Moving Cents
- Christine Lusk
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
It's Guest Blog Time!
Accounting isn't my strength and I know I am not alone there. It isn't well taught in American schools so if your parents struggled with finances or didn't take the time to teach you, it is easy to carry that ignorance into adulthood and the bad habits too.
Moving is one of the most expensive activities that we do as adults that is not only stressful but necessary. There are numerous hidden and unintended financial costs but there is also the non-renewable resource of your time. Knowing how taxing all of it is on our community, we like to highlight financial professionals from our broader community to share how they survive and thrive in this nomadic life. We are delighted to have found Kaitlin through another family member all too familiar with our challenges.
Guest Blog by Kaitlin Krozel
When I was asked to write this blog recently, I had to laugh as the timing couldn’t have been worse. I’m currently living abroad and our movers are coming in five days for our 8th PCS move. On the other hand, as a CPA, business owner and financial planner, budgeting is my jam so there was no way I could let my PCS stop me from the opportunity to help others in my same position.
So, let’s get right to it – here are some tips to budgeting for your PCS from a woman who has done this way too many times.
Grow your savings, not your waistline
Per diem can sound cool and be very fun at first. Cool restaurants, a break from meal prepping and getting out of the near empty house or hotel where you are temporarily living. I know this first-hand. When we arrived in South America three years ago our house was not ready and we lived in a hotel for three months. The hotel had no kitchen and after a few weeks of eating out I could not stand the constant credit card charging, heavy meals and tighter waistline on my jeans. I created a makeshift hotel ‘kitchen’ getting a microwave, electric tea kettle, cutting board, a good knife, and some cheap plates/bowls along with borrowing items I could from the room service cart like salt/pepper, cutlery, oil, etc. (all were returned – I promise!). I calculated how much I was saving per week in food costs vs. eating out at restaurants and increased the contributions I made to my kids 529 plans by that amount. This gave me incentive to keep it up and my kids appreciated not having to always be on restaurant perfect behavior for every meal…eating makeshift bean burritos in our pajamas was way more fun anyway.
How long have you had that mattress?
After seven PCS moves, I feel like my family and I live lean. Each move forces us to shed the items we don’t need, don’t want or simply don’t serve us any longer. We all know that PCS moves are limited in weight and paying out of pocket to move items is the worst feeling ever and terrible for your finances. The best way to keep from paying extra in a PCS move is to not move bulky, heavy, low value items that you don’t need.
So how long have you had that mattress? I’m embarrassed to say that my husband and I moved our first one around for 13 years before replacing it. If you are concerned about weight and are planning to buy a new mattress or couch anyway, consider leaving the old ones behind. Look for things like duplicate appliances, worn/old pots and pans, old tools never being used, outdated electronics. Also consider donating or selling books that you will never pick up again and have no sentimental value. Unlike my 7th grade copy of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ that will NEVER go in the giveaway pile!
Lean on Technology
PCS moves are hard — pack up your life, say goodbye to friends, live out of a suitcase, then an empty house, start over somewhere new… and just when you can finally get around the city without needing the GPS, it’s time to do it all again. Wash, rinse and repeat.
Sometimes we just don’t have the time (or patience) to organize all the expenses. My old tracking method of ‘stash receipts in my wallet’ was not great. I would often get so frustrated with everything, I’d just end up throwing them away with the thought that it would take me more time that I didn’t have to organize it all. I was doing it all wrong and should have been using my phone and tech to help. I recommend using an app that captures the receipt info from a picture. Some money tracker options to consider are Expensify, Monira, and Finny (there are many out there).
Simply snap, verify and smile all the way to the trashcan to throw that receipt away.
Legendary Lucky Draw
This last one is just a fun idea anyone can implement prior to a PCS move to help offload items and have some fun. Before my husband and I packed out from our very first post in Singapore, we had a going away party. As part of the fun, we had a PCS ‘lucky draw’ (raffle) and have implemented this before each subsequent move. The rules are simple: winners can trade items amongst themselves, but all the prizes must leave the property after the party – everything must go. This is where we give away things like house plants, books, liquor we can’t bring and all those pantry items that are likely very close to expiring anyway. One guest may win a half bottle of rum and three cans of tuna, or a cool houseplant partnered with a plastic sled. This always brings laughs and good times during what can be a stressful PCS.
You've got this! PCS moves are like slow-moving tornadoes—you see them coming, prepare as best you can, then hang on and roll with it. With a little planning (and the tips above), your budget won’t get swept up in the chaos.
Kaitlin's Bio
Kaitlin is no stranger to moving and expat life as she has made seven PCS moves in the last 17 years with three of those moves being international (Singapore, Spain & Chile). Kaitlin is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), financial planner and owner of Krozel Capital where her and her team provide integrated tax, financial planning and investment advisory services. Her husband serves in the U.S. Navy and she has two children.
Comments