...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


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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