Moving to a new place can be both terrifying and exciting. Whether you’re moving out of state or just a couple blocks away from your old home, a lot of things need to be prepared and taken into consideration – especially what to bring (and what not to bring) during this big move.
One of the dreamiest neighborhoods for homeowners to move into can be found on the sunny coast of California. From Los Angeles to Sacramento, Santa Barbara to Fresno, the state offers much for both the adventurous and the laid-back soul. No wonder it’s one of the three largest states in the US (next to Alaska and Texas) and the most populous too. Everyone just wants a slice of that California life!
In most recent years, however, costs of living have been at an all-time high in the sunny state. Food, groceries, and housing costs are just a few of the many industries that have ballooned in prices due to high rates of inflation. While this does not completely dissuade the general population of 3.8 million people living in California, and they remain optimistic that the economy will stabilize soon (read more), it did make people more conscious of how they spend their hard-earned money. Saving and cutting down on expenses has become more of a necessary skill if you want to enjoy your home life in California.
So, before you even start living that California dream, it’s best that you start making smart financial decisions – especially during your move!
4 Moving Decisions You Should Take Into Consideration
Moving can get pretty expensive. Rental fees, service fees, and other expenses that come up during the move can easily stack up. Before you know it, you hardly have any time to appreciate moving to a big new city because you’d be too busy making up for what you spent while hauling your life over to CA.
Here are FIVE important things that you need to keep in mind when you’re planning the move:
How Far Is Your New Place?
Before packing stuff up and getting ready for the big move, you first need to consider the distance that you will be traveling to get your stuff from Point A to Point B. This is because preparing for a cross-country move is far different from preparing to move to a neighboring city. You need to take into consideration how much you can bring given the distance you have to travel; whether you can afford to take multiple trips back and forth or if you have to do it in one go.
How Many People Are Moving Out?
Next is your group or family’s size. Whether you’re moving out alone, with a few roommates, or the entire family can also affect your moving plans. For one, more people would mean more manpower, especially if there are more adults. Two, it could also mean needing bigger or multiple vehicles for transport. The number of people moving out can either add to or lessen moving costs, i.e. moving out with more adults could mean not having to hire movers to help you whereas moving out with children could mean having to plan separate transport for the family.
Should You Bring or Buy?
Starting a new life in a new state can also mean changing your lifestyle. It will give you the best opportunity to jazz up your new crib with vibey furniture that feels more aligned with your energy as of late, like what this article says: https://blog.cort.com/moving/home-decorating-tips-after-a-move/. It might also give you the best excuse to upgrade your home appliances and finally get that 60-inch TV you’ve been eyeing for months. Moving doesn’t always mean you need to take everything with you – maybe it’s even time to leave the familiar behind and embrace the new.
Best part? You don’t have to throw out your old stuff. Put it up for sale on Facebook Marketplace or run a garage sale where everything must go. This can help you pack light and lessen truck rental costs to move your furniture while simultaneously helping you raise more funds for the move too.
Do You Ship or Drive?
Speaking of renting vehicles, you should figure out what you want to do with your own vehicle. If you own a car, and you’ll definitely need one if you are to move in such a big state, you might want to consider auto shipping in California. This way, you can have it delivered to your new residence instead of driving it yourself. There are a couple reasons why doing this just makes sense.
One, if you’re traveling far, driving yourself can take hours of your time and a whole lot of energy too. Leaving you with little to no energy to take care of the move’s aftermath (unpacking, buying stuff, organizing, etc.)
Two, if your vehicle is seldom used for long distance driving, you can easily exhaust it during this long drive and end up causing more issues for the move. So instead of saving money, you end up with more liabilities getting your car fixed and what not.
Whether you ship, drive, or even buy a vehicle is up to you but it’s still best to go with the option that will give you the least stress, right?