Money Archives ~ The Military Move

5 Incredible Tips For Your Next DITY Move

April 17, 2017 2 Comments

Seven years into the Coast Guard as a significant other/spouse and I was on PCS #3. Already knowing we had acquired more than our allotted weight amount, I had the brilliant idea of doing a DITY (Do It Yourself) move.

Ha!

For any of you that have done a DITY move, you either find the positives, or you hate it and choose to not do it again.

Okay, Kelsey – so what is your story?

My mother had moved in with us – yes, how lucky of my husband. So we got all the wonderful antique pieces that better be wrapped beyond wrapped to ensure no damage comes to it, and her 10 year-old dog.

Let me paint this full picture for you.

We were going to move 3 adults, 1 toddler, 2 dogs, 2 vehicles, and yes, the truck. No, it gets better. Which leads into my 5 incredibly awesome tips to make sure your DITY moves goes much smoother than mine – trust me!

Tip #1 – Do Not Underestimate Your Stuff

So my husband and his co-workers are packing up the truck. I provided beverages and pizza. Apparently, they supplied their own adult beverages too because when I saw the way they packed the truck – well let’s just say it isn’t the way I would have done it.

I think at the point when I saw the rental truck 90% full and we still had 35% sitting in the garage – I freaked out. Yes friends, we now went from the BIGGEST truck they would rent to us to the realization that we needed a 2nd truck (oh and a trailer for one of the cars as someone had to drive the 2nd truck). That $750 hurt. After all, one reason we do DITY moves is to make some money (which ultimately we did), but oh my goodness! Look at the guides the rental companies provide – we had a 3 bedroom house with a 3 bedroom truck – nope, did not fit. Give yourself a buffer!

~ I recommend Budget – they provide great military discounts.

Look at the guides the rental companies provide and give yourself a buffer

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Tip #2 – Downsize and Donate

Have your kids not played with their “favorite” toys in 8 months? You haven’t worn that ball gown that you wore to the ball in two years? The reclining couch is on its last hinge? It is time for a yard-sale or time to gift younger members from your unit your stuff. This decreases that weight you will probably need, and not to mention, who wants to keep moving stuff that is not being used over and over. Free yourself. It is very liberating unless you are my 4-year-old who feels we need to keep every “treasure.”

Tip #3 Have a Packing Game Plan

This is one that I find is to alleviate YOUR stress in the build-up phase to your move. There is a lot of stuff that you are not using in your home. Start packing all that stuff – bookshelves, kitchen dishes, extra linens, clothes, etc. Create a plan where you pack x amount of boxes per day. We did 5 boxes a day. By the time it was moving day, we were not so tired from packing everything the two-three days before. Create a plan and stick to it.

Tip #4 – Pay for Packers and Unpackers

My husband tells me every time we move (and we have moved more than three times due to changes in housing at the same unit), he’s “got this.”

That’s great for a 50-mile radius, but not when you are moving 500+ miles. If you have all your stuff packed like the game plan in tip #3, those packers can properly pack your truck, your husband/wife can relax as can you (and if he/she is on deployment and you have children – this is really a necessity), and you do not have to watch the insanity.

I did not do this – I WAS stressed watching that truck get packed.

I think it is because my idea of an arrangement and his idea are not aligned. I did, however, hire unpackers.

This was the best money spent.

They met us there, I pointed, they placed the boxes and furniture wherever it needed to go. Much smoother on the end side.

Tip #5 – Plan out Your Trip Before the Move

Depending on how far you are moving (cross-country or one state away), be sure to plan out how far you will travel each day. Do not try to travel too far as this is not a road trip in your family mini-van. The rental trucks move slower especially if you are moving larger loads. You will want to consider what hotels/motels are on your route if you do not have family or friends you can stay with. Don’t forget to look for pet-friendly hotels if you are traveling with fur babies.

About the Author

Kelsey Ramirez is a Real Estate Broker in western Washington. She is also a veteran elementary school teacher, military wife, and mom to two daughters. She is the founder of The Military Move, a military-based website to help families in the PCS process. Kelsey loves to travel, write, and create amazing content. She has her Masters in Technology, which she uses to learn all new things digital.

With three decades of military support, Kelsey’s mission is to help new and existing military families in their unique adventures through all military topics including PCSing, budgeting, school choice and rights, housing, and especially just being a military spouse.

Finances

3 Tips to Decrease that Pesky Tax Bill

April 13, 2017 No Comments

Many families dread the week of April 18th (I cannot as my husband’s birthday falls within this week) because of the looming deadline that comes up every year – tax bill time.

Many families are excited at the prospect of receiving their W2s because it means refund time aka vacation money, house repairs, or maybe even stock in adult beverages to get them through the chaos until next month. No judgment. However, what I think many families do not know is that when you fill out your W-4 with your employer to withhold a higher amount of tax, you are in essence giving the government an interest-free loan.

Wait, what?

Yes!

You are paying taxes into a system that they ultimately use and are then responsible for repaying you for the “overage” that you have paid. You do not get to collect interest on the “loan” you are providing. This is not one of the lovely tips – however, it is useful information to ponder.

Not all families fall into this category of bringing in the bucks at tax time. Many families are shocked when they realize that they owe money – especially double income households. Don’t get me started on small business owners (although there are tips for them too).

I was asked the question, “Is it better to file married jointly?” Personally, I think if you use any tax software (Turbo Tax is a simple and easy solution), you should run your numbers both ways and determine that for your needs. Although I will say if you do not file jointly, you miss out on deductions that you could receive.

All situations are different because some people own land, multiple homes, or have a variety of income sources. In this case, you may want to seek out a tax professional to ensure you are not paying even more.

However, there are a number of simple things you can do to lower the amount you may owe come tax time.

Contribute to an IRA or Retirement Account

Seriously, Kelsey, I am not going to see this money. I hear you. However, you have two options – pay the government or pay yourself. Contributing to an IRA is taking that money for use in your retirement future.

Your 60-year-old self thanks you. The whole point of this practice is it will lower your taxable income and in return could lower your tax bracket. Not ideal for most (especially those that were envisioning a Caribbean cruise), but you were not going to see this money to begin with.

Now there is some preplanning here. First off, you must decide if you are going to contribute to an IRA all year long, or if you have been hit with your mega tax bill and now are going to take money from savings (hopefully) to pay it. In this case, if you can lower your tax bill by paying yourself and lowering your tax bracket – go for it. Regardless, your tax bill will have to be paid at some point – so this is ultimately the smartest option.

If you can lower your tax bill by paying yourself and lowering your tax bracket - go for it..

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Update your W-4

This one won’t help for this tax season, but it could for next tax season. If you find that you are having to pay taxes, you could have claimed too many dependents. I am not a fan of withholding the highest amount of taxes because it is your money and you should get it; however, just because you have four children and a spouse does not necessarily mean you both claim them. Be sure to check out the IRS calculator to see if it is time to update your W-4. If you are married, you can continue to withhold at the higher single rate or choose married. If you find you are paying taxes come April – you may want to consider the single withholding status (you cannot file single as a married individual).

Itemize Your Deductions

Own a home – deduct the interest. Pay medical expenses not covered by Tri-Care or Champus- deduct it. Are you a teacher – deduct your school supplies. Earning a college degree or post-graduate degree – deduct the tuition (only what you paid out of pocket). Give stuff away to Goodwill or Salvation Army – get a receipt and deduct it. If your deductions are higher than the standard deduction – this is a good thing for you.

How many people have lived in Florida (raise your digital hand) and chose to keep your residency because you do not pay state taxes? Did you know you can take the Sales Tax Deduction (this is a biggie). If you do not take the standard deduction (meaning you itemize), you can deduct all the sales taxes you paid. You choose either local or state taxes. For those living in an area that has a high tax, perhaps due to tourism, this could assist you. Check out this article from Bankrate to see how all that impulse (and necessity) buying can help you.