9 Tips to Save Money After a Big Move

Moving is no easy feat. From having to pack up all your earthly possessions to juggling the many financial aspects of the move, it's no wonder that moving is considered one of life's most stressful experiences. In fact, it's so taxing that a study by University Hospitals ranked it as the third most stressful life event after the death of a loved one and getting divorced (yikes!). 

But fret not, fellow Cheapists. If you've got a big move coming up, here are nine tips from frugal Redditors to help you cut down on expenses and make the process as smooth as possible.

Stocking up on essentials including canned goods, pantry staples, and spices can help you save significantly after a big move, says one user. The user advises having plenty of "lentils, spices, and stock/bouillon with a bunch of greens/vegetables" on hand to whip up quick and easy meals that are healthy and filling. And don't forget to "treat yourself with meat sometimes too," adds the user. 

After relocating, your daily routine will likely be disrupted — and finding time for grocery shopping and making elaborate meals can be challenging. As such, one Redditor advises "getting an instant pot/pressure cooker so you can quickly make cooked beans from dry beans." This way, you can reduce long-term expenses and minimize the hassle of figuring out how to make healthy meals after moving.

Plus, many pressure cookers offer multiple options, from slow cooking to sautéing, to help you prepare a variety of dishes without needing to buy multiple kitchen appliances. This way you'll get to kill two birds with one stone by saving both space and money. 

One Redditor advises stocking up on eggs because they're versatile, nutritious, and relatively inexpensive. "Eggs are a cheap, versatile staple," writes the user, adding, "I boil and peel them on the weekend, then heat in a mug of hot water from my Keurig for breakfast with toast." 

The user also suggests incorporating them into salads, or using them to make "egg salads, fried egg sandwiches, French toast, breakfast for dinner, adding to ramen or rice, etc." 

If all else fails, you can always make a "Dutch Baby (puffy baked pancake)," the user explains. "This is basically eggs, milk and flour (little butter, little sugar). I love to make these for dinner on cold nights with stewed apples and sausage." (Yum!)

"Root vegetables are also your friend," writes one Redditor, adding, "Potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots — maybe turnips, rutabaga, parsnips, depending on your region." To prepare them, the user suggests "cutting them up and roasting with oil and spices. Throw a sausage or chicken thighs in the pan for a full meal." 

If you're loath to turning on the stove, you can always just toss them into the oven, the user writes. "Baked potatoes or sweet potatoes are great topped with chili, buffalo chicken, vegetables in cheese sauce, and so on." 

Related: Planning a Move? Here’s Where To Get Free Boxes

Purchasing items in bulk is another wise strategy to save money after a big move, writes one Redditor. "Frozen veggies and bulk meat are a good option to save some money," they write, adding, "For making meals, I found trying the cheaper or store brands of certain things were the way to go when money is super tight."

Indeed, bulk purchases often come at a lower price per unit, while frozen vegetables typically retain their nutritional value better than fresh produce and can be stored for longer. This way, you can reduce the frequency of grocery trips and minimize food waste in the process. 

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One user says swears by "buying primal cuts of meat and butchering it down into roasts and steaks for amazing cost savings." They suggest buying a "24-ish pound chuck roll (burger, roasts and Denver steaks) for $4 a pound and a 15-ish pound New York beef strip for $6 a pound." In comparison, New York strips are typically sold for $15 each at the supermarket, the user writes. 

They also "carve up a 12-15 pound pork tenderloin at $2 a pound" for even more savings, and typically buy their meat at restaurant supply stores, which are open to the public, or at wholesale stores like Costco. 

Related: 11 Inexpensive Meats for Cheap Summer Cookouts

When it comes to food, "I think my greatest expense is butter," one user writes, explaining how "maybe 3-4 pound a week at 5$ a pound" can quickly add up. Their solution? Making homemade ghee, they write. Ghee is a type of clarified butter that is made by simmering butter to remove the water content and milk solids. This results in a rich, nutty-flavored cooking fat that has a high smoke point.

"I make my own ghee, and [of course] make tons of pie, cookies, cakes," the user writes, adding, "I'll make several dozens of cookie dough clumps so I can just grab a couple from the freezer and bake as needed."

Related: Don't Toss Your Butter Wrappers! 8 Clever Ways To Reuse Them

Another user shares how making large batches of soup helps them get through the week and save money in the process. "Make French onion soup with some garlic bread on the side," writes the user, adding, "A 3-pound bag of onions makes enough soup for 3-4 servings. Use the cheap french bread that’s like $1 or $2. Use the leftover bread for grilled cheese or PB&J [sandwiches]." Sounds delicious! 

Related: 30 Easy Soup Recipes That Last for Days

Another way to cut down on expenses after moving? Get rid of unnecessary subscriptions, says one user. Consider it an opportunity to re-evaluate all your monthly expenses, including services like streaming platforms, magazines, or gym memberships that you no longer use. This way, you can keep paying only for the services that are important to you and save money in the long run. 

Related: Netflix's New Password-Sharing Policy Sparks Outrage Among Subscribers