It seems like every financial publication I pick up these days has information about relocating. This is because as school finishes, May and June are the most popular months for families to move. In fact approximately half of all residential moves take place during the summer months. Since I've moved about 10 times in the last 20 years, with 3 moves being across the country with my wife, kids and pets, I feel qualified to share my experiences. In this article, my goal is to help readers ease the potential financial burden of relocating. Whether you're moving across the country or across town (I've done both a few times), a little strategic planning can help ease the transition for you and your family.
Manage your money online
Many banks and credit unions have made it easy to manage their customers' accounts online. These days, anyone who has internet access should strongly consider managing their bank accounts online. Assuming you maintain appropriate security measures with their computer (virus software, anti-spyware, etc), managing bank accounts online is easy, safe and should ensure you don't have surprises (like accidentally overdrafting on your account). During a relocation, if you manage your accounts online, you can check account balances, transfer money between your accounts (savings or checking), make loan payments or you can make arrangements to pay bills use web bill pay. You can accomplish these tasks, as well as viewing all of your up-to-date bank statements whenever and wherever you want.
The Wall