5. You pack your corkscrew
Another big blunder- packing the tool you need to open your wine bottles or beer bottles. You arrive at your next duty station and you’re ready to break out the wine or beer because it has been a DAY only to realize it’s still in the moving truck. Or it’s in a box somewhere in your house. Tears will be shed and you’ll find yourself buying a new corkscrew at Wal-Mart along with all the other things you have to replace like your cooking oils and toilet paper.
Pro-Tip: Bring your corkscrew with you (I would keep it with the important documents like birth certificates and social security cards as they are equally important) or just go high-class with the twisty-top bottles.
6. You don’t feed the movers
GUYS. Feed your movers. Whether it’s some bags of chips and Gatorades left out throughout the day, or you buy them a huge sub from the store just give them something to eat. They are working extremely hard and handling your things, so if you’re nice to them maybe, *just maybe* they won’t break all of your stuff.
Pro-Tip: Don’t get pizza. They get pizza all the time and chances are they are just sick of it.
7. Getting internet and the Bravo Channel
One of the biggest hidden costs of PCSing is getting everything set up in your new house. Of course, one of the first things you need is internet and some sort of cable or streaming service so the kids can be occupied while you unpack. Each time you move, there are costs to set up your new service which can really add up over time.
Pro-Tip: Instead of getting new service each time, try to transfer your service. Many times this isn’t possible because internet and cable providers aren’t always the same, but if you can do it that would help save some money. You can always use a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu instead of cable to eliminate the cost of cable activation fees.
PCSing is super stressful for military families. The process of moving itself is stressful, of course, but it is all those hidden costs and stressors that really take the cake. Hopefully you can learn from the mistakes of the PCS veterans before you and avoid these 7 moving blunders that might cost you money.
