What wife or husband or whoever has time should do ??
1) PAY bills : First of all, you got to clear bills. Now your apartment dues will be settled in end, keep like third last day for it. In most of the apartments, you go downstairs, they tell you the current water bill, electricity bill blah blah and you pay through portal or cheque. Last day for this.
If you have a broadband connection, call them 15 days ahead and enquire about the bill payment procedure for when you want to move out. If its the middle of month, normally they want you to call one week ahead, broadband guy comes and takes landline away after a week. So you are never in no wifi zone.
For gas reading or submitting cylinder, go when you can to agency and return it. It takes like 15 minutes to return. Just call them in advance, take cylinder and book with you.
2) Fix house : If you are renting the apartment, there must be something you have to fix like a light bulb or balcony which is dirty because of the plants. Anything you think that will take up time needs to be finished 2 weeks early. So you have peaceful 2 weeks to just arrange the stuff you want to pack or shop for.
3) Maid issues : I had the best maid ever and still there were problems in the end. Get her something like a saree or money in the end. Make sure she expects nothing more. My maid wanted a refrigerator so yeah keep them grounded and in service till you leave.
4) Sort your stuff : Well all those tshirts skirts you have grown out of, leave them for charity. Carry only the stuff thats new or can be worn in house. Why? Because US style is different, clothes are amazing. If you are not wearing those clothes in india, they are just gonna be taking up more space here. Sort it out, one pile goes to be packed with you in flight, another one to be shipped to you after a few months, and the last one is charity. Freely give away. Trust me, you won't miss anything. Do this at least 2 weeks in advance.
5) Meet friends : Take out time for friends and meet them as much as possible. You are gonna miss this sunshine first few months in any other city. Keep your last days free so you can say bye properly. Get them gifts if you want to. Go for lunches. Enjoy your life there.
6) Bedding pillows : We all have those bedsheets that are never used. They are just there for when washing machine overflows we can use them. Only bring the ones that are new or look new. Don't bring the whole new old bedsheets in shipping. US has better quality linen. So be a charitable person, give it away. If you have used pillows enough, throw them too. But then, if you are going to have in laws coming in, keep them for that room. Again, at least 15 days before so you only use throw away bedsheets and all the new ones can be packed cleanly.
7) Selling stuff : Decide what you want to sell when you move, if you have a bike or car you want to sell, start the process like a month before and hand over the stuff when you are comfortable to. Don't leave things for last moment. If you want to send them to your hometown, be in touch with person who's gonna use it. Take the insurance and xeroxes of sale copy, rc copy and you are done. Send it off when packers movers come. If you decide early, it will be convenient to tell packers when they come for inspection.
8) Tell everyone you got it : Worst case scenario is some one coming over to help you. So unless you trust the person completely, you and your husband make sure you don't get stressed and even if you do get stressed, don't tell it your parents. They will come over, try to help, get to witness fights . Trust me, not cool. Its just a phase, you can do it yourself easily.
9)Plants : Well, plants are like kids. I know its hard to part, but you have to. So in advance ask friends if they want plants. Or you can give them to gardener or just replant them else where in a park or cemetry. This way, they don't die and you feel happy . Do this at least a month in advance.
10) Trash out a week before : If you sorted all your clothes, give them away like a week before so you have more space to pack the final clothes. All trash, all selling stuff that you are not probably needing should be out like a week before.
11) Utensils out or in : In US where we moved, most of the gas is induction based, all i needed was induction range of utensils. I have 75% of the cooking utensils, I have to take back india in installments. So make sure you have the right things to cook. Also cutlery plates are a lot nicer and dishwasher safe here, so if you can, try and buy in US. Don't bring extra utensils like those old steel ones or plates you never used. Send them back home or give it to a homeless.
12) Buying Furniture:If you want to buy furniture like tv stand, dining table start browsing furniture stores weeks ahead to see what kind of shop fits your needs. Lifestyle has most of the new designs and affordable prices. Order and get it shipped last week. So when you throw all the trash clothes utensils etc , you will have extra storage to keep everything intact in boxes. My friend insisted on opening and checking so they made them assemble furniture and then packed it again. Whatever works for you. We didn't buy any in India, the prices are a little bit higher here but you do get warranty quality where you buy from. Personally, I would have preferred selling all furniture and buying new in US. All the furniture that you get here is easy to pack while heavy furniture is difficult to manage. Most of the people here do their own packing moving so for sure I should have avoided all junk clothes furniture utensils we brought. And top of it, apartments are small so avoid avoid.
13) Shopping for groceries and travelling stuff : Go to a big store like big bazaar or saravana stores and buy packs of spices, almonds, nuts, atta whatever you are going to need on a daily basis. One of my friends was stopped for carrying rice and lentils. Avoid carrying these or anything that could sprout, that could be considered a seed. Buy one wooden rolling pin, wooden base for less weight.Get this all one week ahead. Also buy travel packs of lotions shampoo conditioner hairserum etc. Get a mixer grinder if you dont have.
14) Jewelry : Carry your favorite things with you, if its expensive preferably in hand baggage. For all the gaudy gold you never touch, leave it with your mother's when you visit them. As much as I have seen, normally delicate jewelry is what people wear here. There have been indian specific robberies here where they specifically went in indian houses looking for gold. Keep them safe.
15) Your EAD : Keep all documents you are going to need to apply for jobs. All your certification that you might need. If you want, take experience certificate from employers. Take 2 by 2 photos and check on this site. Then print and bring with you. You can also get it done here but in india, everything is cheaper and familiar.
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/photos/photos.html
16) Airplane shopping : Its going to be a long flight. If you have been travelling , you must have all the accessories otherwise buy these. Plane pillow, woollen shrug, comfortable trouser preferably cotton, loose fitting shirt,socks, flat sandals or shoes and noise cancelling headphones. Ohh those monster kids and people pushing seats to maximum limits. Airports are pretty cold, carry like a light jacket with you.
17) Electronics : Well, find out which one has dual voltage option. The ones that don't have, feel free to send them home or sell them. Yeah that includes toaster sandwich maker hair dryer too.
18) Relax relax : Dont do everything in one day. Distribute work evenly and finish off calmly. There is no need to hurry, just start off early and you won't be running around in the end. Those last 2 days in hotel, utilize them to return to sanity.
If you have a broadband connection, call them 15 days ahead and enquire about the bill payment procedure for when you want to move out. If its the middle of month, normally they want you to call one week ahead, broadband guy comes and takes landline away after a week. So you are never in no wifi zone.
For gas reading or submitting cylinder, go when you can to agency and return it. It takes like 15 minutes to return. Just call them in advance, take cylinder and book with you.
2) Fix house : If you are renting the apartment, there must be something you have to fix like a light bulb or balcony which is dirty because of the plants. Anything you think that will take up time needs to be finished 2 weeks early. So you have peaceful 2 weeks to just arrange the stuff you want to pack or shop for.
3) Maid issues : I had the best maid ever and still there were problems in the end. Get her something like a saree or money in the end. Make sure she expects nothing more. My maid wanted a refrigerator so yeah keep them grounded and in service till you leave.
4) Sort your stuff : Well all those tshirts skirts you have grown out of, leave them for charity. Carry only the stuff thats new or can be worn in house. Why? Because US style is different, clothes are amazing. If you are not wearing those clothes in india, they are just gonna be taking up more space here. Sort it out, one pile goes to be packed with you in flight, another one to be shipped to you after a few months, and the last one is charity. Freely give away. Trust me, you won't miss anything. Do this at least 2 weeks in advance.
5) Meet friends : Take out time for friends and meet them as much as possible. You are gonna miss this sunshine first few months in any other city. Keep your last days free so you can say bye properly. Get them gifts if you want to. Go for lunches. Enjoy your life there.
6) Bedding pillows : We all have those bedsheets that are never used. They are just there for when washing machine overflows we can use them. Only bring the ones that are new or look new. Don't bring the whole new old bedsheets in shipping. US has better quality linen. So be a charitable person, give it away. If you have used pillows enough, throw them too. But then, if you are going to have in laws coming in, keep them for that room. Again, at least 15 days before so you only use throw away bedsheets and all the new ones can be packed cleanly.
7) Selling stuff : Decide what you want to sell when you move, if you have a bike or car you want to sell, start the process like a month before and hand over the stuff when you are comfortable to. Don't leave things for last moment. If you want to send them to your hometown, be in touch with person who's gonna use it. Take the insurance and xeroxes of sale copy, rc copy and you are done. Send it off when packers movers come. If you decide early, it will be convenient to tell packers when they come for inspection.
8) Tell everyone you got it : Worst case scenario is some one coming over to help you. So unless you trust the person completely, you and your husband make sure you don't get stressed and even if you do get stressed, don't tell it your parents. They will come over, try to help, get to witness fights . Trust me, not cool. Its just a phase, you can do it yourself easily.
9)Plants : Well, plants are like kids. I know its hard to part, but you have to. So in advance ask friends if they want plants. Or you can give them to gardener or just replant them else where in a park or cemetry. This way, they don't die and you feel happy . Do this at least a month in advance.
10) Trash out a week before : If you sorted all your clothes, give them away like a week before so you have more space to pack the final clothes. All trash, all selling stuff that you are not probably needing should be out like a week before.
11) Utensils out or in : In US where we moved, most of the gas is induction based, all i needed was induction range of utensils. I have 75% of the cooking utensils, I have to take back india in installments. So make sure you have the right things to cook. Also cutlery plates are a lot nicer and dishwasher safe here, so if you can, try and buy in US. Don't bring extra utensils like those old steel ones or plates you never used. Send them back home or give it to a homeless.
12) Buying Furniture:If you want to buy furniture like tv stand, dining table start browsing furniture stores weeks ahead to see what kind of shop fits your needs. Lifestyle has most of the new designs and affordable prices. Order and get it shipped last week. So when you throw all the trash clothes utensils etc , you will have extra storage to keep everything intact in boxes. My friend insisted on opening and checking so they made them assemble furniture and then packed it again. Whatever works for you. We didn't buy any in India, the prices are a little bit higher here but you do get warranty quality where you buy from. Personally, I would have preferred selling all furniture and buying new in US. All the furniture that you get here is easy to pack while heavy furniture is difficult to manage. Most of the people here do their own packing moving so for sure I should have avoided all junk clothes furniture utensils we brought. And top of it, apartments are small so avoid avoid.
13) Shopping for groceries and travelling stuff : Go to a big store like big bazaar or saravana stores and buy packs of spices, almonds, nuts, atta whatever you are going to need on a daily basis. One of my friends was stopped for carrying rice and lentils. Avoid carrying these or anything that could sprout, that could be considered a seed. Buy one wooden rolling pin, wooden base for less weight.Get this all one week ahead. Also buy travel packs of lotions shampoo conditioner hairserum etc. Get a mixer grinder if you dont have.
14) Jewelry : Carry your favorite things with you, if its expensive preferably in hand baggage. For all the gaudy gold you never touch, leave it with your mother's when you visit them. As much as I have seen, normally delicate jewelry is what people wear here. There have been indian specific robberies here where they specifically went in indian houses looking for gold. Keep them safe.
15) Your EAD : Keep all documents you are going to need to apply for jobs. All your certification that you might need. If you want, take experience certificate from employers. Take 2 by 2 photos and check on this site. Then print and bring with you. You can also get it done here but in india, everything is cheaper and familiar.
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/photos/photos.html
16) Airplane shopping : Its going to be a long flight. If you have been travelling , you must have all the accessories otherwise buy these. Plane pillow, woollen shrug, comfortable trouser preferably cotton, loose fitting shirt,socks, flat sandals or shoes and noise cancelling headphones. Ohh those monster kids and people pushing seats to maximum limits. Airports are pretty cold, carry like a light jacket with you.
17) Electronics : Well, find out which one has dual voltage option. The ones that don't have, feel free to send them home or sell them. Yeah that includes toaster sandwich maker hair dryer too.
18) Relax relax : Dont do everything in one day. Distribute work evenly and finish off calmly. There is no need to hurry, just start off early and you won't be running around in the end. Those last 2 days in hotel, utilize them to return to sanity.
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