If You Forget These 5 Moving Tasks, It'll Cost You

Moving day. Are there any two words in the English language that conjure up more exhaustion? For my money, nope -- I've moved 35 times to date, and at this point, I've got the process mostly down to a science. But alongside packing boxes, loading a truck, and unpacking everything in a new home, there are a few smaller tasks that are also extremely important, and if they slip your mind, you could end up with a hit to your checking account. Add these to your moving to-do list and be sure to check them off!

1. Get your utilities turned off

I have been known to share the occasional cautionary tale in my writing here at The Ascent, so here is a real life example -- don't let this happen to you! When I moved cities near the end of 2020, I forgot to arrange to have the gas and electricity shut off in the apartment I left. Fast forward to a few weeks after I moved, and I received an emailed bill for $151.09.

I called the company to plead my case, but no dice -- I had to cough up that money for services used after I moved out (and left the heat on…whoops). Don't be like me: Be sure to arrange for utility shut-off when you move out. And turn off your HVAC, while you're at it.

2. Change your address and have your mail forwarded

You might not get many of your bills mailed to you these days -- I sure don't. That said, it's still worth changing your address and arranging for mail to be sent to the new address when you move. If you don't, you might miss some bills, and you could put yourself at risk of credit card fraud if you have a replacement or new credit card mailed to you. If it goes to your old address and sits in the mailbox, it could fall into the wrong hands. Changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service is pretty easy; you can go here to start the process.

3. Update your driver's license and car registration

Changing your driver's license to your new address and re-registering your car likely involves jumping through multiple hoops. That said, it's still worth doing, and in some places, you may be fined if you don't. For example, in the state of New York, failure to inform the DMV of an address change can come with a $75 fine and a $93 surcharge on top of that. You definitely want to stay on the right side of the law.

4. Clean and make repairs if you're a renter

If you're moving out of a rental home or apartment, you likely paid a security deposit when you moved in. Getting that money back when you move out could represent a nice boost to your savings account balance. As such, it's in your best interest to clean and make any necessary repairs when you move out.

Yes, I know it's no fun to clean a home you're moving out of, but it's incredibly gratifying to get that deposit back (I've gotten my entire deposit back three times now). And if you think you'll be charged for leaving nail holes in the walls, hit up your local hardware store and pick up some spackling paste to fill them in. You can get an eight-ounce tub of it at Home Depot for less than $7.

5. Eat everything left in the fridge

This last one is dependent on whether your move is local or long distance. With a local move, you can just pack a cooler and relocate the food in your fridge, along with the rest of your possessions. But if you're moving far or just want to start fresh with an empty refrigerator, you're going to want to use up everything in your old one. Groceries sure aren't cheap these days (even if you use a grocery rewards credit card, like I do), so get your money's worth by eating as much of that stuff as you can. Food waste is a major problem in this country.

Moving can be stressful, but saving as much money as you can in the process should help. Don't forget to tackle these little moving tasks, as they can make a big difference to your bottom line.