MadRad

OH and I now have a date for our move. I am intending handing in my notice at work next week and am unsure whether to just give the minimum notice or a work a couple of weeks more (contract states 1 month, I could potentially work for another six weeks). How much time did you need to actually make your preparations, say goodbyes etc?

We're only taking airfreight initially, which we don't need to pack but do need to work out what we're taking, and need to clear out stuff as well. I'm guessing there's probably other things I need to do as well. Any tips on how big a gap you had and whether it was enough time?

helwardman

It varies person to person.

I finished work on the friday, received my visa in my hand on the following tuesday and flew out 2 days later.

Jaxbar

I gave notice and then ended up not leaving till later due to DH's orders.

I had seven weeks, it was a brilliant time spent with family and friends, time to take lots of photos, walk every day and lose weight. I was so glad it worked out like that, the move was much less stressful with no rushing around.

ChocolateBabz

I had 2 weeks after leaving work before leaving UK - our house sold the final Friday and we flew out the following Monday. We definitely needed those 2 weeks for packing up etc. We stayed with the inlaws for our last weekend which was really nice for them . Hubby on the other hand had 1 day off before leaving and 1 day off on arrival but he had been travelling back and forth for the previous 6 months so he had our apartment set up ready for us to move into when we arrived - it couldn't have been more perfect. He even had champagne waiting in the fridge

robin1234

We finished work June 30 and were on the plane to Boston July 1. That was with an eight year old and a six year old at that time... we had already got rid of almost all of our furniture, sold our car and rented one (returned it at LHR) and I think sent off our 80 boxes of "stuff" via Pickfords maybe two weeks before departure. When we unpacked in our new home in Massachusetts we found the two bags of trash that the movers had packed up in error... and, eighteen years later, we still have some boxes we never unpacked.

brit-n-yank

Eighteen years! And I thought I was bad with having several unopened boxes three years down the line! lol
Incidentally, did anyone leave boxes of stuff back home with relatives? I know I did - and can't now for the life of me think why! If I didn't want to bring them with me, why would I have wanted to keep them in UK??!!!

Ozzidoc

I finished my perm job about three weeks before departure, during which time I did late-shift locum work. ie 4/5pm until 11pm or midnight.

This gave me my days to sort stuff out. I didn't work for the final week though.

dunroving

I'm curious - what was in the boxes that laid unopened for 17 years?

robin1234

In our case, mostly children's books, toys, clothing etc. that was soon superceded or replaced when we got to the USA .. and only a few miles from their cousins who are a few years older.

Ginblossom

As soon as I have done my Masters exams I might go which will be sometime in May. However.......I might keep working for a little bit after just for extra money.

chartreuse

I gave it a week between finishing work and moving. Should have allowed longer, it was all a bit tight.

Bob

If you were in the US, just leave EoD before you plan to fly.

In the UK, whatever your contract states, though depends on the job, if your pretty senior it's worth doing the usual 6 weeks notice and being flexible, best not burning bridges and all that. Other wise, sod 'em and whenever your all packed and ready to leave.

One thing worth doing, don't leave the going away party and good byes till the last minute, it's the biggest ball ache that way, get it out of the way a couple weeks before you plan to leave. Gives you time to catch up with those you really care about and those who might not have been able to attend at the time...also gives you time to do all those last minute things you've forgotten about and get the touristy stuff done with close family/friends for photo album, especially nice if you've got kids, the local park, school, pub and shops, whatever that'll remind you of home that you take for granted and don't give a second thoughts about now

The Horticulturalist

I'd give yourself a week or so after you quit to get all your stuff packed, sold, whatever and to say goodbye to people and fill your case with teabags, digestives and curly wurlys.

I think I'd be a bit frazzled if I quit work on Friday and flew out on Monday.

TimNiceBut

My plan is to give me a little more than two weeks between the end of my contract and hopping on a plane. But then, I'm keeping my house in the UK for the time being and will have to sort out few things before I can leave.

MadRad

Thanks for all the replies people. I'm going to give the six weeks notice, but take all the holiday time I'm due in that last week, so in reality I'll only be working for five. That will give me three and a half weeks sort stuff out.