Countdown to move day

[DaysofHoney]

I won’t lie, I’m excited now. Have been back in UK for 4 years and it’s too cold for me… cold and bleak.

DH is making the move at the end of the month and we will go and do school/accommodation trip over Easter, but we won’t move until after summer when he’s completed probation etc.

Any tips on how to prepare for shipping, things I can do to prepare etc?? I’m a bit of a planner and need to keep myself busy while we wait to go. I have a job and the kids but I guess I want to feel like I’m proactively getting us ready…

School applications are done (to the three we think we like most)

What else? What should I stock up on for the shipping container (it’s a ME posting)?

Anyone else want to get excited with me??

Never done this, so no advice, but would be interested to hear where you are going?!

I have no experience either but I'm excited for you!

Just have a massive clear out now as when the packers arrive they are like a swarm of locusts and you won't be able to start sorting stuff. So big clear out and also clearly separate air and sea shipment. We shipped so much stuff and then moved again after a year and some of the boxes hadn't even been opened.

Presumably you know all the stuff about 1 rent cheque being a possibility (i.e. a year in advance) etc.

If Dubai, factor in traffic at peak times- sort out school first and then accommodation as it can take you 40 mins to go a few miles. It can take you 30 mins just to get out of your compound.

On a more intangible note, it's very easy to get seduced into an extravagant lifestyle in the ME and end up saving no money. You may not care (some people just want to live a nice life while they're there, as is their right), but if you do want to save, then try to think ahead of time what you'd be happy with in terms of housing/ cars etc and stand firm because when you arrive everyone will be upselling you.

Thanks for the shared excitement!

yes @illiterato the plan is to save. It’s not Dubai (but not far), and we have already set the max accommodation and car budgets. We’ve crunched the numbers pretty carefully as the package isn’t as good as they used to be… but it still adds up to being worth it! we certainly want to enjoy ourselves (more with the travel opportunities than brunches), but predominantly there for better standard of living and to save.

I am definitely going to need to have a major clear out. Our UK home is very cluttered and there’s no way I want it all following us!

I can join you in getting excited! We move to Singapore at Easter.
My life is currently one big to-do list!

Yes, total clear out. And avoid collecting clutter whilst you're here; recycling, rubbish collection etc is not great ( I am in Abu Dhabi). We're moving back to the UK this year after 8 years and are currently swedish death cleaning; it's going to take ages!

As for what you need to stock up on, it depends. If you're coming to the UAE, there's no need; everything is here.

Hi @Fiddlesticksand - we are coming to AD…! Great to hear everything is there… I know it is in Dubai, and I guess even that’s only an hour away! How about things like school shoes/kids clothes - much more expensive there?

Actually. Good point about school shoes. Get them in UK. Next deliver to the UAE though. UK prices and quick delivery. Kids clothes are a bit meh here and I get most of my own clothes in the UK too when i travel home or Next delivery.