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10 Tips For Creating A Moving Budget

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A Fresh Start: New Year as an Opportunity for Growth Human beings aren’t known for their love of change. Indeed, we’re almost always hearing about how hard we find it to accept change, much less deliberately seek it out. But perhaps it’s time to challenge this widely-believed idea; after all, our moving habits tell a completely different story. At many junctures in our lives, we willingly submit ourselves to the upheaval of packing everything up and resuming our lives elsewhere. And no matter how positive our move might be (a nicer area; a bigger property), it still requires huge effort, patience, stamina and hard work. So are we really as bad at handling change as we’re reputed to be? Or are we, in fact, an exceptionally adaptable species, capable of much more than we realise? Let’s assume we are - in which case, the new year provides the perfect time to identify other areas where change could flourish in our lives. As moving house shows, change can be invigorating and transformative. The benefits of the growth and renewal that come from making a change easily outweigh the drawbacks. So let’s assess the ways in which we might be able to rejuvenate our lives in 2025. Real Resolutions Good Habits Ongoing Personal Development Bad Habits Changing Your Environment Keeping Going with Confidence The Ultimate Change: Moving House with Aussie Real Resolutions The notion of the New Year’s resolution has become a groan-inducing portent of imminent failure. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We don’t have to set resolutions that are doomed. Instead, we can do something positive and inspiring, whether that’s learning a new skill, making a small, manageable lifestyle change, or taking on a project. One way to avoid the failure for which New Year’s resolutions are so infamous is to avoid picking one that’s all about eliminating something. So instead of framing our resolution in the language of abstention (“I’ll stop eating hamburgers”), we can look at it another way (“I’ll eat more salad and vegetables”). Putting a resolution in positive rather than negative terms is just one step towards making it more do-able. We can also take care to make the resolution realistic and specific. Resolutions like “get fit” or “be a better person” are far too imprecise. If we do, indeed, want to get more physically fit, we’re better off making a specific, trackable commitment such as “three exercise classes per week”. The other way to keep a resolution on track is to recognise and acknowledge milestones. If we’ve kept it in place for a week, then we should celebrate that. And if we break it, it’s important not to think, ‘Oh, well, there’s no point - it’s all ruined now’. We shouldn’t be asking perfection of ourselves. In the event that a resolution is dropped for a week, we can resume it the next one. Good Habits A resolution is one thing; but cultivating good habits can turn a single resolution into something even longer-lasting, ensuring that positive change lasts longer than just the month of January. Again, the key here is staying manageable and realistic. There’s no harm in starting small. So if your goal is to read more, then commit to five minutes a day and build it up in increments. If you’re opting to get fitter, use a running app that starts you off on 1K and breaks up the kilometre into sections of walking and sections of running. By keep your good habit small, you won’t be courting failure and will get a sense of growing confidence as you tick off one success after another. Of course, habits requires repetition. You may find that it helps to emphasise the repetition factor by performing the new habit at the same time each day. And, as with resolutions, you can stay motivated by marking the milestones, whether via an app or your diary Ongoing Personal Development Resolutions and good habits are just the start; the new year is also the perfect time to invest in ourselves and unlock more of our potential. It’s so easy, given how busy life gets, to let some form of stasis occur. We can be stuck in a treading-water way of life and forget the importance of growth, accomplishment and learning. Bolstering our personal growth needn’t require a towering achievement; we can simply register for a course, join a group, take up a new hobby or research a subject we’ve always been interested in. Our minds will be kept active and we’ll also create new social connections. But if it’s not the right time for you to learn something new, then there’s no shortage of other routes to development. You could go down a more spiritual path by consciously practising gratitude, something usually done via a daily list and deliberate moments of contemplation. Few things are as embittering as viewing oneself as unfairly short-changed by life; this can be kept at bay with a gratitude list (as simple as three things per day), shifting our focus and broadening our outlook. There’s also grounds for personal growth in our social connections. If you’ve been a bit withdrawn (entirely possible ever since the Covid era), then re-nurturing your friendships and connections needn’t be an uphill task; you can arrange more meet-ups, check in more often via messages and calls and also practise more conscious listening. Bad Habits While we’ve taken pains to stay focussed on the positive, there’s one area for change where the bad has to be confronted. It’s important to do this in a measured way, so that we acknowledge our bad habits without indulging in self-flagellation or self-hate. To let go of a bad habit, it helps if we replace it with something. If, for example, we’ve got into a pattern of doom-scrolling on our phones in bed at night, then replacing it with a book or a meditation is the way to go. It won’t feel punitive in the way that simply banning ourselves from a habit can feel. Patience and forbearance are also important here: we may well encounter setbacks and relapses with our letting go of bad habits. Don’t come down on yourself like a ton of bricks if/when this happens. Just begin again the next day. Changing Your Environment Many of us find that positive change comes much harder if we’re surrounded by the visual evidence of our staying the same, especially if what we’re looking at is a chaotic and cluttered living space. While this doesn’t apply to everyone, it’s also true that we can find it impossible to think clearly unless what we’re looking at is reasonably ordered and tidy. So this is the right time for organising our belongings, clearing out drawers and cupboards and restoring order. Not only that, but after our decluttering, we can emphasise feelings of renewal by adding something new to the space, whether it’s an item of furniture, a throw, or a new framed photo. Keeping Going with Confidence Of course, the new year and the idea of deliberate change are both daunting. But let’s try to think of it in terms of excitement; we’re going to leave behind that which doesn’t serve us in 2024 and embrace personal development and opportunities for all kinds of creative satisfaction and happiness. Every forward step is a form of progress. We’re going to cultivate an attitude of curiosity and optimism. Here’s to a 2025 bursting with possibility and meaningful change. The Ultimate Change: Moving House with Aussie If you’re taking the plunge this year and going ahead with that most exciting of changes - moving house - then we’re here to make it go swiftly and smoothly. We offer all kinds of moving packages, including man & van for smaller moves, and our removals service for larger ones. We have over two decades of experience and a reputation built on customer service, good value and our “can-do”, problem-solving attitude.

No matter how exciting the prospect of your move might be, there’s no avoiding one universal truth: it will cost money. Whether you’re relocating across the street, to the other side of London, to a new part of the country, or overseas, the financial side of moving has to be confronted head on –especially if you want to avoid expenses spiralling beyond your expectations or control. The solution? A clear, realistic moving budget that helps you stay in charge from day one.

At Aussie, we’ve handled moves of every shape and size – from minimalist student flats to sprawling family homes – and we’ve seen how powerful a well-planned budget can be. It can make all the difference. Here are 10 tips to help you create a moving budget that keeps you on track at every stage. 

Contents

  1. Start With an Overview of Your Finances
  2. Make a Detailed List of Likely Expenses
  3. Get Quotes Early (and Get More Than One)
  4. Build In a Contingency Fund
  5. Think About Timing and Season
  6. Include Packing Materials in Your Budget
  7. Consider What You Can DIY (and What You Can’t)
  8. Factor In Storage, If Needed
  9. Don’t Forget The Small Stuff
  10. Review and Adjust as You Go

1. Start with an Overview of Your Finances

Before you can budget for your move, it’s vital to get a grip on the wider financial picture. Look at your savings, income, and any other financial obligations in the lead-up to moving day. This will help you determine how much flexibility you have and whether you need to cut back in other areas (e.g. postpone holidays or reduce discretionary spending) to make space for moving-related costs. It will help you start to form a picture as to which bits of your move you can pay to have done on your behalf and which you might need to do yourself (see No 7 for more on that issue).

2. Make a Detailed List of Likely Expenses

It’s tempting to think of moving costs as just “paying the removals company,” but there are dozens of smaller expenses that can add up quickly. Your budget should include:

  • Removal company fees
  • Packing materials (boxes, tape, bubble wrap)
  • Storage (if required)
  • Cleaning (for both your old and new home)
  • Utility transfers or disconnections
  • Temporary accommodation (if there’s a gap between moves)
  • Sundries, such as food and drink for moving day
  • Insurance
  • Redirection of post
  • Work on your old property (assuming you’re selling up and need to show your current property in its best light)

Having these listed in advance means you’re less likely to be caught out when the invoices start rolling in.

3. Get Quotes Early (and Get More Than One)

Start gathering quotes as soon as you know your moving date – or even your moving month. Be sure to compare like for like. A cheaper quote may not include essentials like insurance or VAT.

At Aussie, our removals quotes are always fully transparent, with no hidden charges. If you’re not sure which service you need – whether it’s full removals or man & van – we can help assess what suits your situation best.

4. Build In a Contingency Fund

No matter how carefully you plan, unexpected costs can crop up. Maybe the sofa doesn’t fit and needs replacing. Maybe a removal takes longer than expected. Or perhaps you realise, mid-pack, that you’re out of boxes. Try to set aside 10–15% of your total budget as a contingency. If you don’t end up needing it, you’ve got a welcome pot of cash at the end of the move.

5. Think About Timing and Season

Just like holidays and train fares, the timing of your move can seriously affect the cost. Weekends, month-ends, and school holidays are peak times, and removal companies are in high demand.

If you’re able to be flexible, consider a midweek, mid-month move. Not only is it often cheaper, but you’ll have more choice of time-slots. Aussie always recommends early booking to lock in better rates and avoid last-minute stress.

6. Include Packing Materials in Your Budget

It’s easy to overlook just how many boxes and materials you’ll need – until you run out mid-pack. Instead of sourcing poor-quality freebies, invest in reliable materials that won’t collapse en route.

You can order everything you need directly from Aussie’s box shop, including double-walled boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and specialist wardrobe boxes. It’s all competitively priced and designed to protect your belongings.

7. Consider What You Can DIY (and What You Can’t)

You might be tempted to cut costs by handling the move yourself, but this can be a false economy. Doing your own packing, for example, can save money, but it also increases the risk of breakages if not done correctly. Similarly, moving without professional help might avoid the removals fee, but could end up taking longer, involving more people, and increasing your stress levels. For smaller or more flexible moves, our man & van service is often a better-value compromise.

8. Factor in Storage, If Needed

Many moves involve a gap between leaving one property and entering another. If that’s the case, you’ll need storage. Even if it’s just for a few days, it should be part of your budget.

At Aussie, we offer both self-storage and container storage, with flexible pricing to suit short or long-term needs. We can even collect your items directly and transfer them to your storage unit.

9. Don’t Forget the Small Stuff

It’s the little expenses that often slip through the cracks, whether they be extra takeaway meals because your kitchen is packed up, duplicate cleaning products, unexpected parking permits, or tool hire for last-minute furniture disassembly. These seemingly minor costs can really build up. Leave room in your budget for these extras, even if you’re not sure you’ll use them.

10. Review and Adjust as You Go

A moving budget isn’t something you do once and then forget. It’s dynamic, rather than static – a living document that should evolve as the process unfolds. Keep a running total of what you’ve spent and adjust upcoming categories if something runs over.

You might, for example, find that you overspend on packing materials but can save elsewhere by enlisting a friend to help you clean the old place.

Keeping the budget fluid, while still sticking to the spirit of it, means you’re far less likely to end up with a financial shock at the end of the process.

Aussie Removals: Making Smart Moves Easier

Creating a moving budget might sound like a dry administrative task, but it’s actually one of the best ways to protect your peace of mind during what can be a stressful time.

At Aussie, we’re proud to help clients move in a way that’s not only efficient and stress-free but also cost-conscious. Whether you’re looking for a full home removals service, a flexible man & van option, or need help with storage or packing, we’ll work with your budget and your priorities.

Get in touch today for a free, transparent quote, and discover why we’re known as the “can-do” company.

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