What To Do When An Employer Doesn’t Offer Relocation Assistance

Accepting and preparing for a new job is exciting as you prepare for new possibilities and opportunities. But sometimes, the ideal job isn’t just down the street. The ideal job may require you to relocate to a new city or even a new state. Starting a new life in a new place can be a daunting experience, one made even more complicated and stressful if your employer doesn’t offer financial relocation assistance.

Here’s a guide on what you can do if your new job doesn’t come with relocation assistance.

1. Research Differences in Costs of Living

Before you overstress about not having relocation assistance or sufficient savings to fund your move, take the time to research the differences in costs of living between where you are living now and the areas around where your new job is located. Good websites to assist you with your research include Numbeo or Payscale, as they provide insights into how much more (or less) you might be spending on housing, groceries, and other essentials. It’s possible the cost of living in your new location may be lower than what you are spending now, which will make the move even easier. And if the cost is higher, you can use that information in your salary negotiations.

2. Negotiate the Offer

As referenced above, you should investigate the costs of living in your new location. Then, when you are entering salary negotiations, you can incorporate these costs to justify your salary requests to offset living expenses and reduce the financial burden of relocating. You can also consider asking about remote work options that allow you to live in more affordable areas and cut the costs of commuting.

3. Revisit your Budget

If even after researching differences in costs of living and attempting to negotiate the offer you still find yourself struggling financially, you may want to revisit your budget and see if there are any weekly or monthly expenses that can be avoided or reduced leading up to your move to provide you with additional funds to assist in your relocation. If this is truly the right step for your career, coming up with relocation capital should take priority over other, non-essential expenses.

4. Explore Moving Alternatives

If it is professional moving services that are eating into your budget, consider less costly alternatives. Packing and driving your own moving truck with U-Haul or Budget is a great way to save money. Another cost-effective option is to use a portable moving container, like PODS or U-Pack.

5. Maximize Your Tax Deductions

While the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated moving expense deductions for most taxpayers, some states still offer tax breaks for those who relocate for work. Consider consulting with a tax professional to understand if you can claim any moving-related expenses on your taxes.

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