Okay, maybe it's not always a fun road trip, but it's a necessary one. Today I'm going to talk to you about the actual travel between where you used to live to where are you going to live. Today's blog is going to include a few money saving tips and sanity savers. This may not cover everything, but feel free to add your own tips in the comments below!

1. Don't have a GPS system? Invest in one! My husband is one of those people that hates getting lost and while trusty MapQuest is great sometimes it's just easier to go with the times and lose the headache. You should check to make sure the maps in your GPS are up to date. And even if the maps are it's also good to buy an atlas and check to make sure a few friends are near their computers just in case you need them to help verify directions online.
2. Gas and Restroom Trips. To save time my husband and I usually try to keep restroom stops to a minimum, so for us the easiest way to deal with that problem is to use the restroom only when we top to get gas.
3. Stock the Car with Goodies. Wanna save money on food stops too? Pack up a cooler with goodies. Be careful of things that don't hold up well or carbonated stuff you don't want a giant can of soda exploding on you (if you're traveling on an especially bumpy road). Bottles of water, peanut butter, some fruits, and sometimes some cold cuts should be okay. I would wrap the cold cuts in some foil and sealed plastic to keep them cold. You should bring some bread if you're going to make sandwiches, I prefer wraps they hold up well and they're pretty tidy. Keep those wrapped in wax paper and plastic wrap. It's a lot cheaper to make stops into a grocery store for bread and other small items than to continuously buy fast food at rest stops.
4. Bring Tons of Music and an MP3 Player. My husband and I have totally different tastes in music. I'm so jealous of couples that can be in the same car with their significant other for several hours and not want to kill each other by the end of it. But I've found it works pretty well to have your MP3 players as well as CDs that way if you switch drivers one can listen to his or her music with headphones on and the other can listen to his or her music on the stereo. Combining music and a GPS you'll have to fight over something other than getting lost or listening to music you don't like.
5. Don't forget a pillow! I nap while my husband drives (it also lessens the ability to argue), this is also important if you plan on driving round the clock to get to your destination. Bring a pillow like one from your bed or possibly a travel pillow and a blanket just in case you get cold it will also make the trip much more pleasant.

That covers the PCS Survival Road Trip! Be sure to add your own tips if you have them by commenting below and remember, keep all of your receipts and don't forget to get a receipt at the toll booth! Happy PCSing!

Last update : 08/24/2008 09:07 AM

Average user rating

   (0 vote)