Step 6
As your departure date draws closer, the excitement is building! But there’s also a mountain of practical tasks to tackle back home. Organizing your house, work, and finances is the unglamorous but essential groundwork that allows you to travel with true peace of mind.
Think of this phase as a grand decluttering—not just of your closets, but of your entire life. By methodically tying up loose ends, you’re creating the freedom to fully immerse yourselves in the adventure ahead. Let’s break it down with a comprehensive checklist.
What to do with your home?
Your house is likely your biggest asset and your biggest liability. Deciding what to do with it is a major decision.
- Rent it out: This is a popular choice for long-term travelers as it can provide a steady income stream to fund your journey.
- Action items: Research local laws for landlords. Talk to your mortgage lender and insurance provider. Decide if you’ll hire a property manager or handle it yourself. Screen potential tenants thoroughly.
- Sell it: A bold move that offers maximum freedom and a significant cash injection for your travel fund.
- Action items: Get your home valued. Start the process of decluttering and preparing for sale months in advance. Consider where you’ll live upon your return.
- Arrange a house-sitter: Platforms connect travelers with people who will live in your home for free (sometimes also caring for pets) in exchange for accommodation.
- Action items: Create a detailed profile of your home. Interview potential sitters carefully and check references. Draft a clear agreement outlining responsibilities.
Putting your career on pause
The conversation with your employer can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation, you can create a win-win situation.
- Request a sabbatical or unpaid leave: This is the ideal scenario, allowing you to return to your job after your travels.
- Action items: Schedule a meeting with your manager well in advance. Prepare a formal proposal outlining your request, your planned dates, and a plan for how your work will be covered in your absence. Highlight the new skills you’ll bring back.
- Resign from your job: Sometimes, a clean break is the only or best option. It offers the ultimate freedom.
- Action items: Know your notice period. Leave on good terms and ensure a smooth handover of your responsibilities.
- Explore remote work: If your job can be done remotely, this could be your ticket to earning while you travel.
- Action items: Discuss the practicalities with your employer, considering time zones, connectivity, and tax implications.
Conquer the paper trail
This is the time to streamline your life and cut unnecessary expenses.
- Mail: Arrange for a trusted friend or family member to collect your mail, or sign up for a mail-scanning service that digitizes your letters. Go through all your accounts and switch to paperless billing.
- Subscriptions & memberships: Cancel everything you won’t be using: gym memberships, streaming services, magazines, monthly subscription boxes. The savings add up fast!
- Utilities: Schedule the disconnection of your internet, cable, gas, and electricity services.
- Official notifications: If you’ll be out of the country for an extended period (e.g., more than 8-12 months), you may be legally required to de-register from your local municipality. Research the rules where you live, as this has implications for taxes, healthcare, and voting rights.
Your essential document vault
Having your crucial documents in order is non-negotiable.
- Passports: Check the expiration dates for every family member. Many countries require at least six months of validity from your date of entry. Ensure you have plenty of blank pages for visas and stamps.
- Visas: Research and apply for any necessary visas well in advance. Some application processes can take months.
- Driver’s licenses: Check the expiration dates. Obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) if you plan to drive abroad.
- Birth certificates & marriage certificates: Have copies, as these can sometimes be required for visa applications or in emergencies.
- Create a digital fortress: Scan every single important document—passports, visas, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, insurance policies—and save them to a secure cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Also, keep a physical set of photocopies separate from the originals.
Planning tip: Create a master checklist spreadsheet with columns for Task, Person Responsible, Deadline, and Status (Not Started, In Progress, Complete). This will be your command center for organizing the home front and will give you the immense satisfaction of ticking things off as you get closer to launch day!