If you’ve recently decided to up sticks, then you’ll need to be prepared for quite a bit of upheaval, disruption, and heavy spending. Now, these all sound terrifying but luckily there are a few ways to avoid such terrible things, or at least mitigate them.

For example, planning well in advance is one of the best things you can do to make the move go well. And if you’re looking to save money when moving (who isn’t?), then take a look at the following tips.

Get rid of the stuff you don’t need

If you’re going to hire professional assistance with your move, then a big part of their price will be the number of items that you’ll be transporting. The more items you have, the more the company will charge. What’s the best way to lower the cost? By getting rid of the things you don’t need.

Although this might seem very difficult (it’s always tough to let your belongings go), in the end, you’ll lower the fees for a removal company and make your whole move easier to handle. Take your time, go through each room one by one and really think about whether you really need some items.

Throw away broken items, donate things that you don’t need but could be used by someone else, and sell anything else. If you sell some things online or in a car boot sale, you’ll raise funds to help offset your moving costs.

Make use of free packing supplies

Packing is probably one of the more tiring tasks involved with moving house and can be quite costly. For example, you’ll have to buy moving boxes, bubble wrap, and wrapping paper. However, there are plenty of places where you can find packing supplies for free.

Go around the shops and supermarkets in your area and ask if they have any boxes that they don’t need. They should be more than happy to offload these boxes to you. Search for any spare boxes at your workplace as well. Also, ask friends and family, especially those who have recently moved, if you can take a few extra packing materials.

Instead of using bubble wrap and wrapping paper, make use of things you already own. For example, use newspaper, bedding, towels, and clothing as box stuffers and wrapping materials to protect your items. You can also use pillows to keep pressure off of items inside boxes.

Time your move right

Most people move during the summer months. This makes the period from May to August very busy for moving companies—it could be difficult to find an open slot in their schedule and prices are probably higher. Also, people usually schedule their moving day on a weekend, bank holiday, or during the first or last day of the month.

Try to book your move in the off-season and on a weekday if possible to take advantage of discounted prices. You’ll save money on your move, and your big day is much easier to coordinate when both you and the company have some flexibility in your schedules.

Compare, compare, compare

When you start your research for the right removals company to help you move house, it can be quite overwhelming. There are many companies to choose from so how can you differentiate between them? This is where comparing quotes comes in handy.

At the very least, you should compare prices from three companies. This way, you’ll have a general idea of what the price should be for your move. There are many sites that let you compare multiple moving companies at once — examine their prices, services, and profiles in one place to make your search much easier.

Source cheap ways to furnish your new home

If you want to furnish your new home, resist the urge to splurge on new furniture. Instead, look for second-hand furniture, which goes for cheap or even for free. You might find a few hidden gems in second-hand shops in your area.

Don’t forget that you still have your old furniture. Even though you might be sick of them, they could still help make your new home look the way you want it. A fresh coat of paint or a bit of DIY creativity and that old shelf could be the perfect fit for your new pad. Also, try different combinations of furniture in different rooms to find the best arrangement that matches your vision.

*Collaborative post