If you’ve been keeping up to date with the news, you will know that millions of Americans moved last year. In fact, a study by Upwork shows that 23 million people made a move to enjoy smaller-town life with lower expenses and more space.
Want to learn how to plan this move, adjust to your new location, and find work? Keep reading as Best In Kansas shares everything you need to know for a stress-free relocation.
Where to Move?
Wondering which states are the cheapest to live in? This depends entirely on your background. For example, New York and California are some of the most expensive states, so moving to the South and Midwest regions will be significantly more affordable.
According to the Council for Community and Economic Research, Mississippi has the lowest cost of living of any U.S. state. Kansas, Alabama, and Oklahoma are not far behind regarding affordability.
Affording a Home
A mortgage affordability calculator is an invaluable tool when planning to buy a house. It helps determine how much you can afford to borrow based on your income, expenses, and the terms of the loan.
The calculator takes into account factors such as your annual income, monthly debts, down payment, interest rate, and loan term. By inputting these details, it provides an estimate of the maximum mortgage amount you can afford.
This allows you to set a realistic budget for your house hunt and ensures you won’t overstretch your finances. Websites provide free mortgage affordability calculators that are user-friendly and offer a detailed breakdown of your potential costs.
To Buy or Rent?
If you’re new to the area, you may be reluctant to buy a house immediately. After all, you’ll need to learn more about the different neighborhoods, amenities, and crime rates before making such an important decision.
In such a case, going for a rental can be a great choice. You can find rental property listings in your price range using online platforms when looking for rental homes or apartments.
Simply enter your desired amenities and number of beds and baths to find your dream rental easily. You can then purchase a house once you are more familiar with the different areas and options.
Getting Settled
Getting the lay of the land will be critical to feeling settled. Explore your new neighborhood to find the closest entertainment, shopping, and grocery options near you.
EverydayTourist reports that walking around your first few months after a move is a highly effective way to understand where things are.
You can also use a state-by-state calculator to understand the average cost of rent, groceries, and home services in your area.
Keeping Tidy
Keeping your new place tidy once you’ve settled in can be made easier by incorporating a few simple habits into your daily routine. Start by making the bed every morning and doing one load of laundry per day to prevent piles of clothes from accumulating.
Manage your papers and other items by adhering to the rule, “Don’t put it down, put it away!”. This could help reduce clutter significantly. A clean home starts with small tasks like dealing with dishes first thing in the morning and wiping up after every meal and snack.
Implementing a “one in, one out” rule can also aid in avoiding excess clutter. Moreover, in order to maintain cleanliness, investing in a good vacuum cleaner is essential. Online reviews can be very helpful in guiding you toward a dependable corded stick vacuum.
Finding Work
While moving somewhere cheap is tempting, consider job prospects in the location before making your decision. Your income might vary depending on the area, which could be fine if your cost of living is also lower.
You can learn the specifics of your situation by looking up local job boards and networking platforms. By looking at various available jobs, you will gain a deeper understanding of the going salary for your industry in the area and how much opportunity there is.
Start a Business
Alternatively, if you’re more entrepreneurially minded, you could consider starting your own business. You’ll need to choose a business structure; a limited liability company (LLC) is a popular choice because of the legal protections and tax benefits.
You can set it up yourself or better yet, enlist the help of an online formation service that’s already familiar with the regulations for launching an LLC in Kansas and can get you set up in minutes.
Ready to move to an affordable state? Although making such a big move can be daunting, it will be well worth it when you’re not shelling out extraordinary amounts just for the cost of living. You will find that your dollar stretches so much more, which means a better quality of life for you and your family!
For more great resources to stretch your dollar further, visit Best In Kansas today!
