Cost-Effective Ways to Pack for Your Move

Quick Overview: Save money while moving by decluttering first to reduce what you pack. Keep drawers filled with light items and move clothes directly on hangers to save boxes. Use what you already own — baskets, pots, towels, and blankets make great substitutes for containers and padding. Look for free moving boxes from local stores, and use garbage bags for soft items like bedding. If space runs short, consider renting a small storage unit temporarily to keep costs low and your move organized.

Introduction

When it comes to packing your belongings for a move, there are a whole bunch of things that you can do. You could, for example, hire professional packers to do all the work for you. Or, you can buy a lot of expensive boxes and packing supplies to make the process easier for yourself.

However, what do you do when you don’t want to spend so much money on the packing process?

In this post by Dumbo Moving and Storage NYC, we’re going to share some tips with you on how you can make the packing process cost-effective and affordable.

Let’s get started.

Declutter All That You Can

The first thing that you can do to make your packing cost-effective is to cut down on the things that you actually need to pack.

The less stuff you have, the less time and money you have to spend on packing it.

Even other than saving money, decluttering before a move serves many benefits. It makes the move quicker and smoother, and reduces the hassle for both the movers and the residents.

Here are some actionable tips that you can keep in mind when decluttering your home:

• Start by putting away items that have come out of their designated spaces. If you find socks in the drawing room, put them back in the closet. If you find a plate on the patio, get it back to the kitchen cabinet.
• Throw away the things that no longer serve a purpose. Sentimental attachment to items is understandable, but sometimes, we unknowingly keep things around that don’t even serve a purpose. Find the things in your home that fall in this category and get rid of them. For example, a pen gifted by a loved one that no longer works has emotional value worth keeping. But a computer mouse with jammed buttons is just trash that needs to be thrown out.
• Donate the belongings that are in good condition but no longer in use. If you’ve outgrown a particular jacket, for example, don’t keep it in your closet. Give it to a needy person. The same applies to old appliances, kitchenware, etc.
• Whatever items you have left, organize them properly so that they aren’t a pain to pack later on. Use containers to organize items. For example, use containers to separate the different types of garments in your closet. Use containers to separate different types of utensils in your kitchen. And so on.

Once you’re done putting away, throwing away, donating, and organizing your belongings, you’ll be all set to start with your cost-effective packing process.

Keep Your Drawers Full

When packing for a move, it makes sense to start emptying all the drawers in your vanity table, computer table, dresser, etc., and start filling all the items into boxes.

But…what if everything just stayed in the drawers? The vanity, computer desk, dresser, etc., have to be moved anyway. If their drawer storage is smartly utilized, there would be no need to empty anything out and spend money on even more boxes and tape.

Of course, in order for this to work, you’ll need to take a number of different precautions, which include:

• Secure each drawer shut. Use strong packing tape or plastic wrap to prevent them from sliding open when they’re being moved.
• Avoid overstuffing. Keep only lightweight, non-fragile items in the drawers (like clothes, linens, or stationery).
• Remove anything fragile or spillable. Liquids, glass items, and electronics should be packed separately. Using boxes for them is worth it.
• Reinforce heavy furniture. If the piece is already heavy, empty a few drawers to avoid straining or damaging the frame.
• Label drawers clearly. This saves time when unpacking and helps movers handle items with care.
• Double-check weight balance. Make sure both sides of multi-drawer furniture are evenly loaded to prevent tipping or warping.

Keep Your Clothes in Hangers

Just as you can use the drawers in your furniture to minimize the number of boxes needed, you can do the same with the wardrobes and cabinets. You can store your clothes in hangers in your bedroom closet or wardrobe, and then move everything together.

That way, you can avoid the cost of getting wardrobe boxes, as well as the effort of folding all your clothes and unfolding them later on.

And just as it is important to take precautions regarding the use of drawers for storage, you have to follow a few steps for this hack as well.

• Secure the doors. Use rope, tape, or plastic wrap to keep wardrobe doors from swinging open when they start getting moved around.
• Use garment bags or covers. Protect clothes from dust and dirt by covering them with plastic wrap, old bedsheets, or large trash bags.
• Remove heavy or loose items. Take out shoes, accessories, or anything that could shift around and cause everything else to get dirty or damaged.
• Keep hangers lightweight. Use plastic or wooden hangers instead of steel ones. Steel hangers can scratch and damage the inside of the wardrobe if they happen to come loose from the rod.
• Check the wardrobe’s strength. Make sure the structure can handle being moved with clothes inside. If the wardrobe is light, the extra weight could put a strain on its structure.
• Label the wardrobe. Mark it as “Fragile” or “This Side Up” to ensure movers handle it properly.

Use Everything as a Container

You can save money on buying boxes and moving containers by utilizing your own belongings as containers.

If you have a bunch of large fabric shopping bags, for example, don’t store them away. Use them instead. You can fill them up with clothes and linens, and tie them up nicely for the move.

In the same way, if you have some really large boxes in your kitchen or in your garage, you can use them as containers.

Don’t worry if you can’t think of something like this in your home. We’ve made a list below of numerous everyday items that can come in handy for this purpose:

• Suitcases and travel bags: Perfect for clothes, shoes, and soft items. The wheels make transport easier.
• Backpacks and school bags: Great for small, heavier items like books or electronics.
• Laundry baskets and hampers: Use them for linens, pillows, or lightweight clothing.
• Storage bins and organizers: Repurpose any plastic or fabric bins you already use for seasonal storage.
• Reusable shopping bags: Ideal for quick packing of miscellaneous items from drawers or closets.
• Kitchen pots and large containers: You can fill them with utensils, pantry goods, or small tools.
• Trash bins (clean ones): Line them with a fresh bag and use them for light, non-fragile items.

Find Free Moving Boxes

Regardless of the various means and measures that you take to reduce the need to move boxes, you will, nevertheless, need at least a few of them. Some things, such as fragile kitchenware, books, and electronics, necessarily have to be kept in boxes.

But this doesn’t mean that you have to spend money on buying the boxes. You can get them for free.

• You can visit your local grocery store (where you’re well-acquainted with the people running things) and simply ask for old cardboard boxes. Big stores usually have a ton of these boxes, and they won’t mind giving you a few.
• You can ask friends and family members for cardboard boxes that they don’t use.
• Other than grocery stores, you can try your luck at bookstores, pharmacies, or local delivery businesses, as they often have spare boxes from shipments.

Use Garbage Bags Where Possible

You can use garbage bags to pack non-fragile things, such as clothes and linens. Instead of buying boxes or renting bins for them, you can use garbage bags and save money.

Of course, there are some things to keep in mind when using garbage bags.

Here is a table that shows the do’s and don’ts of using garbage bags as cost-effective packing methods:

Consider Renting a Storage Unit

Despite your de-cluttering efforts, there could still be a lot of stuff that you may be left with. You may not want to pack all of this stuff and take it with you since it would be too time-consuming and costly.

What do you do in this case?

You can consider renting a storage unit. That way, you can give those necessary yet not-so-necessary belongings of yours a temporary home while you go through your move.

Renting a storage unit, in this case, would be more affordable than getting all the packing materials for the items and arranging for a bigger vehicle to accommodate them.

Here is a brief list of actionable steps and tips that you can follow to find the perfect storage unit for your items:

• Choose flexible rental options: Go for a provider that lets you rent storage daily, weekly, or monthly, so you only pay for the time you actually need.
• Look for clean, climate-controlled units: This helps protect items like clothes, books, and electronics from humidity and temperature changes.
• Check for transparent pricing: Avoid hidden fees by choosing a storage company that clearly lists rates by size and duration.
• Find a convenient location: Pick a facility close to your home or new place to save time and moving costs.
• Bundle moving and storage services: Some companies offer both, which simplifies coordination and can cut costs.
• Compare rates for short-term stays: Don’t assume short-term rentals are cheaper; sometimes, longer plans offer better value.
• Rent only the space you need: Estimate your storage volume accurately so you don’t pay for unused square footage.
• Inspect the facility’s upkeep: Make sure the storage area is clean, dry, and well-maintained to prevent damage from pests or moisture.

When to Hire Professional Packers

Avoiding professional packers would be the top priority for anyone looking to lower packing costs. However, in some cases, hiring professional packers becomes necessary.

Before we wrap this post up, we want to give you an idea of those situations so that you can know when to hire professionals and not look to save money.

When you’re short on time and need to get everything packed quickly.

In that sort of situation, saving money could end up being costly in other quarters. You may end up getting too stressed. Or, worse, you may end up not being ready when moving day comes.

When you have fragile or valuable items that require careful handling.

Fragile items need expert care. While it’s fine to pack one or two fancy vases on your own, the same cannot be said about larger items.

If you have a lot of fragile items around, you should hire professional packers.

When you’re moving long-distance and want to minimize the risk of damage.

For a short move, even a somewhat haphazard packing job can be sufficient to protect your belongings during the transport. That doesn’t mean you should deliberately be lax about it, by the way.

However, when moving long-distance, every item has to be properly packed so that it can endure the rough movements of the truck. In this type of situation, it’s better to hire a professional so that the risk of damage can be minimized.

When you’re moving a large household, and need to save time and effort.

Just as being short on time means that you should hire professional movers, the same goes for when you’re moving a large household. It’s possible that you may not be able to pack everything in time, which would leave you unready when moving day comes.

When you have bulky or awkward items that need special equipment to move safely.

Just as fragile items have to be packed a certain way, the same goes for bulky and awkward items that have unorthodox shapes. You need to get an expert to pack such items so that they don’t get damaged during transit.

When you’re physically unable to pack due to injury or health reasons.

If you are physically unable to pack and have no one to help you, then you’ll need to call in some professional help. Taking any other measures in that sort of situation is not recommended.

Wrapping Up

There are a lot of ways in which you can make the packing process cost-effective and affordable.

In the post above, we’ve highlighted various tips and steps that you can take.

To recap, here is what you can do:

• Declutter properly so that there is less stuff to deal with.
• Use your drawers as storage where possible.
• Use your wardrobes as storage for your clothes.
• You can use other items and objects around your house as containers to avoid buying moving boxes.
• If you do need moving boxes, look for some that you can get for free instead of paying for them.
• You can also try using garbage bags to store soft, non-fragile belongings.
• Last but not least, if you have a lot of items and you don’t intend on moving all of them at once (to keep packing easier), consider placing them in a storage unit.

Of course, there are instances where it is necessary to hire professional movers. We’ve listed those at the end of the article above.