The moment is finally here – you are about to move out of your childhood home and sail into the unknown. It’s an exciting yet a bit terrifying period of every young adult’s life – especially if you are relocating abroad. If you are worried about moving out for the first time and organizing everything efficiently and effortlessly, you’ve come to the right place. We will explain everything you should know about international relocations in this article.
If You’re Moving Out for the First Time, You Have a Lot to Learn – Moving Overseas Requires a Bit of Preparation
Relocations are complex – experiencing different levels of relocation stress is a common thing for everybody who changes their residence, even if they’ve moved a dozen times. The distance between the new and the old home doesn’t make much difference – you’ll be stressed out either way. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t have an efficient move.
It’s all in the way you prepare for your relocation experience. When you decide to go live abroad, however, there are certain details you must consider that you otherwise wouldn’t need to think of. Preparations are necessary, and if you plan everything down to details, you will be absolutely fine – relocating abroad alone will be a piece of cake for you.
Don’t Panic – With a Great To-Do List, You Will Organize Everything Easily
Once you set a date for your move, you will be overwhelmed with countless tasks that, all of a sudden, you have to do before that big day. How to make sure you manage everything and not forget a single task? It’s easy – all you need is a thorough to-do list.
Write down things you must do and stuff you have to pack, and you will see that it doesn’t look so impossible to achieve it all. This is a perfect way to ensure you don’t forget anything. You probably wouldn’t be happy if you realized that you didn’t pack a few items only when you have already moved across the world, right?
How Do I Cope With Moving Out for the First Time – The Psychological Aspect of Moving Abroad
The psychology of relocation is an interesting topic, and we could talk about it for ages, but the basics you need to know revolve around the anxiety one feels when they have to leave their home, especially one where they have lived their entire life. You might feel lost at first, away from your family and friends, but what often helps is looking at it from another perspective.
Remember – you have a reason to move. Maybe you’ve got a job in the best city to live in Europe, or maybe you have decided to move to another country for love. The possibilities are endless, but the point is – this is a brave step that not everybody can take. You are leaving the comfort zone and heading to another corner of the globe. Be proud of yourself, and focus on countless benefits that await you in your future city.
Before You Leave USA, Do Your Research on Cultural Differences and Start Learning a Language
One of the main things to know about living abroad is that many countries have plenty of differences compared to the USA. So, wherever you go, be prepared for a major culture shock. The more you know about the country before you move there, the easier it will be to get used to the place.
If it’s a non-English-speaking territory, you will also have to devote quite a bit of your time to learning a new language. It’s not only a sign of respect but will also help you manage your way through everyday tasks. Breaking the language barrier is essential.
Moving Out on Your Own for the First Time – Budget Issues to Think About
Before you spread your wings and fly across the world to another country, you must think about money – unfortunately, it’s one of the key factors that will determine the success of your move. If you’ve already gotten a job in your future city (and you’ve already discussed all the questions to ask your future employer), it will be easier – you know how much you can count on every month.
Organizing your relocation will require quite a bit of cash – for a few different reasons, like paying for long-distance relocation services. Plus, keep in mind that you might want to book packing services as well – some people find it difficult to pack everything from their household inventory and require some help for that. If you don’t want to sell your car, you will have to count on the costs of shipping your car overseas as well. If you are wondering how to start saving money for a move, check out the video below.
Prepare a Budget for the First Few Months of Living Abroad
How much money should you have when you first move out? Some experts say you should save at least three months’ rent before heading to a new apartment out of your parents’ place, and we agree – especially because you are relocating abroad. It’s wise to have a safety net, just in case. You never know if you’ll have any emergencies. So, what are the monthly payments you need to think of?
- Rent or loan payments if you’ve bought a home,
- Utilities,
- Groceries and everyday household items,
- Taxes and insurances (don’t forget about health insurance),
- Transportation,
- Internet and streaming services.
And finally, don’t forget about furnishing your beautiful home. Even though that will cost a bit, you will surely have fun – who doesn’t like playing an interior designer every once in a while? Plus, that’s quite a relaxing activity – it will help you recharge your batteries after an exhausting move, and you will like the result.
Visas and Other Documents Necessary for Moving Internationally
Of course, everybody knows they’ll require a passport for the move, and most certainly – a visa. Countries often have different types of visas – short-stay, tourist, or a resident visa – the one you will have to get.
Keep in mind that this won’t be enough – if you plan to work in that foreign country (which you probably do), you might have to take care of a work permit. Usually, an employer will assist with that. Still, there are many other documents needed to travel abroad. Here are the most important ones you shouldn’t leave behind:
- Birth certificate,
- Medical and dental records,
- Driver’s license,
- Social security card,
- Insurance documents,
- Tax records,
- Pet vaccination records (if relocating with a dog).
Organizing a Relocation – Decluttering and Packing Tips You’ll Find Very Useful
Once you’ve covered the basics of international relocation, there’s still the issue of packing everything you own. That’s often a real challenge, and most Americans struggle with that even if they have to move one town over – now imagine how big of a deal that will be when relocating to another continent. But don’t worry – we have some tricks and advice that will be useful to you and make the process a lot easier.
Decluttering and Getting Packing Supplies Are Key Tasks for Everything to Go Smoothly
Here’s the trick – you should never try to pack everything you own. Decluttering is the essential thing when it comes to packing your entire household inventory. You undoubtedly have countless items that are of no use, so why struggle packing all of them when relocating to one of the friendliest countries in the world?
The rule everyone obeys says – you can either sell, donate, throw out, or recycle. The choice is up to you, and you’ll see how easy packing will be after purging. Then, you’ll have an approximate idea of how many boxes you require for packing and how many additional supplies to get.
How to Organize Packing as the Moving Day Starts Approaching?
What to pack when relocating abroad? Considering that you’re relocating from your parents’ house, packing won’t be such a nightmare. They probably won’t let you pack their furniture or all the dishes from the kitchen (you’ll probably bring the essentials, so it would still be wise to figure out how to pack fragile items).
When packing your room, remember this – you should pack stuff you can do a few days without first. Those include books, jewelry, bags, pictures, for example. Leave the everyday clothing and cosmetics for last. Be careful when packing – never leave space in the boxes. If you don’t fill it with padding materials, your excellent packing technique won’t be enough to prevent items from breaking. Lastly, remember to label the boxes!
Throw a Party to Say Goodbye to Friends and Family
After you announce the relocation, most of your friends and family will be happy for you, but still sad they won’t get to see you as often as they used to. The perfect way to say goodbye is to throw an epic going-away party and invite them all. Sure, it might be hard to fit into your already tight schedule, but hey – you are heading to another continent, so why not have a proper farewell? It will be amazing!
Meeting People in a New City Might Be Tough at First, But You’ll Get the Hang of It
You probably won’t have any trouble keeping in touch with friends. Many people fear that they won’t be able to make friends in another city, but trust us – that won’t be an issue. There are so many ways you can meet people abroad after relocating, starting from colleagues and neighbors. Naturally, don’t underestimate the power of the internet – you can find plenty of options there.
None of This Will Be Enough If You Don’t Have a Reputable International Moving Company to Help You Reach Your Destination
Excellent preparations are only half of the job done. To pull off the best relocation ever, you will have to find the best international moving company to assist you. Be careful when choosing your movers – there are countless scammers out there. Only after a thorough background check should you hire a relocation company. With a great team of overseas movers, your belongings will get to their destination effortlessly, ready to begin a life in another country.
