It is no secret that military families move around a lot. Yes, the military is paid for meaning packers will box up your household goods (hhg), load it on the truck, drive it to your new home, unload and unpack. Those outside of the military think that takes all of the work out of moving. Don’t get me wrong, it is great that the military does this. It does not mean that there is no cost to military families. Below I list the hidden expenses that creep up whenever a moving.
Furniture is typically, not designed to be moved every 3 or so years. Loading it on a truck and shaking it across country is going to cause damage. There will be scratches, dents, holes ect in furniture and I don’t care how careful the movers are. Yes, you can file a claim but that takes time and you only get a percentage.
Child care can be tricky when moving. If you are a stay at home parent and have little ones it can be extra stressful watching packers and your little ones. Oftentimes, families pay for child care on those days.
If you are flying and have pets, you will need to get a health certificate from a local vet that is only good for 10 days along with pay any airline fees. I flew with a 5lb poodle that fit under the seat and had to pay 150$ to do so.
Furniture may not fit in your new house or might be too little for the space. If you had a dining room in one house and now there is an eat in kitchen you may need to sell your dining room table and get a smaller one. Keep in mind, that during the next move you may be back to having a dining room.
Transfering work certificates. I am a teacher and filing for state certifications is covered but what is not is getting official transcripts, and fingerprints/background check which adds up when you have attended several colleges.
Registering a car and getting a driver's license in the state you are living in. A lot of times, you have to mail the plates back to the old state which is a fee as well.
IF you have children in school and move during the school year, often times you are asked to purchase school supplies at both schools. That adds up fast especially, if you have more than one child in school.
When renting, you need a security deposit which a lot of times is due before you got the security deposit back from the last place.
Forwarding mail costs a dollar per person per forward so if you have a family of 5 that is 5$ If you are like me you forward from the last two places you lived as well as your maiden name for a year after moving. Just incase grandma sends you a gift card and forgets that you moved.
Stockpiling/restocking your pantry can cost hundreds of dollars. Movers will not move liquids that have been opened. So those flavored oils and vinegars need to be replaced. All cooking oil needs to be replaced along with cleaning fluids, laundry soap, hand soap and toiletry items. Waiting for a sale is not always an option when you need to do laundry.
Networking for used items like a car is easier when you have lived in an area for a long time. Your dads, secretaries, brother has a car and they know you have a teenage son who could use it doesn’t happen when you just located and don’t know anyone.
Loss of money when you have purchased a membership. You don’t always get a ton of notice when moving. If you purchased a membership to the zoo or wholesale club that is not near your new home you could be out a lot of money. It adds up if you purchase a new membership at your new location.
Organization when constantly using different sized shelves is hard and can be costly if you need to purchase different sizes every move.
Windows are never the same size or number in any house you move to. Curtain rods don’t hold up to moving and that all adds up fast.
If you want the best deal on seasonal items like snow pants or water shoes you purchase them at the end of the season the year before. If you have enough notice when moving you might be able to stock up but most often families do not know they are moving. Our family had less than 30 days notice that we were moving from San Diego, California to Bremerton, Washington in December. Before that, we were in Charleston, SC so we didn’t need cold weather gear.
When moving into a new place, utility companies want a deposit and have hook up fees.
Fans, lamps and rugs might be needed if you don’t have central air, or the ceiling do not have lights.
Cords and extensions, the distance from the cable box to the tv might be further than in the last place so you would need to replace that. The outlet for the dryer might need a new plug, you need an extension cord for your nightstand that you didn’t need before.
When moving on average every three years it can be hard to save money. What hidden costs have you encountered? What ways have you found to get around the hidden costs of moving?