Moving houses and/or cities is often a complicated and tedious process. It involves a lot of planning, researching, packing, and labeling. As a rule of thumb, all things moving-related usually demand a lot of money. But what if you find yourself in a situation where you are for some reason or another moving with little money, or maybe even no money at all? First of all, don`t panic! While this will definitely not be a walk in the park, there are some tips and tricks that will make your move a lot easier.
Tip 1 – Save as much as you possibly can before the actual move
When you find yourself in such a jam as moving with little money is, every penny counts. Try to save as much as you can, for as long as you can before the date of your move. There are numerous things that might seem mundane to you, but that can help you save a nice amount of money. Sit down, think carefully and make a list of all the things that could help you cut down on your monthly expenses. Here are a few of those items:
- Use public transportation
- Carpool to work
- Cancel newspaper and magazine subscriptions
- Reduce eating out and cook your meals at home
- Organize a garage sale for the items you don`t use
These are just a few ways out of many on how you can easily save money. Learn more about all of them and start saving those dollars ASAP.
Tip 2 – Don`t be afraid to ask for help when moving with little money
Unless you are completely alone in this world, there just might be light at the end of the tunnel for you. Asking for help is not so easy for everyone, but unfortunately, it might be absolutely needed when moving with a limited budget of your own. You have two options:
- Asking your parents for help or
- Asking some of your good friends to help you out in your time of need.
Again, there are many ways your loved ones can help you out in a situation such as this one. Naturally, the best-case scenario would be if they were able to give you a temporary loan. But this might not always be the case. Even so, maybe one of your friends has a pickup truck that can help you when transporting your belongings – or they might have some extra packing supplies you can use for free. Maybe all they can offer you is a helping hand when packing. Whatever the case may be, all help is appreciated. After all, what are friends for?
Tip 3 – Make finding a new job your priority
Moving with little money can take a big toll on you mentally, so knowing you have a secured job in your new place of residence might help you stay positive. However, unless you happen to be very lucky, chances are you are moving to a new area where you don`t have a job already waiting for you. This situation can be very frightening if at the same time you also happen to be penniless and are struggling to make ends meet. Instead of panicking, better get down to business because job hunting can be a very slow process.
First, research how much your area of expertise is valued in your new community. This way, you will know beforehand what to expect. You might need to mentally get ready for the possibility that you will have to be flexible. You might need to do whatever it takes to make it until you can find a job that will better suit your needs. Also, before moving create a really good resume for the type of job you have in mind and hope for the best.
Tip 4 – Pack smart when moving with little money
One of the biggest expenses when moving is the transportation of your belongings. The more staff you pack the more money you will need. This is due to the fact that the relocation price is directly linked to the weight of your shipment. Hence, it would only be smart to leave behind all the heavyweight furniture you possess. Also, avoid packing books since they add more weight to your load than you might think.
– Pack only the things that you really need. Take a look around your house and ask yourself how many of those things you really need. The best thing would be to make a list of all the essential things in your possession. Take with you only the things you cannot imagine living without even for a few days. In case this is your first move, you might feel lost and need some additional help in order to successfully pack all of your beloved things.
Tip 5 – Save money on packing materials
Remember, you are moving with a limited budget, so the last thing you need right now is to spend your already limited funds on things that you can get for free. As mentioned above, one way to save on this item is to ask your friends and family for any extra packing materials they might have lying around. Furthermore, you can search for boxes all around the town, as there are always sure to be businesses that are recycling their cardboard boxes simply because they have one too many. Other than packing materials, there are many other ways to save money on packaging and storage fees during your move.
So, there you have it – a couple of things that might make a big difference if you are moving with little money. You might be feeling hopeless right about now but don`t worry. You already have all the necessary tools for pulling this off. Follow all the steps for a successful relocation and in a couple of months` time, you will probably find yourself in a much better financial situation.