As you’re reading this post I’m probably packing last bits & bobs into boxes or perhaps even dragging each box into a van that will take Cookie, Pippin and me all the way to the Czech Republic. If you’ve read my ongoing series called ‘8 reasons why you should move to my city’ (with one of the cities being Prague) then you’ll know that I encourage every single one of my readers to go & live outside of their home town for at least a few weeks. Be it a gap year, be it a sabbatical or straight up living there forever. When I was 18 I left my home town. I even left my home country. Packed my bags (one bag, to be exact) and landed in Birmingham. 10 years later I’m packing my bags (80 boxes, to be exact – you happen to accumulate a ridiculous amount of things over 10 years). And my destination? Prague.
This new series called ‘Moving Abroad’ will cover more of the practicalities that go into moving board. From where to get the financial security for such a big move to what you need when travelling with a cat (or two) some 1,000 miles across Europe.
HOW TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR A MOVE ABROAD
Unless your big move is what I did at the age of 18 – packing a 10 kilo carry on, hopping on a plane and then spending the rest of the day searching for that share house you booked through a relocation agency a mate recommended to you (which in hindsight I would not recommend to my worst enemy) – then you’ll need a decent amount of money to get it all done without losing your mind. The amount of money you’ll need varies significantly. Sit down & make some rough calculations – you will need to pay the rest of your current rent until the end of your contract or if you can break it off before its end, you might need to pay a small fine. You will need to pay a deposit on your new flat in the country you’re moving to. They might also require a few rents in advance as you currently don’t have an address there yet. Add the cost of boxes and other bits & bobs you need to pack. The actual cost of a van or moving service you’ll be using. If you have pets you’ll need to have them vaccinated and get their passports issued. Think of every single expense, add it up & you’ll have a rough estimate of what you need.
Saving up
Time required: A couple of years
It’s easy to say, isn’t it? Oh, why can’t young British people buy a house? THEY SHOULD JUST SAVE UP, INNIT?! With sandwiches costing a fiver now, it’s not as easy as it used to be years ago. Emma Drew (find her blog here) is my hero when it comes to saving money. She writes about all things frugal – how to save money when buying train tickets, how to save money when shopping online, how to save money on your electricity bill. It might be just a little bit of money here and a little bit of money there but trust me, it adds up. Just by not buying Starbucks every day you’ll be saving a grand a year or so! Have the ‘every little helps’ attitude & saving money will become so much easier!
Selling
Time required: At least a month
Decluttering your home and selling everything you don’t need or want anymore as well as things you simply cannot take with you (be it for import restrictions or just the sheer size of them – buy my beautiful fridge with a fancy water cooler!), the best thing to do is to make some money out of them. You can find out all the different ways to make money through decluttering right here but I’m sure you already get the gist of how it works. I find eBay and Depop to work the best as well as Facebook groups, car boots and website such as We Buy Books (click here) and Music Magpie (here). Not only will you make some extra cash but you’ll also downsize your belongings leaving you with less to pack and less to transport (also meaning a lower rate for your man & his van).
Blog monetisation
Time required: A couple of years depending on the size & age of your blog
I definitely do not suggest you should go & start a blog from scratch just because you need to raise some capital. Uh-huh. That won’t work. But if you’re already a blogger and you’re passionate about what you’re doing, why not make some extra money from it. Don’t forget to set up your self-employment account with the HMRC and you can start monetising through affiliate marketing, sponsorship or even selling various pieces through your blog be it media kits, blog designs or art. Especially if blogging is something you do in your free time you can simply put away ALL the money you make through it into your savings for the big move.
Matched betting
Time required: A couple of months
Now we’re getting to the controversial but highly effective way of making some extra cash. Admittedly, you do need to have a little bit of capital to start with but you can easily make £1,000 a month by putting just a few hours of your day into this. BUT IT’S GAMBLING, I hear you cry. No, it’s not. I can reassure you. Matched betting is completely risk-free and it works on the principle of betting on all possible outcomes so you can’t possibly lose. It uses free bets to ‘earn’ you money. You can learn how I started my matched betting journey here and how I made £250 in just 6 days. Again, this is money that can easily go straight into your savings for moving.
A small loan
Time required: Almost immediately
If the big day is approaching faster than you expected and you’re still missing a small amount of money then small loans are something to consider. You can apply for a small loan online and you will receive a quick decision from a lender that will run further checks and if approved, hopefully, they can transfer your funds the same day. There is no paperwork to print off, fill in or post off, you can make your small loan application completely online via desktop, mobile or tablet. This way you can borrow £80-£500 essentially on the same day. If you need a little money to tide you over between your last rent at your old apartment and the next payday, then these are perfect for it.
Have you ever moved abroad?
Did you spend months/years saving up or was it one of those spontaneous last minute decisions?
? This post is in collaboration with CashLady, however, my experience of moving abroad is my very own – and very current! You can find more real time updates on my Twitter right here.