Congratulations on your DIY move and doing your DIY divorce! It’s been a month since you moved into your new home to start a new chapter. The empty boxes are stacked in corners like miniature Leaning Towers of Pisas and you are missing some key pieces of mail. The moving checklist guided you day by day, but now that the moving storm has subsided, how do you complete the settling in process while juggling the divorce process?
Ready for the best news ever!? Unlike your two-month long moving-in checklist, there is a short list of tasks that will not only ensure you don’t miss the next New York Times, but will also help Mother Earth and others in need. Too good to be true? You can thank me later. Follow these six steps and you will forget you ever moved!
1. Boxes! Boxes!
To truly feel moved in, the first task is to get rid of all the empty moving boxes. So many of us are guilty of just leaving the empty boxes in the garage or attic to gather dust. Instead be green and save green by asking your moving company if they have a box return program. For instance, NorthStar Moving Company will give you back 25% of the original cost of their boxes if you return them.
Other ways to reuse boxes is to flatten them and put them out on recycling day or use them for storage of keepsakes, holiday décor and other items you only need on occasion.
2. Mail Yourself
Does your mailbox seem light? While you may be thankful to not be getting all of your bills you certainly don’t want to miss a due date or important divorce documents. Check in with the post office to make sure they have your mail forwarding service set up correctly. Then send a friendly postcard to yourself, address it to you at your old address and wait and see if it gets forwarded to your new address.
3. Navigate Your Divorce Online
After your move, you may not know where to go for divorce services. Not a problem, you can find everything you need to guide you through each step of your DIY divorce as well as expert advice at It’s Over Easy, the only online divorce solution that helps you to manage your do it yourself divorce from start to finish. And, you can find local qualified service providers in your new neighborhood in the index, It's Over Easy's curated directory.
4. Update Your Driver’s License & Become a Donor
No one enjoys visiting the DMV and the good news is you don’t have to! You can change your address online (New York & California). You must report your new address, within 30 days of your move, to the Department of Transportation Registry of Motor Vehicles.
This is also an opportunity to revisit being an organ donor. You can register to become an organ donor on your state’s DMV website as well. The number of donors willing to make organ donations are not growing as quickly as the number of people who need them. 20 people in the United States die each day while waiting for organ and tissue transplants. The number of patients in the U.S. waiting for transplants is currently over 116,000 people. Even more are waiting for much-needed tissue transplants.
While you are on the subject, consider a program to donate your whole body. The organ donor symbol on the back of a driver’s license is different from body donation, they are completely separate programs with entirely different consenting processes. Only 1% of organs donors specify to donate their whole body. There is a great need. You could potentially make a difference in the lives of many people.
Lastly, this is a good time to take another look at your will and trust to make sure everything is updated to reflect your new circumstances.
5. Survey Your Stuff
After a month of living in your new home you now know what furniture, kitchen tools, artwork and even clothes fit into your new place. Rather than stumbling over the stuff that you don’t need, give it to someone that does need it and will give it a good home.
Create two labels: “donate” and “give to friends & family.” Donate clothing and household items that don’t have sentimental value to your local favorite charity such as Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore for someone else to enjoy.
For the items that are sentimental, keep them in the family by giving them to loved ones. But, don’t just hand it to them, throw a party, a reverse housewarming party! Instead of having your friends bring a housewarming gift, ask them to pick one (or more) of your items and take it home with them. This is a great way to reunite with old friends after your separation and meet new friends after your move. Your unneeded things will be in a home where you can visit them often.
6. Vote!
There is no “debate” that every American needs to cast their ballot, so it is vital to register to vote. Your voter registration does not move with you. If you move within your existing county, you must complete a new voter registration form to update your new address. If you move to a different county or state, you must re-register with your new county and/or state (New York, California).
Visit the EAC website to download and print the National Mail Voter Registration Form. Once you have completed the registration form, mail it to the address listed under your state in the “State Instructions.”
See; in just six steps you are now clear of moving remnants and clutter, sipping coffee with your New York Times. Bonus, you are the shining example of being a responsible citizen. It’s a good way to feel about you and your new life!
Laura McHolm is an organizational, moving & storage expert and co-founder of NorthStar Moving Company. NorthStar Moving Company is an award winning, “A+” rated company, which specializes in providing eco-luxury moving and storage services.
For one women's experience with her own move, watch the video below.
Go to this page about online divorce to learn more.
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