Ten Important Expenses to Include on Your Moving Budget

No matter how you slice it, moving to a new home is going to cost you quite a bit of money. As such, it is important to create a budget soon after you find out that you have to move. Remember, the more time that you have to plan things, the better off everything will be. Planning out how much money you will need and when you will need it by will help you ensure success throughout the move. The last thing you need is to find out that you don’t have enough to cover all of your needs, so keep these ten common costs in mind and create a financial plan of attack for your move.

• Moving Method – Perhaps the most expensive part of the moving process, including the method of moving that you have chosen is vital to ensuring your financial success throughout a move. Get moving quotes before choosing.
• Packing Supplies – Purchasing supplies that you will need in order to pack your things is another important cost. While you can greatly reduce this cost by getting used boxes, you will still have to purchase things like tape and even packing paper.
• Utilities – Don’t forget to plan for expenses like utility deposits for the electric, water, and phone in your new home. If you are moving locally, you often can get away with switching services from one home to another, but if you are new to an area, then you will have to start from scratch.
• Travel and Lodging – Traveling to your new home means that you have to have travel money for the trip. If you are moving to another state, then you might need to spend the night somewhere in between your old home and your new one. Make sure that you budget for this so that you have enough money for fuel and a motel to stay in overnight.
• Tips – Moving is hard work, so you should reward good movers with a tip. There are many different ideas out there about how much and who to tip, so do some research and figure out what works best for you. Don’t forget to put it in the budget, however, so you expect the costs. Remember, this isn’t included in your online moving quotes.
• Food – Often times, when you are moving, you tend to eat out more. This is a necessity if you are traveling to your new home as well. Regardless of how much you avoid fast food, or how much you want to cook quick meals at home throughout the chaotic process, you still need to have some money budgeted for food so that you can ensure that everyone will eat.
• Medical – Add some money in the budget for medical expenses too. It is a good idea to visit your doctor before moving day so that you can make sure you are in good health for the time being. Get your medical records while you are there so that you can hand them off to your new doctor in your new neighborhood.
• Cleaning – After moving, most people don’t want to go back into the old house to clean. As such, try to put money in the budget for cleaning services. If you do choose to do it yourself, then these funds can be applied to cleaning supplies.
• Pet Care – If you have a pet, then you might want to plan for special services to keep them happy and safe. This is especially true if you are traveling to your new destination. Hiring a company that specializes in pets is only going to help reduce your stress throughout the move.
• Monetary Buffer – No matter how much you overestimated in the budget itself, make sure that you include a monetary buffer just in case something goes wrong and you need extra cash. This will only help you in the long run.