Between the packing supplies, the rental truck (or professional movers), and the cost of gas, moving to a new apartment can be expensive.  But the cost of your move doesn’t have to break the bank.  Economize your move with these common-sense money-saving tips for moving day.

Pare down to save money
One of the best money-saving tips for folks readying themselves to move involves decluttering.  Get rid of what you don’t need before you move and you won’t waste valuable time and money packing up things that you don’t really need to take with you to your new apartment.  You’ll also save money when it comes to renting a moving truck.  The less stuff you have, the less truck space you’ll need.  When it comes down to it, every item you bring with you to your new place — big or small — is an expense, so it makes good financial sense to declutter before you move.

Start the money-saving decluttering process by taking stock of everything you plan to move.  If you don’t want, don’t need, or can’t use an item, you should think about donating it to someone who does or getting rid of the item altogether.

Save money on packing supplies
While decluttering your apartment could potentially save you a few hundred dollars in moving expenses, taking extra steps to create a packing plan for each room of your home can save even more money.  Take inventory of what you have to pack and estimate the amount of moving supplies you’ll need to pack up all your belongings.  This kind of pre-planning can save you cash because it’ll eliminate the need to buy more packing supplies than you need.  (Be sure to save your receipts so you can return any unopened packing supplies you don’t use.)  You’ll also pack more efficiently if you don’t have to continually take breaks to run out and get extra supplies you didn’t know you’d need.  Carefully planning ahead will save you time AND money.

Packing tips for efficiency
Another way to save money during the moving process is to pack boxes as efficiently as possible.  Believe it or not, there is a “right way” to pack boxes that not only keeps items safe but also allows you to make the most efficient use of moving supplies.

How to find cheap moving supplies
Want to get the best deal on packing supplies?  There are several strategies for finding discounted and even free moving supplies.

When it comes to the essentials like tape, markers, labels, bubble wrap, and boxes, buying in bulk from a moving retailer can be a real money saver.  Check out special money-saving  deals at national moving chains like U-Haul or Penske for kits that bundle many essential moving supplies in one convenient package.  You can save money, time and energy buying your packing supplies with this kind of one-stop shopping.

If you need boxes, don’t forget that it’s sometimes possible to recycle others’ moving supplies.  Many people save their moving boxes, so ask friends and family — especially any who have moved recently — if they have boxes you could take off their hands.  You can also visit local grocery stores and department stores to find free boxes.

Stay calm on moving day
When it comes down to it, saving money on moving day saves more than just cash, it saves your sanity.  Knowing that you’ve saved as much money as you can on your move has to ease your stress at least a little bit — and every bit is important when you’re coordinating something as complicated as moving all your earthly possessions.

For more money-saving moving tips, as well as advice on how to beat moving stress, consult Apartment Guide’s Moving and Packing center.