How to Save Money When Moving: 8 Helpful Tips

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Learn how to save money when moving with these simple tips & tricks!

Are you moving out on your own for the first time? Or moving for the fifth time in 5 years? Either way, I bet you’re looking for ways to save money during your move.

Moving is a huge hassle on its own, but when you add the financial burden too, it can become incredibly stressful! If you’re moving out on a tight budget, this post is for you! This post will help you learn how to save money when moving into a new apartment.

In the last 5 years I’ve moved a few times, including close-distance moves within the same city and moves across the country. Along the way, I’ve picked up some money-saving tips that I want to share with you to help reduce your moving costs.

This post is all about how to save money when moving!

How to Save Money When Moving

1. Declutter & Sell Unused Items

One of the best things you can do for yourself before you move is to go through all the items in your house and get rid of what you don’t need to take to your next move.

Not only will this help make your load lighter (you will avoid moving things that will just end up collecting dust in your new home), but it’s also a great money-making opportunity! I made over $500 before my last move selling items on Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, etc.

Take a look at what items you’ve never used in your home, and consider selling them before you move. Another great thing to sell is items (ex. furniture) that won’t fit in your new home. For example, I was moving out of an apartment that had a kitchen island, but my new home didn’t have one, so I sold my bar stools that I no longer had a need for!

2. Buy Packing Supplies Second Hand

When you’re packing, there’s lots of supplies you need – moving boxes, bubble wrap, newsprint paper sheets, etc. I was really surprised about how much these items cost to buy brand new from somewhere like Uhaul or Home Depot.

If you’re moving out on a tight budget, look online (ex. Facebook Marketplace) to see if you can find these items second hand. I did this for my last move, and saved at least half the cost. Chances are, there’s someone in your city who just moved and is looking to sell their boxes, etc. for a cheap price!

You can also use items you have on-hand, such as towels and blankets, to wrap up and protect fragile items!

3. Plan Your Meals in Advance

The last few times I’ve moved, an unexpected cost that surprised me every time is food! Normally I’m very diligent about cooking at home instead of eating out often.

But in the middle of a move, all your cookware and pantry items will end up in boxes. The last few days in your old home & first few days in your new home can be a bit chaotic and hard to eat proper meals at home.

If you don’t plan ahead at all, you’ll probably end up eating out every meal (which really adds up!). Instead, make a plan for food the few days you’re moving – this could mean making a slow cooker meal in advance, and making sure to leave a few plates & cutlery items out.

During my last move, I actually ended up ordering Hello Fresh because they had a 50% off discount. This meant I was spending about $5.99 per serving. It was maybe a bit more than grocery shopping would have cost, but definitely less than eating out, and it made so much easier when I arrived in my new home to not have to worry about doing a big grocery run. If you haven’t used Hello Fresh already, use this code to get $90 off.

4. Call in Friends & Family

If you’re lucky enough to live in a city with friends and family nearby, use that to your advantage! Order some pizza, invite them over, and tackle packing, loading up the car, or unpacking together.

To be more efficient, I usually try to stagger my help – I may have one person help packing up boxes, another person loading/unloading the car (it helps if they have a truck/SUV!), and lastly someone to help unpack/organize in the new home. The old saying is true, many hands makes light work!

5. If Hiring Movers, Create a Streamlined List

For my most recent move, I moved into a townhouse. There was simply no way I could justify having friends/family (or myself) moving a couch onto the third floor of my home! So, I decided to hire movers.

My movers were paid by the hour, which meant that the more organized & efficient I was, the less time was wasted and therefore less cost to me!

To stay organized, I made a simple sheet of what items they were moving, and where they were being moved to. I printed 2 copies – 1 copy for the apartment I was moving out from, and another copy in the townhome I was moving into! This allowed the movers to be incredibly efficient, and no time was wasted debating or discussing the details.

6. Keep Your Receipts for Tax Season!

Did you know that some moves are eligible for tax write-offs? In Canada, if you meet certain criteria, such as moving at least 40km to start a new job or business, you can claim some of your moving expenses! Learn more here.

I recently moved from Ontario to Vancouver to start a new job, so I made sure to keep my receipts for tons of eligible expenses. A few examples include:

Transportation & storage costs (ex. packing, hauling, movers)
Travel expenses (ex. vehicle expenses, meals, accomodation)
Temporary living expenses (up to 15 days)

If you have an accountant, definitely have a conversation with them about a potential upcoming move. The tax write-offs from moving can be a huge money saver when tax season comes around!

7. Only Buy What You Need

In the excitement of moving into a new place, it can be easy to get carried away with furnishing & decorating your new home. I am totally guilty of spending money on things for the new house before I’ve even moved in!

But, the period of a move is already expensive, so try to put a halt (or at least be strategic) on unnecessary purchases for the new home. Wait to see how much money is left in the budget after moving, instead of going on a shopping spree before you move in.

Plus, if you purchase items for your new home while you’re still living in your old one – this just means you’re adding to your list of things you have to move!

8. Shop Around for the Best Prices

If you’ve read some of my financial posts before, you know that I’m a huge advocate for “shopping around”. The same principle applies to moving!

Before you make a purchase, especially a service, do some research (and make some calls) to make sure you’re getting the best price available. Businesses are competitors, and they want you to choose them.

Don’t just choose the first moving company you find! Call others to see if they have better rates, or even can offer you a deal to match a competitor.

As well, during a move is a great time to re-assess things like internet plans, home insurance, etc. Are you sure you’re getting the best deal? Making a few phone calls may save you $10 per month on internet. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but as a recurring cost it adds up – $10/month is $120/year, or $360/3 years!

This post was all about how to save money when moving!

How to Save Money When Moving: 8 Helpful Tips