Time to move? Planning can save you money

I have never been much of a nomad — I like to find a place to live and stay there for a few years. Having just exited my 20s, my housing expertise has been generally limited to apartments, and I've rarely known anyone who lived in one apartment for longer than five years.

I've preferred apartments to buying a house because it's easier to move if my life circumstances change. And in today's economy, more and more people face the prospect of moving.

Unfortunately, moving isn't always cheap, and there are lots of incidental expenses that add up. On my last move, I thoroughly budgeted the process in advance, only to realize on moving day that I hadn't factored in the gas money required to return the moving truck with a full tank.

But there are ways to keep moving costs to a minimum. Here are a few tips.

Never buy boxes. Most moving places will sell you a set of boxes for between $10 and $30, but there is no need to spend that money. Go to a grocery store, where you should be able to get as many as you need. Of course, be sure to speak to a manager before rummaging through their discarded box pile, but most them will be happy to oblige.

Make use of homemade packing materials you already have. People forget just how much stuff they have stored away. The key is to make use of things like luggage, backpacks and trash cans when you pack. Also, pillows, sheets and towels make great packing material for dishes and other fragile items. So forget about buying bubble wrap and use things you already have.

Be brutal with yourself while going through your things. This is often a difficult rule to follow, but you'll notice a remarkable difference on moving day. Take a firm hand with yourself when going through your clothes, books, CDs, etc. — if you haven't listened to a CD in years, then chances are you won't miss it. You can sell CDs and books and get a little pocket change, and you can sell some clothes to second-hand stores or give them away to thrift stores. It may be tough, but at the end of moving day, your back will thank you.

Consider mailing your books. The U.S. Postal Service has special rates for books (the "media" rate). Depending on how far your move is, it might make more financial sense to mail books to your new address rather than boxing and carrying them yourself. For shorter distances this doesn't make sense, but moving books to another state can cost a lot in gas and time, as boxes are very heavy.

Don't use packing services. Movers often charge an extra rate to pack your stuff before they move the items. There is a good argument to be made for hiring movers to actually move your stuff, but there is rarely a good argument for paying them to pack. Chances are you know you are moving well ahead of the actual move date. Spend that time packing yourself — you can do it slowly over the course of a month, and you won't spend money paying others.

In general, moving is all about planning. Plan your move as far ahead as you can, and you'll find ways to lessen the financial impact. Waiting until the last minute ensures that you'll have less money in your pocket at the end.

Dylan Biles is a moderator and bargain-hunter for DealTaker.com, an online shopping Web site owned by Media General. E-mail dylan@dealtaker.com or follow him on Twitter @dylanbiles.