Written by Allie Johnson. Published April 2015 on Self Storage Moving Blog.Planning a move? The price tag can be as hefty as that gargantuan leather sofa the movers have to muscle onto the truck.A professional move can cost from under $1,000 to $15,000 or more, the Moving.com moving cost calculator shows. The total price tag depends on how the moving company charges, how much stuff you have and how far you're going.But you can take simple steps to keep more of your money. Here are three key ways to save on any type of move, from DIY to full-service.1. DOWNSIZE TO SAVE DOLLARS.Whether you're moving yourself in a rented truck, paying local movers by the hour or hiring a moving company that charges by weight, shedding excess stuff can trim your moving bill.Donate, sell or toss anything you don't love, need or use, said Ann Bass, president and owner of A Lighter Move, which provides moving consulting services. Pay special attention to bulky, heavy stuff. Here are four types of items you should consider unloading before your move:Books and magazines. Books are heavy, and a whole collection can be pricy to move, Bass said. "The litmus test is, are you really going to read it again?" she said.Food in your pantry. There's no reason to pay movers to pack and lug 80-cent cans of tomatoes or $1 boxes of pasta across the country. "Eat it or give it away," Bass said.
