Moving abroad is a life changing experience full of ups and downs. What holds many people back is the logistical challenges that feel too hard to comprehend or even want to go through in the first place. But don’t worry because we are here to help give you that push and prepare you for a future worth living.
This blog will help guide you on what to do with all your belongings while you take on this next challenge in your life and whether you should keep them, store them or let them go. There are solutions for everything and we are here to give you just those.
Step 1: Decide What You’re Taking With You
It’s important to consider where you are moving to and the sort of lifestyle you’ll be living there. If you’re moving from the UK to somewhere tropical, you won’t need all those heavy winter coats and 5 umbrellas.
How to Decide What to Take Abroad:
- Focus on essentials and daily use items first (clothing, toiletries, medications, important documents, tech gear, personal items)
- Think about what’s hard to replace abroad (special medications or certain electronics)
- Leave behind bulky items or duplicates (avoid packing heavy furniture unless you have confirmed its cheaper than buying new locally)
- Plan for the first 2-3 months (almost like an extended trip, as you can later arrange to ship or store the rest of your belongings)
Step 2: Decluttering Before Moving Abroad - What to Sell or Donate
If you’re a serial overpacker then this step especially applies to you. The truth is you won’t be able to take everything with you on that plane, of course you can certainly ship it all over, but at what cost? That’s why downsizing is recommended for moving abroad, it makes the whole process so much easier, saves you money or even makes you an extra bit of cash.
Where to Sell Stuff You No Longer Need:
- Vinted: Great place to sell just about anything in your wardrobe.
- eBay: Perfect for all kinds of belongings.
- Facebook marketplace: Especially good for furniture.
- Carboot sales: Good way to put everything out that you don’t need.
Or if you don’t feel like selling things you could always just donate them to charity shops. Ultimately, when decluttering it’s important to differentiate between emotional value and practicality, as sometimes we hold onto things that no longer serve us, so there is no point carrying them into your new life.
Step 3: Storage Solutions for Moving Abroad
Storage is great if you’re moving abroad temporarily, if your plans aren’t fully set in stone yet, or if you just feel like you need more time to decide whether all your furniture is worth carrying over or not. It may also be that this is a decision you can only make once you’ve moved over, so storage bridges that awkward space and gives you more room to decide.
Benefits of Using a Secure Storage Facility When Moving Abroad:
- Gives you peace of mind that all your items are safe and protected while you’re away.
- Gives you more flexibility if your plans are uncertain or if anything changes.
- Helps you save on shipping costs and travel lighter.
- Perfect for temporary or trial movers.
- Temperature controlled protection so you can forget about mold or humidity damage.
- Easily accessible for your friends and family.
- Helps with renting or selling your home.
Whether you choose to get a temperature controlled unit or a storage container, using storage is a great way to cut down on shipping costs, help you travel lighter, and keep your items secure while you’re away.
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Step 4: Ship Items You’ll Need Later
Shipping your items abroad can certainly be a costly option compared to storing or even buying new. Shipping costs tend to be determined based on volume and weight, your destination and additional services. So we have put together a table to highlight the estimated costs of shipping internationally from the UK.
Estimated Furniture Shipping Costs from the UK (2025)
Destination | Small Container (1-Bed Home) | 20ft Container (3-Bed Home) | 40ft Container (4-Bed Hom |
USA | £1,900 – £2,300 | £5,540 – £6,540 | £7,900 – £8,900 |
Australia | £1,650 – £2,050 | £4,780 – £5,780 | £7,575 – £8,275 |
Canada | £1,872 – £2,372 | £5,735 – £6,735 | £8,190 – £9,190 |
Europe | £1,468 – £1,500 | £767 – £880 | £953 – £1,415 |
Asia | £1,500 – £2,500 | £5,000 – £6,500 | £8,000 – £9,500 |
Please note these costs may vary depending on your service providers and specific requirements.
Ultimately, whether you choose to ship, store or sell your items it all depends on your budget and needs. If you are feeling really stuck and unsure we recommend getting various quotes for both storage and shipping internationally so you can make an informed decision.
Final Tips for Moving Abroad with Less Stress
Some extra tips to make moving just that little bit easier:
- Digitise paperwork before you go
- Notify UK services and update addresses
- Use storage and shipping together for maximum flexibility
Moving abroad can feel like a lot at times but now you know what to do with all your stuff, so that’s one less thing to worry about! Our final advice is to travel light, store what you can if you’re not ready to let go yet or are coming back, and most of all enjoy the experience. So wherever life takes you we wish you the best of luck on your journey!
Need Safe, Flexible Storage While You're Abroad?
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