As my departure date draws near, I am in a rush to tie up all loose ends. Since the to-do list is quite long, it has caused a considerable amount of stress.
In the final days before departing for my year-long trip around the world, these are the issues that have been holding me back that needed addressed.
Car Problems
The greatest stressor has been my car. Thankfully, luck was on my side as I had just managed to find a buyer just a week before I fly off to Israel. Talk about a close call! Unfortunately, the sale did not come without its annoyances and great injustice.
When potential buyers knew I was in a rush to get rid of my vehicle, I was suddenly bombarded with ridiculous low ball offers. Some even requested that I let go of my vehicle for less than half of my original asking price. Because of these horrible offers, I held my ground to wait for something more acceptable. However, this greatly delayed the sale, and as a result, I had to wait until the last minute before I sold it.
Throughout the process of trying to get rid of my car, I even turned to eBay motors in hopes to find a better buyer. Not only did I not find a potential buyer, someone actually attempted to scam me, and now I am involved in an ongoing dispute with eBay to prevent them from charging me for a sale that never happened.
Third, not having my car means I have to figure out other means of transportation to get to work.
Car Problems Solutions
As I mentioned earlier, I ended up accepting a "better" low ball offer and managed to sell my vehicle. Part of the reason why I accepted the offer was because:
- I did not want to burden my sisters with the task of selling my car.
- PRE-TRIP EXPENSES! Gearing up for this trip was expensive, and I needed the money to pay off my credit card.
Ironically, right after I sold my car, I got a much better offer. Perhaps I should have waited for an extra day, but this is just one of those things you cannot predict.
In regards to my dispute with eBay, I managed to resolve it without being charged anything. Also, the transition from driving to walking has been surprisingly smooth. It only takes me about 25 minutes to commute to work, and when I need a ride, my girlfriend and sisters have been giving me a lift when possible.
*If I were to give someone a piece of advice when it comes to getting rid of your vehicle before traveling, start looking for a potential buyer at least 3 months prior to departure. That way, you won't come across as desperate and get bombarded by low ball offers left and right.Tying Up Loose Ends
Since the mobile phone companies in Canada were going to charge me $15 to simply keep my number (without even using it), I made the transition over to a company called " Fongo ". For just $25, not only have I been able to keep my number, I can also make free phone calls to any Canadian or US numbers provided I have wifi access. I predict this type of service will be the norm in the coming future as wifi and data plans become more readily available and the consumer being dissatisfied with their current mobile phone plan.
With a week left in Canada, I have finally begun the process of packing up any items that I will not bring with me. Some of these boxes will be stored at my girlfriend's parent's house, while the remainder will be left with my sisters.
I have also made arrangements with my employer to send my tax documents to my accountant directly. No hiccups here!
As for the rest of my mail, I ended up not changing my address because I don't know when my mother will sell the house. My sister will notify me should our parent's house get sold and I will change my address while I am overseas.
I have also decided against buying the Eurail pass right now, especially after learning about their pass replacement policy. Apparently, if the pass becomes lost outside of Europe, it will not be replaced. Since the pass itself is so pricey, I have decided to buy it closer to the date of departure, and will make arrangements to have it delivered to a contact in Switzerland for pickup.
Preparing for this round the world adventure has taught me a lot. Last minute and unexpected problems will always pop up. It's impossible to avoid them entirely, all you can do is prepare for them ahead of time in the best way possible, and of course, sell your big ticket items, such as your car, well in advance.
Traveling Soon? Help Support Our Site!
