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)
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…
Sidenote…
I asked WordPress’s AI Assistant (which I think is just ChatGPT) about this post, and it offered the following:
The post content provides a comprehensive list of tasks and considerations for moving to Germany. It effectively communicates the author’s concerns, particularly regarding the financial aspect of freelancing and the high cost of living in Germany. The list of things to get done is well-organized under relevant headings, such as “House,” “Germany Living,” “Health,” “Kids Lives,” “Germany Logistics,” and “Travel/Legal.”
Actions to improve:
1. Consider adding some personal anecdotes or experiences to make the content more engaging and relatable to the readers.
2. Provide more information or links regarding the process of registering as a freelancer in Germany to help readers who may be in a similar situation.
3. Include more specific details about the potential challenges or obstacles that may arise during the move, and how to address them.
4. Provide further insights or tips on finding a job as a freelancer in Germany, such as networking strategies or recommended online platforms.
5. Consider including a section on cultural adaptation and language learning, as these can be important aspects of moving to a new country.
Overall, the post content is informative and serves as a practical checklist for anyone considering a move to Germany. The author’s honesty and vulnerability about their fears and concerns add a personal touch to the content, making it relatable to readers who may be going through a similar experience.