After you have moved into your new home, you might be thinking that it you can finally take it easy and give the checkbook a break. While it is true that most of your expenses are over and done with, there are certain expenses you will have to deal with. In fact, you may find that the cost of getting settled may be more than you had bargained for.
That being said, there are ways to lessen the financial burden of moving and getting settled. These tips should make your move a bit less stressful–and less costly.
Look for packaged deals on certain utilities. Although you may have previously paid for separate services, it might be a better to go with a company that offers bundled communications/entertainment services. In addition to making it simpler to pay your bills–you only have to pay a single company every month–this will also save you the cost of having to pay three different installation fees and security deposits.
Figure out what you should keep and what you can get rid of. When moving to a new home, it might seem like a good idea to replace certain pieces of furniture, appliances, or household accessories with new ones. However, you don’t have to replace everything. Some items–such as a chest of drawers or end tables, for example–can be repainted or refinished to work better in your new home. Think about it this way: you will have to replace almost everything you get rid of anyway. If the cost of replacing certain items is cheaper than transporting them, it might be better to hold on to them.
Having to purchase groceries to fill up your pantry and fridge can add unnecessary expense to your first week or so in your new home. When packing up your kitchen items from your previous home, figure out what you can keep safely for the move. There is little reason to throw away canned goods (unless they are expired), and you will still have use for them in your new home. Spices and dried herbs will also be useful even after you move, so you don’t necessarily have to throw everything away.
It might be best to pack up your kitchen stuff on the day of the move itself. A couple of boxes should be sufficient for any perishables. If you take them with you as you leave your old house, it should make it to the new one and still be safe for consumption.
Be creative with certain furniture and accessories. Even if certain items seem as if they wouldn’t belong in the new home, there might be some way to modify them to work better. A carpet can be cut up to make several smaller floor mats, for instance, and a lamp table can be repainted and refinished for use in another room.
The most basic step to reducing the costs of moving is to bring with you stuff that can be costly to replace and which don’t have to be thrown out. By doing so, you can cut your expenses down to a minimum.