We're Moving! Relocating for a Job

If you read my hub on spring cleaning, you know we have recently let go of a lot of unused, broken and outdated belongings. The less you have to move, the easier it will be. If you have large awkward pieces of furniture that are warn, consider selling or tossing them. Some items may be easily replaced once you move. The money travels a lot easier with you. I am currently taking my daughter's electric swing to the consignment shop in my neighborhood. It is not very big, but it is awkwardly shaped, and it doesn't break down into a more convenient size so it doesn't travel well.

This time of year is moving season for many people. College students and graduates are moving either back home or away for a job, newlyweds are moving in to their first home, etc. My family is actually preparing for a huge move to a city closer to my parents. As exciting as it is to get a better job in a different city, relocation can be hectic. Negotiations have come to a close, and you have a limited time frame to uproot your family and place them in a new city. A new city for us means a new doctor, a new daycare, a new neighborhood, a new social circle, and a new routine. We are balancing it all with these steps.

Some things are more easily handled in your home city before moving. You can call or email for transcripts or shot records after the fact, but the possibility of a delay can be avoided if you pick these things up or make arrangements:

• If you have a P.O. Box, have mail forwarded to it until you settle on a home.
• If you are one of the few people who has a current job with no direct deposit, as to have your final check distributed to you early, depending on when you move.
• Inform your child's school/daycare of the move in a timely manner, and make arrangements to have all information transferred to the new daycare (if you have one).
• If your lease is still in effect, talk to your property management about an early break. If you have a good track record, you may be able to get a deal. Our apartment is on the end of the row, and ending the lease would benefit the management, since anyone would love an apartment that gets sunlight through the windows.
• Make sure to stop working a week prior to the start date of the new job. We often believe we can pack a little every day and still work full time, but the reality is we need time to focus on the move and only the move.
• Keep your receipts. If you received a moving stipend, keep all of the invoices if needed, unless the offer doesn't require you to do so.

These are just some of the objectives you should consider to make your life easier.

Many jobs provide assistance with finding a home as well as temporary lodging. They are usually not forthcoming about what you are entitled to, so it is your job to educate yourself and ask the right questions. Other assistances/reimbursements include but are not limited to:

• Childcare (daycares covered are usually provided on a list)
• Elder care (once again, provided only through approved facilities)
• Temporary lodging
• House hunting expenses
• Lease break coverage
• Home Pack/Unpack (a vehicle and movers will be sent to your home, pack your belongings, whisk them away to your new home, and unpack them)

The moneys offered for moving are assistance. This means you are receiving help, not a profit, and you will likely have to come out of pocket for some of the expenses. Never fear: these payments will be returned to you at tax time, or at least your taxes will be significantly lower. As long as you meet a few basic requirements listed in the video above, you can receive a tax break for your trouble, which will be helpful since you are likely in a new tax bracket with your awesome new job.