Thinking of moving? 3 things.

I have moved dozens of times. Does that make me an expert? Maybe. 

What I can offer you from my experience moving in, around, and between five US states and into a new country is 3 tips that apply no matter who you are or where you are going. 

1. Stop buying stuff

Your stuff is a huge factor in moving, and sometimes can be a massive anchor. I suggest a "stuff-buying moritorium" for families planning any move. The more you move, the more it costs. It also takes up space in your mind, making a clean break feel more difficult. 

2. Start selling stuff

No matter how well you do (or don't) your budget, moving will always cost more than you expect. When you start selling items you don't really need, it strengthens your commitment to leaving AND your bank account. The sooner you start to list items, the more you'll get for them. If you wait (or have a rushed move like we did) you'll risk overpacking and/or giving away a lot of things that you might have captured a return on. I am a huge proponent of donating items, but folks doing a big move like this need to optimize their budget as best they can. 

3. Learn about your new home

For my most recent move, I should have been learning Spanish from the minute we decided on Uruguay. We did the same things we had done in prior moves: focus on cultural and neighborhood info that was available online, find communities on reddit, and see where I'd be able to find some rabbit food. What I missed was finding an immigration service, finding a language teacher, and gathering a few documents that were more difficult to order if you couldn't be in-person. 

What would you add? Fill out my form to let me know :)