Moving is an expensive endeavor and requires a lot of planning and preparation. It can be an exciting, challenging, and stressful time in your life. When moving to a new city or state there are certain steps you can take to make the process easier, while also saving money. Since we all want our money to go furthest, we’ve put together a few discount moving tips so your budget can save the most.

1)     Pick a reputable company

When contemplating the best professional moving company, make sure you start off by getting a free quote. By the time you collect multiple ones you should not only have an idea for fair moving cost, but something to use in your contract negotiation with the moving company you finally settle on.

Make sure you aren’t paying for services you don’t need and watch out for things that ring alarm bells. Requests for cash only payments, deposits greater than 20% of the quoted price, and quotes significantly lower than others that you gather may be indications of dishonest business practices. You should always check for quality and consistency in online reviews and awards. Also remember that a professional moving company is always fully licensed and insured.

2)     Declutter Before the Move

The process of saving money can start before anything else by reducing what’s moved in the first place. Decluttering, selling, and donating items you no longer use means you’re not wasting time, money, and space accounting for them needlessly. Start by taking note of what you use and no longer need with a checklist going room to room. This can begin at your own pace, before any other part of your new journey, and most people notice you have more items than they use on a regular basis.

Listing large items on online marketplaces like facebook or craigslist also means you can find people willing to come and transport heavy things by themselves, without paying someone to move them for you. In fact, they’ll be the ones paying you and you can even make a few bucks to put towards other aspects of the move. Two birds with one stone, especially considering most interstate moves are charged by weight.

3)     Ask Around for Boxes

If you’re planning a move in advance and have time, there’s no reason to purchase brand new boxes. Nearly every company that receives shipments has a surplus that’s headed to be recycled anyway, so try asking local businesses if you can take them out of their hands.

With enough planning and procurement, you won’t need to pay a penny for moving boxes. Grocery, liquor, and bookstores each have sturdy boxes that are designed for carrying heavy loads. You can also ask friends, neighbors, and family for extra boxes as almost everyone who orders things online has a few lying around.

4)     Wait to Make Large Purchases

While it’s certainly fun looking into the future and fantasizing about the new space you’ll spend the majority of your time in, it’s often a mistake to begin buying new items for a spot you’re not totally familiar with. If you get too ahead of yourself, you can end up wasting time and money with things you’re ultimately unsatisfied with.

It may seem like a good idea to buy large items in advance of the move, but we recommend waiting about a month to see how you actually use the space before making large purchases. This is because more often than not, you can’t be completely sure how things will fit in until you’re actually there.

Holding out until you’re firmly settled can mitigate costly and potentially frustrating situations. A media console may seem too big or small, a new dresser might not match the environment, an appliance may not fit unexpectedly, or you may simply change your mind to the most optimal location for things. The situation can also happen to medium sized items of high value, and in the end you’ll be saving and space in the moving truck and on the cost of labor for loading and unloading the item twice.

5)     Move Outside Peak Seasons

Trying to move at the same time as everyone else means companies are usually more expensive with the increased demand. If you have flexibility in the date of your move, shoot for early spring or late fall. Peak months for moving companies are June, July, and August, so these months are typically more expensive. A similar idea is true when scheduling based on the day of the week, so aim towards the middle of it if you can. In the end, you’ll be paying less for precisely the same service.