Moving Drama and Scammers

Last week was incredibly busy! We’ve been tackling the daunting task of moving a lot of our stuff from North Carolina down to Georgia. It’s funny—until you start packing, you never realize just how much stuff you actually have. Even with something as simple as jeans, I found myself saying, Why do I have so many pairs of pants? Turns out, I had jeans in both North Carolina and Georgia, and when I got them all together, it was overwhelming. So, I spent some time going through them, deciding which ones to keep and which ones to let go.

The whole process of moving is exhausting—mentally and physically. Between packing up our belongings and getting ready for Christmas and the holidays, it felt like there weren’t enough hours in the day. After Thanksgiving, we headed back to Charlotte to really dive into packing. At first, I thought most of our things would fit in the van. But as we started loading it up, it became clear just how much space everything takes. Even small items add up!

Take Teddy, our eight-year-old dog, for example. He doesn’t jump onto the couch anymore, so we have these little dog steps for him—one for the couch and one for the bed. Just those two sets of steps took up a surprising amount of room in the van! And then there’s the kitchen—pots, pans, small appliances, you name it. It’s incredible how much space kitchen items take when you start packing them.

Holly made a quick trip to Georgia mid-week. She left Tuesday, handled some things there, and came back Thursday so we could keep working on the North Carolina side. While she was away, I stayed behind to pack more and coordinate with the movers.

Speaking of movers, I had an experience that many of you might relate to—or, at least, I hope you haven’t had to deal with! The moving company I initially contacted gave me a quote over the phone. A few days later, they called back, asking for more details, and the price suddenly went up. I wasn’t thrilled but figured it was still manageable. Then, on moving day, the price jumped again—this time by 20-25%! That’s not a minor adjustment; that’s a huge increase.

At that point, I said, “No way.” We canceled with that company and started looking for another option. But it got me thinking about how often this happens to other people. Moving is already stressful enough, and to have movers jack up the price at the last minute feels predatory. Many people don’t have the flexibility to walk away like we did—they’re on a tight timeline, closing on a house, or needing to be out of their apartment.

This experience has me looking into the laws surrounding moving companies. If you’ve had a similar experience—if you feel like your movers scammed you—give us a call. Let us know it’s a moving case, and we’ll take it from there. We’ll ask for details, like the company’s name, and help you navigate the situation. It’s a bigger issue than I realized, and I’ve started digging into consumer protection agencies and resources to learn more.

Now, let’s shift to something more cheerful: Christmas! It’s such a wonderful time of year, even if it comes with its own kind of busyness. My kids are older now, so their wish lists are mostly about clothes and shoes. But I still remember when they were little, and it was all about toys and gadgets. Even now, for my nieces and nephews, that magic of finding the perfect gift is still there.

This year, we ordered a gift for one of them on eBay, and now we’re anxiously waiting for it to arrive. Most of our shopping is on Amazon, which makes things easier because it just shows up. But there’s always that one gift you’re tracking, refreshing the updates and hoping it arrives on time. It’s part of the holiday tradition, I guess!

Decorating has also been a big part of the season for us. We’ve got several Christmas trees up this year. Funny story—we accidentally set up the old tree first. It wasn’t even the one we planned to use, but once it was up, we just left it and put up the new one we bought last year. Holly also has a small pink candy-themed tree, which is adorable. And this year, I decided to do a themed tree with the kids. It’s been fun to see how creative everyone gets.

One of my favorite parts of December is the sweets. It seems like everywhere you go, there are cookies, candies, and treats tempting you. It’s part of what makes the holidays feel so festive.

I hope everyone is enjoying December and finding moments of joy amidst the hustle and bustle. If you’re in the middle of your own move, holiday prep, or anything else, just remember to take a breath and enjoy the little moments. And if you’re dealing with pain—physical or otherwise—don’t forget: In pain? Call Shane!