Save money (and your sanity!) when moving house

I am moving house again soon. I have moved quite a few times, but this time I hope to stay much longer, treat it as our home and invest in other properties while there.

Moving can be expensive with costs such as:
- Transport/removalist/truck or trailer hire
- Disconnection and reconnection fees
- Menu plan disrupted
- A big clean (e.g. carpets professionally done and so on if renting)
- The time to move takes it's toll too

So how can you reduce the impact of moving expenses?
1.) Sell off what you don't need
As you are preparing to move, have a proper clean out. List what you can on eBay, Gumtree, Facebook and other places to sell.

2.) Donate or get rid of the rest
Anything you don't need and can donate or throw away, get rid of. You don't want to spend time and money moving things that aren't going to be used.

3.) DIY moving
If you can, hire a truck and get help from some friends or family instead of hiring removalists. It can save you thousands of dollars.

4.) Old packing boxes
Ask around for old boxes such as in stores, friends and family or put a wanted ad online. Don't pay for boxes if you don't have to.

5.) Frugal packaging
Wrap breakables in linen such as tea towels, sheets and other manchester. You have to move the manchester anyway, why not use it to protect valuables?
Other packaging that works well is bubble wrap, newspapers and butchers paper.

6.) Be organised
Label everything clearly so you know what is in each box and which room it should go in. Don't ne haphazard about it, throwing random items in together. Each time I have moved I have managed to clear a room or area so I can pack items that are not needed before the room and start storing them in one spot to make it easier to move.

7.) Sealable bags for screws
When dismantling furniture put all the little pieces into a sealable bag for each item of furniture. Label it clearly so when you are reassembling, everything is there.

8.) Talk to your providers
If you are relocating in the same area, many providers will waive fees if you ask them to or if you resign for a year with them.

9.) Get mail redirection
Have your mail redirected but also make a list of every service, club, provider and person you will need to notify of your address change. A redirection takes a few days to start, so do it before you actually move to make sure mail is redirected. Be aware, it doesn't pick up on all mail so it is better to set aside a time to contact everyone and have your address changed.

10.) Reassess your providers
Since you are calling to relocate, ask for an ongoing discount. Compare insurance providers and other services as you make all your changes. It doesn't take much more time to do and can result in ongoing savings.

11.) Get help
Don't try to do it all yourself. It is a big job. If people offer to help, take them up on it.

12.) Menu plan around the move
Your regular menu plan is going to go out the window. Try to eat down what you have in your cupboards before the move. It might mean some of your meals get a bit creative, but you may discover a new family favourite by doing it.

Plan easy meals or if someone offers to cook a meal, say yes! There are various easy to prepare meals you can whip up that are significantly cheaper than take away.

13.) Keep important things close
I have copies of all my documents scanned and stored elsewhere, as well as the hard copies. Any important papers or things you will need immediately after moving, keep close.

14.) Have an emergency kit
Keep some first aid supplies, basic cutlery and crockery and so on in one box or bag to make moving easier and cheaper.

15.) Don't pack too heavy
Packing so much in a box it is too heavy to lift is a recipe for disaster. Not only is it hard to move, but it is more likely to break which could damage your items too.

What tips would you add?

3 Things My Kids Have Taught Me About Money

When I first discovered I was pregnant, I was stressed the heck out.  Studies throw around numbers in the hundreds of thousands when estimating the cost of raising children to the age of 18, and the sticker shock of cribs and diapers was overwhelming.  Over the years, I've gotten a handle on things.  A lot of that I have to credit to my children themselves, as they've reminded me of so many money lessons that are so easy to forget as we age.

1. Just because it's free doesn't mean it's not fun.

Source

It's amazing how much we spend. On ourselves.  On our kids.  On our entertainment.  On our toys.  But raising children has reminded me that these things don't have  to cost exorbitant amounts of cash.  The biggest thing we've done for entertainment is take the kids to a Yo Gabba Gabba show.  While that was amazing, and I wouldn't trade the look on their faces for anything in the world, I could have sworn I saw that same look the other day at the park when we discovered an army of ants under a rock.  That grandiose princess castle that grandma bought for Christmas?  It's the coolest thing ever.  It's so cool I've even played with it.  But the excitement around it has faded, and now the biggest thing is Daddy pushing them around the living room in an empty diaper box.   The sticker prices were very different, but the level of enjoyment was at least equal.


2.  It's people that are important in our lives, not things.

Source

We could have all the toys in the world, but my kids aren't happy unless they have a familiar face in the room.  Preferably Mommy or Daddy.  (That's a million dollar feeling right there.)  Left with a new-to-them baby-sitter, they scream and cry for hours.  (This is a mistake I'll never make again.)

When we are with them, which is most of the time, they have a much better time with all their "things" if we are playing with them.  Reading a book is so much better on Mommy's lap.  Flying on Daddy's shoulders is a million times better than watching TV.  And block towers can be built so much higher when grandma helps.  The real proof is in all of the cuddles, kisses, and love.

I hope they hold onto those things as they grow up.  I hope they choose to allocate their spending towards the things that bring true happiness, like shared experiences with people they love, rather than status symbols.


3.  Sometimes, you've just got to make it rain.

One time, we were visiting family with an eighteen-month old.  It was far enough away that we chose to fly which meant we couldn't bring a pack-and-play or other closed-in structure for them to sleep in.  So they had to be supervised during nap time and sleep in beds with us.  My husband went to supervise one of those nap times and fell asleep himself during it.  He woke up to a baby holding a wallet with credit and store loyalty cards strewn everywhere, throwing all his cash in the air.  There was an ear-to-ear smile on that baby's face as paper bills fluttered down all around them.



It's good to take money seriously.  But sometimes you just have to have fun.  Celebrate life no matter how much you feel like you do or don't have. When you don't have a lot, or you're saving towards bigger goals, remember that the best things in life are usually free, and usually experienced with the people you love.