Your moving into your own place? Woohoo! The things you can do, the things you will see, the FREEDOM you will have! What will you do first; Host a dinner party? Take up arts and crafts? Join a gym? You’ve been dreaming about this list for some time now but as move in day approaches the bubble starts to burst. The thing about living with people who support you is that you have no idea how many things you use daily that don’t actually belong to you. Now, your forced to take cate of everything on your own, but how much will that cost?
Preparation
Those shirts you’ve never worn -throw them out. Those trinkets that you forgot you had under your bed- throw them out. That snowboard you use as a coat hook because you haven’t snowboarded since you were 8 – sell it. Now is the PERFECT opportunity to clean out your possessions. Lugging things you don’t need is a waste of boxes, and moving time. Got any suitcases you aren’t using? Fill those to save on boxes and for easy carry. Lastly, don’t buy boxes, instead head to your local grocery store for empty ones or ask around.
The move
Movers mostly charge by the hour, and add additional costs for gas and distance traveled. If your moving a small amount of furniture nearby it would be cheaper to rent a Uhaul and ask a few of your friends on a weekend to do you a favour. Bribe them with pizza and beer, it works 99% of the time. If you’re on your own, make sure you get quotes from different companies. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that rates wildly vary, and while you may think $500 for the day is cheaper, a competitor could offer to do it for less. Always shop around for something that fits your budget.
Furnishing
Starting from scratch? New furniture can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the material and the store you’re looking to buy it from. If your looking at new furniture you should avoid high end shops that are well out of your price range. Yes, furniture is an investment you will have for a long time, but spending more than you can afford is the fastest route to non-sufficient funds. Used furniture can be found in almost brand new for a fraction of the cost in stores. Ask your relatives, look on kijiji visit furniture warehouses and auctions.
Food
The average cost of groceries for one person per month is $200-$300 in Canada. That’s depends on where you shop, and what you buy. Loblaw’s has a great selection but is among the higher priced grocery stores in the GTA. If you’re looking for a little more bang for your buck, you should consider Food basics and No frills. Always look at the flyers before hand either online or using phone apps like Flipp. It’ll save you time and money, and you’re more likely to get only what you came for. Know when to buy in bulk. Things that won’t go bad if stored properly like oats, rice and frozen meats are one of the best ways to save money. On the other hand, the larger carton of milk may be a better deal, but not if its going o go bad before you can finish it all.
Moving out on your own is one of the greatest experiences of adulthood, and it doesn’t have to undo all the work you’ve done to save money so far. There are always alternative ways to accomplish what you need without having to spend top dollar. These are just a few areas you can cut down on by being resourceful and mindful of your financial state.
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