Lets face it, who isn’t skint after moving house?
You’ll be financially exhausted after a down payment or deposit, finalising all your bills from your previous property, not to mention all the odds and ends that you forget you will need upon moving in.
So if you’re moving home soon and you need to pinch the pennies, here are a few tips for moving on a budget.
When putting your place on the market, try using word of mouth via your friends, family and colleagues. You will need to hire a lawyer or estate agent to deal with the legal proceedings but you can advertise your property by yourself.
There are also many free, online sites where you can arrange for people to come to viewings, and buyers can express interest in your property. Letting agencies can charge thousands for this every month that your property remains on the market.
Image via Alan Cleaver
If you can, try to get a few days off work at the beginning of the week in order to get the best possible price when it comes to choosing a mover. There are many moving services on the market and they will be cheaper Monday - Thursday if you are flexible on your moving date.
If you are moving to a furnished property, keep hold of little bits and pieces. Garden tools, kitchen utensils, even the kitchen bin! Hold on to as much as you can fit into the movers lorry or the back of your car.
Don’t assume that because it is furnished it will have pots and pans, cutlery, glasses etc. If they fit in the van, take them with you, you can get rid of them once you arrive at your new pad if they are included. Sometimes boxes are included in the price of your removal, but most local supermarkets will give you them for free, never pay for them.
If you are moving from a rented property, always put aside a few days to thoroughly scrub the place, inside and out, to ensure you get your full deposit back from the landlord.
On the other hand, if you are moving to an unfurnished property, it’s a good idea to hold a car boot sale to sell off some of your unwanted goods and contribute to the moving fund at the same time.
Try putting old clothes, shoes, books, DVDs on EBay or even put a mention up on Facebook with a picture, there is always someone who will find a use to the belongings you no longer need.
It’s too easy to call in a Chinese takeaway or nip out to the local shop and get a ready meal, but doing this every night as you pack/unpack can be a strain on your wallet. If you have a big freezer it’s a good idea to cook up a few big meals and reheat them to snack on whilst you’re grafting. Things like lasagne, chili con carne or stews go a long way, and will stop you from spending a lot of money on convenience food when you have already packed away the kitchen utensils!
Do you have any top tips for moving house on a budget? Don’t forget to share them with us in the comments box below!
The content within this article is for information purposes only and should not be used to make any financial decisions.
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May 1, 2023
banking, lifestyle