This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #Tips4Trips #CollectiveBias
Some of my favorite parts of Summer are the road trips. We don’t get to do a ton of them, but even if it’s a weekend trip to the mountains, packing can be stressful. I feel like I always forget something when we go anywhere, and I’m also a last minute packer. Having kids throws another kink into the mix, so it is safe to say that it’s a wonder I end up packing any of the necessities at all! Luckily I have a few tricks up my sleeve to avoid meltdowns and help us leave prepared, so check them out below!
Have a master list
This seems like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many trips I’ve packed for without a main list – I sometimes even have a bunch of little lists which end in disaster because one or more usually get lost or forgotten about. So, before you even think of going on a trip, print out a few copies of a master list of your family’s general needs and then save some space at the bottom for filling in destination specifics. Need help? I whipped up this one for you, and if you’re feeling like going the extra mile you can even laminate it and use dry erase markers! Click here and print one our for yourself!
Snacks for the road
I can’t tell you how many times we have been driving down the road, not a convenience store in sight, and one of the kids freaks out because they are hungry. I’m not normally one to encourage a lot of snacking, but road trips can be tough – you need have snacks accessible, and instead of losing time by stopping or going out of your way to find a store, packing them is your best option. I don’t like to take up a lot of space with them, because we have a small car, so instead of bringing whole packages of things I portion out a few selections in snack bags and fit them all in a small plastic container. I can keep it under my seat, in the glove box, or just about anywhere in the car and when the urge strikes, I just pull it out. Smart, eh?
Backup communication
Let’s face it, when you’re away from home things can happen. Maybe your husband jumps into a pool without knowing his phone is in his pocket (this happened to us!) or you set it down for a second while sightseeing and of course can’t find it when you go back to check. Or maybe you get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and find that your phone is dead. With communication a top priority these days, it is smart to have a backup plan for the “what ifs”. Not everybody can afford to open up a second line just for emergencies and travel situations, but did you know that there was a great way to sign up for a no contract, low cost mobile service that you can take with you whenever you need it? Thanks to Walmart Family Mobile there is! And guess what? It’s just $29.88/month (for the first line) – unlimited talk, text & data service plan which includes up to 1gb 4G LTE data.
Isn’t that great? There is no hidden fees or signup deposits. I don’t know about you, but that’s like a fourth of my current phone bill! To sign up just head into your local Walmart, pick out your phone (prices vary), grab a $25 starter kit, and activate your new service! There is no signup fee, no contract, nothing – now that’s freedom! Since we’re going on a few trips pretty soon, I did this for myself and picked out the LG Leon LTE. It cost me $99, and as soon as I purchased I took it home, inserted the starter kit card, and I was all set! The phone itself is super sturdy, and it’s a smart phone equipped with all the latest apps, so I’m definitely happy with it.
Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/frw8 or your local Walmart for current pricing.
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