So youve made the decision to uproot your life and move to a new city.
Congrats on your exciting new adventure!
Add these six steps to your checklist when moving to a new city.
Using a small truck for a local move might cost you $20 to $40 plus mileage and fees. But if you’re moving to a new city across state lines, you might end up spending several hundred dollars for a one-way drop-off. Aileen Perilla/The Penny Hoarder
you might supplement this research by digging into specific budget categories.
Check rental or real estate listings to gauge housing costs.
Look up grocery store circulars in your desired zip code for food prices.
Call your auto insurance company and other competitors to get quotes for your new area.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Go ahead and start now, but be sure to bookmark this post so you might easily return later.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
Pull out your budget to identify other significant monthly expenses.
If youve got young kids, youll want to look up child care costs in your new city.
If you dine out often, check out restaurant menus online.
Determine Your Net Salary
Many times, moving to a new city is the result of a job offer.
(And dont forget to ask your new employer about relocation benefits!)
Once youve got that salary figure, though, its important to translate it to your actual take-home pay.
Thats the money youll work with each month to pay bills, buy necessities and treat yourself.
Consider taking on a coupleside hustlesin the meantime.
Expand your search to remote jobs if youre not finding luck with local opportunities in your field.
Budget for the Move
The act of moving itself can be an expensive endeavor.
If youre planning to buy instead of rent, ourguide to homebuyingwill help walk you through the process.
Spoiler alert: It will take significantly more time, money and paperwork than renting.
Besides, it just doesnt make sense to bring that lamp you totally hate to your next home.
Be realistic about whether youll fix or find a purpose for these belongings in the future.
Separate these items into piles for trashing (or recycling), donating and selling.
You cansell belongings onlineon sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp.
Alternatively, you couldhold a garage saleto offload your unwanted gear for a small profit.
Commuting costs may seem minor on a day-to-day basis, but those expenses add up.
Choose low-cost orfree things to doas you explore and get acclimated.
Check sites likeGrouponandLivingSocialfor discounts on experiences in the area.
Museums and other attractions may offer reduced-admission days or discounts for residents.
Browse their websites for info or call to inquire.
Want to check out all the hot local restaurants with the great Yelp reviews?
Nicole Dow is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
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