Your Guide to Moving Out of Home

Moving out of home, especially for the first time, is a massive milestone in everyone’s life. Whether you’re off to uni, starting a new job or just seeking a bit of independence the pressure is super exciting yet also overwhelming. One of the stressful things that comes with this is a bit of proper planning and organising. If this is your first time moving out of home this may be the first time you’ve come across any of these obstacles, but we are here to walk you through it: 

Suss out your finances (this can be brutal)

Before you even think about jetting off, it’s crucial to assess what type of financial situation you are actually in. You want to consider any expenses that you are going to have over the coming two weeks. This may be things like rent, utilities, groceries, and any other necessities (or wants if you feel like treating yourself). Once you’ve assessed this, your next step is creating a bit of a budget plan - I like to do this once a fortnight. Understanding and wrapping your head around financial obligations will help you feel more prepared for this change and the costs that come with adult life. There’s no harm at all in staying with your parents a little longer to save up that extra cash. 
 

Put together a little moving checklist  

I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of organisation, especially when there are 1000 things on your plate? Get that list going and start ticking them off. The moving process can be complicated so it’s super important to break it down. What should your list consist of? Some things that might be helpful are:

• Where are you going to live? 
• What utilities do you need to set up? 
• What do you need to pack? 
• How are you going to move all your stuff? 
• Do you need to update any addresses? 

Something to keep in mind is that your checklist will be independent to you and what your plans are! 
 

Set up utilities and services

Arrange for essential services like electricity, water, gas, and internet to be set up before moving in. This is something which is definitely a relief to get out of the way. Try to schedule installations or transfers well in advance to avoid any disruptions. If this is your first time setting up any of this type of stuff, give the services a call and they will be more than happy to walk you through it! It’s a lot easier to organise this type of stuff over a phone call rather than trying to navigate websites and forms for these types of things. 
 

Time to pack ya bags 

Spring cleaning time! Time to sell old clothes on Depop, donate old books and sort through all your clutter. I’m not saying you have to go minimalist cold turkey, but the less in your bags, the better, cheaper and easier, especially if you’re flying to your new destination. I’ve moved to three cities over the years and the biggest thing I’ve learnt is some “stuff” is more stressful rather than necessary when it comes to moving. 
 

Hire movers 

Now this part you won’t want to miss – we've got to actually get all your stuff from one place to the other. Easy enough for all the minimalists out there but not for some of us. A good shout is organising with a professional mover company in your area. If it’s just for you sometimes they can do a back load which will be cheaper. This means if the removalists are already heading in the direction of your new place with someone else’s stuff they can pop your stuff in the removalist van too and drop it on the way. Of course, you can move your items yourself too, but this can be a lot of work and sometimes there is just not room for everything! 
 

Update your information 

This is more a step for when you move but it’s something to keep in mind! I’ve forgotten to do this twice now and I can confidently say I have a lot of missing mail around the place. Start by informing the most important people about your change of address this could be the post office, banks, insurance providers, subscriptions or any government agencies. It is worth looking into Centrelink as well and any initiatives they have to support young people living out of home. 
 

Prep for the first few weeks

Pack a little suitcase with all your essentials, items like clothes, toiletries, medications, and anything important. I also like to keep aside a few little items in a separate bag that I look forward to unpacking in my new place, this feels like a little reward. Familiarise yourself with your new area, this is the most exciting part! 
 

Stay organised and keep things safe

Keep important documents such as your ID, lease agreement, insurance policies and any images of any damage to the house prior to moving in, in a secure folder. This is bound to come in handy later on down the track. 
 

I know right, a lot to digest – I promise it’s not as scary as it sounds, I’m just trying to cover it all for you! By ensuring all these things are thought about I can almost guarantee you are off to a smooth transition into independence. I know this phase can be stressful but with proper preparation you will have more time for the excitement that comes with embarking on this new journey.