Most things in our adult life don’t go the way we plan them to. Despite this being a pretty consistent reality, we continue to plan for life events to play out in the way that we want them to. One such milestone that rarely goes as planned, is moving. Moving is an unavoidable part of life, often more so for some than for others. You can’t possibly anticipate every single thing that could happen or go wrong, but by being prepared(both physically and mentally), you can roll with the punches and make the most of it. Here are some unexpected moving day challenges to keep an eye out for.
Be Ready for Surprise Expenses
Getting hit with a bill you weren’t expecting right after moving is a quick way to throw a wrench into the entire process. Whether it’s a bill from the moving company or surprise utility costs, needing to spend extra money is never a good thing. Unfortunately, there is no way to foresee these extra expenses (which is why you should always have moving insurance). However, you can attempt to plan for an unexpected bill.
As you prepare for your move, carefully make a budget. Calculate the cost of all moving expenses, and the cost to move into your new place. And then add just a bit of extra money into the budget, like a cushion, just in case. Also, make sure to communicate with everyone to understand what the terms of your move will entail. Make sure your landlord is aware of your move, and get all of your utilities set up in your new home.
Helping Your Family Adjust to the Move
A lot of children have a hard time with a move, even if it’s just a short move across town. The longer the distance of the move, the more your children will fight you about the moving. They’ll drag their heels and resist with all they have, whining and crying and begging to get to stay. It’s a hard situation to handle because it’s hard for your child to understand the situation that you’re in.
The best thing you can do is to give them time. Give them as much notice as possible before the move, so they can process the information. Help them stay in contact with their old friends, so they don’t feel like the move is going to alienate them. Make sure that your home is a safe space for them to grow and feel accepted and loved because when they initially move and are lacking the peer approval that they are missing, it will be so important to have that approval and love at home from you.
Be Ready to Travel
Just in case you don’t have the access you need to everything you packed up in the moving truck, it’s smart to have the essentials packed in your car. Include in this, sleeping bags and blankets. If for some reason your boxes and belongings aren’t delivered to you, you won’t have to sleep on the bare floor without access to your toothbrush. It still won’t be the most comfortable situation until your boxes arrive, but it will at least be livable.
You can never perfectly anticipate how a move will go, and you’ll always wish you had been better able to prepare and packed the things you need most with you. This is especially important when moving to a different state, or another long distance. So much can happen, so make sure you have what you need with you.
The Biggest Stress of All: Surprise Moves
Sometimes, the move itself is a surprise. Different situations can dictate the need to move, and it can cause such an upset that your entire move may feel doomed. Whether you have to move due to the death or failing health of a family member, because of work, or because your landlord is remodeling your building and terminating your contract, an unexpected move is a stressful issue.
The key to setting yourself up for success in this situation is to keep a clear head. Come to grips with the emotions you’re feeling, and then get to work. Ask for help, whether it’s from family or from a moving company, and make the most of the situation you have been given.