Community-sourced tips for PCS moves, home leave, school, money, pets, and daily life abroad—compiled by an EFM of 10+ years.
The FS Family Cheat Sheet: 40 Foreign Service Shortcuts That Save Time, Money, and Sanity
What You’ll Get Inside👇
40 practical, real‑life shortcuts FS families actually use, covering:
✈️ Travel & PCS moves (timing, benefits, jet lag, airport sanity-savers)
🏠 Housing & home leave (temporary lodging, welcome kits, unpacking faster)
💰 Money & benefits (advance pay, reimbursements, underused allowances)
🍎 Food & daily life abroad (what to ship, what to buy locally, what works)
🧒 Kids & school transitions (education gaps, emotional support, credits)
📂 Organization & digital systems (documents, photos, mail, logistics)
🐾 Pets & mail (moving animals safely and keeping life running smoothly)
🌍 Community shortcuts (the groups and tools FS families rely on most)
These are tips shared across the global FS community—plus lessons learned through more than a decade of real Foreign Service moves.
