In the past, someone might have bought a house at a young age and then stayed there – perhaps raising a family there – for the rest of their lives. This was, in fact, the norm. Today, things are very different. It’s much harder to buy a house for one thing, so it takes longer to save up and be in a credit-worthy position. On top of that, modern life will often mean that a change in location is required as circumstances (such as a new job, new family, or the need to downsize) change over time. In other words, people move a lot more than they used to, even if it all starts a lot later in life than it once did.
The problem is that moving is an expensive thing to do, so if you have to do it – or have chosen to do it – it makes sense to consider different ways to save money simultaneously. Read on to discover some of those ways.
Declutter
The first thing to do is declutter your home. This is useful in a variety of different ways, including being better for your mental health (living in clutter is stressful and can cause anxiety). However, the main reason to do it when you are moving is that you will spend less on removals costs when there are fewer things to take.
Think carefully about what you are really going to need in your new home. This is the ideal opportunity to remove unwanted items and start fresh with just the things you really want. Once you’ve determined what you no longer need, take a look at redcross.org and see what the charity can accept, as giving items to charity is much better than throwing them out.
Pack Carefully
Not all of the costs associated with moving house are upfront one, and not all of them will be immediately obvious. However, if you arrive at your new place and you discover that something has broken during the move and you now need to replace it, this will clearly cost you money, and that’s the kind of unexpected cost that can really affect your budgeting.
The best thing you can do is ensure you pack everything very carefully. Use the right packing materials for each item and don’t try to cut corners – if you want something to make it through the journey from one property to another, packing well is crucial, and it will save you a lot of money in the long term.
Don’t Overbuy
Buying a new home is exciting, no matter what the reason for doing so might be. Whether it’s your first property or you’ve moved a lot before, making a new place your own is always going to be a positive experience. However, it’s easy to get carried away, and you might find you have spent a lot of money on things you don’t really need. Overbuying is a mistake that many people make.
Although you will undoubtedly need to buy things for the new house, the best thing you can do is wait until you have moved. In this way, you’ll know exactly what you need, and you’ll know how much you have to spend. Of course, if you need a bed and living room furniture this will need to be bought in advance, but most other things can wait until you really know what’s possible.
