Tips for saving money

You’ve finally taken the plunge and are planning to move out of state. Congratulations!

You’re about to start a new adventure, but you may be feeling a little worried about your budget.

No worries – we have plenty of tips for saving money on moving expenses and avoiding any costly mistakes in this article.

So, why did you decide to leave your home state?

If it’s for a job offer, that’s excellent!

Chances are the new area is full of wonderful things to explore. It can be exciting and intimidating at the same time. We’ve been there – so don’t forget to avoid making any major moving mistakes!

To ensure everything runs smoothly, here are some money-saving tips for when you relocate from one state to another:

1. Get your finances in order

Make sure that you have all the cash, checks, and credit cards you need before moving. Don’t forget about loose change, too – it adds up fast!

Once you finally arrive in your new home state, set an appointment with a local bank to transfer your deposit accounts. This will allow you to keep your old address for mail purposes only.

Remember, whatever happens between states is considered tax-free income by the IRS. As long as you keep records of how much was withdrawn from each account, it’s possible not to pay any taxes on the money until it is spent! Isn’t that amazing?

2. Different rules for specialized movers

It’s essential that you thoroughly plan out what type of move you wish to have. As tempting as it is, going with a full-service out-of-state moving company may be more than you need.

Hiring professionals can help simplify the entire process, but they also tend to charge above and beyond what you might pay if you did everything yourself.

Where will your move start?

The time of day that movers arrive at your home state will often dictate the price.

For instance, nighttime moves are generally cheaper than daytime ones. The opposite tends to hold for the end of month or holiday moves too – so take advantage of this!

If you have many valuables and want to make sure they aren’t damaged in transport, we recommend using an insured moving company. Be sure not to exceed any weight limits, though – you can ask for an estimate if you are unsure. This is especially important for local moves.

This isn’t the end of your research, though – even insured moving companies aren’t perfect.

Try searching online to hire the best out-of-state moving company, and be sure to read past reviews too!

3. Organize a garage sale

Now that you’re moving out of state, it’s time to clear some space in your home!

Don’t worry if you don’t have time to do this before moving day – many families decide to host a neighborhood garage sale shortly after arriving at their new location.

This gives them a chance to make some extra cash while getting rid of unwanted items all at once – not bad!

Try listing unwanted items on Craigslist if you don’t have time to deal with a garage sale before moving day. Save your personal information and recordings of conversations until after the deal has been finalized!

This is especially useful if you need fast cash – be sure to only deal with buyers who intend to pay for the item right away.

4. Don’t underestimate travel cost

If you’re not moving out of state, it’s easy to forget about all of these expenses during the planning stages. It might seem like there isn’t much difference between driving ten miles down the road or an additional thousand, but when you start calculating fuel costs plus one-way rental fees, this adds up quickly!

Depending upon how far your new home is from your old one, you could save a lot of gas money by booking an airline ticket instead.

You will have to do this at least two months in advance, through – airlines start selling the cheapest fares well before that if they intend on making any money!

5. Don’t forget about pet preparedness

Moving with pets can be difficult for both parties involved. Keep in mind that cats and dogs are creatures of habit, too – so moving them from their current homes will likely tax their emotions in strange ways!

You should try having them walk around your driveway a bit, too – but don’t push them any harder than they want to go!

They may refuse to eat or drink for the first few days, which can be problematic if you don’t live close to a good veterinarian.

6. Reduce your debt load

If there is one thing you can do to prepare yourself for moving out of state, it’s to pay down as much credit card and student loan debt as possible.

This reduces the cash you will need on moving day, allowing more money towards housing costs while working in your new city.

Start by asking about balance transfers and other offers from major retail banks. You might find an offer that gets you out of debt with zero percent interest!

Alas, such offers don’t come around all the time – so if you are like most people, you’ll need a little more help from your friends.

Don’t be afraid to call up creditors and discuss your financial needs frankly. This is especially true for student loans – they often have an interest in seeing their former students succeed!

They might not offer anything special, but remember that just because it isn’t listed does not mean it doesn’t exist!

Conclusion

The tips we’ve provided should give you an excellent place to start when it comes to planning your move out of state.

From saving money on travel costs, reducing debt loads, and making sure your pets are prepared for the significant change in scenery – there is something here for everyone!

About The Author:

Shweta Jain is a health and wellness blogger. She has been writing on the topic for over 5 years now and loves the subject as much as she loved it when she first started out. Her favorite thing about blogging is that it allows her to meet people with similar interests around the world. She also gets to share her knowledge with people who want to improve their lives in some way, which always feels great! Alongside being a blogger, Shweta is a wife and mother of three who enjoys playing table tennis and chess in her spare time.

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