How to move on a tight budget
You’ve landed that sweet job that you’ve been dreaming about for a while now. After some stiff competition, long hours and extra effort, you finally got yourself a promotion. The only problem is, the job requires you to move to Brazil. Depending on your location, this could be an ocean away, and you’re not sure you or your boat could make the trip. You’re working with a limited budget and are unsure of how to deal with the expenses of expert moving services Brazil? Worry not, fellow citizen, we come to the rescue with advice on how to move on a tight budget!
Dispose of what you don’t need and save yourself some money
Here’s the thing: some of the things you are about to pack are really not necessary. If you have old computer hardware, throw it away. Chances are you won’t be using it anyway. That old mirror will likely break during the trip. See if any of your friends need it. If not, you can surely make a garage sale and donate. Moving on a budget that is very tight doesn’t leave much room for inefficiency.
Hire professionals vs. DIY
You’re supposed to move on a tight budget, we know. But, the thing is, moving companies Brazil aren’t always the expensive option, as counterintuitive as that may seem. In other words, you can actually save money if you hire professionals. You can save as much as 40% if you negotiate with moving companies.
For example, they have a lot of work during summer, so the prices will rise. But, according to experts from US Department of Transportation, prices are much lower during winter, because profits experience a sharp decline. This is due to the nature of supply and demand – when the demand is low, it is much easier to negotiate prices! Keep in mind that, when a moving company does it, it is often a streamlined process. The company has a lot of practice – and, of course, there are no unexpected costs. While we cannot tell you for certain which one is better, the rule of thumb is that DIY is cheaper but riskier, and costs can rack up quite quickly. Some questions you may want to ask yourself before you move are:
- How many people are willing to help me move on a tight budget?
- Will they be available when you need them the most?
- Are they going to do the job well, or are they going to slack it off?
- How are you going to repay them?
Make a complete list of your items to help yourself move on a tight budget
We mentioned that you should dispose of stuff you don’t need. The thing is, not even the most diligent among us know what they have lying around the house. You’ve cleaned and packed everything and, there you are, with more stuff than you ever knew you had. We also mentioned that you can dispose of some of them. When moving to Brazil on a tight budget, you don’t exactly need that shirt you bought were you were 13 and haven’t worn since. If you’re hiring expert residential movers Brazil, remember to pack and tag everything. The moving company will give you tags which you can use to mark items as fragile, valuable, etc. The question is, how do you tag them? In reality, it’s just about taking them to a clearly visible location, for example:
- When tagging tables, place the tag on the top, with chairs, on the back;
- If you’re tagging boxes, place the tag on the top;
- If you have items that will get picked up by a leasing company representative, mark them as „leased“.
Check your local supermarket for free boxes
It goes without saying that you should do this several days in advance. Big supermarkets dispose of a great number of boxes on a daily basis. You should come and check with a clerk when to the trucks arrive and ask if you can have a few boxes, you’re moving on a tight budget, after all. The boxes will come in handy for all sorts of different stuff. The thing is, there are only so many ways you can reduce current moving costs: the greatest part of cost reduction when you move on a tight budget is actually insuring yourself against risks, and yes, they do happen often. If you’re carrying lots of clothes with you, just wrap your fragile items into boxes. This way, you’re saving precious space and precious cargo.
If all else fails, get a trailer for your relocation on a tight budget
So, nothing is going to the plan. Haven’t found a shipping company? Are they too expensive? You don’t want to deal with additional costs? Well, it’s time to become the Bear Grylls of international transportation! If you already have a car, get a trailer. By now, you should have minimized the number of stuff you have to carry with you. If you’re too far away (Australia or Europe) it might just be easier to hop on a cargo ship, pay extra for the journey accommodation, and get to Brazil, or drive a piece of the trip.
If it sounds like a nightmare, well, we have bad news for you – it is. Especially if you have seasickness. But if you want to save money, you have to be willing to give up on something else. Haul your car and the trailer into the ship, and be aware that you have to get a Brazilian driver’s license 180 days from coming to Brazil. And running out of petrol is illegal. We’re not kidding. This can cost up to several thousand dollars, but it’s better than paying way more than you have to.
Moving on a tight budget is never easy. In fact, doing anything on a tight budget isn’t easy either. This means that you will have to sacrifice something in order to get what you want. Whether it’s items, money or time. When moving to Brazil on a tight budget, make sure you keep your head calm at all times. Stress is imminent, so don’t worry – it will be worth it in the end!