Last Updated on November 17, 2023
While moving house is pretty expensive in general, long-distance moves could break the bank. But if you can travel around Europe on a budget, then you can surely cut down on relocation costs. With that said, your end destination will determine your budget and moving needs.
How to Save Money on a Long-Distance Move in 2023
The average cost of a long-distance move is $0.50 to $0.70 per each pound of items moved 1,000 miles.
Here’s how you can lower the overall costs of a long-distance relocation in 2023.
1. Downsize Before Packing
If you downsize your belongings before a move, you avoid overloading the moving truck. That’s why it’s important to declutter your home or apartment three weeks before the move date. That way, you have time to sell unwanted items for cash or donate them to your friends and family.
2. Try Moving Off-Season
Peak moving season occurs in the summer between April and September.
However, long distance moving companies will slash their prices between October and March, which could save you a lot of money. Unfortunately, you will have to deal with the cold, snow, and ice if you move off-season.
3. Hire a Moving Company
While it feels like you’re paying more to move with a moving company, you’re saving a lot of time and potentially lost wages if you need to book time off. You can use comparison sites to explore top moving companies in your city and find a fair quote that fits in your budget.
4. Ask to Share a Container
If you need a shipping container for an overseas move, ask your moving company if you can share a container with another person. Most people won’t mind, especially if you’re flexible on the delivery date. Plus, you can split the expenses, which could reduce your bill by half.
5. Make a Financial Plan
It’s not fun to track our expenses or make a financial plan, especially when we’re watching our budget. However, a financial plan can prevent you from overspending, which happens often during long-distance moves. When you draft your final plan, do what you can to stick with it.
6. Save on Exchange Rates
Another tip for an overseas move is to use online money exchanges, like Wise, to save on exchange rates. Most banks or e-wallets, like PayPal, will take a huge chunk of your money when you switch currencies. However, online money exchanges will often get you the best rate.
7. Buy Mover’s Insurance
Full value protection mover’s insurance pays for the currency market replacement value for all items. During a long-distance move, there’s a high chance your belongings will get broken or lost. With mover’s insurance, you’ll get back what the item is worth if anything bad happens.
8. Pack Your Items Yourself
While moving companies offer a packing service, it’ll cost you extra. You can get moving boxes for free by going to recycling centers, retail businesses, and liquor stores. For other supplies, ask your friends or neighbors if they have tape, newspaper, bags, crates, or anything else.
9. Sell Your Vehicle and Fly
It’s really expensive to ship your car overseas, so if your car isn’t new, we recommend selling it. By selling it, you’ll have more cash-on-hand for the move. Even if the new location is drivable, gas alone will eclipse the cost of airfare. It’s simply much cheaper to fly to your new home.
10. Get to Know Your New Home
Before picking a new apartment or home in your new location, research the cost of living in different areas. By changing from a city to a town outside of the center, you can save thousands of dollars a year. Sometimes choosing to move to a smaller city can lower your travel costs.
