By / OVM TEAM

Moving Advice for Students on a Budget

We all know that moving can be an expensive, time-consuming process. When you’re a busy student trying to juggle assignments, a part-time job, friends, and family, moving can feel like a daunting task, and we’ve all been there. We have some moving advice to share to keep you sane during this hectic time!

Be strategic about the location

Where you live has an impact on travel time, and transportation cost, which is why our first piece of moving advice is to choose a neighbourhood that fits your needs. Do you intend on driving to school and paying for parking? Do you want to buy a bus pass? Would you prefer being able to walk to school? These are questions you have to ask yourself so you can fit it into your schedule and your budget. You might also want to consider which stores are nearby. If a tiny corner store is all you have within a 20-minute radius, you might find yourself eating chips for breakfast, and ordering pizza every night. It’s important to have access to a grocery store that offers fresh fruits and veggies!

Ask the landlord questions

The last thing you want is unwanted surprises after you’ve already moved in. The best thing to do is thoroughly inspect the property and ask any questions you may have. If there are hidden damages to the home, you’ll want to know about them before you sign the lease. In addition, you’ll want to ask about the cost of utilities, acceptable payment methods, the late fee policy, early lease terminations, and even ask about the parking situation.

Decide on who to live with

Once you’ve decided where you want to live, it’s time to figure out who you want to live with. Do you want to live alone, or with friends, roommates, or a significant other? You’ve probably heard stories about friends who moved in together and ended up fighting all the time. That’s not a myth. That really does happen. For your own sake, make sure you choose people with a similar lifestyle to yours. Choose people you know you can live in harmony with.

Create a system

You should consider setting some ground rules. It’s always good to have a system to refer to because it can help prevent arguments. For example, you could come up with a mutual agreement about when to have visitors over, or what time to turn down the volume of loud music or TV. For some, it’s also beneficial to keep a weekly chores schedule to ensure everyone takes responsibility for the shared space. You could keep a small whiteboard or calendar in the kitchen that everyone can check.

Create a budget

If you’re on your own and have payments to make for the first time, it’s in your best interest to make a budget list. Write down all the things you have to pay for on a monthly basis. For example, rent, phone bill, car payments, gym membership, etc. Once you’ve added up the costs, you can factor in how much you want to spend on groceries, social outings, and miscellaneous purchases.

Ask for help

Our final piece of moving advice is to remember that you don’t have to go through the moving process alone. Our Ottawa Valley Movers team has helped many students move in and move out, and you can always give us a call if you need a hand!