5 Expensive mistakes from my first international move

Ireland is stunning. Green, lush, steeped in old-world charm and history. During my time there, I met expats from all walks of life. Many of them are still there, exceptionally happy, and well-settled. It just was not the right country for me.

Moving to a country that is not right for you, can be an expensive mistake.

These are the 5 biggest financial mistakes during my first international move. Do note, that for this move, I had a job lined up in advance. Which was one hurdle out of the way.

Being overly trusting of the relocation team: The work agreement included relocation services provided by my company at the time. Whether by design, bad luck, or incompetence, the team allocated to assist me, ensured that I would never blindly rely on such assistance again. Issues included accommodation not being booked in time, poor communication, and incorrect paperwork.

There are excellent teams out there and some wonderful companies. It is however your move. Do your due diligence. Follow up, communicate regularly, and ensure that the team allocated to your case has your best interests at heart.
Starting work too quickly: I started almost immediately after landing. Given that it was busy season, this left little time for other admin tasks that come with moving. Such as finding permanent accommodation. The sudden change in season (mid-summer to mid-winter), combined with the relocation stress, resulted in many of us getting sick within days. If possible, give yourself a few days to settle, rest and resolve any major admin. Even better…don’t land during busy season.

Arriving for your first day well-rested, settled, and organized, will set you up for a great first impression and success in your new role.
Not visiting the country in advance: Ireland was not for me. Doing a visit in advance can help in knowing what you’re getting yourself into. It would have saved me a lot of lost time, energy, and lost sleep. It would certainly have been the cheaper option.
Not looking into long-term investment options and the related tax consequences: I love paper assets. Especially ETFs. The tax treatment of these assets in Ireland is extremely discouraging. By the time I figured this out…. I was, unfortunately…. already in Ireland.

Your situation may be different. Your ideal investment might be property or starting our own side hustle. At least on a high level, do some legwork in advance to determine if your new country is a good fit for your future ambitions.
Not trusting my gut: Everything from the terrible relocation team to the interview set off alarm bells. But I was so excited. The potential travel opportunities. Thoughts that I had a foot in the door to a new life. I quashed these feelings with logic and reason. Turns out my gut was right and my logic faulty. Quite often our intuition will know what’s right for us, even if logic can’t fully explain why or how.

The silver lining

Although my first move was a financial flop. It was a wonderful learning experience. The lessons learned from my first move ensured that I was better prepared for the second one. Canada suits me to a T.

Did you have to move more than once before you found your tribe?