Seven Packing Essentials For Overseas Moves

There is a world of difference between packing for a month-long trip to another country and packing for a long-term relocation.

The packing process for a long-term move is, at once, simpler and more complex. Obviously, one has far more needs to be addressed, but many of those needs can be met after arrival. Unless you are moving somewhere very remote, the necessities of life can always be had…though with some caveats.

It's easy to keep one's travel burden light by purchasing everything after arrival. But how far should you go? What things do you need to bring, and what can wait for later?

The "just in case" fallacy

In general, the things that you need to take are those that:

• Are critical to your life
• Can't be easily replaced at your destination

These are pretty obvious tips, but many people will forget them due to a fear of missing something they could hypothetically need at some point in the future. This is the hazard of bringing things "just in case," and it is a mindset that makes things difficult.

Overpacking "just in case" is annoying on regular vacations and business trips, but it's much worse when relocating. What seems like sensible, forward-thinking planning can result in a lot of painful trips through airports and train stations and a lot of frustrating repacking should you have to relocate again.

Be brutal here. If you aren't going to need something, don't bring it.

Clothing

We'll start with something basic and essential. Clothing is obviously a necessity, but it's a necessity that can be bought anywhere. So is it better to bring a full wardrobe along, or build it after arriving?

As with many items on this list, a little research will save you some hassle. Ask people who have lived in the target country if they had any difficulty buying clothing, as standards can vary more than you think. I found clothing shopping in China pretty hard - the socks and undergarments on offer (generally the first things to wear out) weren't suitable, and most of the pants I tried on had incredibly narrow legs that made them very uncomfortable.

Regardless of the approach you take, you should plan to take a bare minimum of a week's worth of clothes. Even if you plan to buy after you arrive, this will ensure that you are at least presentable if problems crop up.

Electronics

For most people, buying something like a computer at the target location isn't really an option. Devices are personalized and carry enough important information that they aren't immediately replaceable.

Even so, it's worth considering if you need every single gadget you might have acquired. Americans carry a lot of redundant devices these days, and carrying all of them - along with chargers, cases and other accessories - means a lot of bulk and some potential issues when flying.

For short-term trips (a year or less), you can likely leave most of your tech toys behind. If you are planning a longer stay, it's a judgment call. I probably can't talk you out of leaving something that you just bought, but older gadgets that you don't use much probably aren't worth the hassle even if you can technically get some use out of them.

Medicine

Prescription medicines are obviously essential, even with the headaches involved. What about over-the-counter medicines, though? Is it worth laying in a stock of aspirin or similar day-to-day drugs?

Again, some research can help. I always took plenty of OTC meds to China, which was wise. Most Chinese grocery stores have a pharmacy somewhere in their vicinity, but they mainly sell supplements - OTC drugs aren't especially common. Getting something as simple as ibuprofen means placing an online order, and that's not as convenient as it may seem.

Taking a few travel bottles of common meds is always a sound idea, but if you have reason to suspect that you can't easily obtain something, then it's worth it to buy more.

Health and beauty

As long as we're in the health aisle, we should touch upon other products. Things such as shampoo and toothpaste can be found anywhere, but there may be some issues with quality control depending on where you're going. Reading up on health advisories (from reputable sources, not alarmist clickbait vendors) is definitely wise.

Makeup is not a part of my life, but if it's a part of yours, then do some research on that as well, especially if you are moving to East or South Asia. Many beauty products in those parts of the world contain bleaching agents or other harsh chemicals that you probably don't want on your skin.

Decorative and sentimental objects

Now we come to the tricky things - those odds and ends that are irreplaceable, but serve no real function. These might include photographs, small pieces of art, and anything of sentimental value.

Obviously these things should be kept to a minimum, but it all depends on how long you plan to be gone. For short-term relocations, you might not want to bring anything of this nature. This is even more true if you expect that you'll be moving around a lot - you will lose things with each move, and you don't want to misplace something that you'll dearly miss.

For more long-term relocations, it's easier to justify bringing decorative and sentimental objects, but keep it reasonable. Select a few things and don't bring anything much larger than a photo frame.

Small objects

This is a catch-all for anything small enough to comfortably fit in your pocket, ranging from lip balm to nail clippers to travel alarms to the various and sundry travel gadgets sold in various shops. This is where "just in case" thinking really becomes a burden - after all, these things don't take up much space, so why not throw them in?

First off, you will lose a significant portion of these objects. You'll either leave them behind as you move or else they'll disappear into the crevices of your bags. Keeping track of the hundreds of small objects that you own and don't think about can become a real issue, especially if you end up having to relocate again. And while a single dubious gadget won't weigh you down much, having a lot of them rattling around in your luggage can cause problems as well.

Even if it doesn't seem like much, don't take things that you aren't certain you'll use.

Money

But as long as we're talking about making all these purchases, it's worth considering how much cash one should bring along. Unlike a short-term trip, where it's easy to figure out how much money you'll need, it's never going to be so clear-cut.

Taking large amounts of cash is generally not necessary or wise. With the current global banking system, you'll likely be able to use your credit cards and/or withdraw money from an ATM in most countries. But here, too, there are caveats. In China, where WeChat is king, many smaller shops and restaurants might not have the means to process credit cards - a relative rarity in that country.

Figuring out how much cash you'll need will require a bit of budgeting. If you are relocating for work, you should bring at least enough money to tide you over until your first payday. If there isn't a job waiting for you then it might be worth taking more, but don't bring more than a month's worth unless you are certain that you won't have access to your domestic bank accounts or credit lines.

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