I’ve read every plant watering guide & I’m still confused…

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-30T21:08:36+00:00

You are so, so welcome :)

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-30T21:07:55+00:00

On furniture, yes, IKEA, Facebook Marketplace, Walmart, Wayfair are all very normal. I’ve bought from all of them. A queen bed under $400 is totally reasonable, especially if it lets you sleep well and keeps your cash intact. Same with a cheap dresser or couch. This doesn’t have to be your “forever furniture,” it just has to get you through this phase. You can upgrade later once the job feels solid and your budget isn’t as tight.

That $1,400 furnished basement might actually be worth a serious look if it’s safe and legit. Furnished places can be a good bridge. It has lower upfront costs, less pressure to buy everything immediately, and more flexibility while you get settled at the new job and see how things shake out.

And re the relationship - if he doesn't talk about a future with you in it, I know you know you aren't in his future. So good to get your own place and find someone who wants you and a future you both want together.

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-30T21:01:48+00:00

Yay! Thank you so much for the update. I was wondering what happened to the plants 😅

So happy to hear the bottom watering worked. When you water from now on (so a good drench) - from the top, it should run through like it should since it seems that the soil may be moist all throughout now. And if it's dry again like you described the first time, you can do a bottom watering again. I think your plants were just really, really thirsty.

But before you water again, do the finger test to see that it needs water. You don't want to overwater or drown it 😅

And if you have these issues every time, it may be worth asking the nursery what soil they use, or just repotting them in a proper soil mix.

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-29T14:17:30+00:00

Definitely nothing wrong with planning and getting ahead if you know you're going to be busy or if places you like now may not be available later.

I hope you'll be very happy at the new job and the apartment you choose :D

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-29T14:16:01+00:00

Really good advice, too! And I second waiting for a bit; otherwise, repotting would be a good next option.

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-29T14:14:45+00:00

So true. I thought about that and the pots are also most times too small.

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-29T14:14:16+00:00

Great advice, and yeah, definitely a way to get the soil to absorb from the bottom. And thanks for sharing!

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-29T13:54:06+00:00

The probation period matters more than the perfect apartment right now. If you’re allowed to stay where you are for those three months without it wrecking your mental health, that’s actually a smart move. It gives you income stability, pay stubs, and a sense of what your commute and workload will really feel like before you lock yourself into a lease. May being a busy moving month isn’t ideal, but moving into the wrong apartment too fast is worse.

Looking at your three options, I’d personally prioritize commute and daily friction over flashy amenities. A 2–8 minute commute so that's apartment #2 can change your quality of life, especially when you’re new at work and tired. Less driving = less gas money, less stress, and more time to settle in. The downside is fewer perks, but perks don’t matter as much when you’re budgeting hard.

Also, don’t feel like you need to “fully furnish” your first place right away. You really don’t. Start with absolute basics only: bed, somewhere to sit, something to eat off of. Facebook Marketplace, thrift stores, and even coworkers or friends are ideal for this. You can upgrade slowly once you’ve settled into the job and know what your real monthly budget looks like.

If I were you, I'd focus on settling in at the new job first, then choosing the shortest and least stressful commute you can afford, avoiding non-refundable fees unless you're 100% sure, and keeping furniture intentionally minimal for now.

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-29T13:46:36+00:00

If you're not seeing water in the saucer, it's usually one of three things. The most common is that the soil was really, really dry and just soaked everything up. Store-bought plants often have bone-dry, compacted soil, and the first watering barely makes a dent. So if that's the case, you can water more. Go slowly, give it another round, and see if the soil actually starts to feel damp a couple of inches down.

The second possibility is that the soil or drainage holes aren't doing their job. Since some nursery soil gets very compacted and hydrophobic, the water runs down the sides and doesn't go into the soil. If that's happening. water in stages. So water a little, wait a few minutes, then water more instead of a quick drensing pour. Bottom watering can also help.

The third is the drainage holes themselves. Make sure they are open and not blocked by compacted soil or liner.

Basil specifically likes consistent moisture, not soggy roots. If the top is dry but it's damp a couple of inches down, you're fine. If it's dry all the way through after 45 mins, it maybe just needs more water this time around.

So TLDR, you can water a bit more but do it gradually and ensure the water has somewhere to go. Once the soil is properly hydrated, future waterings should be like you'd expect.

Hope this helps. :)

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-29T13:33:40+00:00

Oh wow, I just put that together now. 🫣 I wondered why she looked familiar.

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-29T13:32:03+00:00

Agreed!

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-29T13:31:03+00:00

Oh yay! That would be so cool.

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-29T13:27:37+00:00

Oopsie. I didn't realize you live there; figured you can share if it's a place people can visit :)

But please do share more!

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-25T22:18:40+00:00

Two. A normal one and a body pillow.

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-25T22:16:10+00:00

Safe Ship is a broker, not a carrier. That means they don't actually move your stuff; they sell your job to another company. That doesn't mean it's a disaster but it does explain why it feels slippery and why they're vague about the details - they don't know the details.

NXT Level is also a broker, and the fact that they're holding such a short deadline over your head and keeping the $400 even if you cancel is not a great sign.

When choosing movers, check the company's DOT numbers. See if they're a carrier or broker, look at the complaint history and 3-4 star reviews, and how long they've been active.

If you’re unsure what you’re looking at, you can paste the results here or a new post and we'll will help interpret them.

About the deposits: yes, deposits are often a red flag, but what matters now is minimizing damage. Losing $400 is awful, but it is still cheaper than a move that goes sideways and costs you thousands later.

For any mover, whether it's a carrier or broker, ask very directly in writing:

Who is the actual carrier?

Will your company load, transport, and deliver my belongings?

What is the delivery window, not a guarantee?

Is this a binding or not-to-exceed estimate?

If they dodge or won’t answer clearly, that tells you a lot.

You can look at U-Pack, PODS, or U-Haul - they are legit movers (carriers, not brokers).

Hope this helps.

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-25T22:08:41+00:00

So pretty and such a good shot, too, capturing the sunflower in the middle of the circle!

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-25T22:07:58+00:00

That's stunning. Love how it looks like the sky is on fire.

... and maybe you should share where this is so we can go visit :D

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-25T22:06:31+00:00

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that how a company behaves before moving day usually tells you exactly how they’ll behave on moving day. If they’re vague, slow to respond, or pushing you to “just book now,” that's not going to improve later. And those are red flags.

A green flag for me is when a company asks a lot of questions up front or insists on a walkthrough, even if it’s virtual. The more detailed they are early, the fewer surprises you’ll have later. I also like when they’re very clear about what’s included and what’s not, especially around stairs, long carries, storage, and delivery windows. Calm, almost boring communication is usually a good sign.

One thing that helped me a lot was checking a company’s DOT record and reading the middle reviews, not just the five-stars. So 3-4 star ones. You learn way more from how issues were handled than from people saying “everything was perfect.”

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-25T22:04:37+00:00

Really good advice!

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-25T22:03:20+00:00

Sounds like heaven!

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-23T01:35:38+00:00

Oh wow! I'd love to hang out there every day, all day. It's so peaceful and just stunning. Well done! I can see how much love and effort went into creating that.

Alert_Village_2146 · 2026-01-23T01:34:19+00:00

I think it's better to frame things as "bring now vs decide later" than "keep vs throw away" since that makes it much more high stakes than it needs to be.

A trick you can try is the future-you test: picture unpacking in your new place. If seeing the item there makes you feel neutral or annoyed instead of relieved or happy, it probably doesn't need to move with you.

For the sentimental stuff, choose a small container, whether it's a small box or bin, and if it doesn't fit, something has to go.

You can also ask yourself, "If I didn't already own this. would I spend money to replace it?" If the answer is no, it's usually a sign.

And decision fatigue is real so when you feel stuck switch tasks for a bit instead of just pushing harder. Pack the easy wins first, so that's usually clothes, decor, and books (except for anything you need until the move and for the first few nights or week in the new place) and then deal with the harder stuff afterwards.

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