Moving Guides: Moving Doesn't Have To Cost The Earth

Moving can be a costly exercise not only to your hip-pocket, but also to the environment. Tens of thousands of Australians move each year producing tons of both waste and carbon emissions. Moving is often a hectic time and it's easy to get caught up in the process and forget the environment, but doing your part to reduce the footprint of your move can also save you a lot of money. So do the environment and your wallet a favour, follow these simple tips to reduce the real cost of your move.


Every item you move comes with a cost to you and the environment. Moving can be a great time to free yourself from the clutter of all those things that you don't want or need.

For every item you have you need to ask yourself: Will I use it? Do I need it? If the answer is no, it makes no sense to pay to have it moved, to have it impact on the environment, and to clutter up your lovely new home.

Instead of unwanted or useless items costing you and the environment, turn them into cash! A garage sale is a great way to turn these potential expenses into income – a great way to cover your moving costs.

Will your furniture fit, both physically and aesthetically, into your new home? Ask yourself this question early because it makes no sense to move your couch if it won't fit through the doors to your new house, or to move your buffet that won't match the style of your new home. If you're going to get rid of something, it doesn't make sense to pay the costs to move it. On line auctions are another great way to find new homes for these items – turning these potential costs into cash.

If, after the big sell, you've still got some items left, why not donate them to charity? The old adage that “One mans trash is another mans treasure” still holds true.

Selling or donating your unwanted items not only saves you and the environment from the costs of moving them, but also means that they'll not end up in landfill – so don't throw anything out if it potentially holds some value to someone other than yourself.


When you're clearing out your home it's important that any hazardous materials (to both humans and the environment) be disposed of appropriately. Check with your local council to find appropriate waste disposal locations. Don't just throw them in the regular trash.

With all the thousands of moves happening across the country, where do all the moving boxes go? Many go into landfill. Moving boxes are expensive and it makes no sense that they don't get a second chance at life! Some boxes escape landfill and are offered second hand by storage facilities across the country. They're just as strong and cost a lot less than new. Save Australia's trees. Save thousands of boxes from going into landfill. Save yourself some cash. Consider using second hand moving boxes!

While some people suggest that you use boxes from shops in your area, we recommend that you use proper moving boxes as they offer the strength and durability required to protect your goods in transit. Second hand moving boxes are a better choice. What's more, you may be able to make some further cash and give your boxes yet another lease on life by reselling them to storage facilities as used boxes.

If, after you're move is finished, you find that your cartons are too damaged to resell or reuse, then make sure that they are recycled – not lumped in with the regular trash.

While we recommend that you use proper moving boxes wherever possible, it's not necessary for you luggage and haberdashery. You've probably already got a bunch of duffel bags or suitcases that would do the job just as well.

Rather than solely using butcher's paper to wrap your fragile items why not combine it with recycled newspaper. We recommend that you wrap fragile items in butchers paper because newspaper leaves grubby scuff marks all over your goods. Once wrapped, however, it's perfectly acceptable to use newspaper as a filling material around your wrapped items. Newspaper is cheaper and you'll be recycling – so everyone wins. Again, once you've finished with all that paper make sure it's recycled.

Moving doesn't have to cost the Earth...and it doesn't have to cost you too much either. So keep these tips in mind to reduce the costs of your next move.



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