The part I wish someone had told me earlier: separate the monthly budget from the arrival budget. The monthly budget has housing, cars, childcare, utilities, insurance, and activities. The arrival budget has deposits, furniture, movers, repairs, hotel nights, and all the annoying things nobody posts on Instagram. In Carmel, school pressure and winter gray are the two categories I would not underestimate. A move can still be financially smart and still feel expensive during the first six months.