The average American is expected to move a total of 11.4 times in their lifetime: that’s a lot of U-Haul trips to be paying for. Here are a few essential things you’ll need to know before (and after) you pack those boxes.

Sell the Junk

Or just junk it. Anyone who has read (or talked to somebody who’s read) Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, knows that there’s nothing healthy about hoarding. And most moving companies base their fees on cargo weight. So, all those souvenirs, books you haven’t quite gotten to yet and swag from that job three jobs ago? If they’re worth anything, someone else will buy ’em.

Plus: if you can’t sell it, most charities will come on by and pick it up as a donation. They’ll will even give you a value on your donations, allowing you to write it off your income taxes! Learn more about that here.

For an idea of how much your things are worth, here’s a great donation valuation guide from Goodwill.

Never Pay For Boxes

Companies will try to sell you boxes: U-Haul sells them anywhere from $0.99 to $2.45 or in bundles that can go up to over $300. Forget about it. If you live in a city, or even any kind of small town, most businesses—particularly liquor stores and print shops— will be abundant with boxes they are desperate to get rid of. Just don’t wait until the last week.

If you’re feeling timid, check out freecycle to find out what people are dying to give away.

Another big secret: some boxes at the post office are free.

Move at the Right Time

According to an analysis from Unpakt, a comparative pricing company for moving services, the cost of actually moving from one-bedroom apartment can cost anywhere from $840 to $4,460, depending on what time of the year and the month you plan it. Try to get as much moving as possible done before the end of the month. And if you have any choice on what time of year, pick a time of that’s not between the middle of May and the middle of September. It may be cold out, but your pocket will thank you.

Get Tech

The world is bigger than U-Haul and now. Don’t stop yourself from getting an estimate from the big boys, but there are so many new app-based moving companies out there; check out bellhops, ghostuck and zootly, just name a few of the bigger ones. Zootly will put you in touch with the closest and most reliable movers in your immediate vicinity while bellhops employs college students to move your things on the cheap. And don’t forget, you can always take your lower estimate to U-Haul and they just might match your price!

IRS Stuff

Finally, make sure you let the IRS know you’ve moved—even if you’ve set up a forwarding address. A lot of mail stops getting forwarded after 60 days: especially mail like tax returns. Another tip: if your move can be tied, in any way, to your job you might be able to write the whole thing off.

string(4220) "
The average American is expected to move a total of 11.4 times in their lifetime: that's a lot of U-Haul trips to be paying for. Here are a few essential things you'll need to know before (and after) you pack those boxes.
Sell the Junk
Or just junk it. Anyone who has read (or talked to somebody who's read) Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, knows that there's nothing healthy about hoarding. And most moving companies base their fees on cargo weight. So, all those souvenirs, books you haven't quite gotten to yet and swag from that job three jobs ago? If they're worth anything, someone else will buy 'em.
Plus: if you can't sell it, most charities will come on by and pick it up as a donation. They'll will even give you a value on your donations, allowing you to write it off your income taxes! Learn more about that here.
For an idea of how much your things are worth, here's a great donation valuation guide from Goodwill.
Never Pay For Boxes
Companies will try to sell you boxes: U-Haul sells them anywhere from $0.99 to $2.45 or in bundles that can go up to over $300. Forget about it. If you live in a city, or even any kind of small town, most businesses—particularly liquor stores and print shops— will be abundant with boxes they are desperate to get rid of. Just don't wait until the last week.
If you're feeling timid, check out freecycle to find out what people are dying to give away.
Another big secret: some boxes at the post office are free.
Move at the Right Time
According to an analysis from Unpakt, a comparative pricing company for moving services, the cost of actually moving from one-bedroom apartment can cost anywhere from $840 to $4,460, depending on what time of the year and the month you plan it. Try to get as much moving as possible done before the end of the month. And if you have any choice on what time of year, pick a time of that's not between the middle of May and the middle of September. It may be cold out, but your pocket will thank you.
Get Tech
The world is bigger than U-Haul and now. Don't stop yourself from getting an estimate from the big boys, but there are so many new app-based moving companies out there; check out bellhops, ghostuck and zootly, just name a few of the bigger ones. Zootly will put you in touch with the closest and most reliable movers in your immediate vicinity while bellhops employs college students to move your things on the cheap. And don't forget, you can always take your lower estimate to U-Haul and they just might match your price!
IRS Stuff
Finally, make sure you let the IRS know you've moved—even if you've set up a forwarding address. A lot of mail stops getting forwarded after 60 days: especially mail like tax returns. Another tip: if your move can be tied, in any way, to your job you might be able to write the whole thing off.
"

Conversations about the Law of Attraction are super popular these days. Basically, it means: positive thoughts bring positive results into a person’s life. And negative thoughts . . . Well. Let’s not bring negativity into this 🙃.  Many folks are eager to turn their lives around — seeking love, peace of mind, happiness, and success

As the old saying goes…the proof isn’t only in the pudding it’s in your closet, your cupboards, your back porch and – if you have one – your garage. You’ve got too much stuff. Everywhere. It’s not just a bunch of grandmas building enormous collections of margarine tubs or Uncle Bill’s believe it or not

Though the wave of tech layoffs and the threat of a recession has overshadowed yesteryear’s news of the great recession, everywhere you look, employees are asking for more — and getting it. Though this time of uncertainty could have given employers back the power, it’s still in the hands of the workforce. From Gen-Z’s boundary

The Momager May Be Worth More Than You Think… Kris Jenner is a pop culture icon for many reasons. While you may have watched her meteoric rise to fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians — which originally debuted on E! — she’s actually been a fascinating figure in the public eye for ages.  As

By Massimo Tornambe Scott Disick, aka “Lord Disick” has gained fame and a devoted following since his appearances on the reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Disick is renowned for his expensive taste in clothes, cars, and women. The question that millions of fans are asking is: where did his fortune come from? Scott

Everyone says the economy’s healthier than ever, but some of us still find it necessary to make that paycheck stretch…and stretch…and stretch. The better we understand our spending habits, the better we can manage them. Living frugally can benefit you in many ways. You’ll grow more self-reliant, creative, and resourceful as you learn to make

Spring is in the air — and while you’re clearing out closets and scrubbing the back corners of the kitchen drawers, why not do a deep clean on something that really weighs you down? We’re talking about debt. Yep, those sneaky credit card balances, student loans, Buy Now Pay Later plans, and subscriptions that keep

In the 1980s movie Little Shop of Horrors, the protagonist Audrey fantasizes about owning a house of her very own. She doesn’t ask for much: just a simple one-storey place with a washer, dryer, and bedding will do.  And while this moment in the film is intended to satirize the American Dream by underlining how

Imagine this: you marry the man of your dreams. You have two beautiful children with another on the way. You spend your days cooking gorgeous, nutritious meals for your family…. from scratch. You get paid to share your daily life and meals with people around the world. But here’s the catch: half of those people

In this month’s Money Journal, Celia is organized and disciplined yet enjoys her life “to the Max” Welcome to Money Journal, a monthly Paypath series that examines how Americans really handle their finances. Our participants keep a journal of their earnings, spending, and savings (if any), then share what it’s like to live in their