This is a sponsored post. Given the timing of this article, I will be donating the income received to the Community Resource Center.
Next week, I’ll be celebrating one year in Nashville! I absolutely love this city. I have never felt more alive or more myself. While my only true regret is not moving here sooner, there are few things I could have done to make my first year here a little easier.
1. I should have saved more money before moving.
I moved back in with my mom in October 2019. Since I was no longer paying rent, I used that as a justification for literally everything I spent money on. While the personal trainer did wonders for my confidence and the monthly facials got me through stress related breakouts, I cursed myself for those decisions daily for my first two months in Nashville. (Please imagine the shock on my face when I discovered I wouldn’t receive my first check for a month.)
Image: Moving Solutions
2. I’ve moved three times within the city. I should have used movers for the third move.
I’ve moved more than I thought I would since my arrival. My original move to Nashville was easy. I rented a furnished room in the furnished house of a friend of a friend. I packed what would fit in my vehicle – clothes, toiletries, a heated blanket, an under-the-bed box of books, art supplies, and a few photos.
My move from a house into an apartment 15 minutes down the road was also relatively easy. I had a pretty serious sinus infection at the time, but my new roommate patiently helped me carry my things in.
The third move? Get outta here. By now I’d furnished an apartment, adopted a dog, and taken advantage of all the storage my apartment had to offer. My family was a great moving company, but I could have saved us a lot of time, effort, and frustration for all of us had I paid someone to manage the move for me.
I’m hoping to move into a house of my own within the next year, and I don’t plan to make that mistake again. I’ve done my research, and I’ll be hiring Moving Solutions. This Moving Company located in Nashville can handle your full move – packing and unpacking, loading and unloading, furniture disassembly, and reassembly. They can even move a car from you! (A family friend taught me that it’s always worth getting a quote to move a car. For a long move, it’s often the most cost-effective option!)
Of all of the stressors that come with buying a house, especially in a hot market like Nashville, I’m relieved to know that Moving Solutions will take one of the most stressful tasks off my hands. I will coordinate things like making sure there are snacks, drinks, and toilet paper for the movers and my family, and I’ll leave the actual moving to the professionals.
3. I should have bought a wagon immediately.
Okay, this one probably sounds really silly. If you’re living anywhere where you don’t walk straight up to your door, you want a wagon similar to this one. My roommate at the time and I couldn’t bring ourselves to spend $70 on a cart. Things like unloading groceries was such an inconvenience, as we lived on the opposite side of the building as the garage. If you had to carry paper towels or a case of Dr. Pepper, it was game over. (I know these sound like champagne problems, but I stayed sick my first two months here.)
When I tell you we were stubborn about buying a wagon, I’m pretty sure we said “wow, we should have bought that wagon.” while we were evacuating the day after the tornado. Lindsay was carrying her labradoodle’s food bag while stepping over broken glass and down power lines! Did that phase us? Lol, no.
When Covid hit, my dad ended up buying us a wagon so we could limit our trips, therefore limiting the amount of germs we encountered. Gamechanger.
4. I should have looked out for myself more.
As I settled into Nashville, I found myself navigating unchartered waters. I didn’t know how to date. I didn’t stand up for myself when a shuttle driver lied to me, about me. Sometimes I went with the flow because it was easier than standing up for myself. I thought I was becoming laid back, but I was actually setting myself up for a struggle. Going into year two, this is something I really want to work on more.
The Cliff Notes
If you’re here for the short and sweet version, here ya go. Save your money. Look out for yourself. Buy a wagon, but don’t try to move yourself with it; use Moving Solutions for that.
OMG, I totally get the wagon thing. Investing in bags is literally my number one thing because I hate multiple trips! I literally have to walk 20 steps to my front door from where I park, but I will still throw multiple grocery bags into a larger tote so I can take more.
xx,
Lindsey