The Slow Living Era: Moving, Motherhood and Building a Slower, Simpler Life

6. The Real Cost of Moving a Family from Maryland to Florida

Everyone knows moving is expensive. What I didn't expect were all the costs that had nothing to do with the moving truck itself. In this episode, I'm sharing exactly what we've spent moving our family of five from Maryland to Florida, including our moving company, storage, packing supplies, cleaning costs, duplicate purchases, takeout meals, and the little expenses that seem to pop up daily during a major life transition. I'm also sharing what was absolutely worth the money, where we could have saved, and the mistakes I would avoid if I were doing it all over again. If you're planning a move, considering relocating to Florida, or simply curious what a long-distance move actually costs in 2026, this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE 📦 The real cost of hiring a long-distance moving company 💰 Why we chose a full-service "white glove" moving experience 🏠 What storage, packing, and transportation actually cost 📋 Hidden moving expenses nobody talks about 🛒 How small purchases can quietly add hundreds of dollars to your moving budget 🍽️ The surprising amount of money we spent on convenience during the transition 👶 Why I wish we had hired a babysitter on moving day 😅 The moving mistake that almost caused a major dance recital disaster

5. Why We Scrapped Our Florida Road Trip Plans (And What We're Doing Instead)

I had a whole vision for our move to Florida. A family road trip. Stops in Williamsburg and Savannah. Making memories along the way. One last adventure before starting a new chapter. But the more we thought about it, the more we realized the plan I loved wasn't actually the plan that made the most sense for our family. In this episode, I'm sharing how we ultimately decided to get ourselves, our kids, our cars, and all of our stuff from Maryland to Florida. I'm also walking through the thought process behind changing our plans and why letting go of the "ideal" version of something can sometimes be the best decision. If you're planning a move, traveling with young kids, or simply trying to navigate a big life transition, I think you'll relate to this conversation. IN THIS EPISODE ✈️ Why we decided not to take the family road trip we originally planned 🚗 The reality of traveling 13+ hours with three young kids 🚂 Whether the Auto Train made sense for our family 📦 How we're handling the logistics of moving our cars and belongings 👶 The challenges of long-distance travel with toddlers ❤️ Why your kids don't need a perfect childhood to make great memories This episode isn't really about moving. It's about recognizing when a plan no longer fits your season of life and giving yourself permission to choose a different path. Whether you're navigating a move, motherhood, business, or another big life transition, sometimes the slower, better option is letting go of the original plan. CONNECT WITH ME Have questions about moving from Maryland to Florida, relocating with kids, or navigating a major life transition? Send me a DM on Instagram @maggieslowliving. I'm an open book and would love to hear your story! And if you're enjoying The Slow Living Era, please follow the show and leave a review. It helps more listeners find the podcast and join the conversation.

4. New Construction vs Resale: Why We Chose to Build in Florida

Thinking about building a home in Florida? In this episode, I'm sharing everything we've learned throughout the process of building our new construction home from hundreds of miles away. First, a quick disclaimer: I am not a realtor, contractor, or home builder. This episode is based entirely on our personal experience relocating from Maryland to Florida and navigating the new construction process as first-time home builders. I walk through the major decisions we faced, including: * Why we chose a new construction home over a resale home * How builder incentives and interest rates factored into our decision * What to look for when choosing a builder * How we selected our lot and neighborhood * The pros and cons of buying a semi-custom home * Upgrades we chose (and skipped) * Questions I wish I had asked earlier * Mistakes and near-mistakes we made along the way * What I panicked about during our first walkthrough 😅 I also share practical tips for anyone considering a new build, including how to evaluate floor plans, think about functionality over aesthetics, compare neighborhoods, and communicate changes to your builder before it's too late. LET'S CONNECT If you're considering a move, building a home, or relocating to Florida, I'd love to hear from you. Send me a DM on Instagram @maggieslowliving [instagram.com/maggieslowliving] and let me know what questions you have or what topics you'd like covered in a future episode. And if you're enjoying The Slow Living Era, be sure to follow the show and leave a review. It helps more listeners find the podcast and join the conversation.

2. Why We’re Moving to Northeast Florida After Dreaming About It for 10 Years

For years, the idea of moving to Florida was something we talked about “someday.” After more than a decade of dreaming, praying, planning, and navigating a few unexpected turns along the way, that someday is finally becoming reality. In this episode, I’m sharing the full story behind our move to Northeast Florida, including the timing, the challenges, and why this season felt like the right one for our family to take the leap. From conversations we had back when I graduated nursing school to a nearly-planned move to North Carolina that ultimately fell through, this journey has been anything but straightforward. Looking back now, it’s easy to see how so much of it came down to timing and trusting the process. I’m also answering one of the biggest questions I’ve been getting over on Instagram: why Northeast Florida? I share what drew us to this area specifically, what we’ve learned about the local homeschool community, and why the lifestyle and environment feel so aligned with the kind of life we want to create for our kids. Of course, I also open up about the fears and worries that naturally come with making such a big move. At the heart of it all, this decision came down to creating a slower, more intentional life and following the long-term vision we have for our family. Links & Resources: Visit My Website: maggieslowliving.com [http://maggieslowliving.com]  Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggieslowliving/ [https://www.instagram.com/maggieslowliving/] Hilltop Help’s Website: hilltophelp.com [http://hilltophelp.com] Hello Fresh: https://www.hellofresh.com/freebox/Mzc1MTIxNjY1LTAtNC0xNi1VUw [https://www.hellofresh.com/freebox/Mzc1MTIxNjY1LTAtNC0xNi1VUw] for a Free Box Amazon Storefront: https://a.co/d/034HMOXu [https://a.co/d/034HMOXu]

1. Our Big Move: How Chasing a Slower Life Is Taking Us from Maryland to Florida

Welcome to the very first episode of The Slow Living Era Podcast! I'm your host, Maggie Schneider, and I am so glad you're here. For this debut episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own life because before I could talk about slow living, I had to actually choose it. That meant packing up everything familiar and moving our family from Maryland all the way down to Florida. Spoiler: it wasn't a perfectly planned, Pinterest-worthy decision. It was messy, emotional, and honestly? One of the best things we've ever done. In this episode, I'm sharing the real story behind our move - what pushed us to finally say "enough" to the life that wasn't quite fitting anymore, and what pulled us toward something new. We talk about the big stuff (weather, lifestyle, wanting something different for our family) but also the harder stuff like leaving a community you love and trying to figure out work and life at the same time. In this episode, we cover: * What finally motivated us to make the leap from Maryland to Florida. * How we balanced work, family, and a major life transition all at once. * The emotional side of leaving behind a familiar community. * Why giving yourself permission to make a big change might be the hardest and most important first step. If you've been quietly dreaming about a different kind of life but can't quite give yourself the green light, this one's for you. Big changes don't have to be perfectly timed to be worth it. Links & Resources: Visit My Website: maggieslowliving.com [http://maggieslowliving.com]  Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggieslowliving/ [https://www.instagram.com/maggieslowliving/] Hilltop Help’s Website: hilltophelp.com [http://hilltophelp.com] Hello Fresh: https://www.hellofresh.com/freebox/Mzc1MTIxNjY1LTAtNC0xNi1VUw [https://www.hellofresh.com/freebox/Mzc1MTIxNjY1LTAtNC0xNi1VUw] for a Free Box Amazon Storefront: https://a.co/d/034HMOXu [https://a.co/d/034HMOXu]