How to cut moving costs

Moving house, or even just shifting a single piece of furniture around the country, is an expensive business. The average man-with-a-van won’t get out of bed for less than £50, and shifting anything big a fair distance will soon run into three figures.

But using a free online delivery auction service, Anyvan.com, could slash the cost. The site matches customers who need to move goods around the country with couriers who are already heading in that direction, or have empty space to fill for a return journey.

It’s easy to use: you log in, list the item that you want moved - including details like its size, and when and where it needs to arrive - and delivery firms then bid for the job.

Once the auction ends, you choose from the delivery options and prices available, and select your preferred courier - who might include the local van-owning Joe Bloggs or a big firm. You can view past customers’ feedback on each bidder to help make your decision. Customers then pay using Anyvan’s secure system.

There’s some green cache too: putting your sofa, grandfather clock or eBay goods onto the back of a lorry that’s already making a journey saves on CO2 emissions.

Some recent winning bids on the site include a house move - without any large furniture items - from Highbury to Epsom for £60, and four dining chairs from Glasgow to Bristol for £40.