Are you planning to travel for a few months? If so, here are nine tips to help you prepare for a long trip.
Eliminate paper from your mail
Before you leave, dematerialize all your mail (and if you need to send something through the mail, consider setting up a post office box that will automatically scan letters so you can read them while you're abroad). Most banks and businesses are more than happy to provide paperless mail; just contact your bank to make the switch.
Close billing accounts
If you're going away for a few months or more, you can also close your billing accounts (water, gas and electricity, for example). This way, you won't have to pay expensive bills while you're away.
Make a packing plan
Packing for a long trip can be very difficult. So we suggest you sit down and make a list of everything you'll need. Once you've done that, you can purchase luggage or a backpack that is perfectly suited for your trip.
Sell or rent your home
You can also consider selling or renting your home. This will help you a lot financially, especially if your rent or mortgage is quite high. Just be sure to find tenants you know and trust, as it can be difficult to settle disputes when you're thousands of miles away.
Consider selling your car
If you own a car and are going on a trip without it, you may want to consider selling it to raise money for your trip. That way, you won't have to find a place to store it while you're away, and if you want, you can always put the money aside to buy a new car when you return.
Check your insurance
If you're selling your car, you'll also want to cancel your car insurance, and you'll definitely want to purchase travel insurance for your stay. You may also want to adjust your home and contents insurance to ensure you have better coverage while you're away.
Do some research
One of the most enjoyable things about preparing for a trip is to research the area you'll be visiting. Find out what the general costs are and what activities you'll be doing, then set a realistic budget that you can stick to while you're there.
Address any health concerns before you leave
Make an appointment with your doctor for a general checkup before your trip and stock up on any medications you'll need (like birth control pills or allergy tablets). It can be difficult (and expensive!) to buy medication abroad, so this is the best option if you take medication regularly.
You can also get an infusion from resetiv.com before your trip. It's a great way to reduce inflammation and increase electrolytes, which will reduce the risk of getting sick while traveling.
Set up your banking for long-term travel
Finally, you should set up your online banking for long-term travel. You can close your account and use a credit card for your trip, or you can talk to your bank about the costs of overseas withdrawals. That way, you'll be less likely to run into unexpected costs while traveling.