Locally in Roanoke, Botetourt County, Vinton, Salem, Blacksburg, and Smith Mountain Lake, we find that about half of those moving choose to move themselves. This decision is largely based on money. If people don’t have a lot of expendable cash, they want to move as economically as possible. This means they do the work themselves.

Sometimes people will choose to move themselves even if they have expendable cash because they desire to be frugal. In this case, people often hire family and/or friends to help them accomplish their move. This enables them to spend less than if they were to hire a professional moving company.

We want to provide some ideas for moving yourself that may help those who need or want to save some money.

If you move yourself, you most likely have to pack yourself. You could spend big money on moving boxes and bubble wrap. But there’s a much more economical way. Head to the grocery store or liquor store and ask for boxes. Many stores will give good, sturdy boxes away at no cost.

Instead of bubble wrap or special wrapping tissue, start saving your Sunday newspapers and use newsprint to protect items from damage during the move. Then all you need to do is spend a little money on tape, and you’re ready to pack.

Once you have the supplies, ask family members and/or friends to spend a few hours here or there helping you pack. Packing is time consuming, so be sure to start your packing process days or weeks before the move, depending on the size of the move. Set goals and deadlines for packing. Get the kids involved, and make a game out of packing their rooms.

Keep an eye on our blog for more tips on saving money by moving yourself. And if you decide to hire a professional moving company, call Heritage Moving & Storage, Inc., your full-service moving, packing, and storage specialists.