Five Practical Ways to Save Money When Moving
The good news is that you do not need to cut every corner to keep moving costs under control. A little planning before moving day can make a real difference.
Here are five practical ways to save money when moving to a new home.
1. Declutter Before You Pack
The cheapest thing to move is the thing you decide not to move.
Before packing, go through closets, storage rooms, the garage, basement, shed, and kitchen cupboards. Sort out items you no longer use, need, or want.
Ask yourself:
Would I pay money to move this?
If the answer is no, consider selling it, donating it, recycling it, or giving it away.
Furniture, tools, clothing, children’s items, exercise equipment, and extra household goods can add a lot of weight and take up valuable space in a moving truck. Selling a few larger items may also help cover part of your moving costs.
Just do not leave decluttering until the final weekend.
That is how a “donation pile” turns into something you move anyway.
2. Get More Than One Moving Quote
Do not automatically hire the first moving company you find.
Get a few quotes and make sure you are comparing the same service. One quote may include packing, loading, travel time, fuel, stairs, and unloading. Another may not.
Ask questions before booking:
- Is there an hourly minimum?
- Are travel time and fuel included?
- Are there extra charges for stairs, long carries, heavy items, or rural locations?
- Is basic insurance included?
- What happens if the move takes longer than expected?
- Is there a deposit or cancellation fee?
The lowest quote is not always the best value.
A reliable company with clear pricing can save you stress and surprise costs on moving day.
3. Find Low-Cost Packing Supplies
Packing supplies can add up quickly if you buy everything new.
Ask local grocery stores, liquor stores, bookstores, or community groups if they have clean boxes available. Check local online marketplaces too. People often give away moving boxes after they unpack.
You can also use things you already own.
Towels, blankets, bedding, sweaters, and dish towels can protect fragile items. Suitcases, laundry baskets, reusable shopping bags, and storage bins can all carry belongings you would otherwise put into boxes.
Use sturdy boxes for heavier items and keep them small enough to lift safely.
Do not overfill boxes just because there is space left.
A box of books can become surprisingly heavy very quickly.
4. Choose Your Moving Date Carefully
The timing of a move can affect the cost.
Summer weekends and month-end dates are often busier for movers and truck rentals. That can mean fewer available options and higher prices.
Where possible, ask about moving on a weekday, in the middle of the month, or outside the busiest summer period. You may have more choice and a better chance of finding a rate that works for your budget.
Of course, closing dates, leases, school schedules, and work commitments do not always give you much flexibility.
But it is worth asking.
Even moving one or two days earlier or later can sometimes make a difference.
5. Decide Whether a DIY Move Actually Saves Money
Renting a truck and doing the move yourself can be less expensive than hiring full-service movers.
But make sure you count the full cost.
Think about truck rental, fuel, mileage, insurance, moving equipment, packing supplies, meals, time away from work, and the physical effort involved. You may also need help loading heavy furniture, appliances, or awkward items.
A DIY move can make sense for a smaller apartment, short-distance move, or household with limited furniture.
For a larger home, a long-distance move, or a move involving stairs, heavy furniture, or valuable belongings, professional movers may be worth the additional cost.
The best choice is the one that fits your budget without creating unnecessary risk or stress.
Keep a Small Moving Buffer
Even the best-planned move usually comes with a few surprise expenses.
You may need new locks, blinds, cleaning supplies, light bulbs, tools, a snow shovel, a lawn mower, a new appliance hose, or a meal when the kitchen is still packed in boxes.
Try to keep a little money aside for those first-week costs.
You do not need to make the new house perfect right away. Focus on the essentials first: beds, bathroom supplies, food, heat, internet, and a clear place to walk.
Everything else can happen over time.
“Moving is expensive enough without rushing into unnecessary purchases,” says Andrew Brown, Broker Owner of CENTURY 21 Northumberland Realty. “A good plan, a realistic budget, and a little patience can make the first few weeks in a new home much easier.”
A Better Move Starts With a Better Plan
Saving money during a move is not about making the process harder.
It is about making thoughtful choices before moving day arrives.
Declutter early. Compare quotes. Use what you already have. Think carefully about timing. And leave room in the budget for the practical things that come up after you get the keys.
At CENTURY 21 Northumberland Realty, we help PEI buyers and sellers prepare for more than just the purchase or sale. We are here to help you move into your next home with fewer surprises and more confidence.
Sources
The following sources were used to help prepare and fact-check this article.
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada — Planning Your Move Worksheet
Used for guidance about estimating moving and start-up expenses, including deposits, utility connection fees, furniture, household supplies and other costs. This source supports the article’s recommendation that movers create a detailed budget before spending money.
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada and Planning a Move
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada — Making a Budget
Used for general budgeting guidance, including tracking expenses, managing available funds and setting spending priorities. This source supports the article’s advice to compare moving costs, plan purchases carefully and leave room for unexpected expenses.
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada and Making a Budget
Canada Revenue Agency — Eligible Moving Expenses
Used for information about moving expenses that may qualify for a tax deduction in an eligible relocation, including transportation, temporary accommodation, utility connections and certain costs related to maintaining or selling a former home.
Canada Revenue Agency and Moving Expenses
Government of Canada — Changing Your Address
Used for information about updating an address with federal departments and agencies after moving. This source supports the article’s recommendation to plan address changes in advance and avoid missed benefits, payments, documents or services.
