How To Move, Cheaply
Last night I went to Coles and bought two deeply delicious bars of chocolate. I packed them in my pocket, walked the three blocks to my new abode and used them as a means to survive that night’s particular task, which was picture hanging. Let’s admit it, moving is hell. I currently sleep on a mattress, surrounded by my disassembled bed. I wrap myself in blankets as I walk from room to room, as I don’t yet own heaters. Which, in some ways, is lucky because it’s currently so cold, I have no need to buy a fridge. It’s a painful process, but can it be a cheap one? Here are some ideas, drawn from a week of loading and unloading.
Downsize
Moving is the opportunity to get rid of everything you own that you no longer need. You could make the money you’ll need to move by selling off some of the stuff you own. Go through everything- clothes, books, CDs, furniture. If you don’t really like it, get rid of it. Get yourself an account on eBay and sell it on. Ask around if anyone needs a couch or a TV. If you haven’t read it, worn it, listened to it or sat on it for donkey’s years, it can/t be that important to you. I did one cull when I left my old place, and another one when I arrived at the new one. Only put things you truly love in your new home- an approach that will help you stall impulse spending as well.
Factory Seconds
eBay is great, but my discovery of this particular move is Factory Seconds. These are warehouses for all the items- fridges, washing machines, stoves- that don’t quite make it up to manufacturer requirements. Usually it’s a case of a couple of dings. They still come with warranty and work perfectly, but are massively discounted. If you are without an essential and no one you know is passing one on, it could be a great way to pick something up on the cheap. It’s important to do your research, spend some time online working out what will work best and where you can source it cheapest. And make sure you have measurements- it sounds obvious, but you can waste a lot of money and time resources by buying an item, only to realise it doesn’t fit anywhere in your new home.
Make Really Muscly Friends
You think I joke. Having a couple of people who can help you out when you move is an essential. Preferably people of the DIY-incline, or someone anxious to prove how strong they are. While you can save money by ferrying a lot of your items back in forth in your car (for hours and hours on end, while you bemoan how many books you own that you will probably never read), for big items like mattresses, bed frames and bookcases, borrow a van. ask a couple of friends for help and buy them a slab of beer as thanks. If your friends are all busy, check your local classifieds- if you don’t have much stuff, removalists can squeeze you in between bigger jobs and only charge $50- $100. There is no point spending three hundred dollars on massage afterwards if you can spend a little bit of cash now and save yourself on heartache.
Related Posts
