As an international student looking to study abroad, moving out for the first time can be both an exciting task and an overwhelming one. However, if you do your research, it may be the easiest part of the whole process! As long as you have a detailed checklist before moving out and a moving to-do list for all your requirements, you’ll be ready to move out without any issues. Whether you’re moving to a faraway country or a nearby one, this should cover everything you may need.

Getting Ready for the Move

It’s important to have a solid plan and a checklist before moving out of the things you need with you as you prepare to move. While you can do it without a list, a moving checklist and a moving to-do list will help you prepare everything without fear of forgetting essentials or even small things. It will also help you to have a schedule for when you should have everything done. This will give you ample time to prepare, and simultaneously keep you attentive enough so you don’t finish your preparations at the last minute. You’ll also need all of the important documents required for travelling and arriving at the property, and a way to manage your budget strictly.

Essential Items Checklist for Moving

Making a moving to-do list or just a general moving checklist is the most important step of the process. Make sure that you have it on hand, possibly on your phone, so you can add anything to the checklist you remember immediately before you forget it.

These are some of the essentials we recommend you write down for starters:

• Bedding Essentials: Sheets, Pillows, Comforters, Spares

• Toiletries and Personal Care: This will include towels, laundry baskets, mats, etc. It also includes hygiene products like a toothbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc.

• Kitchen Essentials: All silverware such as forks, knives, bowls, dishes, etc. You’ll also want pots, pans, cutting boards, and any other utensils or tools you use frequently.

• Cleaning Supplies: Laundry detergent, trash bins, broom and dustpan, a mop, a vacuum, disinfectant spray, etc.

• First Aid Kit: Any medicine you require on a daily or frequent basis, gauze and ointment in case of emergencies, bandages, etc.

• Basic Documents: Your ID, bank information, insurance papers, etc.

• Electronics and Chargers: Your phone, tablet, charger, power bank, or any device you use on a frequent basis or a handheld device.

• Personal Clothing and Accessories: This will depend on your destination. If it’s a warmer country, then pack more light clothing than heavy and vice versa. However, make sure to pack clothing for both types of weather, just in case.
  
  

An important piece of advice with your essentials is to also pack a separate box for everything you will need on your first day or two. This will help you immensely with your first day’s clothes and other essentials, as you may be too exhausted, jetlagged, or busy to unpack your bags on the day you arrive.

Now that you know what to pack, let’s move on to when and how to prepare for the big move.

Schedule for Moving Out

Creating a detailed schedule alongside your checklist before moving out will help you manage your time more effectively than you may think. Your schedule should include:

• A time limit for buying any extra essentials you may need.

• A timeframe for when you should have all your things in their boxes.

• The move-in date to your new student accommodation.

You can also add a slot in the schedule dedicated to calling your accommodation’s staff to finish any last-minute information you need to fill out or ask them about anything you need to know prior to arrival.

Necessary Documents

We mentioned the essential documents you’ll need previously, but there are many necessary documents you need to have with you to ensure a smooth transition at the airport and when you arrive. It’s recommended to have a secure file where you gather all of these documents and ensure they’re in a safe place. You’ll also want to check with your university and accommodation of choice prior to arrival, as they may have some specific documents they require that you wouldn’t normally bring. 

These are the usual necessary documents you can expect to need:

• ID Papers: This is the basic information that identifies you, including your passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, student visa, and any other identification you have.

• Social Security: This includes your Social Security card or your national insurance number, as they are quite important to have on you.

• Bank Info: This includes any information related to your bank and any debit cards you may have.

• School Records: All records that relate to your academic record thus far, as it may be required by your university and the accommodation.

• Health Insurance Details: Anything related to your health insurance will be useful to have on hand, just in case.

• Rental Agreement: Any agreement you have regarding your accommodation or housing contract, which you may have signed to book your accommodation of choice.

• Student Loan Papers: This is only if you have any loans.

Keeping all of these documents in a secure file will help you keep all of your important documents organised and safe. Keeping a digital copy of these documents on your phone or PC is also recommended, as it may come in handy later if any of these papers get damaged or lost.

Managing Your Budget 

It’s very important to learn how to manage your finances before you move out, as it’s a key skill you need to have during your stay abroad. If you need a way to keep your finances in line, the best way is to outline a budget, get secondhand opinions on it, and finalise it prior to your arrival. Tracking your spending helps you spot where your money’s going—and where you can cut back

Now that you have a basic budget, make sure to include all deadlines on all payments. After you’ve outlined your necessities, such as food, water, clothes, etc. You’ll want to outline your bills and necessary payments. These are bills for your accommodation and payments for your university, as well as anything else you need to buy that’s outside the standard necessities. Also, if there’s a cost that is going to increase or decrease, keep a special note of it somewhere. Don’t forget to save some money for emergencies, as well. 

Tips for Transporting Your Belongings

Moving can be a stressful process, but good planning will make it much easier and fun! Different items and different lengths, depending on which country you’re going to, will require different ways of transportation. If you’re going to move a short distance, then getting help from a family member or a friend can be much cheaper and easier. However, if you’re going to study abroad, then hiring movers and renting moving trucks is the best way to go, as they will help keep all your items safe and sound. Make sure to inform them about the items you’re going to move, as they’ll prepare different methods of transportation for different items.

These are some tips to consider for the moving process, as they can help you greatly:

• If you’re using any public transport during the moving process and you have some of your items with you, make sure to secure everything as well as you can.

• You can save some space during the packing process by packing many small items in a large container. 

• Make sure that all fragile or breakable items are protected. Putting clothes around anything breakable will make sure that it’s secured and much less likely to break or be damaged during the moving process.

• If you, or your guardian, have any form of contents insurance, make sure that it covers the belongings that you’re bringing with you. Specifically, it should cover “contents in transit”. This will cover you if anything gets damaged or broken during the move.

And that’s everything. While leaving home for the first time and moving abroad is a long process and can be stressful at times, it’s well worth it and will contribute to giving you a brand new and exciting experience as a student. Make sure to pick a great accommodation, make your checklist before moving out, plan everything, keep the previous tips in mind, and your move will be that much easier.