KCMO Day 1: Survived.

My initial reaction to this new chapter: anxiety central. 

I don't think I have been that nervous since the first day of freshman year. In fact, it felt a lot like that. Except without the safety net of it being a college town and a college campus.

My thoughts:
-KCMO is far from home. And my lovely college town.
-Apartment buildings are not the same as dorms. My neighbors aren't new to town and they don't care leave their doors open.
-Where's the all-you-can-eat cafeteria?

Also, for the first time ever I was envious of my Chicago friends and their insane driving skills. Usually when I ride with them, I hold on tight as we jet in-and-out of lanes. So all I could think was how useful it would be if I was a more aggressive driver. This Iowa gal isn't used to those 'city drivers'.

But thankfully, I wasn't completely alone. My little sister was my navigator and personal assistant. She helped me move my first load into my new place. As a reward for all of the help, we had a delicious KC barbecue dinner. And we topped that off with some frozen yogurt for dessert.

Thanks for your help, Tessa!

So the move was a little more overwhelming than I expected. But I realized this new chapter isn't just like the first day of college. At this point, I have had four years in the starting gates and I am ready for this adventure. Where's the fun in feeling completely content on day one in a new town?

I had this whole post-grad thing pegged as too easy up until now. It should be a little scary! But I am excited to start my new job, I have friends in KC, and I love what I have seen of my new home. All the pieces are there and I can't wait to see how they fall into place.

PTT: Packing Like a Pro

Professional Tip Tuesday

How to pack like a pro. 

This Professional Tip Tuesday is inspired by my move happening TODAY! That's right, folks. The day has come.

I have been packing for weeks. But this is nothing. I've moved 8 times since going to college between dorms, summer, apartments, etc. And I wish I could say it's gotten easier..

The first move - Freshman year dorm with my grandma and mom.

So if you are relocating for work - the following are my PTT Top 5 Moving Tips.

1) Pack like things together. This will make the entire moving process a whole lot easier.

2) Label each box - well!  Don't keep yourself guessing on what's inside. Make it easy to unload by marking exactly what's in each box.

3) Pack in clear totes.  OR even better.. try old comforter plastic zip ups. They are easier to squeeze in the car than a box AND you can see the contents!

4) Confirm the plans.  Call the a few days before your move to make sure you're all set. This might include your landlord, electricity, water, and cable.

5) Load the car the night before.  If your planning to hit the road bright and early, get everything ready the night before so it won't be quite as chaotic.

My final tip for this quick guide to relocating is - if you are relocating for a job save all your receipts! Just keep an envelope with any receipts that have to do with moving expenses. You and your accountant will be thanking you in April when you are filing your taxes.

What advice do you have for making a big move? Comment below!

So I'm just about packed and then it's off to my new home. Unfortunately my pup's not ready to say goodbye...

I wish Bailey would actually fit in my suitcase.

My 2 Cents on Banking

One of the most overwhelming tasks for me as I prepare for my move is choosing a new bank. How do you know which bank and what type of account is best? Especially in this transition from college to the real world. On a good day my college account had about $30 max. Hopefully I will have a little more to my name with a big girl paycheck. But what does that mean for banking?

This is way over my head. The minute I begin reading what a bank has to offer, I somehow end up with a new tab open to Facebook scanning the latest updates on there instead. But I found some good resources that have really helped me through this tough time.

Banking isn't my thing.

The most common piece of advice I have found is.. think about how you bank! 
Thinking about your personal banking style helps you figure out which features would be most beneficial for you. For example, as much as I try and avoid ATM fees - I have been known to opt for convenience. So it could be a good idea for me to look for a bank that charges less fees or has ATM's all over.

This article on Smart Money (linked here) helps you think through some of your typical banking habits.

Another big thing to consider when looking into banks - do you want a local bank or a nationwide bank? This will be dependent on your specific needs. Below you will see some general thoughts on local vs. national banks.

• Local Banks - more personal banking, easier to talk through charges or issues with your account, close to home
• National Banks - ATM's all over, more user friendly online banking, might be able to process transactions throughout the day (even as late as 8 p.m. for some banks!)

**To learn more on local banks vs. national banks click here for an article on www.bankrate.com.

I hit gold with findabetterbank.com - it allows you to compare banks in your area.
Just type in your zip code and it walks you through your needs, wants, and don't cares in a future bank. After you go through some simple questions, it provides you with a list of banks. It tells you how closely they match what you are looking for and gives you more information on the different types of accounts they offer.

Bankrate.com allows you to compare banks as well but I didn't try that website. Both FindaBetterBank and BankRate also have articles that are helpful in understanding the confusing stuff. One more awesome resource: I found sites like checkingoption.com that compares the big banks out there. And once you have it narrowed down, type "Bank X vs. Bank Y" into the search bar and see what comes up for one last check!

So what advice do you have for finding a new bank as a recent grad? Any features you think are especially important for personal accounts? Comment below!