Moving can be a huge expense as well as a daunting task. The cost of the boxes and supplies alone is often very surprising to first time solo movers. If you go to a moving supply store like U-Haul you will find sturdy new boxes as well as all the moving supplies you can imagine but they come at a higher price than expected.
When you are moving on a budget, you have to be able to find cheap moving supplies to save you as much money as possible. This can be possible from a variety of sources, you just have to know where to look.
People You Know
One of the best places to look for cheap moving supplies is from the people in your life. If you know of anyone who is going to be moving before you do, arrange to have them give or sell you their moving boxes when they are finished. Many people simply throw away their moving boxes, even if they are in good condition. Boxes from a single move should be in relatively good condition and usable for your move. You will spend considerably less even if you have to pay for the boxes than if you had bought them from a supply store. The person may even be willing to throw in other cheap moving supplies like tape, markers and bubble wrap that they did not need to use.
Stores
Electronics shops and retail outlets get deliveries just about every day and they do not need to keep the boxes. They may recycle them but most of the time they just throw them into the trash behind the building. You can inquire with the manager as to how you can take some of their boxes home for free.
You can get boxes from food stores but you really have to be careful about their boxes. When food is shipped the boxes can be weakened by water, refrigeration or tearing due to heavy containers. You do not want to get boxes that may ruin your clothing or valuables with mildew, mold or dirt. Be sure to choose only the sturdiest boxes that have no stains and are still in tact.
Online
There are a number of sites for trading and giving away items for free. You may be able to find moving boxes from people who simply do not want to litter the environment and would rather give them to someone who needs to move. This is a great cost saving as well as eco-friendly move. Freecylce and Craigslist are two examples of such sites.
