6
Saving Tips When Moving
by One Paycheck at a Time Inc.
Moving
households, whether it is due to a job transfer or upgrading your
home, and whether moving across country or across town, is an
expensive proposition. Even when a new employer sponsors a relocation,
there are hidden or un-thought-of expenses such as tipping or
registering your vehicle in a new state. Here are six
ways to reduce expenses during your next move:
1. Boxes, boxes, boxes
Asking your local grocery, drug, or liquor store for their empty
boxes is certainly one way to save money. You could easily spend
$100 or more when buying new boxes. Consider visiting an apartment
complex the first weekend of the month when new tenants are likely
to move in. Tenants will be eager to rid themselves of their unpacked
boxes and you can score by taking them off their hands. If your
employer is paying for the move, be sure to save and store your
new boxes for future use.
Buy
your packaging tape at a hardware store instead of a grocery store
or office supply store. It can save you up to $5 per roll! And
remember to be nice to whomever is helping you move, pack books
in a few smaller boxes instead of one big box!
2. Truck Rentals
If you are ambitious enough to move yourself, be sure to comparison
shop weeks in advance of your move to get the best prices on truck
rentals.
At
the time this article was written, the following online price
quotes were researched from well-known companies offering truck
rentals. Be careful to investigate how the company charges for
mileage. Another hidden charge that you may not be aware of is
that of dropping off the truck in a different city/location from
where it was rented. Inquire with the truck rental store or website
if there are special promotions or discounts for being a AAA or
AARP member. Do call your insurance agent before you reserve any
truck to determine if your homeowner's insurance will cover any
damage to your furniture and if your auto insurance will cover
the truck. This will save you worry and money, if you don't need
to purchase additional insurance from the rental company.
As
an example, you could expect to tpay the following charges for
a 400-mile move
*
Uhaul, www.uhaul.com, 14' Truck, $109 + $.40 per mile after
the first 476 miles
* Penske, www.penske.com, 15' Truck, $429 for unlimited miles,
receive a 10% discount for reserving the truck online and another
10% for being a AAA member
* Budget, www.budget.com, 15' Truck, $452 with a $100 refundable
deposit, 515 miles are free
Each
of these companies does a great job of up-selling boxes, tape,
hand truck rentals, and moving quilt rentals on their websites
and in their stores. The boxes and tape can be purchased much
cheaper if you plan in advance.
In
this scenario, Uhaul is the clear winner, but this is NOT always
the case. Prices will vary due to availability, timing, and distances.
And,
don't forget … you are responsible for paying for the gas
in the truck, which can be an exorbitant cost with current gas
prices. Ask the rental company for the average mile-per-gallon
of the truck when you are reserving it to estimate this cost.
3. Storage
Temporarily storing your belongings may be a necessary expense.
There are a lot of options with storage facilities and you will
want to weigh each aspect carefully. For example, if you are always
strapped for cash, and there is the slightest chance thay you
will not be able to make the payment in a timely fashion, your
belongings may be confiscated! Don't risk signing a contract with
a storage company if you aren't confident you can make the payments.
An alternate option here is to use your credit card for the recurring
monthly costs, but ONLY if you pay off the balance in full each
month.
When
choosing a storage facility, consider the companiy's reputation,
whether they have climate controlled units (if this is important
to you), and what security the company can promise. Having easy
access 24 hours a day may also be a key attribute for you depending
on your circumstances.
If
you are renting a truck to move your belongings, be sure to ask
what partnership pricing they have with a local storage facility.
Sometimes storage can be obtained for as little as $1 for the
first month with a 2-month minimum contract when you rent a truck
at the same time. Buy a padlock for your storage unit at your
local hardware store to save spending 3-times the amount at the
facility.
4. Packing Fragile Belongings As with boxes, packing materials
to protect fragile belongings can be expensive. A cost effective
and space efficient tip is to pack these breakable items in your
bathroom and kitchen towels, throw rugs, blankets, bed linens,
and even shower curtains! This is a much better alternative to
newspaper, which leaves ink residue behind. All of your linens
can be washed and folded once you have moved into your new home.
In
an easily identifiable place such as a drawer of a piece of furniture,
be sure to pack a complete change of clothes for you and your
family members, toiletries, a complete set of bed linens, and
toilet paper. This way, you won't be panicked trying to find the
necessities when your first apprive at your destination.
5. Utilities and Address Changes
Remember to cancel your old utility services, start new utility
services, and change your address. You may uncover some forgotten
money when canceling services if you were required to pay a deposit
when you started your service. Be sure to end the services the
day AFTER you move out. This may incur a few dollars of extra
costs, but typically these companies can not ensure a cut off
time, and you don't want to be stuck without electricity or hot
water while you are still in your place. On the same note, you
may wish to schedule set-up of your utilities at your new residence
the day before you arrive to be sure everything will be working
when you arrive. Here is a list of common utility companies to
contact. The property management company or Chamber of Commerce
in the area where you are moving can give you local company numbers.
*
Electric
* Gas
* Water
* Phone
* Cable
* Garbage
Also,
if you are moving into a subdivision or condominium complex that
has a private trash collecting service, you may be charged for
the pick-up of your moving boxes! This cost can be $25 or much
higher, depending on the number of boxes. Check this out before
putting your boxes out at the curb. You may want to consider donating
your boxes to a new neighbor with a `For Sale' sign in front of
their home.
In
addition canceling and starting new utility services, don't forget
to change your address with your:
*
Bank
* Credit Cards
* Utility Companies
* Insurance Companies
* Doctors
* Magazines
* U.S. Post Office (at your old location)
6.
Save ALL Moving Receipts
If your move is not being paid for by an employer, the incurred
expenses may be tax deductible. According to the IRS website,
www.irs.gov, "You can deduct your allowable moving expenses
if your move is closely related, both in time and in place, to
the start of work at a new or changed job location." The
IRS has an interactive questionnaire, which determines whether
your move may be deducted on your taxes. http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=132125,00.html
Contact the IRS or your tax preparer if you have specific questions
relating to your move.
Moving
even the simplest of households can be expensive. Save yourself
a lot of stress and money by planning far in advance of your move.
©
One Paycheck at a Time Inc.
One
Paycheck at a Time Inc. is the leading source for sensible debt
reduction solutions. Its products include the One Paycheck at
a Time paperback (Buy
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),
as well as an ebook format, and the eTools program. The author
of the book and president of the company, Kimberly A. Griffiths,
has been through the vicious cycle of debt herself and has made
it her personal goal to share her experience to help others. More
information can be found about the company and its products at
www.OnePaycheckataTime.com.
The above article is intended for educational purposes only and
it should not be interpreted as financial advice. For advice that
is specific to your circumstances, you please consult your tax
and financial adviser.