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A Student’s Guide to Adulting: 4 Tips to Save Cash During Your Move

Whether you are a recent college grad starting out on your own or a student transferring to a larger school, moving to a big city can be overwhelming. Not only do you have to cope with the stress of leaving all that is familiar behind, but you also have to deal with the arduous and expensive task of moving to an ultra-urban area. Don’t let your first time living in a bustling metropolis break your spirit and your bank. You are on your way to bigger and better things, and with a few tips and a little planning, you will reach your new home with high spirits and a few bucks left in the bank. Here are four tips that can help you save money while moving:

Lighten Your Load

Sell anything you can do without. As you pack, set aside non-essentials that you may have accumulated over the years. Anything you have not used in the past year is eligible for the chopping block. This goes for clothing, books, CDs, smaller belongings and under-utilized furniture. Furniture will be the most difficult and expensive items to move, so if you can ditch the second-hand sofa that’s been serving as a hamper for the past year, do it.

Post items on Craigslist or host a yard sale to help you downsize and earn enough money to purchase a new futon when you arrive in your new city. The less you have to drag along with you, the easier your move will be.

Haul It, Don’t Store It

Storage facility costs add up quickly, so if there is any way to avoid renting a place just for your stuff, go that route. Rental truck companies charge based on the size of the truck, so if you have sufficiently downsized, you’ll already be saving money. Many rental places also offer deals during the slow season in winter months, so timing your move appropriately could also save you some cash.

Do It Yourself

Hiring a moving company to come in and do all the heavy lifting for you is a fantastic luxury, but also likely one you cannot afford. It’s difficult work and it shows in the price. Consider what is manageable on your own, and enlist the assistance of friends for the rest. This is the perfect time to call in some favors, or offer to bribe them with food and drinks. If you combine your moving day with your bon voyage party, you could say your goodbyes while soliciting help with the loading. If you are moving to a nearby city, load up your friends’ cars and have a tailgate party from your old pad to your new one.

Get Help Online

Moving to a big city might mean you won’t be able to do a walk-through of an apartment on your own, but there are online search tools that can help you when you’re looking for apartments in mega-cities like NYC. Particularly in areas like this, square-footage is worth its weight in gold, so give yourself time to research and find the apartment that’s right for you.

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One Response to “A Student’s Guide to Adulting: 4 Tips to Save Cash During Your Move”

  1. Kay says:

    I completely agree with the lighten your load advice.

    I become a minimalist about once a year for only a day or so. At the end of the day, I own almost nothing. It feels great. Naturally, by the next year I’m loaded with stuff I don’t need again but getting rid of stuff feels amazing.

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