Moving to Alaska on a budget 101

Person trapped in a pile of cardboard boxes.

You probably know that moving is an expensive procedure. And with that being said, you immediately know that moving to Alaska on a budget can be quite challenging. Many people are stressed out because of this. But try not to be. It won’t bring you any good. To prepare for this relocation, you will need to follow each step from the guidelines. Discussing this situation with professionals is probably the best idea. There are affordable movers that could help you prepare for this relocation properly.

Read More …

Most affordable residential areas in Baltimore

Baltimore view.

Changing life, apart from being emotionally exhausting, and physically demanding, is also expensive. These are situations where we have to know what we can do with our budget. The more attractive cities tend to be more expensive in every sense, all but Baltimore. With some effort, you will be able to find the most affordable residential areas in Baltimore and your new home.

Explore the city and find the best option

Baltimore is the biggest city in the state of Maryland. It is an independent city and it used to be an important harbor for trade ships. Nowadays Harbor is known as one of the happiest places to live. It is also most famous for shopping and restaurants and it attracts tourists, but also people who want to have their best life. It is perfect for families because it is possible to find a nice and affordable place to live if you take into consideration residential areas in Baltimore such as:

  • Locust Point
  • Riverside
  • Roland Park

When you plan your budget, don’t forget to include all costs, in detail. With 247logisticservices.com you can arrange everything, so you will be able to calculate exactly how much money you will spend on packing and moving, and how much will be left for buying and furnishing your home.

A calculator, a pen, and some calculations.
Calculate your expenses and find affordable residential areas in Baltimore

Locus Point

Seated at the Patapsco River, Locust Point in the old days was the harbor entryway for Polish, Irish, and Italian American immigrants and has remained until today a multicultural area. This is a true historical gem. Home prices here are low as they can be, but rent is a bit over the national median. This means that you will have a great chance to buy yourself a new home and to furnish it just the way you like it. Just a simple stroll down the streets is an experience in itself and a time travel through American history. This neighborhood is perfect for young professionals.

Riverside is safe and affordable

This area is located close to the heart of Downtown Baltimore. Most homes are row houses and apartments and their value and rent are around the national median. Even if it is close to the Baltimore center this neighborhood is still quiet and peaceful. This is perfect for families with kids but also, this is a great place for seniors. Riverside is a paradise for people who like to walk and explore small markets that exist here.

Perfect place if you want to rent

In Roland Park rental prices is way below the national median so it could be perfect for people who are on a trip, for those who came to explore the city but not stay too long. In case you want to rent a living space, this is one of the most affordable residential areas in Baltimore. Local movers can give you a hand to settle in with no stress. The locals know the area best and will help you move in the easiest way. Also, if you need it, they can help you with packing and transportation, even to remote locations. This is a historic North Baltimore neighborhood, and it is one of the first suburban communities in the entire U.S. Houses are ranging from modern craftsman style to late Victorian. Even some modern age houses are being built.

Monopoly card and house model
This is a time to decide how long you want to stay

When you need to take care of your budget, finding the most affordable residential areas in Baltimore is essential. This city has so much to offer, so it will be possible to find what you need.

How to cut costs when preparing for an international relocation

Money Coins House - How to cut costs when preparing for an international relocation

Moving internationally is expensive regardless of the country you choose for the relocation. Various aspects that affect the cost of an international move can’t be controlled. But, there are some ways you can cut costs when preparing for an international relocation. So, to save your money, make sure you follow these tips below.

Set your budget

Moving internationally with no money is impossible, so you’ll have to work on a plan to keep the relocation within your budget. First, calculate your budget for moving, fix it so you know how far you can exceed the expenditure. You should know that the overall cost of your international relocation will most likely surpass your spending capacity. Also, make sure you avoid unnecessary expenses and plan the entire move while keeping your budget in mind. 

Calculator Money - How to cut costs when preparing for an international relocation
To cut costs when preparing for an international relocation, first, set your budget.

How to cut costs when preparing for an international relocation – Compare moving quotes

Instead of searching for the cheapest international movers, look for a company that gives you the best service for the money. After doing a background check of at least 3-4 international movers, compare their quotes and choose the most suitable option. Also, make sure you look at the movers’ reviews. It will help you make a much-informed decision. The more efficient and experienced the movers are, the smoother your relocation will be.

Know cost-effective shipping methods

Think about how to move your stuff when moving overseasWhen moving internationally, your belongings are either shipped by air or sea. To cut costs you should choose sea freight over air freight. It will help you bring down the cost significantly. Then, sea freight gives you two options. Those are Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Than Container Load (LCL). If the size of your cargo is less, choose LCL and pay only for the space you’re using and sparing the rest of the container for some other cargo.

Declutter and sell unnecessary belongings

When moving internationally, every extra bit of weight that you transport will cost you money. Therefore, the less you take with you, the more money you’ll save. With that in mind, make sure you do some decluttering. Get rid of any item you no longer need or use. You can even make a bit of money by selling those things which could help you with the costs of moving.

Money Dollars
Sell the items you no longer need and earn some extra cash.

Choose a cheaper date and time to cut costs when preparing for an international relocation

A great tip on how to save money while moving abroad is to simply choose the right moving date. When you’re hiring a professional mover, the moving date and time can make all the difference when it comes to your bank account.

So, to cut costs, avoid moving during the peak season, which is from May to August. Instead, choose a moving date between September and April in a mid-week, mid-month. Demand for movers is usually lowest in the mid-week and mid-month days. So, your costs will be lower as well. Of course, many people can’t move during this most ideal time of the year. But, if you’re flexible with time, this is your best option.

5 ways to cut costs for your upcoming move

cut costs for your upcoming move

Moving can be a big expense, especially if moving long distances. There are plenty of things that need to be paid for which is why a lot of people actually abandon the idea of moving. And we believe that this is a wrong thing to do. There are plenty of ways to cut costs for your upcoming move and we are here to tell you just five of them. So, if you want to save as much money as you possibly can while relocating, whether it be a cross-country move or a local one, here are all the tips you need to know.

Start preparing for the move on time

It is very important that if you want to cut costs for your upcoming move you have to start preparing for the move on time. You have to start a couple of months in advance in order to be able to gather enough money to cover all the expenses that are coming your way. Starting on time also allows you to organize your move which can as well save you some money.

Plan.
Planning your relocation is important.

Hire movers

Not hiring movers sounds cheaper and like a better way to cut costs for your upcoming move but it actually isn’t. Moving without professional assistance is much more expensive than moving with it. And having professional assistance also means stressing less over the whole process. And bear in mind that moving can actually be very stressful especially long-distance moving. Having professional movers by your side means not stressing about the move as much as you would if you were to rent a moving truck and do all the tasks yourself.

Use the packing supplies you have at home

Another moving expense that will come your way during the relocation process is packing supplies. The bigger the home you have and the more things you are moving, the more packing supplies you are going to need. You can use the things you already have at home such as shoe boxes, plastic bags, luggage, backpacks, and other things you can put things into. But when buying packing supplies, make sure to get the right-size moving boxes.

Declutter your home

Make sure you aren’t moving plenty of useless things with you. You can actually save money by getting rid of some things. We already said that the more things you are moving the more packing supplies you need which means a bigger expense.

Bear.
Get rid of the things you don’t need before moving.

So, donate, throw away, or even sell some things that aren’t in use in your household. By selling things by hosting a garage sale, for example, you can even earn money.

Move after peak moving season

Moving during the summer is the best but it can be more expensive than if you were to move in October for example when not a lot of people are moving. This is when you can actually get a good deal on the move. Get an estimate on a couple of different places and find the most affordable moving company.

How much money do you need for a downtown Miami apartment?

Skyline of Miami.

The question of how much money do you need for a downtown Miami apartment is not an easy one to answer. For starters, we need to define what we mean by it. Are we talking about buying an apartment, renting it, or do we want the know the whole specter of the situation?

With an idea of explaining everything and helping you in any way we can, we decided to opt for the third example. Therefore, we’ll talk about rent costs, food, transportation, etc. All of these things can give you a broad picture of what you can expect

However, don’t forget that there are still many factors you need to consider before you start thinking about before you try to wrap your head around moving insurance. Everything depends on what part of town you choose to move to and what kind of lifestyle you want to maintain. So, important things to keep in mind are:

  • Miami is geographically spread, so this makes it difficult to give an average cost of living
  • The neighborhood you live in is the biggest variable
  • There are plenty of low-cost options for rental, but be aware of crime rates in these parts of the city
  • Utilities are usually high as you need air-conditioning throughout the summer

The rental market in Miami

Most of the people moving to Miami these days are renters. So, all the chances are that you have the same idea when it comes to your Florida life. 

According to the latest statistics, the average rent for an apartment in Miami is around $1,700 per month. Now, we understand that this may sound scary to someone who’s about to embark on a journey here, but you don’t have to worry. The averages do include the extremely expensive rents that you can expect in the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods. 

A realistic sum of money you can expect to pay here for rent is around $1,000. Not everything is expensive, and relocating within the area is quite simple too. But, before we talk about that more, you need to get acquainted with the city. 

Small monopoly houses on a table.
To conclude how much money do you need for a downtown Miami apartment, you need to understand the market.

Learn about the neighborhoods

As we already mentioned, knowing how much everything costs on average is a good starting point. However, in a city like Miami is it’s difficult to predict costs that you’ll deal with within different parts of town. 

On one side, you have South Beach, Brickell, and Coconut Grove. All of these are stylish cosmopolitan areas and the rents are priced accordingly. These can be compared to living in Manhattan or Santa Monica.

But, on the other hand, you have places like Overtown and Liberty City are. Here, rents are very low, but unfortunately, crime rates are quite high. Because of that, many possible residents rule these out.

Therefore, it’s best to find yourself in the middle. If you want to determine how much money do you need for a downtown Miami apartment, you should look into neighborhoods that you think would suit your lifestyle and budget. There are ways to make your apartment look bigger, so it may be okay to pay a little bit extra for less square footage, but in a better location.

Cost of utilities

Again, as we already mentioned you can expect varying utility bills throughout the year when living in Florida. During winter, powering your home will be cheap. However, in the summer months, the average daily temperature exceeds 90 degrees. Therefore, you’ll need air-conditioning at all times.

If you can stand the heat and you think it won’t be the problem, know that it doesn’t come alone. There are also high humidity and high dew point. Because of these, you can easily push your summer utility bills above $300 per month for a two-bedroom home. 

Additionally, it’s important to get your stuff ready like a pro if you’re moving here during the summer. Not only that it’ll be easier for you if everything is packed correctly, but humidity can also damage the cardboard boxes. So, you need to know what kind of packing materials you need for each item

Woman holding money and thinking about how much money do you need for a downtown Miami apartment.
The cost of utilities is high in Miami during summer, while in winter bills are very low.

Transportation Costs

Another people that interests many people that are moving to Miami is the cost of getting around the city. And of course, it depends on your mode of transportation.

Due to horrendous traffic, high crime rates, and unpredictable weather drivers can expect expensive insurance. Gas prices are also higher than the national average, but not by much.

Getting to your destination in a taxi will also cost you a lot. But on the other hand, Uber has a strong presence here. Bus tickets are $2.25, and if you want to buy an unlimited monthly pass that will cost you $112,5.

Students in Miami

As you probably already know, Miami has several large universities. So, there are plenty of choices around campuses for around $2,000 a month for a two-bedroom apartment. Our friends from Miami Movers for Less tell us that this is why most students live with a couple of roommates. Usually, there are two people per bedroom, so if you go this way you can expect a rent of around $500.

All the utilities are also split in four ways, so these bills aren’t a real problem to pay. And since you will be living within walking distance from campus, you don’t have to worry about transportation either. All in all, you can live a comfortable student life here with an income of $1,500 a month.

Campus of an university.
There are many options for living near campus in Miami.

Living in Miami as a professional

As a professional, you probably have passed a phase of living with roommates. Therefore, expect to pay about $2,000 a month for rent if you want to live in a nice neighborhood. If you’re living alone, utilities are on your back also, so there’s another average of $150 a month.

Food costs can be kept under $400 without problems. But, most Miami workers drive to work so we’ll count another $150 for car insurance and $100 for gas.

As seen from our calculations, the answer to the question of how much money do you need for a downtown Miami apartment is around $3,500 a month. Think about it, consider your budget, and we hope we see you in Magic City very soon. How much money do you need for a downtown Miami apartment?

Unexpected Expenses When Moving to a Senior Community

Hand put over two other elderly hands as a sign of support and comfort.

When moving to a senior community, costs are very often an issue that cannot be avoided. Moving to a facility that specializes in the care of the elderly can be costly relocation. It is not uncommon for such a move to take a toll on a retiree’s budget or even to affect their kid’s wallets. Naturally, the well being of seniors comes first. However, putting together a budget that will fit everybody’s financial capabilities is a very big challenge. The costs associated with living in a senior community aren’t only high but can be also unpredictable. This fact makes it even harder to put together a solid budget. Nevertheless, it is not impossible. Here are a few tips that will help you put together a successful and reliable moving budget. Read More …

How precise are online moving estimates?

An illustration of an accountant.

Every moving process requires certain things. The basic thing is having proper moving preparations. Do not forget that the key to a successful relocation is a perfect plan. But, what people mostly forget are the costs of relocation. If you are looking to have a smooth and stress-free move, it is going to cost you. At the beginning of the process, most people are looking to be provided with a free moving estimate. However, the question is how precise are online moving estimates? Nowadays, when you have a lot of moving companies that you can contact online, most of them are going to provide you with a free estimate. Still, the question is are they reliable or not? Read More …

How to calculate the cost of your Brooklyn relocation in advance?

A laptop and a calculator that come in useful when you have to calculate the cost of your Brooklyn relocation.

Moving is a complicated process. As such, it involves a lot of different tasks. And all of these tasks take time and cost money. So in order to plan your budget in advance, you need to calculate all the expenses. Of course, to do this properly, it’s important to take into consideration where you are moving to. If you’re moving to Brooklyn, you need to calculate the cost of your Brooklyn relocation, as the costs are different. Read More …

How to Estimate the Cost of Your Move?

Moving takes its toll, unfortunately. You have to be prepared both emotionally, physically and financially. Hiring a professional moving company will help you with the physical burden at least. The moving professionals will do all the packing, loading, transferring, and what is most important – all the heavy lifting. You will not have to lift a finger. What is left is to take care of the emotional burden, and say goodbye to the old house, family, and friends. However, the more you rely on the moving company, the higher your moving cost will be, bringing with it the financial burden. Luckily, there are many different tips and tricks to cut the moving costs a little bit. But, still, you will need to invest a certain amount of money in your relocation process. If you are wondering how to estimate the cost of your move, keep on reading. Read More …

Moving to Brooklyn and not stressing about money

Man sitting on boxes

Moving can be very stressful. Especially when you are on a tight budget. This will bring even more stress into a very stressful endeavor. However, there are ways to do this properly without stressing about money. It will not be easy, but hey, nothing in life is. If you do this properly, you will be relaxing in your new home in Brooklyn in no time. If you believe you are financially ready to conduct a move then there is no stopping you. This guide has been brought to you by experts and conceived with knowledge. You should consider all the things that we will state here because they are based on the expert advice coming from the best in the business.

Read More …