Relocating overseas is an exciting adventure, but it can also be stressful. There are many things to consider when making the move, such as what to take with you and what to leave behind. You can’t take everything with you, but you also don’t want to leave your entire life behind. You need to think about the financial aspect too because buying everything again from scratch will be incredibly expensive.

In this post, we will discuss what to take and what to leave behind when relocating overseas.

Furniture

Furniture is a tricky one because it’s one of the bulkiest things you have and it’s also one of the most expensive. However, as a general rule, you should get rid of furniture and start again when relocating. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as if you have an heirloom piece or something that is particularly sentimental. Anything that is one of a kind can come with you, but you can easily replace your everyday furniture with something similar. If you’re struggling to part with your furniture, try thinking about it as an opportunity for a fresh start. New furniture will be more in line with the style of your new home and it will also be much easier to move.

Before you move, take the time to sell your furniture and raise some money to go towards the new items when you arrive.

Clothes

Clothes are another item that you can easily replace when relocating overseas. It’s best to take a limited number of clothes with you and to plan on buying more when you arrive. This is particularly important if your new home has a different climate from your old one. You don’t want to end up with a closet full of clothes that you can’t wear.

Before you pack your clothes, go through everything and get rid of anything that you haven’t worn in a while or that doesn’t fit properly. You can also use this as an opportunity to do a bit of shopping and buy some new clothes for the move. If you are traveling by air, you don’t want to fill your case up with a bunch of old clothes that you’re never going to wear anyway.

Cars

Cars are a very difficult one and it’s all about weighing up costs. If you have a very new car that is still in great condition, you may want to take it. Look into options for shipping a car and see how much it will cost. Then, look at car prices in the new country and see whether it would be cheaper or more expensive to get another car that is of equal quality and condition as yours. Sometimes, you’ll find it’s cheaper to take yours with you, but it may be cheaper to replace it, in some cases.

Things are a little more clear-cut if your car is already on its last legs. In this case, you’re probably better off leaving it behind and getting a new one when you arrive. You are likely to replace the car whether you move or not because it will cost you a lot of money in repairs if you keep it for much longer. So, there is no sense paying money to ship it, only to keep it for a short while once you arrive.

Electrical Appliances

Electrical appliances are another thing to consider when relocating overseas. You may want to take some of your favorites with you, but it’s important to remember that not all appliances will work in different countries. For example, if you have a North American-style electrical appliance, it probably won’t work in Europe because they use a different voltage.

It’s also important to think about the cost of shipping electrical appliances. It can be very expensive and, in some cases, it may be cheaper to just buy new ones when you arrive. If you do want to take your appliances with you, find out whether they can be converted for use in the new country. If so, get this done before you leave. If not, it may be best to leave them behind.

Think carefully about what you actually use too. People tend to collect a lot of unused appliances, especially in the kitchen, and these can all be left behind. Ask yourself whether you really need that smoothie maker you use once a year or if you could just do without it.

Bedding

This sounds like a strange one and you may assume that bedding is one of the things you should definitely leave behind, but you may be wrong. Bedding actually varies a lot between countries and many people struggle to adapt to their new sleeping situation when they first arrive. It’s much easier to take your bedding with you and then you know that everything will be familiar when you go to sleep.

Bear in mind that bed sizes vary and if the climate is different, you will have to adjust to a different way of sleeping. However, having your own bedding to start with can make the transition a lot smoother.

Pets

In almost all cases, you will want to take your pets with you when you relocate. They’re a part of the family, not just a possession that you can leave behind and replace. However, there are a lot of preparations that need to be made for moving a pet, so don’t leave it until the last minute.

First of all, you need to make sure that your pet is healthy enough for the move. They may need a vaccination or blood test, depending on which country you are going to. You’ll also need to have their paperwork in order and find out what restrictions are placed on pets in the new country.

Once you’ve done this, it’s time to start planning the move itself. You’ll need to find a pet-friendly airline and make sure that your pet will be comfortable in their travel crate. In some cases, it may be possible to drive with your pet, but this is not always an option.

Deciding what to take and what to leave behind when relocating is tough. Taking too much will make the move stressful but if you leave everything, you’ll end up spending a lot of money. When making your decisions, think carefully about what can easily be replaced and what can’t.