...of Good Time and
Money Management
Talk It Out:
Relocating Across Country with a Large Family
"My family is planning on relocating away from the crowds and
hurricanes of Florida. We are looking at moving to western North
Carolina. I would love to correspond with anyone from around the
Charlotte or Asheville areas as we have only visited there and
have no real idea if that is where we will be happy. Also any tips
on relocating with a family of six would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks." ~ Marie
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Responses:
"In 1997, we
moved our family with six children 950 miles from Memphis to the
Washington, DC area. Since then, we have moved six more times. Here
are a few things I learned: 1. Keep a list of EVERYTHING you do in a
notebook or folder. It helps if it is a bright color and make sure you
know where it is at all times. I usually keep it close to my purse. 2.
Find out what the requirements are for school entrance in your new
city. Get checkups, immunizations, etc, BEFORE you move so you don't
have to find a doctor and get it done after you move. 3. Pack a ‘survival
tub’ and put in on the truck last. It should contain everything you
will need for the next 24 hours after you move (paper plates, cups,
etc, toilet paper, paper towels, dish towels, bath towels and soap,
shower curtains with rings, a sharp knife, can opener, small pan,
sheets and anything else that is near and dear to you. For me, it was
the coffee maker and coffee! Everything you can do ahead of time and
staying organized will pay off in a big way. It will also lessen
stress and make the moving a more enjoyable experience. We also used
the trip as sort of a vacation and did some fun things along the way.
The kids will pick up on your attitude, so if you can stay positive,
they will tend to see it in more of a positive light too. Get them
involved in packing and finding out things about your new city. Talk
about moving and how they are feeling about it. I hope you will find
it a good bonding experience for your family and count on it being a
memory maker!" ~ Anonymous
"I don't know if I have
any helpful tips, but please keep us updated on this
subscriber. We too live in Florida and want to move away
because of the crowds and the hurricanes. It's like I tell
people, ‘It's one thing to vacation in Florida, but it's
another thing all together to live here.’ We moved down
here from Michigan four years ago, and we moved ourselves
(packed, loaded, etc., but then the moving truck was driven
down here by the company- ABF Freight). It was a very
affordable way to move. One nice thing was that we took our
time driving down and made a little mini-vacation out of
it." ~ Beth
Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the
time to respond.
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