Moving? Pack frugality in advance of Moving Day
About 13 percent of Americans move in any given year. With the average full-service interstate move at about $4,200, according to the American Moving and Storage Association, here are some ways to save:
Be flexible: Summer and the beginning and end of the month are the busiest times and likely to be most expensive. An off-peak move might mean you get a better crew too.
Choose wisely: Get three written, in-home estimates. And be suspicious of carriers seeking large down payments. Check out movers with the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. See the free consumer handbook, “Make a Smart Move,” at Moving.org, as well as www.protectyourmove.gov.
Declutter: The less stuff you pack and transport, the cheaper the move. Make piles designated for “garbage,” “donation,” “keep,” “return to rightful owner” and “sell,” suggests Laura McHolm, co-founder of NorthStar Moving.
Leah Ingram says she earned about $250 by selling an old file cabinet and kids playground equipment. She also auctioned toys on eBay. “My kids had grown out of them, and there was no reason to move them,” said Ingram, author of the forthcoming book “Suddenly Frugal: How to Live Happier and Healthier on Less.” Take an especially hard look at pool tables, sectional furniture and bulky exercise equipment.
Pack it smart: Fill suitcases, laundry baskets and plastic containers with small, unbreakable items. Use pillows, scarves and towels to wrap fragile belongings. Empty your shredder into boxes to use as packing material, Ingram said.
But don’t skimp on pricey electronics, said Alicia Rockmore, chief executive of organizational company Buttoned Up and co-author of “Everything (Almost) in its Place.” “It’s just not worth saving $50 on packaging if you have to buy a new $1,000 TV,” she said.
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