This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of U-Pack. All opinions are 100% mine.

Since we married almost 16 years ago, my husband and I have moved three times. We’re currently considering a fourth move within the next couple of years. Each time we’ve moved we’ve learned new ways to make moving more affordable and a little less complicated.

Moving is a big transition for a family, but it’s also a very exciting time. To keep the move as simple and inexpensive as possible while relishing the excitement and adventure it brings, follow these three tips.

3 Ways to Make Moving More Affordable

Plan Ahead (Way Ahead)

I don’t know any other frugal families who don’t use planning ahead as part of their money-saving strategy. I mean, we plan our meals by the month and our budgets to the penny, so why wouldn’t we plan for a move to make it as affordable as possible?

mI love the moving resources on upack.com for planning a move. The moving checklist is a must-have for planning an affordable move. Checklists make me one happy lady. I bet they make you feel organized and accomplished, too. What I love most about the U-Pack checklist is that it begins the move planning process a full 8 weeks in advance. It gives a comprehensive checklist for each week all the way through one day before your move. There is even a ‘moving in’ and ‘after the move’ checklist to make sure all of your loose ends are tied up.

Check out these great tips for packing, as well.

Sell What You Don’t Need

As my husband and I plan for our next move we are keenly aware that we simply can’t move all of our stuff. We have so many things that we don’t use or need. To keep the costs of moving low, we’ll have to sell or donate all of the things we don’t need.

Take a look around each room of your current home. Make a list of items that you must keep, items that you can definitely sell or donate and items that need more consideration. Spend a few days really thinking about those items marked as ‘needs consideration’. If you haven’t used it in 6 months or can replace it easily, sell it or donate it. Really think about those items you’re keeping for sentimental value. Don’t keep items you don’t want because of a sense of obligation or guilt.

There are some items you can’t move because they are dangerous to move. Check out this do-not-ship list from U-Pack.

Pack Your Own Stuff for Your Move

One of the best ways to make moving more affordable is to pack your own stuff. I’ve worked with movers and I’ve done it myself and I much prefer DIY packing. A moving service like U-Pack helps you save money by leaving the packing to you. If you’re like me and very particular about how your things are packed, you’ll love using the DIY packing services of U-Pack.

While I love packing my own things to move, I don’t enjoy driving a moving truck. U-Pack offers the best of both worlds by leaving the packing to me and taking on the task of driving so I don’t have to. Here are my favorite benefits of using U-Pack:

• You can choose from a trailer or a ReloCube, depending on your needs.
• U-Pack gives you up to three days with the trailer or Cube to pack and up to three days to unload.
• When you’re done loading, U-Pack picks up the trailer or Cube and drives it to your new address.
• When you’re done unloading, U-Pack picks up the trailer or cube again. No trucks to return!
• You only pay for the amount of space that you use in a trailer! This is a huge money-saving benefit.
• If you need to store your items until your new home is ready, U-Pack can store them at their facility and deliver them when you’re ready.
• You can order your moving supplies directly from U-Pack.
• You can choose from expedited or deferred transit for most moves.

To find out more about do-it-yourself packing visit the U-Pack website and watch this video. Then, get a quote for your move. 

Moving doesn’t have to be a complicated and expensive process if you’re willing to plan ahead, sell what you don’t need and pack for your move yourself. U-Pack can help you simplify the moving process and make moving more affordable.

What are your biggest concerns when moving? What are your must-haves in a moving company? Let me know in the comments below!