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What if you had to start a new life? What would your plan be? It is a scary thought, but with so many changes happening in our world today, it’s not out of the question. In this personal guide, we’ll discuss what you need to do now to prepare for starting over: from creating an emergency kit and building your social network to getting immunized and learning how to cook.
Your Epic Fallback Plan: A Personal Guide to Starting a New Life
If you can’t be with me, then I want to make sure that we’re still connected and in love. Here are some practical ways for us to stay together no matter where life takes either of us next. This is my personal guide on what you need now so your future doesn’t have to feel like it’s starting over from scratch.
Build an emergency kit including food, water, first aid supplies, blankets & clothes (temperature appropriate)
Learn how to cook at least one meal using two common ingredients or less -Take immunizations as recommended by the CDC and other physicians if possible -Create your social network in the region or country where you’re moving and start building relationships with locals
Learn some of the language -Search for schools, universities, work opportunities, transportation systems & other important details about living in your new location
Find a bank to open an account that can be easily accessed if necessary (for example: Citibank)
Save up at least six months’ worth of living expenses so that in case something happens it’s not difficult to get back on track quickly. This is my favorite tip because as someone who has been there I know how hard it is when you have just moved somewhere without any money saved up. It feels like starting over from scratch! So make sure this doesn’t happen by saving what you can.
Set up all of your utilities so that you know what to do when the time comes -Start researching and building a list of resources in your new location, including places for groceries, pharmacies, hospitals -Find out which websites are best for finding jobs according to where you will be living (for example: Glassdoor)
If there is anything else I’m forgetting please let me know! It’s important not to leave any stone unturned 🙂
This post contains two lists with three items each. The first list provides tips on how to prepare financially before moving abroad; the second list was provided by commenter “Kate” who expands upon ideas like schools and job opportunities available in different locations around the world.
Do you know where your closest embassy is? -Find out if there are any grants or scholarships available to help with tuition costs (maybe even for living expenses!)
If you’re willing and able, it’s a good idea to get part time work at home so that your earnings will be transferred into the new currency. This way, when you go abroad, all of your money has already been converted!
Get in touch with alumni groups on social media; they can provide valuable information about what life is like post departure from university/high school. In these communities there may also be opportunities for people who want to volunteer their skills locally without moving away permanently.
**A personal note: this list could go on and on, but that’s the point. You have to make your own plan for what you need now – it will only be a guidepost in the grand scheme of things when the time comes.”
Find out if there are any grants or scholarships available to help with tuition costs (maybe even for living expenses!)
Find local networks of job seekers like yourself and make connections; the more information you can get, the better your odds are at finding that perfect position close by!
Ask your current employer for a job transfer to another branch in the area or even just within the company itself.
Start considering if you would be interested in starting up a small business (remember, it’ll take time – this is an investment!). If not, look into local opportunities where you could still invest yourself and learn about new skills/fields of work.
If any of these are out of reach financially, see if there is anything else that can be done locally: volunteering with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, working at Unique Thrift Store’s shop @ 23rd & Broadway Ave., tutoring students from elementary school on up..anything! All it takes is some research and maybe some networking around town.
The internet is a great resource for ideas, too! Check the “Fallback Plan” section of Career Builder to find out what other people have done in your situation – you’ll be surprised by how many stories there are!
If this event comes up and I/we need financial support, please contact me so we can work together on figuring it out. The last thing either of us wants is for this to become something that would negatively impact our relationship or put undue stress on one another’s lives (or careers). We’ve talked about it before but just want to make sure everything remains open and available should anything happen down the line. If necessary, we might even look at my taking care of someone else’s household for a period of time.
If either one of us has to take care of someone else’s house, I’m happy to volunteer!
For example, if they need help with their kids or animals while they’re out on vacation and I have the means (time/money) available – that would be great. Or even just spending some time there during the week so you can work from home without feeling like something needs your constant attention is an option too! We’ll figure it out together but no matter what happens we want to make sure both our lives are as less stressful as possible. That way we don’t see each other in passing, but rather enjoy seeing each other again when things settle down 🙂 And knowing that this is a possibility is so reassuring!
In the meantime, I’m going to keep doing my best not to be overwhelmed with all of this. It’s hard but it’s important that you know how much we’re in this together – both for now and forever 🙂
There are many ways relationships can end including breakups, death (either one or both people), divorce, abuse, illness/injury.. And while these endings may hurt us at first, they do make room for new beginnings. The goal then is having as big of an imagination about what might come next because there will always be another way forward. In fact when looking back on our past (especially harder times) we see plenty of other things that were possible from which we eventually found happiness. “The future is uncertain and the end is always near.” -Jim Morrison Bridges to what’s next are never far away when we’re willing to look for them, so keep your eyes open! And if there ever comes a day when you can’t be with someone anymore (maybe it’s not just one person but two), know that this too shall pass 🙂 The time will come again where space opens up in our lives for love because life does go on.. I’m reminded of my favorite quote from Brene Brown which says “When somebody dies their purpose doesn’t die with them, their contribution doesn’t perish- instead it spreads like butter across all things living”. So no matter what happens
