Can Bad Credit Stop You From Moving to a New City

Can Bad Credit Stop You From Moving to a New City Can Bad Credit Stop You From Moving to a New City? Can Bad Credit Stop You From Moving to a New City?A bad credit score can affect lots of different areas of your life. Moving to a new city is one of them.Some people stay in the same place their whole lives. They’re born in a house, go to school in town, attend the college thats just down the road, take over the family business, and start the cycle anew.But that’s increasingly becoming the exception, rather than the rule. Rolling stones gather no moss and job stability isn’t what it used to be. Whether it’s because you’ve got a new job or because you just want a change of environment, moving to a new city can be a great opportunity.But what if you’ve got bad credit? Can a lack of access to financial services keep you from moving to the new city of your dreams?Your credit will likely hinder you move to a new cityWhy build too much suspense? Yes, your credit will likely affect your ability to move to a new city. We reached out to it to nationally recognized credit expert Je anne Kelly (@creditscoop) for a rundown:“A move can be exciting, but how is your credit? If you have a not-so-good credit report, you could have some issues renting a new place to live. Another thing to think about is: If you are going to rent an automobile for the move, your credit can be checked and you might have an issue renting that van.Always be prepared in advance, says Kelly, because credit reports can have errors and it can bring your credit score down lower than it should be. Besides the new rental, you need utilities. Oftentimes the utility companies are also reviewing your credit report for oil, electric, telephone, and moreâ€"so credit does become a factor with a new move. Think ahead of time.”So there you have it. Your credit can impact your ability to move to a new city. Not only can it prevent you from renting a moving truck or a new apartment, it can also make your move a lot more expensive. In order to pay for those added costs, you could find yourself taking o ut a sketchy bad credit loan, like a payday loan with a 400 percent APR, to be able to make ends meet.Obviously, that is something youll want to avoid. And one way to make things better on both your credit and your budget is to reduce the cost of relocating. That’s why we spoke to the experts to help you knock some dollars off that move.Choose your new location carefullyYou (probably) don’t want to live in some rickety tree house, but you also want to make sure the dwelling you choose is within your budget.“If youre moving to a new city and you dont know it well, you should rent,” advised Ali Wenzke (@AliWenzke), who writes at The Art of Happy Moving. “Get to know the city and the neighborhoods before you make the biggest financial investment of your life. When you rent instead of buy, this gives you flexibility with your job and the city if things dont work out (saving you tons of money in the long term). It also puts you in a stronger negotiating position if and when you do decide to buy.”Wenzke also outlined some other things to look for when picking your location:“Commuting costs add up. Whether you are spending money on gas, bus fare, or the commuter train, calculate what the daily cost will be to you. While downtown rents may be more expensive, it may be less of a price difference than you think when you take parking or daily travel costs into consideration. Before you move, type your potential new address into Walk Score. Do you have easy access to grocery stores, restaurants, and entertainment? Save money on that Uber and find fun things to do within walking distance of your new place. Its good for your wallet, health, and happiness.”Consider a hybrid move to save on professional helpSo you found the perfect place. Or at least the closest to perfect you can get within your budget. Now it’s time to get yourself and all of your stuff to the new place. What’s the best way to go about that process without spending too much money?The bes t cost-cutting effort someone can make starts by choosing the right moving method,” Mike Glanz, CEO of HireAHelper (@hireahelper), told us. “People have more choices today than they may think. Instead of hiring an expensive full-service moving company, or breaking your back by doing it yourselfâ€"look at all of your moving options. For example, take the ‘hybrid moving’ concept that is gaining momentum nationally because its dramatically reducing the cost of moving.“With a hybrid move, you simply hire local, hourly moving laborers to load and unload a rented truck or portable moving container. You can find hourly laborers (fully licensed and insured) anywhere in the country using online services such as HireAHelper. Then drive your own truck or manage the delivery of your own container. Its called a ‘hybrid move’ because its part DIY and part full-service.“By decoupling the transportation and labor, this approach is hundreds of dollars cheaper than hiring a full servi ce moving companyâ€"and it mitigates the most popular scam employed by rogue moving companies: holding your goods hostage for more money (some moving companies will hold your goods in their truck until you pay an above-quoted price. It happens all the time.)4 ways to reduce your moving costs even furtherDoug Keller, marketing manager at PaylessPower (@paylesspower), offered his own list of steps to cut down on the moving costs:1. Purchase Recycled Boxes:  You can buy used boxes ahead of your move to store away some of your smaller items. Not only can this help you to save money in the event you’re having movers help you out of your old home, there is often the ability to sell back the boxes once you’ve used them, which will put even more cash back into your pocket.2. Get Rid of What You Don’t Need:  As you go through your things in preparation for your move, make sure you note the things that can be discarded. While local movers charge by the hour, long distance movers charge by the weight and distance. That means, the more stuff you can get rid of, the better it is for you. In addition, consider selling the things you can do without. It will help to make the cost of moving a little less burdensome.3. Enlist The Help Of Loved Ones:  You may have to offer an incentive,  like some snacks, but getting family and friends to help with packing will make your life a lot easier. It will save you and the movers time and money and can even be a pleasant stroll down memory lane. Just be mindful that your loved ones are not professional movers and may require direction as well as notice in the event they are moving delicate or precious items.4. Try to Avoid Moving at Peak Times:  The most popular time of the year to move is generally in the summer as most people try to be in their homes before the start of a school year. This leaves September through April as a sensible time to consider relocating to save money, as demand will be lower. Moreover, for those intereste d in moving into college towns, this is usually the time in which most leases start and end.”And heres how to continue saving money after your moveOnce youve moved into a new place, theres still a lot more work to be done. And the same is true with saving money. Just because the move is over, doesnt mean the savings have to stop!“Try and get a tax break,” advised Keller. “In the event that you are relocating for a job, there is a possibility that you will be able to deduct some of the expenses from your taxes. These expenses can include storage, transportation, and even the cost of hotel stays or other lodging options incurred in between staying in your old house and your new one. Just make sure you don’t throw away your receipts!”And finally, Wenzke offered a tip that could be helpful even if you’re not moving: “My first stop in a new city is the library. You can borrow books, movies, and get access to online materials. Your public library may also have free residen t passes to local attractions and theres often some sort of free event happening.”You got all that? Great. A commitment to minimizing the costs of your  move should help you stay away from predatory no credit check loans or cash advances just to pay the bills.To learn more about living your best lifeâ€"even with bad creditâ€"check out these related posts and articles from OppLoans:If You Have Bad Credit, Should You Buy or Lease a Car?An Apple a Day Keeps the Bad Credit AwayHow to Get an Apartment With Bad CreditWhat are some ways that youve saved money on an out-of-town move? We want to know!  You can  email us  or you can find us on  Facebook  and  Twitter.ContributorsMike Glanz is the Founder CEO of  HireAHelper (@hireahelper), a moving labor marketplace that debuted in 2007. Having worked in the moving industry for a number of years, Mike launched HireAHelper to provide consumers with a new way to move called Hybrid Moving a cross between the affordability of moving yourself and the ease of paying movers to do it for you.Douglas Keller has been a financial expert for 20 years, helping people reach financial stability. He works for Payless Power (@paylesspower) where he continues to help people save money on their bills every month.Jeanne Kelly  (@creditscoop),  is an author, speaker, and coach who educates people to achieve a higher credit score and  understand credit reporting. #HealthyCredit is her motto.  As the founder of The Kelly Group in 2000 and the author of The 90-Day Credit Challenge, Jeanne Kelly is a nationally recognized authority on credit consulting and credit score improvement.Ali Wenzke  (@AliWenzke), Moving Expert, moved 10 times in 11 years. Now she’s helping the millions of people who move each year by providing practical tips on how to make moving a happy experience at  The Art of Happy Moving. After calling seven U.S. states home, Ali is now happily settled in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and three children. She doesn’ t plan on moving anytime soon.