with a Yard Sale/Online Sales

You can also save money on the move by making money on the sale of unwanted items. Consider having a yard sale with all the useable furniture and items you've decluttered from your home. You can also sell individual items through sites like Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor.

Make Money Recycling Metal Items

If you have any old metal items, you can also sell these pieces to a recycler. You won't get much money, but it is a little extra cash, and you can feel good knowing that these items will be recycled and given new purpose as something else.

Promptly Cancel Subscriptions & Shut Off Utilities

Another way to save money on your residential move is to eliminate any excess expense. 

Make sure you contact the utility company to set up a shut-off date for as close to your move-out date as possible. The same goes for television, internet, and phone services. If you have any subscriptions that you won't be using for a while after moving, consider putting these on hold or canceling them outright.

Learn More About Getting a Long-Distance Moving Estimate with Us

You can also save yourself money and time by hiring a professional long-distance moving company, like George Moving & Storage. Our Pittsburgh movers complete moves quickly. We also help you create personalized moving plans, so you only pay for what you need during a relocation.

As BBB-accredited, A+ rated movers and agents with North American Van Lines, we can tackle a wide range of moving needs, including:

  • Household Moves
  • Commercial Moves
  • International Moves
  • Storage Services
  • Logistics

Allow us to give you a free, no-obligation moving estimate for your long-distance move. Simply call George Moving to set up a free consultation today.