Do you Know any Backseat Drivers?

I used to hang out with a group of friends and we would go places together. We would go out to eat all the time and even went on vacation once. It was a lot of fun most of the time, however one of my friends was a horrible back seat driver. He always would say he knew the best way to get somewhere. I sometimes wondered if he was listening to a police scanner or if he was tapped in to the traffic report around town. This was before apps and most smart phones. Sometimes he was right, but other times we would end up in construction or stuck in traffic. He really thought he was always right. It was pretty annoying to go places when he would start driving from the backseat. Sometimes we would have him drive because it was just plain easier. It was his fault if the traffic was heavy since he picked the route. He wasn’t really that bad, and he was a great guy so we put up with it. If he wasn’t driving he was in charge of the directions. However that wasn’t a perfect plan either, as we got lost a few times. Honestly it was fun though. I miss hanging out with them and even hearing the backseat driver chime in with his opinions about the best way there. I remember being excited once when I knew there was only one way to get somewhere.  

Through this experience I learned ways to deal with backseatdrivers and I can’t wait for you to check out my post.

Organizing your Car is Easy

Something happened when I became a mom, I became more organized. I used to be someone who liked what I call organized chaos. I knew where things were, they just didn't have a set home. Now I am organized and I am able to keep things organized. I still lose things sometimes but that's because someone either moved it or I put it up somewhere to keep it safe.

I used to also not really care if someone's car is clean and organized. It didn't really bother me too much. As long as it wasn't totally trashed, it was fine. Now that I am a mom I prefer for the car to be organized. It's hard to find things you may need. If we are out with friends, I am very picky when Noah is in the car. I don't expect the car to be sparkling clean but I would prefer him not to step on trash to get in the car. I totally understand that not everyone is organized. I think it's a skill you obtain, if you don't have it already, when you become a parent. It becomes a necessity because your child has a lot of stuff. You also have to be able to tell your child where something is in the car while you are driving. It's really easy to organize your car. It doesn't have to be a huge project or complicated process. It's nice to know where everything is.  If you had ever lost something in the car and spent an hour looking for something you can appreciate this. I think organizing has received a bad rep. It doesn't take a bunch of money or time to get your car in order. The hardest part is honestly putting things back where they belong. If you forget to put it back you risk losing it in the car or worse knocking it out when you get out. You can lose something really important or valuable.

Be sure to read my post about tips to organize your car and start 2015 organized.

Are you a One Car Family?

Not everyone can afford the luxury of being a two car family. Having cars that are safe is the most important thing no matter how many cars you have. I have friends that are one car families. Everyone's situation is different. Maybe they don't go many places without each other. Maybe they live in an area that they can walk to places. Many people live paycheck to paycheck and can't afford it. When I was married, we were a one car family. I was usually the one at home. He would drive me to work and then go home. It worked for us. He didn't work most of the time so I didn't have to worry about not picking me up. I also worked close to home so I could walk if I needed to. We definitely didn't have much money.

The economy has really effected almost everyone. Throw in rising food prices and some people have to sell their second car just to pay bills. An extra couple hundred dollars a month may not be something everyone can afford to spend. Being a one car family regardless of the reason is fine. We all live differently. Cars have become status symbols and it shouldn't be that way. If you decide to become a one car family, there are things to consider. You have to discuss and see if it's an option for you. You can always save and get another car down the road.

Check out my post about becoming a one car family.

Renting a Car for Road Trips is a New Trend

I have noticed a new travel trend. People have started renting cars to drive on road trips. My friends recently rented a car to drive 19 hours. I assumed they would have flown. It was interesting to hear about. I didn't think about renting a car to drive somewhere. There have been a couple times I have gone on vacation with a group of people and we rented a van. It was mostly because no one had a car that everyone could fit in. Instead of taking multiple cars it was a great option. It's actually a really smart idea for many reasons. Mileage is probably the biggest reason people rent cars for car travel.

It's definitely something I will consider for my next road trip. It would be fun to take an SUV and have extra room. I am not really van person unless it's a really comfortable one. After going on different road trips in vans I know that fifteen person passenger vans are really uncomfortable with a lot of people. I need space to spread out. I would have to remember what the rental car looks like. Sometimes I forget those things. I am pretty good at it. Renting a car can be much cheaper than flying or cheaper in the long run if you have an older car or one with car trouble.

Check out my post about renting a car for road trips for more reasons you should consider it.