5 Top Tips On Relocating

Hi lovelies,

They say that moving house can be one of the most stressful things you can do, but what about not just moving house but uprooting your whole life and relocating? The whole idea is enough to put anyone off, but once you get your head around that, then the benefits are endless, and it could be the best move you ever make. Remember, no matter what reason you’re going for, whether it’s for a better job, to be near family, for better schools or to make more money, you can always come back. The first thing to do though is actually to get you there, so here are some top tips for relocating. 

Get Organised  
You want to start planning as far in advance as you possibly can. Once you have made the decision to relocate then start planning out how you are going to do it. Make a load of checklists keep on top of what you need to do. Bekins Moving Solution suggests having a timeline allows you to stay on track from start to finish.

Stay On Top Of Your Finances
Relocating can be an expensive business, and even if you are doing it with or for work, you might have to fork out for some initial expenses before you get the money back from your employer. There are going to be costs such as buying a new home or paying a deposit on a rental, hiring movers and getting new utilities. So it’s important to stay on top of your finances and budget for what you will need and when and then allocate accordingly. 

Research Your New Location  
There is a lot to do and a lot to think about before you go, from where to live, what the schools are like, and where you will go out to eat and drink. It will really help you for when you get there as well as easing your mind if you do your research beforehand. Use the internet to find out as much as you can, ask other people on forums about moving there, you’ll be guaranteed to find someone who has been in the same situation and will be able to offer you loads of help and advice and you might even make a new friend or two who will welcome you when you arrive. 

Make The Most Of Social Media
As well as internet searches and forums, also use social media. Have a look for Facebook groups on the specific area you’re moving too if you’re a parent, then there could be a parent’s group you could join, or if you’re moving to a particular street there might even be an online neighbourhood community to join. Search relevant hashtags on Twitter as well to see what you can find. 

Ask For Help  
If you’re moving for a job, then you may as well as your new employer for any assistance they can give as they will obviously want to make things as smooth as possible for you. It could be just advice on things, but you never know what other help they could give you once you start asking. 

*Photo credit for this collaborative post: Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Homeowner Money Saving Tips

Hi lovelies,

Owning a home for the first time is a pretty big step, and it can feel like an expensive one at times, but it’s also one of the best investments you can make. So you will end up with many different types of bills coming your way within the first year so what ways can you make sure you don’t end up in the red and have plenty of money to keep your home in top condition over the years as well? 

Energy bills
Energy bills are something you should always keep in mind and not just during wintertime. Energy is something we all need to power our homes, but, some of us are more frugal than others. If you use less energy, why should you pay more than a household that uses a lot? It's not fair and it doesn’t make sense. That is why companies like Payless Power are so popular these days. Not only do they offer no-deposit electric energy plans, but they also do no-credit-check plans too. Their low fixed-rate plan lasts for 12 months, so you’re covered for the fall, winter and then some. Since we’re all going to be using energy more often in the colder months, it's a good idea to get locked in now, before the temperatures plummet and the bills increase rapidly.

DIY
When you’re home is your own you will want to make it personal and put your own personal touches on the decor from the beginning, this will make everything feel more like home and improve how you think about your property. So while you’re busy considering colour schemes also think about how you can save money by not hiring people to do the simple tasks such as painting, obviously you get full control over what and where everything goes, but also you can save a few pennies and do the work yourself as well. By getting on with the small tasks at home, you will also feel a great sense of pride when you’ve finished too. Be careful though, all your friends will be asking you to fix their houses if they hear about your new-found skills! 

Consider Your Finances
Unless you’re very lucky and have an inheritance to draw from, you will have to get a mortgage which brings a whole new world of calculations and shopping around to do, but there are ways you can keep the costs down by being careful and gaining some advice. Some websites show you comparisons on the different insurances, mortgage rates and information regarding finance options such as how to refinance home loan or other loans you can discover. Ultimately you want to pay as little interest and gain the most favorable loans as soon as possible, then do your best to pay them off as quickly as possible, it isn’t easy, but it’s the best way to get ahead! 

Reduce Food Bills
We all buy those few extra snacks on our weekly shopping that we know we shouldn’t but still do. But aside from cutting down on snacks, what else can you do to cut down on food waste costs? 

Well, meal planning is definitely a significant factor when it comes to saving money on your meals. Making sure you have a plan at the beginning of the week and sticking to it rigidly means you don’t need to guess what’s for tea every day. Also planning ahead really cuts down on your chances of failure, so write a list and keep check of the things that you need! You can even do your supermarket shop online now as well so you can order the same shopping weekly and amend it the next time you’re big shop is due. 

So now you have some basics to follow, you’ll still have the rest of your mortgage to pay everything off so be careful always to pay that first, but everything else can be managed effectively!