10 Essential Things To Do After Moving:

Moving to a new city can give you that sense of disorientation, that uneasy feeling that you don’t really belong there. Time will often help you overcome the initial shock, but post move periods can be really tough in the very beginning, especially if you have absolutely no idea what things to do after a move.

Yet, the post relocation period doesn’t have to be tough at all. The checklist below will give you good suggestions of what to do after you move into a new house. The thing is, if you organize your time right, you won’t even have to deal with any stressful or confusing situations. Ready for some good post move checklist entries?

You know unpacking comes next, but how about learning the secrets of your new home? Sure, you’ll have to change your postal address, but have you found good health care providers yet? And yes, you should register your car after your cross country move, but isn’t making new friends your top priority?

What to do after a move? How, when, and why to do them all?

1. Organize your post move time

Welcome to your new home!

By the way, your professional movers didn’t overcharge you, did they? Your post move period starts as soon as you step over the threshold of your new house or apartment. You’ll probably notice that the very first day after moving into a new home is mostly characterized by a feeling of relief that the house move is finally over and now you can finally shake off that nerve-wracking build-up of stress and anxiety.

Unfortunately, due to the large number of things to do when moving into a new house, you won’t have much time to get too comfortable, at least not yet. In reality, it’s very important that you organize your post relocation time the best possible way. Do you remember how much your personal moving calendar made you take advantage of every hour of every day before the residential move? Now you’ll need to do something very similar.

Yes, do consider creating a brand new to-do list that will contain all the tasks you are expected to complete now that the relocation is over. New home errands? New city tasks? Your time matters too much to just do nothing, so get down to work. Again.

2. Unpack that mountain of boxes


Besides the bedroom and bathroom, the kitchen should be the next room to unpack.
Unlike packing up your home for a move, the best thing about unpacking is that you can actually stretch it in time and complete it at a much more comfortable pace. Unpacking after the move is important and its time consuming nature shouldn’t be underestimated, but you don’t really have a fast approaching deadline (your moving day) to try to desperately fit into.

The very first boxes you should unpack are your essentials boxes filled up with items of utmost importance. Then, you should start opening up all the Bedroom and Bathroom labeled containers, as those are the two rooms you are advised to set up with priority. After all, aren’t the thoughts in your head revolving around taking a quick shower and having a rest on your comfy bed?



Yes, unpacking is surely one of the first things to do after you move into a new home. Still, the great news here is that you’re the one controlling the unpacking speed to fit your immediate needs.

3. Learn the secrets of your new home

In most cases, your new home will be completely unknown territory for you, so it’s time to summon the explorer in you and set on an exploratory tour around the residence. Look for any signs of pre-existing damage, inspect the pipes for leaks, and keep your eyes open for unpleasant signs of infestation. Also, locate the fuse box and the main water stop valve in case of emergencies, and then write down the readings of your water- and electricity meters.

And while you’re doing that tour of yours, take mental notes of whether or not your new home is adequately secured against unauthorized access (theft), or against the destructive forces of Mother Nature. If you have a small child, then the new residence should be meticulously child-proofed as well.

Are the doors and windows as safe as they can be? Are there smoke detectors installed? What about conveniently placed fire-extinguishers on each floor? Needless to say, the fewer secrets your new place has, the better it is for you.

4. Change your postal address


Is your new home mailbox ready to receive good tidings?
Regardless of whether you moved just across town, relocated to a new city in the same state, or completed a cross country move, the postal address of your new home will be different. And that basically means that unless you take the time to change your address shortly after the house move, you’ll continue to receive your regular mail at your old address, which is no good.

Of all the things to do after you move into a new house, the task of changing your address should not be left for later. Instead, do it as soon as you can. You are given two options here: 1) you can take a walk to the local post office in person and fill out a change of address card, or 2) you can use the convenience of the global network and do it online via the USPS website.

Oh, and don’t forget to give some cash to the new owners/renters of your old place so that they can forward your mail until that entire change of address thing takes effect.

5. Register your child at a new school

If you just moved to a new house with a school age child, then you must understand how important it is to find a new school for him or her, so that they can continue their education. That new school has to be a reputable one too so that your kid can get the best possible start of his or her life.

If you haven’t chosen a good educational institution for your son or daughter prior to the move, you have to do it now. And being one of the things to do when moving to a new city, it’s vital that you complete that important task within the set deadlines.

First, seek recommendations from friends or colleagues, or even from neighbors who happen to know which schools are good and which are not. Gathering more information online is always a plus but the best thing to do is visit a few schools together with your school age kid, speak with the principal or a few teachers there in order to get a more realistic idea about what to expect in the future.

Don’t forget to have the required documents ready to register your child at the school of your choice.

6. Find suitable health care providers


If you just moved with a small child, you’re going to have to find a good pediatrician too.
You never know how your body and mind will react to the stress of the recent move, or the conditions of the new city environment. One potential problem is that the health care provider you knew and trusted for years can no longer see you and have a look at you should you catch a cold, become more seriously ill, or simply need a specific document from a doctor.

Our moving into a new house checklist continues with another task of utmost importance – finding a new family physician for you and your family members, as well as a new veterinarian for your pet, if applicable. As was the case with the school, recommendations from people you can trust are still the best way to find the best health care provider for you.

The guiding principle should always be to keep in mind your specific medical needs, and to make the right choice between a primary care doctor and a specialized doctor. The years of experience and the type of personality of your future health care provider are also important factors to consider.

7. Register your motor vehicle

What to do after a move to a new state?

Did you have your car transported for you? If you just crossed one or several state lines to reach your destination, then you shouldn’t forget to register your car in the new state. For your information, you may need to transfer your driver’s license as well. The good news here is that both these tasks are fairly straightforward, so all you need to do is find the time to visit the local DMV office to take care of it.

If you have no idea where that local DMV office is located, then you can use the DMV office finder to learn of its whereabouts. However, it’s important to remember that the deadline for your motor vehicle registration in the new state may vary from around 10 days up to a full month. Therefore, either contact the central DMV office in the state for more information, or complete this job within the next few days to avoid possible fines.

8. Help your pets acclimatize


Outdoor play is the best post relocation medicine for your dog.
If you just relocated with a pet, or pets, then you shouldn’t wonder too much about what to do after you move into a new house. This is so simply because one of the answers is too clear – you need to make sure your animal friend is feeling okay after the sudden change of scenery and unexpected leap out of their comfort zone.

The very first thing you can do for them is to clean your new place thoroughly due to the acute sense of smell of most pets, especially dogs and cats. The next best thing is to show them how much you care for them by tending to their needs, playing with them more frequently, if possible, and never leaving them alone for prolonged periods of time.

Still, the best thing you can do for your beloved pet after moving into a new home is to give them enough time to acclimatize properly to the new environment. Keep a close watch on them and consider asking for professional advice if a post relocation problem persists for more than a few weeks.

9. Make new friends

Moving into a new home can be hard for everyone involved. A possible side effect of the recent residential move is a phenomenon known as separation anxiety. The fact that you moved away from good friends and family is a reason enough to make you sad, and even depressed. And to make things worse, you probably don’t know anyone in the new city. At least not yet.

Of the various things to do after the move, your decision to make new friends is what will help you settle in quickly. Go say Hi to the folks next door in an attempt to get to know them better. Spend time with your co-workers after work and be open to new and somewhat bold opportunities to meet new people. Become a member of a new club, take dance lessons, or think about taking up a hobby that involves interaction with persons of similar interests.

But wherever the new city dynamics takes you, don’t forget to keep in touch with your old pals as that is a proven technique to overcome relocation depression.

10. Get to know your new city


Ready for a first bumpy walk around your new city?
So, what else to do when you move to a new city?

You should get to know that new city a little better, of course! In addition to the strictly practical side of knowing where to find the most essential places in town (supermarkets, banks, medical centers, post offices, car services, schools, banks, important government institutions, etc.), the more familiar you get with the new place, the more comfortable you will feel living and working there.

Take frequent exploratory walks first in your neighborhood, and then throughout the city itself. Get familiar with the city landmarks, learn a bit more about its history, and maybe even make an effort to understand better how the locals enjoy life in general. In short, dare to step more often outside the comfort of your new home and hopefully you will soon be on friendly terms with the city you just moved to.

Paint inspiration from around the globe:

When it comes to the look and feel of your home – the possibilities are as endless as the inspiration you choose to draw from. Do you have a favorite travel spot or a place that you’ve seen on postcards that you dream of escaping to? With the right choice of color palette you can transform your space into its own enviable destination.

Here are some of our travel inspired favorites and how they can set the foundation in transforming your space.

Caribbean Cues

Living below the equator isn’t the only way to enjoy tranquility year round. For those of you who can’t get enough of the Caribbean’s blue and turquoise waters and golden sun rays, splash your walls with these beautiful hues.

Choose from an array of warm, sunny yellows to create an uplifting space that is both happy and serene. Or, select vivid teals and ocean turquoises to create a space that calms and soothes just like the water-lapping waves.

Scandinavian simplicity

Choose from the cool side of the color wheel to create a Scandinavian feel in your home. Although IKEA has had its influence the last century through minimalist designs in crisp whites and natural wood hues, the Scandinavian look and feel dates back to days before furniture that could be put together with an Allen key.

Crisp whites, greys and icy blues all give a nod the region’s historical landscape of fjords, vast lakes and snowy mountain tops make the perfect backdrop for your version of Scandinavian simplicity.

Asian accents

There are many cultures around the world that celebrate red as the color of good fortune and happiness. In many Asian countries shades of red have a strong legacy that live on through local architecture, art, clothing and traditions.

Choosing deep, strong red colors are a way to bring this history and culture to your own home regardless of its physical location. If you’re feeling bold, you can paint an entire room in a symbolic red or create an accent wall to bring a dose of good fortune into your home. The celebrations await.

Last-Minute Checklist: The Night Before the Move:

Your Moving Checklist

There's a big difference between the moving checklist that you'll draw up in the months and weeks leading up to a move, and the checklist you'll need to ensure nothing but smooth sailing on the day of the actual move. Here is a short list of the top 10 moving tips you should be concerned with the night before the movers arrive to whisk you away to a new home.

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1. Confirm you've contacted the local utilities and scheduled for electricity, water, gas and phone shutoff once your move-out is complete. Depending on what time of year you move, you may not need to have your utilities operating on the actual moving day, but it's wise to schedule for at least a full day inbetween in the event of unforeseeable circumstances. Your landline phone should be disconnected last so that you can make calls as needed until you've completely vacated the premises.
2. By now, you should have submitted a Change of Address form online with USPS to ensure continued mail delivery throughout your move. If you haven't yet crossed it off your moving checklist, give it top priority.
3. If you're taking it on the move with you, ensure you've defrosted your refrigerator's freezer 24 hours in advance.
4. Double-check the arrival time of the movers. If you're moving yourself and are using a rental truck, contact the rental company one last time the day before to confirm pickup time.
5. If you've done your own packing, make sure you've separated all boxes that contain fragile items so that you can point them out to the movers when they arrive. If the moving company is going to be packing your belongings for you, make sure that you've separated all fragile items and grouped them together so they can be cared for separately.
6. Moving companies require that you're there while they take care of business. Make arrangements to be present at all times during the loading of your belongings.
7. Have the mover's money ready, whether you're paying with check, money order, or credit card. Do the same if you're renting a moving truck and going the DIY route.
8. Confirm all travel and lodging reservations.
9. Withdraw enough cash from the bank to be able to pay for any incidental or emergency expenditures. You'll also need cash for tipping your movers.
10. Make arrangements to board your pets or keep them at a friend or relative's place while the movers come in and do their thing.

How to Reward Friends Who Help You Move (Pizza and Beer Won’t Cut It):

Found a new place? Check. Packed up all your stuff? Check. Suckered friends into helping you move? Check.

But wait—you’re not done! You still need to figure out how you’ll pay your friends back after the exhausting big day. No, a few slices of pizza and room-temperature beer won’t cut it anymore. You’re grown-up now, remember?

To ensure that your friends remain, well, friends, there are two cardinal rules to keep in mind before the move:

1. Make the whole process as efficient and hassle-free as possible. It probably won’t be fun, but it doesn’t have to be backbreaking or traumatic either.

2. Make your gratitude clear. You don’t need to change your will or buy your pals Mini Coopers, but do make them feel good about participating.

So go ahead and get started! You’ll still have a few friends left after the move. We promise.

Before you move

• Don’t: Fold boxes closed to save tape. Your buds will be stuck balancing fragile boxes all day.
• Do: Label every box with a coordinating room for easy drop-off.
• Don’t: Pack a few big boxes with a ton of heavy stuff. You may end up with fewer boxes, but those boxes will be nearly impossible to carry. Why do this to people you purportedly like?
• Do: Use medium-size boxes. Experts say they are the best size for simpler moves. You can use a couple of big boxes for bulky but light things such as comforters and towels.

During your move

• Don’t: Overload your chums’ cars with boxes, saving your own for the little TLC leftovers. Nothing says “team spirit” like a four-car pileup because everyone in your convoy was attempting to check their rearview mirror and seeing only a tiny crack between stacks of boxes.
• Do: Pay for gas for every driver. Then go further: “Top off this gesture with a gas gift card they can use down the road,” says Tiffany Nielsen, etiquette coach and CEO of Premier Etiquette in Exeter, CA.
• Don’t: Keep promising pizza at the end of the day, like some kind of pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. This is (sorry) cheesy. And you might end up with a mutiny on your hands by 2 p.m.
• Do: “Throughout the move—beginning to end—provide good snacks and plenty of drinks,” Nielsen says. “Make sure to have plenty of [disposable] plates, utensils, napkins, and cups on hand.”

After your move

• Don’t: Finish the day by telling your friends they should rummage around the cooler for leftover snacks and half-warm sodas.
• Do: Deliver them some ice-cold beer, strong mojitos, Starbucks Frappuccinos, or whatever floats your (and their) boat. “When the work is done, deliver a grateful toast, sit back, and relax,” Nielsen says.
• Do: Take everyone out to a proper meal at a restaurant that doesn’t use paper plates but is casual enough for your somewhat rumpled crew. Order lots of apps!

Moving Yourself Is Tricky! Top 5 Self-Moving Mistakes To Avoid:

You’ve probably heard numerous clever quotes about making mistakes in life, and until you’re the one making a mistake, these words of wisdom actually sound fine. Depending on your current state of mind, such quotes can even be somewhat inspirational /”Mistakes are stepping stones to success.”/. But make no mistake, once you find yourself on the other side, the grass doesn’t even seem remotely green. Make a costly blunder and you may not be able to see any grass at all.

Now, it’s never fun to err, especially during a period where there’s a bad combination of elevated stress, money at stake, and too little time – like a house move, for example. Without a doubt, moving from one home to another is a unique period in one’s life where the extremely transitional nature of the life-changing event tends to put a lot of pressure on people. And as you can imagine, increased levels of stress lead to a higher number of errors from the people who are often already too stressed out enough as it is.

If you yourself are facing a house move anytime soon and you’re thinking of moving on your own, then it’s extremely important that you stay away from serious trouble by avoiding the most common mistakes when moving on your own. Some move related mistakes are too insignificant and you can simply ignore them (like forgetting to clean your refrigerator prior to moving day), other errors will greatly slow down your progress (running out of essential packing materials), while yet other blunders could really cost you (hiring the services of a bad moving company).

Stay safe. Stay protected. Learn the top 5 mistakes when moving by yourself.

DIY mistakes #1: “Professional movers are too expensive!”


With experienced movers, you can rest assured that your prized possessions are in good hands.
It’s a common misconception to assume that professional relocation services are always much costlier than organizing and executing a Do-It-Yourself house move. The truth is that it’s very hard, and even unfair, to make general comparisons due to the fact that the moving price is formed on a case-by-case basis. In other words, because of the great number of additional factors that affect the final moving price, no two house moves will cost the same even if they seem extremely similar.

Generally speaking, DIY moving can be cost effective only if:

you’re moving within the same town and city,
you’re moving locally within a radius of 100 miles and won’t cross another state,
you have previous experience in organizing a house move,
you’re moving out of a relatively small home with not too many, too heavy or too expensive household items in it, and
you know you can rely on a few good friends to give you a hand when you need it the most.
Don’t make the moving mistake of assuming that hiring a professional moving company will cost you more, especially if you don’t meet all, or almost all of the conditions above. Once you leave the realm of a local move, a top rated cross country mover becomes vital for the successful end of your relocation adventure. After all, not for a moment should you forget the staggering number of hidden costs when moving on your own – obtaining quality packing materials, renting a moving vehicle and moving equipment, purchasing adequate relocation insurance, paying for road tolls and taxes, paying for additional loading/unloading labor, food and lodging along the road, etc.

Learn how much your house relocation will cost you and use that valuable info to set up your moving budget accordingly.

VERY IMPORTANT: What to know when hiring a mover



DIY mistakes #2: “Packing is just another pre-move task.”

Let’s get straight to the point: packing up a house for a move is not just another task you need to mark as checked before Moving day comes around. No matter how you look at it, packing is the most important job during your pre-move preparations and failure to approach it with the urgency and dedication it requires could easily become one of the most serious mistakes when moving yourself.

To avoid costly mistakes when packing your home by yourself, you must be familiar with and follow these 5 fundamental Do-It-Yourself packing rules:


Whatever you do, you can’t really hide from packing.
Start thinking about packing up your home as soon as you know for sure that you’re moving to a new home. Or on the next day at the latest. It’s easy to underestimate the staggering amount of time that packing up for a move requires, and it’s even easier to switch into a procrastination mode. Trust us – just don’t it.

Unless you really wish to lose extra valuable time and waste even more valuable money, don’t even think about packing all of your earthy possessions without sorting them out first. Make a detailed home inventory to help you slim down the number of your belongings prior to the move.
Create a packing calendar to introduce discipline and order into your packing process. Start the process from the premises that are the hardest ones to sort and pack – storage rooms and the kitchen.
Safety is a real concern when moving home yourself, and especially when you’re packing on your own. Safety both for you and for your prized possessions. So, the first step to ensuring nothing bad happens is to get hold of quality packing supplies.
Packing up an entire home is a challenge that cannot be usually dealt with by only one person. To avoid falling behind schedule, ask your good friends to lend you a hand, or even better – if you can afford it, hire professional packers to finish the job several times faster and several times safer.
DIY mistakes #3: “I’m immune to move related injuries.”

It’s important to keep in mind that some DIY moving mistakes can be rather painful – literally! One of the major differences between having professionals handle a house move and having non-professionals do it is the level of overall safety. In fact, professional movers are vigorously taught how to reach and maintain the highest degree of safety when working on a move – both personal safety and protection of property.

Therefore, if you have decided to undertake the DIY approach to moving to another home, don’t make the mistake of assuming that you are immune to any type of accidents. Instead, follow this self-moving advice to stay on the safe side of things from Day 1.

Avoid personal injuries by using your common sense at all times. Before having to lift and move heavy furniture pieces with your pals, make sure 1) the walking path is clear of any obstacles, 2) you use proper moving equipment /an appliance dolly, moving straps, etc./, 3) you know the proper lifting techniques to avoid nasty (back) injuries, 4) you wear durable work gloves to protect your hands and fingers, and 5) you have your most comfortable pair of shoes with excellent traction and ankle protection.
Remember to 1) double tape your cardboard boxes even if they seem sturdy enough, 2) place clean sheets of paper on the bottom of each box to protect, 3) use plenty of crumpled packing paper, bubble wrap or pieces of clothing to create cushioning layers inside the moving boxes and fill up any empty spaces, and 4) keep all your moving containers less than 40-45 pounds each.
Don’t make the self-move mistake of letting small children and/or pets be around the action on Moving day! Too many pairs of playful feet could endanger the safety of the entire DIY moving operation. Keep your loved ones away from the moving epicenter for both your sakes.
GOOD TO KNOW: How to ensure your safety when moving house




DIY mistakes #4: “Renting and driving a moving truck is child’s play.”

As far as DIY moving tips go, an important stage in most self-moving adventures is to secure a vehicle with which to transport your household items. And when it comes to self-move rental trucks, there are some not-so-funny mistakes you should avoid at all costs.


The important job of loading a rented moving truck on your own is not to be underestimated.
Truck rental mistake #1: If you select a rental truck with smaller storage capacity than you need for your stuff, then you might be forced to make more than one trip to your destination. Or worse – you may need to return the vehicle and rent a larger one, which would mean loads of wasted time and nerves.

Truck rental mistake #2: If you choose a truck with larger space than you actually need, not only will you be paying for extra storage which you have no way of utilizing, but you will also run the risk of damaging some of your belongings if you fail to secure them well for safe transportation. Still, it’s the “preferred” mistake out of the two scenarios.
Above all, it’s useful to have a basic understanding about the approximate capacities of self-move rental vehicles. Here are some approximate truck capacity calculations to help you make a good choice. However, discuss this important issue with a knowledgeable representative of a truck rental moving company before your final decision.

Pickup truck. Good for small loads and partial moves.
Cargo van. Suitable for college moves, partial moves or moving out of a studio apartment when moving locally.
10-12 foot truck. Ideal for college moves and small apartments.
14-17 foot truck. Good for moving out of a 1-2 bedroom homes or smaller offices. These are the most common rental moving trucks on the market.
20-26 foot truck. Ideal for moving the household items found in large 3, 4 bedroom homes.
IMPORTANT: Learn the best ways to protect your move

DIY mistakes #5: “My friends will gladly help me move out.”

One thing you should do at all costs when moving on your own is to explore your self-moving options as far as they can go. Of all the self-move mistakes to avoid, the costliest error you can ultimately make is to underestimate the complexity of the upcoming relocation, and therefore only think you’ve got all the bases covered.

As mentioned above, a self-move is not the right time to attempt to prove to yourself that you can manage all the tasks without assistance of any kind. If you can’t afford to let professional packers and movers take care of the toughest relocation stages for you, then you will most definitely need to reach out to your friends and ask them for help.


Having your friends bail out on you in the last minute could really complicate things for you.
However, don’t make self-moving mistake of assuming that your pals are obligated in any way to give you a hand. On the contrary, they will probably be dealing with complicated work schedules, previous commitments and other responsibilities, so

contact them as early as you possibly can to maximize your chances of positive answers;
it’s best to ask them for help face in face, if possible;
don’t try to underplay the amount of work they are expected to help out with, but be a straight shooter from the start;
show understanding to the ones who cannot lend you helping hand for one reason or another;
prepare and organize in advance whatever you can yourself to save your friends much valued time and efforts; and
remember to show your enormous gratitude and reward their sacrifice in a way that you seem to be the most appropriate and memorable.

How to Calculate Your Real Hourly Wage:

1. 
   1
   Understand your real hourly wage. Most people are familiar with their hourly wage, but chances are very good your real hourly wage is less. Your real hourly wage deducts all the costs associated with doing your job from your income, and divides the result by all the hours you spend doing work related tasks.^[2]

   • For example, you may earn $30,000 per year but, when you deduct your taxes, costs to commute to work, costs to eat at work, and clothing costs, you are left with a smaller net salary each year. After expenses, you may earn $20,000, for example. When you divide this by the number of hours you spend on all work related tasks (working from home, for example), you would get your real hourly wage. This may be less than the hourly wage you see on your pay check.
   • When you know your real hourly wage, it can give you perspective on how much you are spending. For example, you may make $20 per hour, but your real hourly wage may be $10. This means when you eat out and buy a $20 meal, you are really trading in two hours of work, instead of one.
2. 
   2
   Calculate your total annual income. In order to calculate your real hourly wage rate you must first calculate your total annual income. This is because your annual income is the starting point from which you will subtract the costs, time and other expenses that comprise your real hourly wage.^[3]

   • If you are a salaried employee you should use your yearly salary amount as your annual income.
   • If you are paid based on an hourly wage rate you should multiply your hourly wage rate by the total number of hours you expect to work in the upcoming year.
   • If you are an hourly employee you should make sure to include any paid overtime or other pay received for work completed beyond the agreed-upon number of hours you work each week.
   • For example, if you make $30 per hour, and expect to work 40 hour weeks all year, your annual income would be $62,000 (or 40 hours per week X 52 weeks in a year X $30 per hour).
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   Calculate the total annual amount of employment benefits. Employee benefits are added to your actual annual earnings because they are valuable goods/services that you are benefiting from without paying for.

   • Does your employer offer health insurance, life insurance, dental and vision and/or discounted gym memberships?
   • Does your job provide you with a free or subsidized computer or cell phone? How much would you pay for these items on your own?
   • Does your employer match your 401(k) contribution or provide other retirement benefits?
   • Add these amounts to your total annual income.
4. 
   4
   Determine your annual income tax expenses. Federal, state and local income taxes greatly decrease the amount actually received each pay period. Calculate the total amount of taxes paid each year by multiplying your annual income by each relevant tax percentage rate. Or look at your W-2 for the previous year in order to get an estimate of your projected income tax expense.

   • Use this formula to determine the percentage of gross income paid in taxes each year: Projected Tax Rate = 100 - (net income/gross income).
   • If your tax rate is 25%, and your annual income is $62,000, your after tax income would be $46,500.
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   5
   Calculate all of the expenses associated with your employment. To determine your employment related expenses, consider the things you spend money on that you would not need to if you didn't work. Major categories include transportation, food, clothing, and childcare.^[4]

   • Transportation costs related to travelling to and from work can have a big effect on your real hourly wage. Sit down and estimate how much money you spend each month on gas, public transportation and other travel-related expenses associated with your job. Multiply these monthly expenses by 12 in order to create a good estimate of your yearly transportation work-related expenses. If you want to be precise, find out the gas mileage for your vehicle (40 cents per mile), for example, and multiply this by the number of miles to your work.
   • The costs associated with sending your child to daycare or school should be factored in when calculating your real hourly wage. Make sure to include annual costs for childcare services such as tuition and babysitter fees.
   • If you are required to purchase equipment or uniforms in order to perform your work duties, these costs should be included when calculating work-related expenses.
   • Estimate how much money you spend per month on food that you consume during your lunch break, or while otherwise on the job. Multiple this monthly amount by 12 in order to determine your annual work food costs.
   • Calculate how much money you spend each year on vacations and other work-related decompression expenses, and when applicable subtract the amount of paid vacation time used for vacations each year from this total expense amount.^[5]
6. 
   6
   Tally up all of your work-related expenses. Create a rough estimate of the cost of each work-related expense discussed above. Add together the costs of work-related food, transportation, clothing, childcare and any other similar cost in order to determine your total amount of work-related expenses.
7. 
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   Deduct your total expenses from your after-tax annual earnings to determine your real income. Take your after-tax earnings ($46,500, for example), and subtract your work-related expenses.

   • If your after-tax earnings are $46,500, and your total work-related expenses are $10,000, your real income would be $36,500.
   • $36,500 would be your real income, or how much you truly have to spend on your own personal expenses and interests.

6 Benefits of Hiring a Moving Company:

So you are moving across country and you think you can do it on your own. While that may be true, you may be shocked at how fast an interstate move can get a little out of hand. When you hire a moving company, you can save yourself a lot of stress and it offers with many benefits.

1.) Moving companies have experience in long distance moves. When it comes to packing and moving, there is no one better for the job than an experienced moving company. They are skilled in making your move as smooth as possible.

2.) A moving company can help ease your mind. There are many things that go along with moving like packing, moving, storage and more. When you make the huge decision to move across the country, you have many other things to worry about like getting ready for a new job in a new state or getting your kids ready for a new school. Hiring a moving company will allow you to handle all of the things you need to do while they take care of the actual move for you.

3.) Hiring movers can actually save you money. When you attempt to move on your own, you may be inclined to buy extra things such as bubble wrap for protecting valuables or boxes to pack your things in. When you hire a moving company, these things are generally included in the cost of the move. Also, moving takes time so you will likely have to miss work to get everything done which will result in lost wages.

4.) Safety when it comes to lifting heavy furniture. Professional movers are used to heavy lifting. Carrying furniture up and down stairs is no easy task. By hiring professional movers, you can save yourself from possible injuries as they have all of the necessary equipment to move heavy objects.

5.) Peace of mind knowing that your belongings are protected. Moving companies will usually offer some type of insurance to make sure that your personal possessions are protected. Accidents happen all the time, but knowing that your things are protected will definitely give you piece of mind.

6.) No need to make multiple trips. When you hire professional movers, you don’t have to worry about loading up multiple vehicles, making more than one trip or having to drive a huge box truck on your own. Moving companies are equipped with multiple size trucks to make sure all of your things can be moved in a single trip.

With all of the benefits of hiring a professional moving company, you just can’t go wrong. When you are planning your next move, whether you are moving across the country or across the state, make sure you think smart and consider using a moving company. In the end, we are sure you will be glad you did.