Well, we’re now feeling pretty committed, at least mentally. To moving to Germany, that is.
There’s a lot to do, of course, and a hell of a lot to think about. The financial aspect is the one that worries me the most. I’ll be going freelance, and I’ve never done that — but, with the cost of living in Germany being fairly high, I’ll really need to hit the ground running. My potential is, I think, fairly good, but I can’t pretend it’s not terrifying!
Here’s a list of things to get done in the coming months, if our goal is to be there by around May or June.
HOUSE
Repairs & sale
- Real estate assessment
- Relevant repairs
Getting ready to go
- Pack!
- Sell / donate things
- Pack keepsakes not coming with us
- where to keep it? With family?
- Cancel utilities, rates, etc
- Mail redirect
- to Germany or local friends/family?
- Phone redirects (or a cheap plan with a VM that informs of new details)
GERMANY LIVING
Financial
- Open bank accounts
- Mike to register as a freelancer (can I do that before I’m in Germany?)
- Friedel to find a job
- Where do we want to can we afford to live?
- Find a home to rent
- (+ 3 months of rent deposit)
- Insurances
- business, home, contents, property (medical listed under health)
- Buy a car? (+ insurance)
Lots of photos in this post:
Compelling, exciting, horrifying
So, meine Liebe, after watching Eurovision this past weekend (long-time fan of course, like most Aussies), is back on her “should we move to Germany?” dreaming. I mostly endorse it. I mean, there’s a lot to like about Australia, obviously, and having grown up here gives us both a
List continues...
Health
- Mike’s ADHD scripts
- (new assessment?)
- GP for family
- Dentist
- Insurance
Kids lives
- Duolingo
- install on tablets this week, establish routine and rewards
- Schooling
- international (💰) or local?
- Phone numbers & addresses (including online) for current friends
- Scouts
GERMANY LOGISTICS
- Shipping container (costs, options, etc)
- Investigate dog travel readiness, quarantine
What to take?
Large items
- Mike’s bike
- Inherited lamps?
- Inherited cupboard?
- Stupidly expensive bed frame I can’t believe I got talked into?
- Mike’s monitors? (Cheaper to buy new ones? Probably not…)
Small items
- ALL OF MIKE’S STUFF 😂
What to buy in Germany?
- Toothbrushes
- Mobile phone plans
- MacBook for Mike (potentially Friedel as well)
- Monitors?
- Look into shipping costs.
TRAVEL/LEGAL
- Visa for Mike
- Passports
- Friedel’s German passport, Kids’ Australian passports (or get dual citizenship process started)
- Research flights
- costs, stopover holiday options
- Travel insurance
- Immunisations
😱
It’s a lot! What am I missing? We’ll see…
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