3 Kids and Us

Save Money When Moving and Hire A Cleaning Service Instead

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Moving can be an incredibly expensive, not to mention stressful, process. Expenses that come with packing, hiring people, unpacking, and having everything cleaned can truly add up and make your wallet and your bank account thin out pretty fast. However, never fear, there is a myriad of ways to save money during the moving process and leave you a cushion of your money so at least one stressor is taken off your shoulders. Below are a few ways in which you can save money on the move and use those funds to instead clean up and make your new place sparkle.

One obvious way to save money is by packing everything up by yourself instead of hiring workers to pack your things for you. That alone could save upwards of $200 during the process. You could also find free boxes to pack your things in places like mailrooms, liquor stores, grocery stores, etc. Most moving companies charge roughly $40 for only a few boxes, which when packing an entire house, could add up very quickly. Donating things that you no longer need or want hits two birds with one stone. It cuts down on packing time, keeps you from needing as many packing boxes, and also allows you to claim the donated items as tax deductions.

You can also save money when you move by carefully checking out different moving companies in your area and finding the ones with the company that offers the best deal. Consider Allied Movers for your next move. They can offer suggestions to not only save money, but make the whole moving experience hassle-free. Ask each company you call for a fixed price, and not an estimate, so that you can be fully informed on the decision before choosing a moving company to help you. Often times, if you tell a moving company that you found a better price at a different location, they will compete for your services and either match the price or go slightly below it, so use that to your advantage.

Moving can cause a major mess everywhere which is a stress on the process. It can cause scratches on the floor, dust to come up with things moving in and out, and people tracking things inside as they go in and out of your home. When you use the above tips, you should be able to save enough money to splurge on a cleaning company to come in and clean the house that you moved out of, and clean the house when you finish moving in. For the move out portion, the cleaning company comes in and dusts everything, cleans kitchen appliances, cleans out cabinets, sinks, and cabinets, scrubs all the toilets, showers, and tubs, and wipes down baseboards, finishing up by vacuuming and sweeping all the flooring. They ensure that your house is clean and ready for the next owners to enjoy.

When you move into a new home you want nothing more than a fresh start. Being able to afford a thorough move in clean, thanks to all the money you saved from moving expenses, will give you the peace of mind in knowing that your new home has been cleaned and disinfected from the top to the bottom. When you are in the process of moving and are able to hire a cleaning company, they can come in before all of your personal belongings are unpacked and ensure that every inch of every room gets the cleaning and attention to detail that it needs. Move out and move in cleaning services can be on the pricey side, however. With all the money you save from moving by following the tips above, the price is well worth the investment. You can have peace of mind in knowing that an extensive checklist will be checked off and the homes will be cleaned to the highest expectations. It will definitely take the stress off your shoulders and make moving easier.

Moving is all about a fresh start. By following the advice of moving professionals, you can save yourself money and the headache of having to do the incredibly hard work by yourself. Instead, be smart, relax, and get to know your new home and neighborhood.

Christmas on a Budget – Here’s What You Can Do to Save Money

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Christmas is the most expensive time of year. The average family spends around $950 on Christmas, which is a significant chunk of money if you don’t have a lot of spare cash. The good news is that you can do Christmas on a budget. Here’s how!

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Start Saving Early

Start saving as early as possible. If you can afford to, put a little bit of money aside each month to pay for any big-ticket Christmas purchases. Kids these days are usually desperate for expensive electronic gadgets at Christmas, which can be a huge drain on a family budget. You could buy these items on a credit card, but that will cost you more in interest and going into the New Year with a debt burden is not advisable.

Some stores do savings schemes for their customers. You can put aside a small amount each month and when Christmas arrives, you have your nest egg to spend. It is especially useful for grocery shopping, as buying extra food and alcohol at Christmas is expensive.

Save Money on Decorations

Christmas decorations need not cost the earth. While real Christmas trees are lovely and smell divine, they can be pricey, and you are then stuck with a dead or dying tree in January. One way to circumvent this issue is with an artificial tree. Artificial Christmas trees often look just as nice as a real tree, but their biggest advantage is that they can be reused year after year. So aside from your initial investment, it won’t cost you anything extra. Look for a tree that fits your budget. Balsam Hill Christmas trees are a popular brand that offers great value for money.

Don’t spend money you can’t afford on expensive baubles and garlands. Make your own! Kids love to be creative at Christmas. Let them play with paper and glitter. They will probably bring home some pretty decorations from school. Use this as a starting point and then look online for more ideas. It’s amazing what you can do when you have some paper, glitter, and imagination.

Create festive garlands using holly, ivy, and greenery from your garden. String evergreen garlands together using florist wire and hang them over your fireplace and above pictures. A little bit of greenery will transform your home into a festive grotto.

Start Buying Early

Don’t leave it until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping. Prices inevitably go up nearer the holidays, so you will end up paying more than you need to. Have a list and keep an eye out for bargains in the months prior to Christmas. If you have young children, pick up small toys in the sales and watch out for second-hand jigsaws and books in thrift stores.

Do the same with your grocery shopping. Many food items can be frozen in advance, so if you see a great BOGOF deal, freeze the extra so you can use it over the holidays.

Don’t panic about Christmas. Have a budget and stick to it. That way, you won’t be caught out.

Pay Off Your Debt Early in 6 Easy Steps

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Debt is a common burden in today’s society, and one in which many people are even encouraged to take on in certain circumstances, such as mortgages, student loans, car payments, and even for credit card rewards. However, all debt must be repaid eventually, and if you do not pay close attention to your spending habits, such debt could quickly add up to a high amount, especially when interest comes into play. If you have accrued a lot of debt, do not worry – there are programs and companies that can help you manage and decrease your debt as quickly as possible. Here is a list of six things you can do to pay down your debt as quickly as possible.

  1. Consolidate Your Debts

There are companies that will give you a “debt consolidation loan,” which means they combine all of your debts into one loan so you only have to pay one amount every month. This makes the debt much easier to handle and pay off. This is a great option if you have a lot of different kinds of debt, so make sure to look into this option first. If you happen to live around Sydney, search for companies offering debt consolidation Sydney residents are hiring.

  1. Make Payments Higher than the Minimum Amount

If it is at all possible, try to make payments above the minimum amount every month, or at least as often as you can afford to. Oftentimes, the minimum payment goes mainly towards the interest on the loan, so it is difficult to pay off your actual balance by only paying the minimum amount. If you pay even a little bit more than absolutely necessary every month, you will pay off the principal amount much faster, which in turn will lower the debt much faster.

  1. Prevent More Debt

When you are trying to get out of debt, it is very important that you prevent more debt from occurring. If you cannot help but spend money with your credit card, cut it up. Do not buy other expensive items like new cars unless it is absolutely necessary. Once you take on more debt, it will become even more difficult to pay off your debts, so do whatever is necessary to not take on any more.

  1. Make a Budget and Stick to It

This is a very important step, because some people do not truly know where their money goes every month. Print out your bank statements for the past three months and write down exactly what each dollar was spent on. Then, create a budget – and stick to it! When you do this, you will have much more money to put towards your debts.

  1. Cut Out Unnecessary Expenses

When trying to get out of debt, cut down on eating out, going to movies, buying concert tickets, and everything else that is not food, lodging, and other essentials.

  1. Earn Extra Money

Consider picking up a part-time job or side hustle to earn a little extra income. Then, use that extra income to go ONLY towards your debts. This will quickly make a difference in the amount you owe!

Hopefully, this list will help you get out of debt as quickly as possible so you can begin to spend your money more wisely and save up towards the things you want. Debt consolidation is a great option, so find out more information today.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!