How to Adjust to Life in a New State: Emotionally and Financially

How exciting you are moving to a new state!

Moving to a new state can be both exciting and challenging. While you are excited about new opportunities and adventures, adjusting to a new environment can take a toll emotionally and financially. You may be aware of the financial aspect or the emotional toll, but this blog post will cover both to give you a heads-up on what to expect.

Here’s a list of how to navigate this transition, ensuring you support yourself emotionally and financially to set you up for success:

Embrace the Emotional Transition

Acknowledge Your Feelings

Moving to a new state can bring a mix of emotions, including excitement, anxiety, grief, and even sadness. It’s important to acknowledge these feelings:

• Stay positive: Focus on the positive aspects of your move, like new opportunities and experiences. Go out and enjoy your surroundings!

• Stay patient: Give yourself time to adapt to your new environment, even if it takes a long time.

Build a Support Network

Having a support system in your new state is key for your emotional well-being:

• Meet your neighbors: Introduce yourself and build connections within your community. Often, they have block parties or Facebook groups for the neighborhood.

• Join local groups: Join clubs, sports teams, or hobby groups to meet like-minded individuals. Do not be afraid to start your own group and meet like-minded people.

• Volunteer: Engage in community service to help you feel more connected and give you a sense of purpose.

Establish Financial Stability

Create a New Budget

Moving to a new state comes with different living costs. Create a new budget:

• Track your expenses: Monitor your spending to understand your new cost of living.

• Adjust your budget: Reallocate funds to change rent, utilities, and other expenses.

• Set financial goals: Establish short-term and long-term goals to stay on track. This is important because living in a new state will require adjustment to your current financial situation, but it will also inspire you to change your goals and dream bigger!

Save on Moving Costs

Minimize moving expenses to avoid financial strain:

• Declutter: Sell or donate items you no longer need to reduce moving costs.

• DIY packing: Pack your belongings yourself to save on labor costs.

• Move during off-peak times: Consider moving mid-month or during the off-season to take advantage of lower rates.

• Pods or drive yourself: Consider pods or rent a U-Haul and drive yourself to avoid spending on movers.

Find Your Routine

Daily Habits

Have a routine to provide you with a sense of normalcy and stability:

• Create a schedule: Plan your daily activities to help you feel more settled. Include things you did in your previous home while adding a few new ones.

• Explore your town: Find new places for your regular activities, such as grocery stores, gyms, hiking trails, dancing classes, restaurants with your favorite foods, and coffee shops.

• Stay active: Physical activity can help reduce stress and improve your mood. This can be as simple as a walk. The grounding experience can remind you of the reasons you moved to the new state.

• Hobbies: Pick up new hobbies and continue to your previous ones to allow yourself to play more and nurture your inner child.

• Therapy: Support yourself with therapy sessions. Add this to the budget in case you need the extra support.

Financial Routines

Maintain a financial routine to help you stay on track:

• Automate savings: Set up automatic transfers to your savings account. If you already have automation, update your savings amount because you may have more to contribute to savings in your new state.

• Review your financial goals: Check in with your long-term and short-term financial goals and ensure you are on track.

• Review and adjust budget: Make the necessary changes to reflect income or expense changes. Remember, the budget is your roadmap, and checking in is key to achieving your financial goals.

Stay Connected with Old Friends

Maintain Relationships

Keep in touch with old friends who can provide emotional support:

• Regular calls: Schedule regular video calls or phone calls.

• Plan visits: Go back home and visit or host your friends at your new home.

• Social media: Use social media to share updates with friends and family and stay connected.

Learn About Your New State

Understand Local Culture

Learning about your new state can help you feel more connected and welcomed:

• Research history: Visit local museums and historical sites.
  Try local cuisine: Explore local restaurants, experiences, and dishes.

• Participate in traditions: Engage in local traditions and holiday celebrations.

Financial Adjustments

Ideally, you do this step before moving to a new state, but in case you haven’t, now is a great time to review the financial landscape of your new state:

• Research cost of living: Familiarize yourself with the average housing, groceries, and utilities costs.

• Understand taxes: Learn about state and local taxes to plan your finances better.

• Explore the job market: If you’re job hunting, research the local job market in your area of expertise and salary expectations.

My Experience in a New State

I moved from San Francisco, CA, to Washington State. Financially, I did an amazing job at setting myself up for success. Here is what I did:

• Researched salary adjustment: I reviewed my employee manual and asked HR if my income would change depending on location. Some companies will adjust your salary if you relocate from your current address. My company’s answer was “No,” which allowed me to move states, knowing my income would stay the same.

• No state income tax: I learned that some states do not have state income taxes. Therefore, my salary with my remote job at the time was almost $1,000 higher.
  Adjusted my budget: I adjusted my salary accordingly since I had a salary increase.

• Long-term financial goals: I increased my contributions to my 401 (k) and Roth IRA. I focused on growing my Money Coaching business to create opportunities beyond my 9-5 job.

Although I successfully prepared financially, I was unaware of the emotional toll. Here is what I learned after two years and a half:

• Guilt: I experienced the guilt of leaving my family behind and allowing myself to have different adventures and experiences. I wanted to always be available for my family and nearby if they needed me. I learned that distance was necessary so I could put myself first and be the best daughter and sister they needed me to be. I learned that as the eldest daughter, I had neglected my needs and had always to be the strong one for everyone else. I am learning the power of crying and that it is okay to show your human emotions. I do not always have to be the strong one.

• Grief: The only grief I was aware of was when you lose a loved one. But when I moved, the first year was about grieving. Grieving the past version of me, my identity, the city where I resided for 22 years, and the version of the eldest daughter I had been all of my life. I thought something was wrong with me when I could not enjoy my new state and cried often. I increased my therapy sessions to understand what was happening, and I learned I was grieving. Moving forward, I gave myself grace and gave myself the space to feel grief.

• Community: I dedicated myself to adapting for an entire year, and the next puzzle piece I was missing was community! I missed being in the community and friends. I created a paddle-boarding group for women of color. I vividly remember joy slowly started coming back into my life! I learned I had to understand guilt and grief before making room to be in community. Community has made the best impact and made me feel more “at home.” I feel very lucky to have made friends with people with similar hobbies and values.

Adjusting to life in a new state requires a balanced approach, both emotionally and financially.

This list is a great start to supporting yourself in order to have a smooth transition. Embrace this new chapter with optimism and plan to make amazing memories in your new home.

Good luck in your new home state!