Tips to Save Money on Relocating Costs

 

If you haven’t already found employment in your new location then you should start job hunting online before you leave. In the current economic climate, it takes approximately 3 to 4 months to find suitable employment. If you’re moving with a spouse or partner and they also plan on working, be sure to let them know to do the same. While pounding the pavement was a good job hunting method in the old days, most places will tell you to visit their website and fill out an application online anyways so you might as well do that part at home. Additionally, if you work for a company that has offices in more than one location you can see if they have a branch located in the general vicinity of where you are going. If you’re self-employed, you may be able to skip this step. 

 

 

While a lot of people are complaining about the restrictiveness and inconvenience of traveling by plane, many others are finding that air fares are the lowest they’ve ever been. If you know where to look for cheap flights, traveling by plane may be your best bet. A one-way plane ticket is often cheaper than traveling by car and filling up the gas tank.

 

Not only have rates dropped, but competition among airlines is high. For example, Southwest Airlines does not charge for the first or second checked bag as long as it weighs less than 50 pounds and their fares are often well below that of other airlines. Also, traveling by plane in certain months can be much cheaper. August and September are generally the cheapest months to travel by plane, since this is a natural dip in air traffic every year.

 

Websites such as SkyScanner can help you find the cheapest flights. As a general rule of thumb, try to book a flight at least two weeks in advance for the best savings. Also, if you have bags to check in, skip the counter and go to one of the outside airline bag check-ins. In most cities, there is a smaller line or no line at all and the people who check in your bags only ask for a small tip. 

 

 

"What about my stuff?" you might be thinking. By packing up the house ahead of time an packing the boxes in a movable storage container, you can take that flight with peace of mind and let the moving company make the drive. Packing yourself offers significant savings. Coupled with the airfare savings and you may save a bundle. 

 

 

The cost of living obviously differs from place to place. Living in New York City is obviously going to be incredibly more expensive than living somewhere like Florida or Utah. However, you can save a considerable amount of money by planning your location accordingly. For example, if you need to move to New York State for a job in NYC, you can live upstate for a fraction of the price and commute to work.

 

If you absolutely must be in a large city, try looking in residential neighborhoods rather than more expensive urban areas. Looking at online classifieds such as Craigslist or rent.com can also help you make an informed decision about your new residence. If you’re nervous about securing a new place online than simply contact any landlords of places that you may be interested in before moving and let them know when you’re coming so that they can set up an appointment for you to view the residence. 

 

You can also look on city forum websites and ask the locals what they think. The frequenters of these boards aren't always friendly, but they sure will give you the facts of what it's really like to live in your planned new location.