Finally! After months of searching, you’ve chosen the location, you’ve found something in your price range, and you’ve picked an ideal property; now you can move into your dream home, right?
Did you know there are a few things you can do to manage your budget before settling into your new property?
In this time of uncertainty, most of us are looking for ways to save money. Here are five tips to help you save money when settling into your new digs.
1) Do it yourself. Instead of hiring costly movers to do all the work for you, consider the money you’ll save in packing and moving things for yourself. Collect some boxes from local shops, hire a van and round up some family and friends to help you with the physical aspects of moving. It is a lot of hard work, but you’ll reap the benefits with the extra money in your pocket.
2) Finish all the tins. Depending how long you’ve been in your current property, you must have some goodies lurking in the back cupboards, freezer or refrigerator. By eating the leftover cans of food and thawing out the meat and pizza in the freezer, you will have less to pack and won’t have to spend extra money on shopping or takeaways.
3) Spring clean. Make sure your accommodation looks the same as when you moved in. Clean to an immaculate standard to ensure you get your full security deposit (if you were renting). Make sure to get rid of all rubbish and furniture as you could be charged for leaving these items. If you’re letting your property, consider managing the property yourself. Make sure all the gas, safety checks and certificates are valid, in place and that all repairs are in order. You can also get more rental income by providing a furnished property. If you’ve sold your property, consider selling some of your old furniture and appliances to the new owners for some extra funds.
4) See if you are eligible for a TV Licensing refund. It may be possible to either transfer your current licence or get a TV Licence refund for any unused quarter at your current property. Remember that your licence doesn’t automatically move with you, but you can have a look to see when your current account ends. You can update your information three months before you move.
5) Check out your new council tax band. Although at this point you’ve probably already decided on the area in which you want to live, it’s important to note that you may save money by moving to an area with a lower council tax band. Make sure you change your council tax account as soon as you have a move date in place so you can begin paying less. You’ll also need to redirect your post and change over your utilities before you move. You’ll also want to take final meter readings; again, you may be eligible for refunds on utilities if you’ve paid estimates. It may be worthwhile looking around to find what the best deals and lower tariffs are when it comes to sorting out your utilities.
By following these five simple yet cost effective tips, you can improve your budget in no time and move into your dream home without any worries – and some extra cash to spare.