Rapids Budgeting

Just reading a few articles about the cost of relocation New Zealand would reveal that it would set someone back for hundreds of dollars. Good thing, it is not impossible to save money when moving to another house. Though it may require putting a lot of effort into doing it, these tips can make any transfer fit with anyone’s budget.

Start as soon as you are decided

Once you have decided to move houses, start early on the things that you should be doing. Talk to your landlord if you are currently renting and see your options. You might have an unused deposit that you can use for the relocation process. You can also start packing on stuff that you don’t need until the day of transfer, such as occasional decorations or cleaning the storage room. In doing this, you will avoid paying someone to pack your stuff.

Getting the best prices with a moving company

Lets say you were moving to Wellington in New Zealand, instead of contacting one company, why not contact them all! This is possible by using comparison websites dedicated to moving companies where users can filter the prices based on their preferences and requirements. Websites such as Moving Professionals make it simple to compare Wellington movers or movers from anywhere across New Zealand in an instant. Some may even provide an option to compute an estimated amount for additional services such as packing and unpacking.

Keep what you have to

Some people feel the need to buy new things because they will be moving to a new house. However, this is not practical and could be very costly. Keeping stuff that are still in great condition and can last for the years to come can really save some money. Besides, if you will be getting the services of a moving company, maximize the space that it offers to get the most of what you paid for.

Don’t use your own car

There is nothing wrong with using your own car for relocation. However, if you have to maximize the weight allowance of your personal vehicle, better get a moving company. The accidents and possibility of your car breaking down and requiring car transport could be more expensive than the amount you have to pay for the services of a removals company. Besides, the frequent loading and unloading may even damage the car’s aesthetics.

Take advantage of what you already have

Instead of buying a lot of packing supplies, check for the stuff you already own. For example, you may already have a bunch of packing tape sitting around somewhere. You can also use your soft curtains and linens to wrap fragile items. Sometimes the key is to be creative to save more money.

Seek alternatives

It is more convenient to buy packing supplies, but getting them for free would be the best. Check with local shops if they have boxes that are still in good condition that you can take for free. Your local Bunnings store always offer free cardboard boxes you can help yourself to. You can also find some listings for packing needs on online marketplaces that are much cheaper than store prices.

Moving to a new house would actually require a significant amount to get things settled on the new location. However, just like the tips shown above, there are ways to make it somehow cheaper without compromising on the attention given to the process of relocation. The money you saved can be used towards the improvement of the new house or add it towards other expenses.

We all know that keeping track of your daily budget is not always the most appealing thing to do, if we were to be honest it can be the most tiresome thing to do throughout your daily life. Spending money and making purchases of the things we love and want is of course makes us more happy than looking at what’s in our bank account and keeping a check on it. The simple fact of the matter is that however tedious budgeting can be, we really need to introduce it in one form or another. It can be as simple as keeping a mental note that you are spending more than you should one week and perhaps be more mindful the next or keeping track of what expenses are coming up and having the funds available so you don’t go into debt. If you are new to budgeting, let’s go over some budgeting tips to get you started.

1. Use Cash Instead of Card

Ever wondered why your parents are better at budgeting than you? It’s simply because cash was the main source to any transaction. As the years went by, technology as well as Covid-19 has expedited a cashless society. More a more are using tap and pay, buy now and pay later as well has debit and credit cards. Ever seen cafés that are totally cashless, it seems to be the direction but that doesn’t mean that you have to be cashless. If it makes it easier to track how much you are spending each week, then carry cash and go for it. Withdraw cash for the week and don’t use anything other than cash for purchases, if you keep at this, you will quickly learn lifelong budgeting skills.

2. Separate Spending and Give Yourself a Budget

Work out your monthly expenses for groceries, utilities, car expenses and fun. All of these combined should give you a total budget for the month, don’t make it exactly to the dollar, it’s always best to over budget and give yourself some breathing space. The aim here is to keep within the budget you have allocated for each key group of expenses.

3. Record Your Budget and Have a Logbook

One of the more exciting areas of budgeting is to see all the date you are keeping track of, it’s never too late to start budgeting and once you keep at it, you will begin to build a wealth of information over time that will be beneficial to you in the future. Whether it be written in a logbook or recorded on an spreadsheet, you can easily see where you can improve and where additional savings can be made.

4. Consider Upcoming Events into Your Budget

Have a budget and sticking to it is great but what if there are 3 birthdays and a wedding in the month of December? Having to find extra funds for birthday presents, a new dress and Christmas presents in a short period of time can quickly tempt you to put it on credit card for a quick fix. Instead, keep your calendar handy and budget in advance for these occasions, simply saving an extra $25 a week over the course of the year can prevent financial difficulty in these circumstances.

5. Work on an Emergency Fund

Building an emergency fund allows you to have money set aside in case something unexpected happens. By working on an emergency fund you will always have a backup when something unexpected occurs. It allows you to pay for mechanical repairs when your car breaks down, medical emergencies when accidents occur or saves you from getting into debt when you lost your job. Having that extra level of security with an emergency fund can prevent something unforeseen turn into a disaster, so plan for a fund to cover your expenses for a minimum of at least 3 months.

It’s important to understand that budgeting helps you become financial fit, just like exercising helps you become physically and mentally fit. Results do not come overnight but if you keep working on it and keep improving, you will eventually become more knowledgeable, more wiser and reach your financial goals.