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Moving on a budget: how to save money
A move easily runs into hundreds of euros. Yet there's more room to save than you'd think: with the right timing, less stuff and smart DIY you cut costs significantly. This guide shows where the costs are, how to save on each one, and how temporary storage avoids double costs.
Moving tipsMaking space
Moving
June 23, 2026
Luuk Kamman
6 min
Moving on a budget: how to save money
A move easily runs into hundreds of euros. Yet there's more room to save than you'd think: with the right timing, less stuff and smart DIY you cut costs significantly. This guide shows where the costs are, how to save on each one, and how temporary storage avoids double costs.
Moving tips
Making space
Moving
June 23, 2026Luuk Kamman
MOVING CHEAPER: WHERE TO SAVE
The biggest savings rarely come from haggling, but from smart choices up front. Taking less with you, moving at the right time, packing yourself and comparing quotes properly — that's where the money is. Below are the four levers you can really pull, plus the hidden costs people often forget.
🗓️ Move midweek and mid-month — outside the weekend and peak season
📦 Pack yourself and have everything ready — leave only the hauling and driving
🧹 Declutter first — less stuff means a smaller van and fewer hours
📝 Get several quotes and compare what's actually included
1. TAKE LESS WITH YOU
The less you take, the smaller the van and the fewer hours you pay for.
- [Declutter first]: sell or give away what you no longer use
- In doubt? Store temporarily instead of moving — decide later with a clear head
- Rule of thumb: 25-40% of your household can go without you missing it
2. PICK THE RIGHT MOMENT
Most expensive: weekends, start/end of month, summer. Pick outside those peaks:
- Midweek + mid-month — hundreds of euros difference
- Book 4-6 weeks ahead — see our moving checklist for the full timing
- Last-minute is pricier and good companies fill up
3. DO WHAT YOU CAN YOURSELF
Every hour you do yourself, you don't pay for. The big savings:
- Pack yourself + disassemble furniture; have everything ready by the door
- Second-hand boxes, towels/blankets as protection
- Rally friends and family for carrying — every free hand counts
Tip: torn between DIY or a moving company? Work out what's smartest for your situation — combining the two is often the cheapest.
4. COMPARE SMARTLY
Get at least 3 quotes and look beyond the price — the cheapest isn't always the best value.
- Check: is (dis)assembly included? Insurance covered?
- Furniture lift for upper-floor flat — option or separate surcharge?
- Surcharges for stairs, narrow passages, extra trips
Tip: research by the Dutch Consumentenbond found differences up to 56% between the highest and lowest quote for the same job — comparing almost always pays off.
WATCH THE HIDDEN COSTS
The bill often ends up higher due to things you forget up front: fuel if you drive yourself, food and drinks for your helpers, a parking permit, and surcharges for stairs, lifts or narrow passages. Move yourself without insurance and any damage is on you. Always ask for a detailed, written quote and be honest about your volume — that's how you avoid surprises afterwards.
By Bram Jansen — Lead Storage Advisor at Inbox Storage. Updated: June 2026.
Need space to bridge your move? Calculate your price at Inbox Storage.
FILL IN YOUR DETAILS
Enter your postcode and see in 60 seconds what temporary storage during your move costs.
Throughout NL & Belgium.
Picked up & returned to your door
From 1 month
DONE IN 60 SEC.
SAVING WITH TEMPORARY STORAGE
Temporary storage sounds like an extra cost, but it can actually save you money. It bridges the gap between two homes, so you don't pay double rent or end up in a pricey hotel. And by setting things aside in advance, you move less volume at once — a smaller van and fewer hours.
🔑 Keys not aligning? Storage bridges the in-between period
💸 Often cheaper than double rent or a hotel
🏠 Selling your home? A tidy home sells faster
📦 Less in one trip = smaller van and fewer hours
WHEN IS MOVING CHEAPEST?
Midweek, mid-month and outside summer.
- Most expensive: weekends, first/last days of the month, summer
- Flexible on date? Then you save most easily
- Moving companies have more capacity + sharper rates
CAN I DEDUCT MOVING COSTS?
Sometimes. In certain cases — for instance a work-related move that isn't reimbursed — costs may be deductible. An ordinary, voluntary move usually isn't. The rules are specific, so check your situation with the Dutch Belastingdienst (tax office) or an adviser before counting on it.
SHOULD I TIP?
Not required, but appreciated for good work. A small tip, or simply coffee, lunch and drinks for the team, always goes down well. Keep it to what feels right to you — it shouldn't sit in your budget as a mandatory cost.
WHAT'S THE CHEAPEST WAY?
Doing as much as possible yourself with help from friends and family is cheapest on paper. But for a large home, a tight schedule or an awkward property, a professional moving company is often worth it — less risk of damage and overruns. Feel free to combine: pack yourself, pros for the heavy lifting.
HOW INBOX HELPS YOU SAVE
If you need temporary space during your move, there's no van to rent or double rent to pay. We bring a storage unit to you, you fill it at your own pace, and we keep everything climate-controlled in our secure hub in Gouda — from one month, throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. More on moving with storage — cost, timing and what works — in our separate guide.
Plan smart, take less and book in time — that keeps your move affordable.
Calculate your storage price in 60 seconds at Inbox Storage.
Save on your move
No van or double rent — we pick up your belongings at your door and store them until your new home is ready.
- Throughout NL and Belgium
- Picked up & returned to your door
- From 1 month onwards
- Transparent monthly price