Pause Your Life

You’re probably thinking this is some obvious stuff, but if you’re like most people you don’t think about these things until the last minute.  And if you’re taking an extended trip there are a few things that need to be put on hold while you’re away.  So don’t procrastinate, consult the list below and make sure you’ve got everything wrapped up.

Your Apartment:

Typically you would just move but if you just can’t let go of that sweet Manhattan apartment, you need to think about a sublet.  If you live in a high demand area like San Francisco or New York City so should have no problem with this.  This will save you a lot of money while you’re away.  However if you’re in a less desirable area you may be stuck making payments while you’re gone or just moving.

TIP:  Don’t forget to change your mailing address if you move!  You could end up losing a lot of important information if all your mail ends up in the black hole of your former apartment.  Have it re-routed to a friend or family members home, or if nothing else open up a P.O. Box.

Your Job:

In the US most companies only give you two weeks a year, good for a small vacation but not so good if you really want to travel.  So (I’m sorry to say) you will most likely have to quit.  But don’t worry, you never liked your dumb job anyway.

Your Cell Phone:

Now a days you can just take your cell phone with you and buy a new SIM card when you arrive in your exotic location.  Although if you don’t want to bring one, most service providers will let you temporarily suspend service so you can save a few bucks when you’re not making calls.

Your Car:

You still have to make payments on that car you can’t afford but at least you can suspend your car insurance.  Just call your insurance provider and let them know that you won’t be driving for a while and they’ll give you a discounted rate while you’re away.  Or if you want to suspend your auto insurance all together you can opt to submit an “Affidavit of Non-Use” with the DMV.

Also, if you need a place to park it, there are public storage companies everywhere who will rent you a space by the month.  The most popular is probably Public Storage. When storing your car, there are a few things you’ll want to do to prep it for its time off the road.  Here’s what you’ll need to do:

  • Park your car in a dry place, preferably inside, to avoid rust and mildew damage.  If that’s not possible, many full service auto parts stores carry full size desiccant bags that you can place inside your car.  These will absorb atmospheric moister from the vehicle.
  • Add a fuel stabilizer to your gas tank to prevent the gas from oxidizing and deteriorating
  • Fill up your gas tank to avoid moister from seeping in and causing internal rust
  • Replace all your fluids, especially the oil.
  • Wash the car to prevent corrosion
  • Disconnect the battery, although you may still have to replace it when you return.  Leaving the battery connected will make it unable to hold a charge.
  • Make sure your tires are properly inflated

Your Stuff:

You have to do something with it, so store it at a friend or family members’ house.  If you can’t do that, rent a public storage unit and fill that baby up!

Your Girlfriend/Boyfriend:

If you have a significant other that you’re leaving behind, you may not have one when you get back (that is if you’re taking a long trip).  But if you want to try to make it work don’t forget to email, call, and send postcards…you lazy bum.