Moving to another state is an exciting proposition. New state, new life. There are going to be new people in your life. During the pandemic alone, millions of people moved from the city to the suburbs after finally realizing that they can (and it is okay) work from home. Companies, too, understood that they can save a lot more money by letting their employees work from the comforts of their homes. With no rental fees and overhead costs to think about, these companies remained afloat during such turbulent times in the economy.
But whether you’re moving because of the pandemic or not, there’s something in another state that pulls you right in. You don’t need a big reason to move although you have to think about your finances and how much it will cost to leave everything in your present city and move your whole life to another state. Yes, money is still very much involved in this process. You can run away from toxic relationships, but you can’t run away from your financial responsibilities. It’s a fact of life.
Assess Your Finances
You may not have the money right now, but you have ways to find how to finance your move. The first thing you have to do is assess where you are financially. Less the debts and other miscellaneous fees, how much do you have in your account to pay for the rent and the moving van? It doesn’t matter if you have $100 or $1,000 for the move, you still have to know where you stand.
Now then, know how much you need for the move. How much is the rent going to be? By this point, you should have a ready job waiting for you there. Or, you should have a home-based job at least. How about the moving van? Or, if you’re going to take your car with you, how much are you going to spend during the state-to-state trip? If you’re going to use your credit card, will you be able to pay the debt?
Sell What You Can
You don’t need to take everything with you to the new place. If you plan to move there permanently, then you have to sell your home quickly. Find an agent who will help you put the property on the market. While you’re waiting for someone to make an offer, you can also start selling all the other stuff that you don’t have to take to the new place.
That ratty old sofa will be more expensive to move. Donate or sell it. Do you need all those coffee mugs? Organize a garage sale for all these things. You’ll be surprised how much you can make from stuff lying around your house. You can use that money to start over or you can save it for emergency use.
As for your home, although you want to sell it fast, don’t allow your equity to plunge. You have to make money off it since you’re probably still paying its mortgage. At the very least, you should have enough money to make a down payment for another property in your new state.
Make an Income Right Away
Before you thought about moving to this new state, you’ve surely scouted job opportunities, right? You’re not just moving because you found the place nice? Make sure you’re going to make money the moment you land there. You don’t need more than a week to transition to the new place. All you need to do is find the bank, supermarket, laundry, and a few fast-food chains, and you’re good to go.
Don’t waste time. If you can’t find an office job immediately, you can apply for home-based jobs on the internet. There are plenty of those that will pay the rent and put food on the table. Menial and side jobs will also be good transitional work while you’re having a “feel” of this new place. You don’t need to go on a full-career mode instantly, but you do have to think about your expenses.
The best way to be financially capable once you’re in your new state is to live within your means. If you splurge too much because of the new experiences you have access to, you’re never going to reduce your debt or save enough to live comfortably in the future. The best way to start all over is to be more responsible and prudent with your money. Whether or not this is a permanent thing, you have to consider what the future holds.