What to Bring (and Leave Behind) When Moving Abroad

Moving requires a million different decisions. It’s hard to know what to bring when moving abroad. Traveling light to make a fresh start is important. You also don’t want to spend money on things you already have. This rundown of what to pack or leave behind when moving abroad covers essential tips!

What to Bring When Moving Abroad

You don’t have to shed everything. Packing the right things can save you from frustration. Let’s start with the things you’ll regret leaving behind.

Your Clothes

You may need help finding your favorite clothing items in a new country. Retailers often sell different collections around the world. Clothes might also be more expensive in a new place. However, someone living in Panama might find that they can purchase “upmarket” clothing much cheaper than people in places like the United States and Europe.

Your Bicycle

Bring your bike if you’re planning to use it to get around in your new home. This can be much cheaper than buying a new bike after arrival. Most bikes can be checked with your airline baggage for free. Check how much it will cost to check yours versus buying a new one.

An Extra Pair of Glasses

If you wear glasses, get an extra pair with your current prescription before your move. This ensures you’ll have a working pair if your primary pair fails. Getting new glasses shipped or figuring out how to work with a local eye doctor can take time.

All of Your Essential Technology Gear

Being connected will help you ease into your transition to a new country! If you bring it from home, you’ll know that all of your tech is compatible with your main laptop. Here are the tech essentials to pack:

• Laptop
• External portable charger
• External hard drive
• Chargers for all of your electronic devices
• Adapter plugs
• Headphones
• Insurance and warranty information for all your electronic devices

Don’t forget about coming up with a way to manage your streaming subscriptions while abroad. You may need to cancel and resubscribe to some services. That’s because many streaming services offer different content in different countries. You can often access a United States-based account by setting up a VPN (virtual private network) to log in from anywhere.

Surfboard

Are you moving somewhere coastal? You’ll be thrilled to learn that surfboards count as baggage with most airlines. Anyone flying to a place like Central America has probably seen their fellow passengers checking surfboards.

Some travelers even decide to stay permanently after falling in love. Many of the safest places in Panama and other parts of Central America are idyllic coastal towns that attract surfers from the United States.

What to Leave Behind When Moving Abroad

Being sentimental about packing can result in big transport bills! Remember that most of your favorite retailers are global. That means that getting replacement items is easier than ever. Here’s a look at the items you shouldn’t bring when moving abroad.

Bedding

Bedding is bulky to pack. It’s also not guaranteed that your new place will have the same size bed as your current one. Bedding is something to shop for after you arrive in your new city. Find bedding that will make you feel at home and make the transition easier.

Toiletries

Packing shampoo, conditioner, and other liquids is a hassle. Your favorite products from home will run out eventually. That’s why it’s better to pack nothing more than a toothbrush for personal care when moving abroad. Simply pick out new items at the local pharmacy or department store after you arrive.

Furniture

The cost of transporting furniture is much higher than buying new pieces. Consider storing sentimental pieces or entrusting them with family members. Everything else should be sold or donated. Only consider paying to have furniture shipped if you’re making a permanent move to a new country.

Final Thoughts on Packing to Move Abroad

It’s never easy to leave things behind. It can be even harder to try to cram things from your “old life” into your new life after overpacking. Carefully think about what you can’t do without and what you can purchase for your new life. Remember that almost everything in your home today can be easily purchased in any country in the world!