Change is always hard, whether you are actually moving from place to place, state to state, e-address, job, or maybe it’s just a change for an extended period. (military)
Recently because of the highly demanding housing market in Texas, and the ability to repair some of my savings and financial issues due to Covid layoff and unable to find a steady income (at 74), it was time to make the hard decision and the only answer to put my home of 21 years on the market. This was a very hard decision as this was the home I purchased a few years after my divorce with my own hard-earned money. I had done all the sprinkler and landscaping, added a pool, and upgraded and modernized the majority of the house over those 21 years on my own.
Change is hard for me! Change of Address is harder!
Change is hard for me, has been for years in most things. I like consistency. Where to start? When to start? Where to go? What do you need to start over? And although houses are in much demand and much to the seller’s favor where do you find somewhere to move to ?? Do you stay near family or move completely away? So much goes into making a move. (Oh, and it costs to move even if you are making a profit on your home) Inspections, closing costs, % to real estate agents, etc. And not to mention there are all those little things you buy once you get relocated !!!
So Let’s talk about Where to Start
First, there is the discussion with the family (remember I’ve lived alone). Then you start to clean out and get rid of memories, things from years and years past and present. Some yours, some your parents, some your children’s…all memories. There are donations, storage, and repairs all are forms of more change and decisions to be made !!! Stress!
There is packing, packing more packing! More and more giving away, donations, and trash! (daily remember this is after 21 years in my house). What is your timeline? Mine was 2 months and a wedding for 4 days and two holidays in between. There were boxes, boxes, and boxes, so much to go through. This generation wants nothing of the past..they are “the disposable” generations. ” We’ll call a trash truck in and just dump it in, you don’t need to go through it all, Mother” ….uh, NO! These are my memories and my things and if I want to go through them I will! NO DUMP TRUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY!
After the move and back to storage
And if I have to go back through what ends up in storage and clear out even more I will but you are not disposing of my things and without going through them!
Well, guess what, in the process, I discovered 15 plastic containers of my mother’s scrapbooks stored away after her death. Why we had not gone through them before I am not sure, we had just stored them in the back of a storage shed. I went through most all and pulled photos, baby books, wedding books, and history but no I did not go through all as there wasn’t enough time! One was full of loose pictures stuck together over the years. Another had new books and pages she never filled so I found a scrapbook club and gave those to them. But I still kept several containers full. I found my children’s high school diplomas hidden away in a drawer, etc. Hopefully, some of the things I kept won’t get tossed into the trash truck when I am gone ….but they probably will!
Once you finally get ready to do the actually move and have decided on a location there is the change of address on EVERYTHING! How and where to begin?
The Internet
We all rely on the internet so how to move to a new email account with the least hassle is a major change. Just changing all those auto pays online from one account to another is a hassle if you are changing banks.
If you’ve ever had a work email and changed jobs you’ve probably experienced the loss of accounts, names and numbers, notes, and the ability to log into websites. You don’t realize everything in today’s world is tied to your email addresses. Changing an email is a hassle for sure yet sometimes we need to do it.
Cutting the cord from your TV cable which includes that “free” email address, moving to a new city where your new provider doesn’t offer this service, or changing just to free yourself from spam and starting fresh not to mention all those passwords you have to change !!!!! Change is hard.
Where to start and when
First, pick a new address ( and email address ) Do this long before exiting your current address. Experts recommend choosing an agnostic platform email service not linked to other accounts or services to which you subscribe. Some choices are free and simple such as Yahoo, gmail, and Outlook for a few. Once you have chosen a service consider opening two accounts. One dedicated to family and friends, one for doctor offices and other professionals, loyalty programs. This keeps your primary address out of spammers.
Change your contact information.
Tell family and friends about your new address and ask them to change to the new address. Next make a list of important contacts who may have your old email address and make an effort, either by phone or online to update your information with them.
Next set up an auto-reply on your old account, while it’s still open to give information about your new address (to those that should use it)
Delete The Old Stuff
Keep your old account open for at least three months after launching your new address. This ensures you don’t miss important communications during the swap. While both are open go through all old documents and emails and forward them to the new address those you will want to keep. This limits potential hackers’ access to your personal information.
Shut down the old account being sure to close down the old email account. An unmonitored email account is a playground for digital attackers.
Other Tips for Moving
Here are a few things I failed to do!
When moving remember to stay hydrated and take an Alieve, or Tynol (daily), wear a back brace when lifting, and remember to get a good night’s sleep! Don’t fail to eat healthy not all “drive through”!
Making a File Document
Eight weeks before moving day create your move file in Google to keep track of receipts and important information. Schedule your date for signing papers. Keep phone numbers on your file sheet. If shipping a vehicle or other items get quotes and regulations. List company names, etc.
Begin researching your new location and create a floor plan, check out sights, schools you’d like to visit, etc. Also, schedule any repairs, inventory your stuff, and continue clearing clutter. ( deciding what to sell, give away, or keep.) Check potential tax deductions. Gather important documents into one location, label your boxes with continents, and if storage or new location which room.
In Conclusion my last tips
Set a timer and pack boxes for 1 hour, break for a time, and then set the timer again for another hour each day….don’t wear yourself out!! Go room by room decluttering and packing!
Invest in quality boxes. Pack less per box so they are easier to lift (something I did not do and now wish I had as I am paying for that mistake!)
Give each room a different color label or get premade labels on Amazon for the boxes.
I hope you found this helpful for your next move…as for me, well I hope it’s sometime before I move again. But at least I have now gotten rid of lots of unnecessary things in my life and my family will have less to go through should something happen to me. Families often don’t think about that soon enough. And if there are those ” special items” you want someone to have, well give them to them while you are living as the “disposable generation” doesn’t want our things!
I hope you’ll come back to my online blog and mall soon. You never know what you’ll find here.
Response Magic