Moving Tips for College Graduates:

As soon as college is over, real life begins. If you cannot find a good job in your own city, then there will inevitably come a day when you will have to make the tough decision to move to another city. But moving to a new city where you have never lived before can be challenging. It takes a lot of planning and organizing to uproot from one city to the next.

Here are 5 moving tips for college graduates:

1. Decide where you want to move:
Unless you have already made up your mind to move to a certain city for family, friends or employment, start by creating a shortlist of cities you would like to live in. Rank the cities according to job opportunities, the cost of living, family and friends, environment and climate – according to your order of preference. Based on your ranking, decide where you want to move.

2. Start looking for a job:
The main reason new college graduates want to move to a new city is for employment opportunities. Once you have decided where you want to move, start looking for a job. Apply for as many jobs as you find suitable for your qualification and skills. Don’t wait until you have moved. The sooner you can find employment in your new city, the easier life will be for you.

3. Find a place to live:
One of the hardest parts of moving to a new city is finding the right place to live. Your search should be based on proximity to your workplace, ease of access (by car, bus or train), cost of living (house, rent, groceries, etc), amenities (internet etc), security (a neighborhood with a low crime rate) and the kind of people you want to have as your neighbors.

4. Plan your move:
Unless you have no possessions to take with you, you can’t just take a bus, train or airplane to your new address and start living there. You need to decide how you are going to move your belongings, what you are going to do with the things you don’t need, and whether you need to hire a moving company. So plan your move carefully with close attention to every detail.

5. Make a clean break with your old address:
Before moving, make sure there is no unfinished business, such as unpaid bills or a disgruntled property owner. Disconnect your internet and cell phone if you are not bringing them to your new city. Close your bank accounts or transfer them to your new address.

How many moving companies have a 401k for their movers?

It is widely rumored, but unconfirmed, that Albert Einstein said “Compounding interest is the most powerful force in the universe.” However, according to snopes.com, it is confirmed that when asked to name the greatest invention in human history Einstein simply replied “compound interest.” Those who follow our blog and company know we are determined to change the moving industry nationwide. This major feat will only be possible if we continue to attract and retain capable and motivated people to work hard towards our mission.

In 2011, we began offering our growing team a very attractive 401K plan. We are very proud that we are able to offer so much more than just a job, but we have many employees who have a career here at Meathead Movers. We have elected to match the first 4% of every employee’s contribution. The employee contribution is automatically taken out of their paycheck (pre-tax) and our contribution deposited (fully vested) at the same time. When speaking with our Operations Manager, Ben Spielman, he said that is 401 (k) is, "Awesome...In less than two years I have earned over $12,000.00 and it has been an effortless way to save money for retirement." The management of the 401K is available online with complete transparency and ease of management for the employee. The accruing money can be used for a down-payment on a first home (with interest paid back to yourself!), transferred by an employee after their employment ends to another retirement savings vehicle or simply saved for retirement. Regardless if you can save 15%, 10% or just 2% of your income, overtime the money will accumulate especially for our youngest employees---Meatheads, your time is now!

Other business owners have asked me why we chose to add an additional expense of offering a 401k during a recession. Here’s where I was coming from: I am constantly battling with (within my company’s culture) Meatheads thinking that they “need to get a real job” after they graduate from college. Although we pride ourselves on hiring people who are destined to accomplish way more than moving furniture, we want employees to know they can grow within our company and help us expand. We hope this investment in our employees’ futures will be matched by their investment in Meathead Movers to become the new and growing standard for the moving industry. As our C.O.O., Landon Torgerson says, "It would be careless to not invest. I have made sure to increase my contributions as I earn raises and in just over a year I have earned over $10,000.00"

Sweet charts and graphs

"In just a few short years and with little effort, I have over $25,000 saved for retirement. I contribute less each paycheck than I do to pay for health insurance. The best part is, Meathead matches my contributions, so it is like a raise that I didn't even have to earn! Compound interest is the way to go when saving for retirement"