Bikes, Books. & Tools!

Our alarm went off at 6:15am on Saturday, earlier than we normally get up. With some excitement we rolled out of bed thew on our clothing and went out into the crisp morning air. Much to our chagrin we were met outside by a grizzly looking man with a large truck. He shouted to me from his cab, "you got any Bikes, Books, or tools?" and thus began our epic garage sale 30 minutes before we were intending on starting.

Within an hour we had sold at least fifty percent of all the goods we owned. People came in droves buying everything we put out on the front lawn. Nice things, old things, and some just plain old fashioned junk; it was all free game.

It seemed as if we were selling everything for a dollar. People kept coming up to us with their arms full of our personal belongings; haggling for the lowest price possible. With the unrelenting influx of customers we could barely keep track of what was going and for how much. However, every time we pulled out our wads of cash to give change to people we would marvel at the ever growing stash of cold hard cash.

Our bed, TV, clothing, furniture, and everything else were snatched up by garage sale-ites. Before we knew it most everything had sold and by the end of the day we only had a small box of old clothing to give to charity. Our garage sale was a success! We sold everything we owned (for the most part) for about 800 dollars!

For now we are enjoying sleeping on a blow up mattress and eating on the living rrom floor. It has been liberating getting rid of all our stuff, but we wonder if we will feel the same when we don't have anything when we return from out trip.

Crunch Time!

For years we have been talking about doing some serious travel together. For the last year we have been planning our epic journey. For the last few months we have been trying to pull everything together. For the last few weeks we have been feverishly trying to get everything done before we go. We made a checklist of everything we need to do before we go that was spread out over about 4 months of preparation time. The list is mostly checked off but we are still trying to tie up loose ends and do all the things that we put off.


2-3 months before we go
• Renew Chelsea’s passport
• Schedule date for Rusty's board exams
• Copy all travel docs
o ID- Drivers license, Social security, Student ID’s
o Passports (signed)
o Immunization records
o Flight Itineraries
• Scan all travel docs to email accounts
• Make emergency list of all credit card info
o All phone numbers of credit card co.’s
o All credit card #s and security codes
o US embassies and other important numbers. US State Department (passport)
• Start selling stuff via craigslist, KSL, & Ebay
• Switch all bank/credit card/utility statements to electronic
• Complete Taxes- 25% off turbotax with cap1
• Renew prescriptions
• Plan first few days in Edinburgh
o Sign up on Couchsurfing.com
• Research travel insurance options
• Research which credit cards are best to take
• Order new bank cards
• Update all credit cards that will expire while gone
o Look into checking accounts with no ATM fees and good returns
• Grad School Apps
o Figure out which schools you are applying to
o Get applications sorted out
o Letters of recommendation
o Dates and details
• Renew hairdresser license
• Cancel all junk mail, Opt out pre-screen.
• Figure out frequent flyer miles
• Take Visa Pictures
• Exit counseling for student loans
• Look into travel discount cards (ISIC student card, YHA hostelling card)


1 Month before we go - April
• Get all necessary immunizations and records
o University of Utah travel clinic
• Move money from HSBC account it is really easy to transfer money to chase!
• Start Blog – invite friends and family
• Customize guide books (get some lamination paper)
• Start getting couch surfing going, (email 3 weeks before)
• Get First Aid Kit together
• See about putting insurance on hold for cars- set up automatic bill pay
• Plan going away party
o Plan out foodstuffs
o Give out invites
• Garage sales
• Cancel Magazine Subscriptions and change address


1 week before we go
• Forward all mail to EDH
• Update mailing address
o School
o Work
o Credit cards
o Bank
o Insurance
o Phone
o Student loans
• Call bank and credit card companies, inform of travel plans, upgrade credit cards
• Set up automatic payment for any bills
• Give Parents all travel info that we have
o Finalize all documentation, make sure we have everything
• Cancel Power & comcast

May 13th
• Forward all mail to parents

While in EDH
• Withdraw and stash buffer cash for return

While in OC
• Go to bank- get travel cash (new bills)
• Confirm Airline Tickets
• Put cell phones on hold

Day of
Fly to Edinburgh