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Moving Out for the First Time? Here’s How You Can Cut Your Moving Costs

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Moving out of home for the first time is sure to be exciting, but getting your own place also brings challenges. You need to think about lots of practicalities, such as budgeting for bills, but before you even move in, you need to consider the cost of moving. Thankfully, there are several ways that you can cut down your moving costs and in turn have more money to spend on your new home. 

 

 

Compare Different Removal Companies

 

To get a good price with a removal company, you need to shop around. You should compare at least three different companies. In addition to finding out the prices of each one, you should look at all the terms and conditions and customer reviews to ensure you know exactly what is covered and how reputable the firm is. Thankfully, you can easily find the best mover pricing with Agoyu. Simply use its weight calculator to estimate the weight of your belongings to then access moving rate comparisons with different companies. You can then select the company you want to use and lock in the price.

 

Choose a Cheaper Date or Time for Your Move

 

If you have some flexibility as to when you move, be that the date or the time of day, you could get a cheaper price from a removals company. Just like booking off-peak flights, you can get a better deal when you move during off-peak periods. Mid-week slots tend to be less expensive than weekend slots and winter moves can sometimes cost less than summer ones. Even if you are able to move into your new place on, say, Saturday, it could make more financial sense to leave the move until the following Tuesday. Delaying moving until summer is over could also be financially beneficial.

 

Get Rid of Unwanted Belongings

 

While you will not own as many things as your parents and therefore not have as much to move as older people, you can still make the move cheaper by having less stuff to move. Moving out is the ideal time to declutter. Look through all your belongings and ask yourself whether you actually need and want everything. If you can give some things away to a charity shop, do it. The cost of the move will then be cheaper. Alternatively, sell your unwanted items online to make some additional money that you can put towards the move.

 

Pack Your Belongings Yourself

 

A removal company can pack everything for you, but if you want to save some pounds, you should pack everything yourself. However, if you do decide to get a removal company to pack up your belongings, again, make sure you compare different ones to find the best rates.

 

Obtain Free Boxes

 

Talking of packing belongings, the cost of boxes, bubble wrap, and tape can soon mount up. You cannot move without boxes, so look at ways of getting boxes for free. Ask at local stores and supermarkets if you can take boxes that are no longer needed and ask your friends and family if they have any they can give you. If those avenues are unsuccessful, you can always try online sites like eBay and Gumtree, where you can usually find second-hand removal boxes for cheap prices.

 

Move Some Things Yourself (or Ask Mum and Dad)

 

If you have a car and are driving to your new place, you should fit in as much stuff into your vehicle as possible to cut down on the amount of stuff the removal company needs to transport; and therefore cut down on the cost. Alternatively, ask your mum or dad, or a friend, to drive you and some of your belongings to your new home.

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Emma Drew

Emma has spent over 15 years sharing her expertise in making and saving money, inspiring thousands to take control of their finances. After paying off £15,000 in credit card debt, she turned her side hustles into a full-time career in 2015. Her award-winning blog, recognized as the UK's best money-making blog for three years, has made her a trusted voice, with features on BBC TV, BBC radio, and more.

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