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Old Crank

(3,582 posts)
40. We moved in 2015 to Munich
Fri May 27, 2022, 02:43 PM
May 2022

Brought over clothes and or bikes. My kitchen knives and some kitchen tools.
Electronics that could work with 50 Hz and 240. The rest not worth it. Transformers are heavy, take up space and draw juice unless they are unplugged.
We bought all our furniture from Ikea. Plus the kitchen we had installed. bought stainless pots and pans at Ikea they are good.
If you are willing to shop around you can get used for less.
We dropped about $6,000 for most of it including install of the kitchen. I assembled the Ikea furniture.

Had we known we would have taken some amount of cash out of my IRA for extra expenses, possibly a down payment on property. You will be taxed in both countries. Europe first then the US if you don't hit the US tax rate. We would have taken the tax bite from the US but now we have to take the European tax bite for IRA withdrawals. So we won't have a lump of cash until we can unload our property in CA.

Research the shipping costs. I was just back there and a half pallet to Munich was ridiculous. And you might get hit with duties unless you file proper paperwork before you ship.

Glad we jumped though.


K&R and bookmarking. Control-Z Feb 2020 #1
I'm thinking of France. I know it, lived there. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #2
I think this would depend entirely on the exact circumstances... ret5hd Feb 2020 #3
I'm retired. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #4
Speaking ONLY for me...What do I really need where I live? ret5hd Feb 2020 #7
Yeah-DT doesn't help. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #11
Don't know if this is still available ... NanceGreggs Feb 2020 #5
Thanks. No need to move appliances. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #12
Well, I haven't moved abroad GP6971 Feb 2020 #6
Thanks. That's really funny about the Hummer. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #13
When I was living in Italy, I brought back a tortilla press from the US only to find out fierywoman Feb 2020 #8
Thanks. Actually I have a vinyl collection I'm worried about. I like Kondo. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #14
Do you follow David Lebovitz's blog? He'd know where to find fierywoman Feb 2020 #18
I have seen it from time to time. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #19
I have not moved abroad, although this might be slightly helpful. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2020 #9
I moved across the country-and brought everything but the kitchen sink-dumb!! 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #15
I'm sorry you did that. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2020 #17
Leave almost everything behind and/ or sell it off. masmdu Feb 2020 #10
Thanks, waiting might be an option. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #16
We started moving to France in 2017 and were done a year later. GoneOffShore Feb 2020 #20
Thanks. I do intend to ship a small container. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #21
Here's a thing - today we helped friends who have just moved to France with their unpacking GoneOffShore Feb 2020 #22
Excellent. So helpful Houdinime Dec 2021 #25
If you have other questions, feel free to PM me. GoneOffShore Dec 2021 #27
I thought it was any state. From the US Embassy- 58Sunliner Feb 2022 #35
It's all on line now through ANTS - Agence nationale des titres scuriss GoneOffShore Mar 2022 #38
Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2020 #23
Most of my guitars, my rock collection, and the clothes in my suitcase DFW Mar 2020 #24
I've BEEN in that meeting! Houdinime Dec 2021 #26
That was the one! DFW Dec 2021 #28
I see cheeseheads. Or blocks of some yellow cheese. Since most meetings are full of thick people... JanMichael Feb 2022 #30
No idea DFW Feb 2022 #31
Feb of 2020 Laurelin Jan 2022 #29
Well I am thinking about shipping my car that has 69k miles. 58Sunliner Feb 2022 #33
Just so you know Laurelin Mar 2022 #36
Will it be worth the seven or eight thousand dollars it's going to cost? GoneOffShore Mar 2022 #37
So, was your move successful? GoneOffShore Feb 2022 #32
With Covid, it got sidelined.End of August I fly over to buy. 58Sunliner Feb 2022 #34
Which part of France are you looking at? GoneOffShore Mar 2022 #39
We moved in 2015 to Munich Old Crank May 2022 #40
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Americans Abroad»What did you take with yo...»Reply #40