Category: Finance

Finance / Lifestyle / Living / Planning / Savvy Tips

Tips to Save When Moving from Brisbane to Melbourne

Ashley Blake

Moving interstate isn’t always the easiest of tasks and relocation between Brisbane and Melbourne isn’t going to be cheap either. Unless you are a minimalist, packing up everything and moving all your items both large and small can be a chaotic experience. In fact, moving is rated as one of the most stressful life events considering it can be a costly process and everything about your move can quickly add up. So how can you get all your belongings from your current home to your new home without costing a fortune? Here are some savvy strategies for minimize your moving budget.

Compare Transport Services For Bulky Items.

Doing your research can be rewarding and can help work out your moving budget, give you a rough idea of what you are expecting to pay for the entire interstate move. There a plenty of companies out there willing to offer estimates on you moving requirements, compare each company against the services they offer, what their past customers are saying and the cost itself. Don’t forget to think about big bulky items that don’t fit in a removalist truck, compare car transport Brisbane to Melbourne separately.

Ditch What You Don’t Need.

It is not surprising to expect a relocation bill in the high thousands when moving from Brisbane to Melbourne and vice versa. Costs between $7,000 and $15,000 to move an average 3 bedroom house is typically what you’ll be looking at so be a big more strategic about what you move. Every inch in the moving truck is costing you hard earned cash, so moving an empty shoe box isn’t going to be the smartest thing to do. Sort out all your belongings, have a garage sale, donate what you can and ditch what you no longer need. By minimizing the volume, you can be sure to save a decent amount in moving costs.

Look Out For Moving Boxes.

Moving boxes are necessary for any relocation because they are great for packing all your belongings and are easy to stack. However, buying boxes is simply unnecessary when there are plenty of ways to get them absolutely free. Keep an eye out in the office for large computer, printer and paper boxes; ask friends and family to save some empty boxes in preparation for your move; don’t be afraid to ask your local supermarket or liquor store for any boxes that they don’t need.

Pack Everything Yourself.

Most Brisbane removalists charge per hour so by having everything already packed and ready to go on moving day can significantly reduce the amount of time billed. It can definitely be an overwhelming task, but packing little by little each week can make a big task seem less daunting and will reward your bank account when it comes time to move.

Budgeting / Finance / Lifestyle / Savvy Tips

Money Advice to Keep Your Budget in Check

Ashley Blake

From time to time we all tend to lose control of our spending, money seems to go out as fast as it comes in and we don’t ever seem to be able to save up. It is getting harder to get ahead, pay rises are non-existent and everything else seems to cost more year on year. Phone bills, water, gas and electricity increase every year; how about council rates, car insurance, home insurance and health insurance, they seem to rise quicker than inflation itself and can make you feel defeated.   Sometimes you need to re-evaluate the situation and take control of your budget; here is some helpful money advice to make it happen.

Work out what the necessities are.

There are certain expenses that make part of your budget that are necessary for you to survive. Rent or mortgage repayments, grocery budget, electricity, gas, water and rates are all expenses that are necessary. These essentials need to be a priority, so have them in order before including anything else in your weekly or monthly budget.

Beware the credit card trap.

Having a credit card is less of a requirement today and they can put your budget in the red without you knowing. It is so easy to charge everything through the card and deal with the one bill when it comes time to pay but even though you had it under control and wasn’t in debt, most people tend to dip into their savings when their card is due. Instead, try using a debit card so you know what is coming out of your bank account straight away.

Spend on what is important to you.

Working out what is important to you can provide some clarity on how you allocate your spending. If health and lifestyle is important, perhaps a higher food or sports budget is necessary and if gifts and entertainment isn’t a priority, then a smaller budget is adequate. Your budget should reflect your priorities and values.

Be conscious about your spending.

Once you have come up with a realistic figure for your budget that is achievable, work out how much you have to spend each day. By having a set amount to spend, you are more conscious about your spending. If you go over the set amount one day, try and stay under the next or if you have a big social gathering coming up on the weekend, try to keep costs minimal during the week.

Save your spare change.

Ever have annoying spare change in your pocket that you never seem to be able to buy anything with? Try saving all that spare change in a jar so you can track your progress, all your cents, one and two dollar coins and even five dollar notes. Over the course of the year, it’ll sure add up and provide for a great surprise come Christmas time.