You just finished finals, walked across a stage (or pumped a fist in your cap and gown), and now… you’re either taking some time off from school or you’re going straight to college from your senior year of high-school, either way it might be time to move, whether that’s to pursue a more independent lifestyle away from home or because you’re moving to a new city and state to start college for the summer or fall semester. Whether you’re leaving the dorms, trading up to your first real apartment, or heading to a new city for a job, May through August is lease turnover season — and that means chaos, U-Haul moving truck shortages, and other moving truck rentals take advantage of that and next thing you know you’re stuck with sky-high rental truck rates that are $0.40 extra per mile, $50 extra per day, and it almost costs you the same amount of money to move than it did for a semester of college.
But it doesn’t have to be a disaster. Use these apartment moving hacks, plus a week-by-week timeline, to stay sane. And before you Google “cheap apartment movers near me”
The 8-Week Moving Timeline (for May–August Peak Season Moves)
8 weeks out —
Confirm your move-in date. Notify your current landlord if you’re not renewing. Start splitting your “keep/donate/junk” piles.
6 weeks out —
Book your elevator, loading dock, or parking spot if you’re in an apartment building. Reserve moving equipment (dolly, blankets, hand truck).
4 weeks out —
Change your address with USPS, your bank, and school/work. Start collecting free boxes from liquor stores, bookstores, and campus recycling centers.
3 weeks out —
Pack out-of-season clothes, books, and decor. Label every box with room + contents (e.g., “KITCHEN – cups & plates”).
2 weeks out —
Confirm your moving help. If you’re hiring pros, get quotes now — and ask about student discounts (more on that below).
1 week out —
Pack a “first-night” bag (phone charger, pillow, towel, snacks, toiletries). Defrost the fridge. Take photos of your empty apartment for your security deposit.
The day before moving out be sure to deep clean everything. Vacuum behind the fridge. Wipe baseboards. Do a final walkthrough video.
Moving day —
Put your first-night bag in your car, not the moving truck. Check every drawer and closet before you lock up.
5 Moving Hacks That Actually Work for Students & Recent Grads
- Use your class schedule as a weapon
Most people move on weekends (chaos) or the last day of the month (mayhem). Move on a Tuesday morning if you can — trucks are cheaper, elevators are free, and your friends aren’t all busy. - Stop buying boxes. Seriously.
Go to Starbucks or a campus bookstore at 9 AM on a weekday. They’ll give you sturdy, uniform-sized boxes for free. Also: liquor stores (small, heavy-duty) and grocery store banana boxes (hand holes built in) and Facebook marketplace, and sometimes U-Haul will even have a pile of boxes that are slightly dented or have something wrong with them (minor issues) and aren’t sellable. - Pack your hanging clothes in a trash bag to make wardrobe box style bags instead of purchasing moving boxes, especially wardrobe boxes for $24.99 for the one-time use. Cut a small hole in the bottom of a garbage bag, pull it over a bundle of 8–10 hangers, and tie the bag below the hooks. Hang the bundle in your new closet in 2 seconds. Zero folding.
- Label like a professor on caffeine
Write a big number on every side of the box. Keep a matching list on your phone: “Box 12 = kitchen knives + can opener + coffee.” You won’t need to open 14 boxes to find your French press. - When you Google “cheap apartment movers near me” — filter smart &
Look for companies that offer hourly rates, not flat-rate fees. And always ask if they offer student discounts! 99% of the time local moving companies and long-distance movers offer Student discounts, Military discounts, Senior-citizen, and AAA discounts! Take advantage of those $100+ discounts — you earned them!
🖨️ Printable Inventory Sheet
Copy and paste this table into Google Docs or Word, then print one copy per room. Tape a completed sheet to each stack of boxes.
Box #
Room
Detailed contents
Fragile?
1 Kitchen Plates, bowls, coffee mugs Yes Top
2 Bedroom Winter clothes, sweaters, boots No Bottom
3 Bathroom Towels (2), shower caddy, first aid kit No Middle
4 Desk/Living Laptop stand, notebooks, printer Yes Top
5 Kitchen Pots, pans, skillet lid No Bottom
Pro tip: Take a photo of each box’s contents before sealing it. You’ll thank yourself when you’re looking for your phone charger at 11 PM.
And use this Household Good inventory list if you are going to be getting multiple quotes and you can provide the local or long-distance moving companies with the HHG Inventory List, Volume/Weight, and other relevant details that helps them determine the hourly rate and overall price for you.
👉 Click Here and download Budget Movings Household Goods Inventory List
⭐ Don’t Forget to Ask Us About Applying The Student Discount For Your Upcoming Moving Services
Attention students and recent grads:
Moving during lease turnover season? Don’t pay full price.
Moving During The Peak Summer Season, between May and August?
Budget Moving Services is offering Promotional Pricing and Packing Services AND you can also save 15% on your total moving cost: applicable for ALL Students.
No Promo Code, Diploma, or .Edu Emails necessary!
And if you’ve been searching “cheap apartment movers near me” without luck, give us a call or send us a text at 561.788.5070.
We offer local moving and packing at hourly rates, same-day and next-day moves, same-day booking promotions (up to 20% off), and we don’t charge extra for stairs!
💥 Just mention you’re a student to save 15% on local moves or long distance state-to-state moves during the summer from May 31st to August 30th.
Helping College Students Save Money One Move at a Time: Discounted College Moves until September.
Moving between May and August feels like a rite of passage — and honestly, it’s a little messy. But with a timeline, a printable inventory sheet, and a discount code in your back pocket, you’ll get through it without losing your security deposit or your mind.
Just remember: start packing early, label everything, stay organized, hire movers and packers to help you with the move if necessary, and don’t be afraid to ask for that student discount to get free money!
Now go pack something. (Start with the stuff you haven’t touched since last semester.)
