Ten Things to Consider Before Moving Abroad

Most people I’ve been surrounded by have talked about moving abroad for a prolonged period of time. Whether that be to volunteer, to build a family, or participate in an internship, moving abroad sounds fun, different, and life-changing. While it is different and full of major adventures, the journey to ACTUALLY moving is definitely not an easy one.

There are a myriad of behind the scenes affairs to tidy up before moving abroad which if not carefully evaluated and considered, can really impact your mental health before preparing for your big move. To prevent you from making the same mistakes I made when packing up to move abroad for the year, I put together a list of eleven things I believe everyone should consider before taking that huge. I hope these tips help make your move abroad more seamless!

1) Look Up Storage Units and Lock in The Price ASAP

If you own an apartment, this is one of the things you will want to consider doing as prices for storage units depending on the number of items you have can be costly. On Google, I typed up “Storage Units Near Me” and also asked people in the area I was living in for reasonably priced units. I then called the companies, compared prices, and told the representative how many items I wanted to put in storage so they could estimate which size unit I would need. Once you get a quote, I would recommend buying a unit ASAP as storage prices fluctuate DAILY – thats right. The price they give you for one unit today could change tomorrow, so once you get a good rate you will want to lock that lease in. Also make sure to buy insurance (your storage unit getting broken into is sadly a possibility) and you want to make sure you are covering all your bases!

2) Research the Consequences of Leaving Your Apartment

To avoid any fees, it would be best if you stay until your lease term is up. However, life does not always work out this way and thats completely okay! If you are breaking a lease there are usually fees associated with this which should be carefully considered. If you are living with a roommate, you want to address this as well as several other things such as if finding someone to replace you on the lease is feasible, who will be responsible for the fees, how furniture will be split up, when is your respective move out date, and so much more! Having open and honest conversations about this in the beginning can prevent conflict from arising in the future.

3) Change Your Mailing Forwarding Address

The worst thing ever is to lose important pieces of mail - make sure to go to the post office and inform them of your new address if moving abroad so that mail does not continue getting forwarded to your old address. You can also inform the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of this change.

4) Save Up for Miscellaneous Costs

Moving abroad is expensive! There were many random fees which I never initially considered which piled on top of one another for me which made my move very stressful. Honestly, I would say to make sure you have at least 6k saved up to help with all of these miscellaneous costs.

5) Create a Budget & Think of Ways to Make Extra Income

Part time, digital work is so accessible nowadays and obtaining one can help you during this large transition in your life. Do-able work with flexible hours will allow you to make additional income while spending the remainder of your time packing up and sorting out the last moving pieces to the puzzle of your large move.

6) Pack as Light as Possible & Research Availability of Specific Products

You are going to buy things while abroad so it would be best to pack as light as possible, and leave the things you can easily get abroad at home! This will differ in terms of the context of the country you are going to, so also make sure to do preliminary research on the location you are moving to see the availability of your products. Asking connections you have in the respective country can help with figuring out where to get things as well. If you need a certain skincare product which you KNOW you can't find abroad, you may need to pack a large supply.

7) Finish Paying Important Bills & Put Recurring Bills on Auto-Pay

Do a cleanse of bills you know you will have to pay and make sure to clear them out before you go abroad. You don't want to have a collectors agency trying to sue you for a payment which you didn't even know existed! Also potentially call all of your offices to try and make your bill notifications digital to prevent a massive influx of mail. Lastly, since the move abroad can be very time - consuming and leave you busy, make sure to have any important bills on auto-pay so you don't accidentally end up missing an important payment.

8) Open Up a Credit Card With No International Fees & Good Cashback Deals

You will undoubtedly be spending money abroad - why not get added benefits from the money you spend? Before I came abroad I opened up a Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card which allows you to earn points based on different categories of purchases. This card has no international fees, and is perfect for avid traveler's as it triples the points you spend on travel purchases . Also remember, try not to spend money you don't already have!

9) Make Copies of Important Documents & Leave Them In a Secure Location

Having copies of important documents can be helpful for your family members abroad if anything comes up when you are away. Some things I would recommend taking a copy of and leaving the originals with your family are immunisation records, social security cards, diplomas, tax papers, etc…

10) Say Goodbye to Those Important to You

I’m a big believer in things not being possible without the support of our loved ones. If you’re leaving to study abroad, go on a fellowship, or participate in an internship, say goodbye to those who helped you get there. Life moves so quickly, it could even be the last time you see an individual especially if you’re moving away for a long while. Hold onto their physical presence while you can.

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