Though some moving costs are unavoidable, it is possible to save money in a few areas. To help you do just that, we enlisted a handful of pros to share their best money-saving advice for your next big move. “Go through all of your belongings, from cookware, clothing, and even furniture, and take inventory of what you no longer need or want. Marie Kondo before packing and you will be surprised by how much you own,” says Sara Skirboll, the shopping and trends expert for RetailMeNot. “Depending on how much you have downsized, you could save hundreds of dollars, as one of the big costs of moving is the hourly expense of the movers themselves.” Beyond that, you can actually make money on the things you’re getting rid of and allocate those funds toward moving costs. Take furniture or nice clothing to consignment shops, throw things onto websites like eBay and Poshmark, and hold a garage sale if you’re feeling ambitious. If you don’t want to mess with selling stuff, you can schedule a donation pickup or drop off. “Weekdays are typically less expensive because fewer people move on those days. If you can take off work, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays tend to have the highest availability and the lowest cost,” says Luke Marklin, the CEO of digital-based moving service Bellhops. “Also, try to avoid the last weekend of the month, as those days tend to be busiest and are more expensive.” As for season, Skirboll says that the months between fall and spring tend to be the busiest for moving. (This may vary depending on where you live, so figure out when the busy moving season is in your area.) If you’re able to schedule your move for the off-season you can save more on moving costs that way, too. “In general, you can expect to save 20 to 30 percent if you can move on less popular days,” Marklin says. “Before you purchase any other packing material, make sure you are utilizing all of your own suitcases, hampers, and baskets. And instead of bubble wrap, use towels to pad delicate items and socks for the smaller ones,” says Skirboll. “If you end up needing boxes, hit up local businesses or big-box retailers for their old cardboard boxes, or ask friends and neighbors.” Depending on how much you’re moving, you can save between $50 and $400. Not to mention, you’ll also benefit the environment. RELATED: Stop Buying Moving Boxes for Every Move—Do This Instead “Books take up more space than you would think as they are not foldable and don’t collapse to save space,” says Skirboll. Books are also exceptionally heavy. “Go to FedEx or the United States Postal Service (USPS) to ask about moving books so you can free up space in your moving trucks and cars.” The USPS actually offers a service called Media Mail that allows you to ship media (including books) for a much cheaper rate than standard costs. This can be as involved as making food at your last place and popping it in the freezer for the weeks ahead, or as simple as enlisting the help of a meal delivery service, like Blue Apron or HelloFresh. Even having a grocery list written out in advance can make it that much easier to get the ingredients you need to make delicious food in your new space. RELATED: 5 Huge Mistakes People Make When They Move—Plus How to Avoid Them
