It’s no secret that moving is challenging. Add in the fact that you’ve just gone through a divorce and you’re dealing with a lot of difficulties both emotionally and financially. Fortunately, there are ways in which you can move quickly and stay within your tight budget after a divorce. Here are some handy tips that you can use that will help you stay within your budget while you move.
Talk to Your Divorce Lawyers
Your divorce lawyers can play a major part in how your post-marriage life will proceed. In addition to having to find another place to live, you may also have to deal with custody issues that could factor a lot into where you choose to live.
Consulting with lawyers is needed so that they can hash out the details of what custody will look like between you and your ex. In some states, it is required for you and your ex to get mediation services to hash any post custody issues that may arise.
Also, you should check with your lawyers to see what kind of child relocation laws exist within your state. These laws spell out that, if you plan on moving out-of-state with your child, you must go to court to get approval. Also known as “move-away cases,” these can really be hard on custody cases as the adult with custody may have a reason to move, for example, a work transfer.
Custody battles can be tricky, which is why you should consult with divorce lawyers before doing anything else.
Make Sure the Divorce Is Finalized Before Moving
Although you’ve gone to court, the process for your separation to be complete can still take some time. That is why divorce experts suggest that you stay in your home until the divorce has been finalized. Sure, you want to be out of your ex’s hair not a moment too soon, but moving out before everything has been certified could be the biggest mistake of your life.
Why? Because moving out before a divorce is final could be considered abandoning the family, and if the divorce is especially ugly, your ex could use your hasty exit against you to take nearly everything from you, including the home and your children, which will really make it hard for you to save money.
While you wait for the papers to be finalized, don’t make a crucial mistake and leave your home too early, or you could very well regret it.
Inventory Is Your BFF
OK, so all of the documents have been finalized. Now, you can move out from under your ex, but before you start packing up and singing “We’re Moving On Up,” there is one thing that you have to do first: inventory.
As is the case, there will be certain things that you and your ex will be fighting over, such as TV or cars. Granted, there will be somethings that you will be able to take that’s clearly yours, but the problem lies in the items you and your ex purchased together, such as that coveted television. The first method is to try to talk to your ex about how you’re going to divvy up any positions that you may have. More often than not, this is the usual course of action in most divorces and these types of things go off without a hitch.
However, there are some instances, especially in a nasty divorce, that may require the court to step in and decide who owns what. If this becomes the case, having an inventory of all of your items, along with their receipts (see, this is why you should save those receipts!) will come in handy if it ever comes to a point where you and your ex will have to stand before a judge (again) and argue who gets what.
Rid Yourself of Marriage Sentimental Value
When the relationship is over, it’s over, so there is little need to continue to hold on to the past of what your marriage was. In other words, you have to get rid of sentimental items, not only for you to move on emotionally from a divorce, but also because you don’t yet know how much space you’re going to have when your move out. For most divorcees moving out, they will most likely be downsizing into a new home, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense to bring together items that act as a constant reminder of what was and what could have been.
When we say “sentimental value,” we mean letters, pictures, and even gifts that you and your ex have brought for each other. Those types of items need to head to the trash heap so that you can make room for the things that you need in your new place.
Ask for Help Moving
After everything is finalized and you and your ex have sorted out who will get what, it’s now time to start packing.
While this is a hasty move, it isn’t any different from a regular move, and you should ask for help in getting your things packed up and moved out of your old place. Family and friends are always a great resource to turn to if you need help moving, especially if you need to have money as they won’t require much in the way of payment, which is harsh to say, but it’s the truth.
The move may be made a bit difficult, however, if you have custody of your kids, in which case if they’re old enough, that is an extra set of hands that you can use to help move. However, if they’re too young to move, you may need to schedule sitter services to help out with babysitting. Maybe, get a family member to help watch your kid so you can save money and stay within budget.
Make Sure You Have Enough Supplies
Moving on the fly can be a challenging venture, but that doesn’t mean that you can afford to skip over the usual things when it comes to moving, namely, supplies.
Make sure that you have enough suppliers on hand before your set out on your move. This could involve having renewable resources that will be needed at your new place and so forth. The more supplies you have, the better off you will be in the long run. Moving doesn’t have to be painful if you have the supplies to make it happen while you save money and stay within your budget.
Don’t Wallow Aloud
Although you may be relieved to finally be out of your ex’s place, there is still raw emotion that will be there even during your packing time.
While one may see it as constructive to wallow and let things go, you shouldn’t do it to the point where it becomes a distraction. It’s OK to mourn over the ending of your marriage, and it’s excruciating, but you have to remember to stay focused and stay positive toward the future. Even if the divorce ended amicably, there will still be some hurt feelings, so expert suggests that your wallow constructively, which is, to put it another way. cry it out.
Crying isn’t a sign of weakness, but a sign that you’re finally letting things go. Find a private place to let out a good cry, then once it’s over, get back to packing and looking toward the future.
Set Up the Utilities Before You Move
Now that you’ve let out a good cry, it’s time to continue packing and preparing for your big move. Before you move into your new place, you’re going to need lights, internet, and cable. This is why you should make sure that your utilities are set up before you set foot inside your new place. Call an electrician to come in and make sure your lights are working in proper order so that you can save money on getting your electricity fixed. Also, you will want to get the plumbing looked at, so call your local plumbing contractor to come in and do routine maintenance on your plumbing system.
You may also want to look at your new place’s access control system to see if any upgrades need to be made to make sure that your home stays secure. Making sure these things are done will help save money in the long run.
Make Sure Paths Are Clear for Moving
OK, now that you got the moving van packed up, it’s time to say goodbye to your old home and hello to your new one. More often than not, moving into a place is easier than moving out of a place, but you still need to make sure that the move goes as smoothly as possible. Make sure that the paths that you need to take are clear for moving so that you and your moving crew can easily navigate your stuff from the moving truck into your new house. Make sure that hazardous trees are cleared from the sidewalks and walkways to ensure a smooth transition from truck-to-home.
Wear the Right Clothes for the Move
It is no secret that moving is a lot of work, and you will get dirty and sweaty during the move. You must wear the right clothes to your move to ensure comfort and to prevent injuries. That’s right, wearing the wrong clothes, such as improper footwear, can cause you to trip and fall during the move, and the last thing that you want after a divorce is a hospital visit, which will not help you save money.
Make sure that you have running equipment and clothes ready to go for your big move, and wear tennis shoes to ensure that your feet are properly secured and ready to move stuff into your new home.
Enjoy the Fresh Start
Now that the move is completed, it’s time to let out a sigh of relief and enjoy the fresh start that you are about to embark on. Once the final piece of furniture is moved into your home, the most time-sensitive aspect of the move has come to an end. Now is the time to develop a plan as to how you will save money for future endeavors like getting new furniture and such. The best part about having a fresh start is that you don’t have to spend any money on it. It’s completely free.
Moving, in general, is a time-consuming, hard experience that millions of Americans embark on every year. However, it’s equally stressful if you have to move after a tough divorce.
Your budget may be a bit tight, but by using the tips above, you can save money on your hasty move and save yourself some valuable time and peace of mind. First, talk to your divorce lawyers to figure out the custody issues surrounding the divorce and see what type of laws are on the books in your state that pertain to moving with your kid out of state.
While you may want to escape your home quick, fast, and in a hurry, you shouldn’t do it without making sure your divorce is finalized as your ex (if they’re vengeful) could penalize you for it. Once everything is settled, look for a place that will allow you to save money and will also allow you to move in quickly. Save money on the move by asking your friends and family to help your move, especially if you don’t have a lot of stuff to move.
To make room in your new place, throw out anything sentimental to your now former marriage. Make sure that you have enough supplies on hand to make sure your move goes smoothly. Call an electrician, plumber, or any utility contractor ahead of time to ensure that your utilities in your new place are up and running, which will also save you money in the long run.
Once you’ve reached your new place, make sure that your moving crew has plenty of room to move all of your stuff from the truck to the house. Then, finally, enjoy the new, fresh start that you will embark on, that will do more than save money, but also give you a bright future.
