Total moving costs?

I'm thinking about moving to the UK in a year or so -- how much will I have to save?

I've already figured that it will probably be cheaper to ship my furniture than to buy all new stuff, but then if I rented a furnished apartment, it could be years before I had to buy new furniture, so maybe it's not worth it...

Two cats to bring, as well, which I imagine will cost as much as the furniture (but they're irreplaceable, of course!). Plane tickets, deposit for apartment, etc., etc.

What am I looking at here? $10,000? $20,000?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Katryn

That is a hard question to answer.

My plane tickets were £900.

My husband had a house here so I didn't have that worry of rent, deposits, lights, water, etc.  He also has a car so I didn't have to mess with that either.

My shipping costs were close to $2000 for boxes of stuff (including truck rental for pick up), $400 for excess baggage on the plane and another $200 for M-Bags to ship my books.

Shipping furniture can be expensive.  UPackWeShip was the best price I found for anything.  Getting quotes may be the best way to look at the costs.  I found most American furniture is too big for the average British flat or house.  My stuff would have never fit in the house I'm living in now.  Maybe my living room tables, but not much else.

On the PETS section, you can see how expensive that can be.  I think it's microchipping and applying for VISAs for your pets and then the cost of shipping them over.  I left my dear cat behind with my family so that's an expense I didn't have.

You also have the cost of VISAs and costs depends on what type of VISA you apply for.

Good luck.

~BEG

I just got a quote from a pet mover. For picking two cats up at my door and delivering them safely to Heathrow: $3,500. That's including that day's paperwork and the flight and transport, but not counting the chipping and vet bills and hassle before hand.

Yes, I guess I'm looking into doing it myself.

What am I looking at here? $10,000? $20,000?

Yikes!  Thank goodness I really don't have much at all.  All the stuff I have is in storage at a friend's house in 12 boxes.  Most of that will be given away. 

Maybe you could sell the furniture?