How to Save Money on Your Move Before the Holiday Season

All My Sons Moving & Storage helps household and businesses get relocated year-round. Will you be moving before or during the holidays? Between holiday shopping and your move, dollars need to stretch as far as possible.

While you’re crafting your budget for the move, take these tips into consideration.

You’re already moving during the off-season, which means you might be able to score a better rate or find a great holiday deal. 

If you’d like to save even more money on your holiday season move, you can try shooting for a move on a weekday.

Weekends, especially end of month weekends, are busy times for professional movers. That means higher rates and lower availability. 

If it works with your schedule or you’re able to take time off, book your move for a weekday.

Packing supplies can add up in cost quickly, but you can save some funds by snagging boxes, bubble wrap, and packing material free or at a discount. 

• Save Delivery Boxes: With holiday packages coming by the dozen, you should hold onto your delivery boxes. You can re-use these delivery boxes and packing material when you are packing for your move.

• Find Free Boxes in the Community: There are dozens of places in the community that might get regular deliveries of boxes, and some of them will be happy to give you those boxes for free. You can also check local social media groups for anyone giving away free moving boxes. Remember to pay it forward once your move is over and offer your boxes in usable condition right back to the community when finished.

• Shop Sales for Moving Supplies: Your favorite big-box discount store will be gearing up for Black Friday and other holiday sales. Look for deals on boxes, tape, and other moving supplies.

Once your packing supplies have been attained, you can begin the holiday-move purge.

The fastest and easiest way to save time and money on any move is to move less stuff. As you pack, take a critical look at everything you’re keeping in your household inventory. 

Sort your items into the following categories.

• Keep: These are the items coming with you on your move. Start packing the non-essentials like regular decorations, media collections, books on display, and off-season clothes first. Then work your way up to the essentials, or the items that will make functional, happy living in your new home possible as soon as you unpack them.

• Donate: Items in good condition that can be used by another person should be donated to a local charity of your choice. Goodwill and the Salvation Army accept household goods, toys, and clothes to sell in their thrift stores. Habitat for Humanity accepts household goods, furniture, and appliances. 

• Dispose: Items in poor condition should be responsibly disposed of. If you have large unwanted junk items, you can call for junk removal from Junk.com and get those items picked up as soon as same day.

• Sell: Make way for a little extra cash in your moving and gifting budget and sell items you don’t want to keep in good condition. You can list items on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or eBay. Understand that with your impending move, you might not be able to wait around for the perfect price. Set a deadline for when you need the item out of your hands, and slash price before the deadline approach if no one has asked to claim the item yet.

• Re-Gift: Has your aunt Carol been eyeing your rice cooker for as long as you’ve had it? If you’ve decided you don’t need something anymore, and you know a family member or friend that would love to have it, your holiday move is a great time to wrap that item up and make their day. Only re-gift items you’re fairly certain your loved ones will enjoy getting. 

Once the purge is done, you can pack what’s left in your household inventory and proceed with your holiday move.

Your place is in transition, and your Thanksgiving feast budget has been decimated by your moving budget. Feeding a crowd a full holiday spread when your living room looks like a chaotic maze of boxes might not be feasible. 

Your family and friends will likely understand if you ask someone else to host the holidays this year. If another volunteer appears, all you have to do is get the gifts and the family in the car and show up.

If you do choose to host a gathering, be sure to set realistic expectations for yourself. Ask guests to bring dishes potluck-style or request money from guests to purchase a pre-made meal at a local store. Do what is manageable.

Now is not the year to purchase new holiday decorations or to get out hordes of holiday décor boxes. Make “less-is-more” the motto of your holiday setup, and choose a few simple pieces that are easy to put up and take down.

With some holiday decorations up, you can enjoy the most wonderful time of the year without stressing yourself out or breaking the bank on new decorations.

Instead of paying an arm and a leg for holiday postage, try sending cards and gifts digitally this year. Try a service like Paperless Post or Greenvelope to send fun cards to your friends and family, or just send an emailed holiday card to everyone. 

In the same vein, if you have friends and family that you typically send packages, try for a digital option this year and send an electronic gift card.

Make sure to send a change-of-address notice along with your holiday and end-of-year letters.

Moving is stressful no matter what time of year you’re finding a new home, but holiday moves can feel extra expensive. With some serious decluttering and careful planning, you can make the holiday move and feel settled into your new home right as the clock strikes the new year.

Moving soon? Have All My Sons Moving & Storage perform professional packing services for you, or simply book your local or long-distance move with us and sit back while we do all the heavy lifting. Click the quote button below to get ready for your holiday move.