What to pack and Not to
Nov 14th 2019, 12:19 am
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 670
Re: What to pack and Not to
We moved with just 4 suitcases, from a 3 bed in the U.K. To be honest there’s little I miss. Mostly the stuff we bought were current clothes and essentials, docs and paperwork and a few electrical items, key things like laptops and hard drives etc.
most other things are so easily replaceable. I can’t see the point of shipping most mundane stuff, even if free I wouldn’t have bothered with everything most likely.
I guess my point is, from one extreme take it all to another, take minimal, like us, my point is, don’t stress. Before you know it you’ll be able to get all you need and more again in the US. Just make sure you bring important and sentimental things that are irreplaceable.
if you’re anything like us you might appreciate the declutter and chance to start over with things more suited to new surroundings rather than just translating your old stuff wholesale and tripping over it before you even get going.
one thing, if keeping any U.K. assets or ties do be sure to have all the accounts, docs, records,etc you might ever need. Amazing what can be required when dealing with stuff like property, overseas.
good luck either way!
most other things are so easily replaceable. I can’t see the point of shipping most mundane stuff, even if free I wouldn’t have bothered with everything most likely.
I guess my point is, from one extreme take it all to another, take minimal, like us, my point is, don’t stress. Before you know it you’ll be able to get all you need and more again in the US. Just make sure you bring important and sentimental things that are irreplaceable.
if you’re anything like us you might appreciate the declutter and chance to start over with things more suited to new surroundings rather than just translating your old stuff wholesale and tripping over it before you even get going.
one thing, if keeping any U.K. assets or ties do be sure to have all the accounts, docs, records,etc you might ever need. Amazing what can be required when dealing with stuff like property, overseas.
good luck either way!
Nov 14th 2019, 5:09 pm
#17
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2019
Location: Oxfordshire - SoCal
Posts: 48
Re: What to pack and Not to
We have already packed and moved and in California now. Thanks for all the replies 
Nov 14th 2019, 8:32 pm
#18
Turning into a PA gal!
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: State College PA, finally!
Posts: 3,563
Nov 16th 2019, 3:53 pm
#19
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2019
Location: Oxfordshire - SoCal
Posts: 48
Re: What to pack and Not to
We packed pretty much everything that's still in good shape. I sold/gave away electric appliance that won't work in US.
However, now I know better, I would have packed differently. For a reason I still don't understand, we packed all the clothing for air freight. Now after two weeks all the clothing arrived and I sighed - the chances of the jumpers and winter jackets can be used here are almost zero.
I would have packed daily kitchenware and utensils in the air freight - ours are still in the sea container and I have to buy some for this temporary period, it's wasteful in terms of time and money.
But definitely happy that we shipped all our stuff - I am still in shock how expensive things are here.
However, now I know better, I would have packed differently. For a reason I still don't understand, we packed all the clothing for air freight. Now after two weeks all the clothing arrived and I sighed - the chances of the jumpers and winter jackets can be used here are almost zero.
I would have packed daily kitchenware and utensils in the air freight - ours are still in the sea container and I have to buy some for this temporary period, it's wasteful in terms of time and money.
But definitely happy that we shipped all our stuff - I am still in shock how expensive things are here.
Nov 16th 2019, 5:59 pm
#20
Turning into a PA gal!
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: State College PA, finally!
Posts: 3,563
Re: What to pack and Not to
We packed pretty much everything that's still in good shape. I sold/gave away electric appliance that won't work in US.
However, now I know better, I would have packed differently. For a reason I still don't understand, we packed all the clothing for air freight. Now after two weeks all the clothing arrived and I sighed - the chances of the jumpers and winter jackets can be used here are almost zero.
I would have packed daily kitchenware and utensils in the air freight - ours are still in the sea container and I have to buy some for this temporary period, it's wasteful in terms of time and money.
But definitely happy that we shipped all our stuff - I am still in shock how expensive things are here.
However, now I know better, I would have packed differently. For a reason I still don't understand, we packed all the clothing for air freight. Now after two weeks all the clothing arrived and I sighed - the chances of the jumpers and winter jackets can be used here are almost zero.
I would have packed daily kitchenware and utensils in the air freight - ours are still in the sea container and I have to buy some for this temporary period, it's wasteful in terms of time and money.
But definitely happy that we shipped all our stuff - I am still in shock how expensive things are here.
BTW your profile still says Oxfordshire
Nov 17th 2019, 5:31 pm
#21
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: What to pack and Not to
We packed pretty much everything that's still in good shape. I sold/gave away electric appliance that won't work in US.
However, now I know better, I would have packed differently. For a reason I still don't understand, we packed all the clothing for air freight. Now after two weeks all the clothing arrived and I sighed - the chances of the jumpers and winter jackets can be used here are almost zero.
I would have packed daily kitchenware and utensils in the air freight - ours are still in the sea container and I have to buy some for this temporary period, it's wasteful in terms of time and money.
But definitely happy that we shipped all our stuff - I am still in shock how expensive things are here.
However, now I know better, I would have packed differently. For a reason I still don't understand, we packed all the clothing for air freight. Now after two weeks all the clothing arrived and I sighed - the chances of the jumpers and winter jackets can be used here are almost zero.
I would have packed daily kitchenware and utensils in the air freight - ours are still in the sea container and I have to buy some for this temporary period, it's wasteful in terms of time and money.
But definitely happy that we shipped all our stuff - I am still in shock how expensive things are here.
