Sometimes moves take us hundreds of miles from our hometown-to new states, countries, or even continents. These moves are harder to plan for, and require a bit more work to pull off successfully.

Be prepared to spend more when you’re moving a long distance. Budget carefully, and start saving early. If you’ll be traveling by plane, look for a price-matching deal that will allow you to purchase your tickets early, but save money if airfares should decrease before your flight. Refundable tickets are a wise choice, in case your plans should change.

Depending on where you’re going, and for how long, you may not be able to take all of your belongings with you. Chances are there’s a self-storage facility nearby with an inexpensive plan for lengthy storage rental. Ask friends and colleagues for referrals to places with good reputations.

Family relationships are another major consideration when moving far away. Will you be leaving your support system behind? Or perhaps you’re getting married and moving closer to a whole new set of relatives. Either way, there will be lots of adjustments to make, and your phone bill may increase dramatically.

Moving can be hard on children, so be sure to spend lots of time helping them prepare emotionally. Try to help them view the move as an exciting new adventure, but remember that change can be frightening to young children, so be sensitive to their feelings.

If you find yourself moving to a new country, the transition will be easier if you learn as much as you can about local customs before arriving. If the language spoken in your new home is not your own, you might want to consider taking a course to help you learn at least the fundamentals.

Giving yourself plenty of time to prepare for your long-distance move will help make the transition smoother for everyone concerned.