What are you bringing over with you?

[nylonmac 10]

I'm waiting on my interview date at the London embassy now, but hoping to be leaving the UK in early May to be with my fiancée.

Anyway, I'm a 25 year old computer geek, and I've been living in a shared house since August. I've been trying to look at my possessions now to see exactly what I need/want to see if my stuff really warrants me shipping stuff or even paying for excess baggage.

So far tonight, I have catalogued and rated my clothes, trying to figure out what clothes are gone and what are ok. I've found that I have around 70 items of clothing, and have found at least 16 of those either ill fitting, poor condition, or just don't like them anymore and they will be going to charity.

Then I can sell my Car (1997 Hyundai Coupe) and Bicycle for something before I leave.

But what about computers and screens? Should I bring my computers? I could hypothetically take the hard drives out and keep them with me, but I really like my computers and the PSUs can be switched to US voltage. On the other hand, they are heavy items and would probably be replaced for less than they might be shipped for. Then what about my Bass guitar? Could I take this on board with me?

[ameribrit 37]

I will be taking myself, two cases, one carry on, one laptop and that is it. Everything else will be sold. Thankfully I don't have too much to get rid of.

[scotchland5206 5]

It's quite funny that I just read your post whilst simultaneously checking out the rates for extra bags on various airlines..!

I'm taking 2 excess weight suitcases, carry on and my wedding dress :-) My mum is then gonna bring another large suitcase of my stuff when she comes over for the wedding.

I'm actually a musician myself (double bass!) and I'm pretty sure you won't be able to take your bass guitar on with you unfortunately...Def not if it's in a hard case, it's too long. If it's just in a soft case perhaps, but personally I wouldn't want to risk the potential damage putting it in the overhead locker...

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

My husband shipped boxes and boxes of computer cr@p, but he loves all that stuff and it was worth it to him. He's the guy that if anybody says, "do you have a [cable, switch, plug, any version of Windows] he can pull one out.

Here's what he did with his desktop computer. He took everything out of the case, wrapped the bits in bubble wrap or t-shirts, and packed them in his checked luggage. He put the hard drive in his carryon bag. He left the case and monitor (and the desk). So first stop in America after leaving the airport was Fry electronics to buy a cheap case with power supply. I had a spare monitor. By nightfall, he had his computer up and running. After a few months he found a great deal and bought a new computer. Then he decided I needed a new one. We've got at least 6 computers running and 4 laptops plus the computer graveyard of bits and pieces. He hardwired a network plus wireless. He's crazy, but happy.

[matt y andrea 0]

Anybody have experience with bringing a ps3? My fiance is debating on whether to sell his and get a new one here, or to bring his with him from home. I think it'd be best for him to get a new one here as it's guaranteed to work and can bring it back if problems occur. Any thoughts/experience?

[faithinGod 8]

Anybody have experience with bringing a ps3? My fiance is debating on whether to sell his and get a new one here, or to bring his with him from home. I think it'd be best for him to get a new one here as it's guaranteed to work and can bring it back if problems occur. Any thoughts/experience?

Hey,

i sold my PS3 befoe i left, didnt want to get it damaged and it`s fun to get a new one

[TBoneTX 43,423]

Y'know, we're talking about physical possessions, but consider this:

1. Bring at least TWO (preferably THREE) official copies of your birth certificate, divorce certificate (if applicable), university or school transcripts (in sealed/endorsed envelopes), and vaccination records. If it's cheaper to get necessary vaccinations in your country, do that while you can, and have them transcribed onto your official inoculation record or get two (three) original-signature (or office-stamped) copies.

2. If you have a driver's license, renew it so that it's as fresh as possible. If you don't have one, do everything in your power to get it.

3. If your visa isn't already in your passport, renew your passport so that it's as fresh as possible.

There may be other such items that you can think of, but the above should not be overlooked. They're a LOT easier to get now than if you're overseas in the U.S. and need them, perhaps desperately.

[Kabbage 1]

I plan to take my cat with me. Anyone else doing this or done it already?

[nylonmac 10]

PS3s are region unlocked for games, I had NCAA Football on my PAL one and played a PAL game on my fiancee's cousin's PS3 in NY. As long as you use HDMI for the TV and get a US specific Kettle lead, you'll be fine. I got rid of mine though, it was the big one and after Sony took away the Other OS option, a big reason to have it, I sold it.

I like the idea of just packing the components and having a case waiting for me over in the US. I still have the box and protection for one of my monitors, which is a nice 1080p monitor, so I might see if I could put the box in a bag as excess baggage. My other computer and monitor I can sell. The furniture is all my housemates.

The Bass guitar is really for sentimental reasons, it was a cheap bass, but one I was given for my 18th birthday, it's in a soft case, but they may not like it in the cabin. My housemate offered to store a few things that I want to keep for a while and DHL them over a couple of months after I've left, which is awesome of him, so maybe the Bass could be a candidate for that.

My driving license is gong to expire in September (10 year old photo), so I will be getting that renewed at the start of April and all of my paperwork is well organized, so I'm happy with that (except for my school transcripts, I left more than 7 years ago and they say they dispose of them if they are older than 7 years old. I also lost my GCSE certificates but no jobs I've had since (in IT) have ever asked for these since! I also have something lined up with a company in New York, had an 'interview' with a founding partner and he wasn't worried about my schooling in the UK.

While I can't work out there at first, I'll be getting a spool of cat 5e or cat 6, networking the house and doing any odd jobs needed, I know they have an internal door which needs sorting out. I might even replace the bunny ears with a proper antenna and go running every day.

Thanks for the suggestions though!

[Marilyn. 340]

I got rid of everything that was replaceable and initially I brought just a big suitcase of my clothes and a few other things.. I had two totes of stuff that I left behind. my mom shipped some of it to me after I moved and the rest I picked up when we drove up there for a visit..

[British_Cupcake 1]

I left everything behind apart from some photos, documents that could come in handy and my clothing.

I think you would save yourself the hassle, the time, the space and the money if you just sold it all and took the essentials with you and maybe replace the stuff you sold with the money that you got for it. You might even find that you will make a little money once you get to the States.

Im pretty sure it will cost you an arm and a leg to send heavy things across to the States and whats the point of risking it being damaged and then having to buy it new anyway?

I also believe you might be able to take your guitar on board with you, you will just have to pay for extra luggage.

[JPKandCAK 0]

clothes, kids toys, my mac and my cat.. haha thats it

[HeatDeath 430]

I loaded all of my CDs, DVDs, and CDROMSs into binders.

I brought my Wii, Xbox1, a box of small toys,

and 15 large boxes of books.

and a pile of clothes that I threw in the back of my car on top of the book boxes.

You can fit 16 photocopier paper boxes into a 2-door Pontiac Sunfire if you don't have to carry passengers and aren't fussy about having to get into the glove compartment.

[LoveMyMiky 35]

Y'know, we're talking about physical possessions, but consider this:

1. Bring at least TWO (preferably THREE) official copies of your birth certificate, divorce certificate (if applicable), university or school transcripts (in sealed/endorsed envelopes), and vaccination records. If it's cheaper to get necessary vaccinations in your country, do that while you can, and have them transcribed onto your official inoculation record or get two (three) original-signature (or office-stamped) copies.

2. If you have a driver's license, renew it so that it's as fresh as possible. If you don't have one, do everything in your power to get it.

3. If your visa isn't already in your passport, renew your passport so that it's as fresh as possible.

There may be other such items that you can think of, but the above should not be overlooked. They're a LOT easier to get now than if you're overseas in the U.S. and need them, perhaps desperately.

This is excellent advice!!!

[JPKandCAK 0]

I plan to take my cat with me. Anyone else doing this or done it already?

I'm taking mine.. Not really sure what I need to do though. I think you have to get a vet to check them over a week before flying. It seems pretty simple bringing cats from the uk from what i've read cos it's a rabies free country but we'll see..