Wednesday, 23 September 2009
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Saving Money On A Move
As we speak, my boyfriend is packing up his apartment in preparation for a big move. He's going to be leaving NY and joining me here at school. Because he's the quintessential cheapskate, he's doing everything he can to save money on the move. While I applaud his attempts at frugality, I think he's going a little far because he's really inconveniencing himself when he doesn't have to. I worry a little that he's going to hurt himself trying to do something he should leave to a professional!
What he's doing for the move is:
-Not paying for boxes: He was able to take Fresh Direct boxes from work and luckily, he found some moving boxes outside his building.-Not buying packing materials: He's cushioning his boxes with the bulk paper towel rolls he has around the apartment from BJ's (leaving them wrapped so he can still use the paper towellater)-Driving a U-Haul himself: Despite the fact that he hates doing the 10 hour drive to get here, he will be driving his own moving van-Getting help from friends: Instead of hiring movers, he is fortunate enough to have really great friends who are willing to help him load up the moving van for free.
Have you ever moved on the cheap? What did you do to save money?
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About the Author
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- From: Cara
- Name: Cara
- About Me: I'm a 24 yr old back in the Midwest for law school. I've survived the first semester as a law student after working as a paralegal for two years. Let's see how the rest of the time goes!
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Comments (10)
U-Haul? Too expensive. I move with a pickup truck.
@Thegirlwhoknowstoomuch@xanga - Depending on how far you're going a U-Haul is much more reasonable. You have to consider how many trips you might have to make with a pick-up truck and if you borrowed it, the return trip. With a U-Haul, they have Point A to Point B drop-offs. I've always moved with a pickup and my own minivan, but I haven't moved farther than 8 miles.
When I move I get boxes from the local liquor stores. They're made for stacking so they're always generally the same size and it's actually easy to remember what you've packed where without labeling (though I always label, too) "Oh, kitchen stuff--that's in the Jack Daniel's boxes!" Best part? They're free! If you go in and ask they'll usually let you dumpster dive, or if you're a helpless-looking girl like me, they'll do it for you. They also have dividers so that you can pack smaller, breakable things without packing materials.
About packing materials, you can get excess newspapers from any college campus for free. Also, peanuts (white packing peanuts) from any UPS store are really, really cheap. This might work out a little better than--unrolled paper towels.
I've used t-shirts as padding before, too.
I hope he doesn't hurt his back!
I've never hired a U-Haul, that's too expensive. I just borrow trucks from friends. As well as getting them to help out.
I've used newspaper as padding, and paper towels is a great idea! As for putting them in boxes... never did that before. What I did instead was put them in suitcases, then use them later for travel, or simply as storage since I've lived in places that didn't have closets.
Those are excessive? I've never used movers, always friends. I've used pickup trucks (convoy of two took everything) and convoyed it. You want cheap, how about getting rid of all your furniture on craigslist or freecycle and acquiring new furnature the same way at the new place? Or of course dumpster diving the new furniture. Done that before.
Oh, I'm all about moving on the cheap. Everything you listed are totally things I've done. I moved every year for 4 years, and that's after dorm life in college. I lived down the street from a McDonald's, and moved everything I owned 2 years running in McD's french fry boxes. My house looked like a McDonald's warehouse! I used the pick-ups, vans and muscles of many friends (beer and pizza is still cheaper than movers and a u-haul!) but finally caved and rented a truck for a move 8 hours away. My dad drove the truck, friends followed us down, and all it cost was a tank of gas for all three vehicles that followed plus the cost of the truck.
Now, if someone could tell me how to move without the annoying connect and disconnect fees for utilities, plus forking over the deposit and first month's rent on a new place while still paying rent at the old place, I'd be eternally grateful!
Get the bean boxes from Caribou Coffee or Starbucks-- there is usually one designated day where they have warehouse delivered and the boxes are great, just ask when they get there and they'll be glad to have you take them off their hands than having to throw them away on their own!
I get free boxes from stores.
I've done all of these before, how is a U-haul too expensive? I get a decent sized truck for $40. I also worked for a furniture company, so I got all of my boxes from them. They are happy to give away used boxes, because it saves them the hassle of hauling it out to the trash. Just learn when their deliveries come, and show up a few hours later. Chances are you can even have the styrofoam the furniture came in, which saves on packaging supplies. I have known people that used everything from balloons, clothes, blankets, old newspapers, toilet paper, paper toweling, or rugs to protect things.. I also know a friend that when they receive something shipped they keep all of the packaging peanuts in garbage bags in their basement. After enough packages they had enough to protect everything they needed. I always had friends help me move, a few beers is cheaper than a moving company, Also be wary of movering companies, just because they have a truck doesn't mean they are professionals or care if they break your stuff.
You think these things are dangerous? I have moved several times within my lifetime, somewhere between 10 and 15, and everytime I do ALL these things. Everytime. I never hire people to help me move, family and friends help. We never buy boxes; we find them from stores throwing them out. We use our own materials as padding...
No offense, honestly. But I think that if anyone has NOT used these methods and actually hired people to help move and bought supplies to help with the process... are a bunch of idiots. Lazy. Idiots.
I'm sorry if I seem a little ticked, but I seriously cannot believe that you (as the author) think that these things are a little over the top!! IT'S NORMAL! The people spending money on it are the ones who aren't normal!