Save Money on Car Insurance?

You know all those ads you see on television and all the mail you get promising to save you money on your car insurance and just call for a free quote?  Well, we've been calling and asking.  It can't hurt to ask, right?

Except that all these things we've gotten with promises of savings are just plain LIES.  Lies, I tell you.  But still, we have to get new car insurance - not because we didn't like our old insurance; we did.  Just, for some reason, because we've moved we have to get new insurance.  Why?  I don't know.  To keep the insurance people here in business, I guess.  Because nobody would actually buy insurance from them given a choice.

Seriously, we want to insure the exact same cars and the exact same drivers, and even will be driving fewer miles since Jeffrey works only 5 minutes from home instead of 30 minutes like before.  They should be able to save us some money - at least a little just for that.  But no - they want us to pay half again to twice as much for the exact same thing.  And we have no choice in the matter, even though we know it doesn't have to cost that much.  We have to choose the lesser of all the evils and buy from someone here.  Instead of just keeping our old, much more affordable car insurance.  I'm still not exactly sure why...

It just feels like a total ripoff. 

I'm Loving This Samsung GALAXY S 4!

I've been using my U.S Cellular Samsung GALAXY S 4 for several months now, and I still don't know everything this phone is capable of.  I mean - does anybody understand and use all the capabilities of their smartphone?  I have an excuse though because this is the smartest phone I've ever had!  As I said before, I've just fairly recently started using a phone for anything other than making and taking phone calls.  And, yes, the Samsung GALAXY S 4 does make phone calls, and since I'm with U.S. Cellular and all my incoming calls and all calls between U.S. Cellular phones - meaning calls to and from my kids - and all calls on weekends and on evenings after 7pm are FREE, at least half of my calls don't count against our monthly minutes.  Those spam calls are irritating, but at least none of them count against my minutes!  And then I just block the stupid calls anyway.

What's nice about having this Samsung GALAXY S 4 is that it's much more than just a phone.  It seems most phones are nowadays.  I remember saying ages ago - back before there was such a thing as a smartphone, or at least way before I'd ever heard of such a thing - that phones should be able to do multiple things.  Of course I was just thinking of using them to take pictures and play music as well as make phone calls, so we wouldn't have to carry around a phone and a camera and an MP3 player.  It never even entered my mind all the things these phones would be able to do.

One of my favorite parts is still the camera.  The Samsung GALAXY S 4 has a 13MP camera, so it takes some really good pictures.  It also has a front-facing webcam, making it great for making video calls with Skype.  Yes, I have plenty of minutes with my U.S. Cellular plan, but video calls are especially great when talking to a 2-year-old grandson.  It's also easier to get him to smile and hold still for pictures when he can see himself on the screen. The front-facing camera also makes it possible to put yourself into the photo or video, like I did in this post.

I use the Auto Backup feature of the Google+ app so that all my pics are uploaded and stored in a private album.  That way I never have to worry about losing any of the pictures I take.  The phone also came with Dropbox, so I set that up and automatically backup my photos to that too.  (I might just be a tad obsessive)  Both options make it incredibly easy to share and use all my photos.  I especially like that Google+ makes the photos available to use in my blog posts - and combines some of them into fun animations, too.  At least I think they're fun.  Of course, it's very simple to share to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or just share directly with a friend or family member right from the phone.

The hardest part, for me, is actually remembering to take the phone out and take the pictures, or videos.  This Samsung GALAXY S 4 takes great HD videos.  My problem is that I'm usually too busy enjoying whatever is going on and only think to get my phone out when it's about too late.  I suppose I'll get better at that.

On the bright side, I haven't turned into one of those people who just can't leave their phones alone.  Ever.  While my phone does make it easier to share Better Moments with family and friends and to stay connected with the important people in my life, when we're apart, it's very important to be present and share those moments with those special people when we're together - without letting technology constantly get in the way.  If you've ever seen teenagers sit side by side not speaking a word but with their thumbs/fingers going a mile a minute texting each other, you know what I mean.

I do regularly check Facebook on my phone (of course), play Words with Friends, check Gas Buddy to find the best gas prices, and check the Weather app so I know whether I need a sweatshirt when I go walking in the mornings.  For the record, that has not been an issue recently; it has been hot.  And Google Maps.  I would literally be lost without Maps!  I am severely directionally challenged.  Of course, there was the time my treacherous phone took me through Chicago instead of around, but I survived.  And I made it home.

There are many things this phone does that I have not even begun to figure out yet,  I really should read that manual!  The Samsung GALAXY S 4 can even be used to change the channels on your television.  I really need to set that up, just to mess with my husband.  It will be funny at least once.  There's also the ability to control things on the phone just by hovering over it or by a wave of your hand.  How cool is that?  I really must figure that out, too.  Overall, this is definitely the coolest phone I have ever had, and I'm really enjoying it.  If you have your own Samsung GALAXY S 4, I'd love to hear what feature(s) you like the best or which apps you just can't live without.  And if you don't have one yet, be sure to check out the Samsung GALAXY S 4 from U.S. Cellular.  I think you're really gonna love this phone.

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade as well as receiving a new phone.  My experiences with and opinions of U.S. Cellular are 100% mine.

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A Couple Things I Never Thought I'd Have

We've moved.  You probably guessed that from the post with the picture of the big moving truck, right?  We sold our house in Wisconsin, bought a new house, and moved, not necessarily in that order.  Since then, we've been busy unpacking and organizing and getting settled. 

Along with the new house, we'll have a couple things I never thought I'd have or even really wanted.  One is a dishwasher.  When we built our house in Wisconsin, I didn't want to give up the cabinet space to have a dishwasher put in.   Besides, I had two kids to wash dishes.  That didn't exactly work out, but I really never missed having a dishwasher - partly because I really don't mind washing dishes (drying is another thing), and partly because I'd never had a dishwasher, never used one, and therefore couldn't really miss it.  Well, here we have a dishwasher.  We not only got a dishwasher when we bought the house, but we actually bought a brand-new one and had it installed.  We had to buy a refrigerator so we figured while we were at it we'd buy a new stainless dishwasher to go with the rest of the appliances.  We gave the one that came with the house to Beth.  Along with the washer and dryer.

So now I have a brand-new, shiny stainless steel dishwasher.  And I've actually used it.  Twice.  I'm still not convinced.  I suppose it will come in handy when we have company and have lots of dishes to do, but otherwise it just seems ridiculous that it takes over 2 hours to do the same dishes that take me15-20 minutes to just wash.  And then, the next morning, when I want to be able to put all the clean dishes away, I find that I have to dry several of them - or at least that's what happened last time I ran the dishwasher.  I won't know until tomorrow morning how they turned out this time.  Did I mention that I really really don't like to dry dishes?

The other thing I thought I'd never have?  A king-size bed.  We don't actually have that one yet, but the mattress should be delivered Friday.  I hope I don't lose my husband...

Save $40 on a Kindle Fire HD

I just recently got a Kindle Fire HD 7", and I love it!

Why am I telling you this now?  Because, for a limited time, you can save $40 when you buy one for yourself.  If you've been thinking about it, now is definitely the time.

The Kindle Fire HD is a great little tablet.  It's not just for reading, though it really is great for that.  Paper books are still best, but this is a pretty close second.  It's really nice to be able to get new books - from Amazon or from the library - and start reading them without ever having to leave home.

Besides books, the Kindle Fire HD lets you play games, watch videos, listen to your music, and surf the internet.

Be sure to grab some screen protectors, too - I bought the Tech Armor Anti-Glare & Anti-Fingerprint Screen Protector for mine, and I really like it, so much that I ordered the same ones for my phone.

Note that Amazon will suggest screen protectors and a case when you go to order your Kindle Fire HD, but there are many more available, so be sure to search for others.  You'll get a better choice and a better deal.  I bought this Belkin Classic Case for Kindle Fire HD 7" for mine.  It's really simple, but I like it a lot.  If you want something a bit brighter or different, there are plenty to choose from in lots of different colors.

Anyway, what are you waiting for?  Go order that Kindle Fire HD before this deal is gone!

This Makes Me Laugh

Must be the "Jason Shuffle"

Have Questions About Kids and Cell Phones?

Do you have questions about your phone, smartphone or wireless modem? Would you like to learn more?  If you're like me, your phone has many capabilities you may not even be aware of.   When I don't know how to do something on my phone, I usually hand it to my son or daughter, and they can help me out.  For instance, the other day my Weather Widget disappeared.  Why?  I have no idea, but Cory fixed it for me.

U.S. Cellular offers FREE Device Workshops for those who don't have tech-savvy young people in their lives and for anyone who wants to know more about their phones, learn about the apps that are available, and learn about the ways mobile phones can keep families connected.

For families, U.S. Cellular has recently made this fully customizable Parent-Child Agreement available for free download.  I was pretty excited about that when they posted it on Facebook - even though my kids are all grown up, and it's a bit late for us.  I really wish we'd had something like that when the kids got cell phones.  It focuses on safety and etiquette, and lets families remove, edit, and add their own guidelines.  The point is that it gives parents a starting point for discussing the responsibility that comes with owning a mobile device and makes it easy for families to set the parameters for device usage and safety.  It doesn't have to be all about rules either.  You can include some fun things like making your kids promise to share the YouTube videos they find hilarious or send at least one text a day just to let mom know they love her.  It's all up to you and what works for your family.

To go along with the Parent-Child Agreement, U.S. Cellular has been offering free Device Workshops that focus on helping families make the decision of when to get children their first phone along with ways that mobile phones can help families stay connected.  Families can get tips on setting phone guidelines as well as share suggestions that may help other families.  Of course, if you have some suggestions that worked for your kids and their cell phone usage, or things that you wish you'd thought to require or enforce, please feel free to share here.  My kids may be past this age - though I still tell them not to text and drive - but I'm sure there are other parents who could benefit from your experience.

Check to see if there's an event near you or call your local U.S. Cellular store - 262-641-5000 for the one in Brookfield we've been to a few times.  Remember that all U.S. Cellular Device Workshop are FREE, and you even earn 250 Belief Points just for going, so be sure to sign up to learn more about U.S. Cellular products and services for you and your family.  Even if you can't make it to a Workshop, U.S. Cellular associates are always happy to answer any questions you have any time you walk into the store.

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade as well as receiving a new phone.  My experiences with and opinions of U.S. Cellular are 100% mine.

An Update is Long Overdue

I haven't had much chance to blog recently - or even get online for much more than a quick perusal of Facebook.  What have I been doing?

It involves a bunch of these:

A big one of these:

Some really hard-working people to pack and load and then unload again.  And then we got to start unpacking and organizing and deciding where things go - and how long is this going to take?

You really don't realize how much stuff you have until it's time to move!  Really.  I know there are kitchen counters there somewhere.

I'm gradually getting organized, at least in the kitchen - along with finding clothes to wear and the things we need in the bathroom, all the important things.  I even made bread yesterday in my new kitchen.  Because sourdough starter must be used or fed regularly - though mine is pretty forgiving even when I neglect it for a bit. 

We got a few groceries the other night, and get to eat real food now, even if the only refrigerator we have is in the garage.  We bought a new fridge and even a dishwasher - I've never bought a dishwasher before, never used one either for that matter - but we've had to postpone delivery.  Twice.  Not so handy having the only fridge in the garage, but it's better than nothing, and I'm so thankful we have that.  And definitely thankful not to have to eat any more fast food.  I don't know how Jeffrey stood it for so long.  A few days was long enough for me.  We even had dinner outside on our patio this evening, because the weather has been glorious.  Absolutely wonderful.

We are gradually getting organized, and it's starting to look like a real house.  I might even have time soon to sit down and post that really long, overdue update about everything that has been going on.  Since March.

Hanging Out With My Buddy

I spent today with my little buddy Jason.  His mommy had something she had to do, so he spent the night last night and then all day today.  We didn't do much - just read lots of books, colored, snuggled, etc.

We had breakfast on the deck this morning and took some pictures, too - just because.  I really like the way Google puts pictures together into an animation.  It's kind of fun.

I don't get anything done when Jason's here, but we have fun.

What, Do They Drive on the Other Side of the Road There?

So we're moving.  And we're going to have to get new drivers licenses in our new state.  Never mind that I have a perfectly good drivers license already that doesn't expire for another 5 years.  And also had to renew the sticker for my license plate, because it expired today - and we move out of state in 11 days.  I called to see if I could get an extension or something.  But no - basically she said, "you're really just screwed.  Whether it's 1 day or 365 days, you still pay.  The same amount.  It's an annual fee."

Apparently I can't wait 5 years or even 1 year to renew things that I've already paid good money for.  I guess the respective DMVs or DOTs or whatever they are have to make money somehow...

Then today Jeffrey mentioned that to get these new drivers licenses we have to take a written test - as if 20+ years of driving doesn't count for anything.  Seriously, isn't the written test for new drivers?  What, are their rules of the road so very different there?  Do they drive on the other side of the road or something?  I mean, written tests are fine for new drivers who have just taken Drivers Ed and studied all that stuff, but the rest of us have been out on the roads driving.  Who remembers how many feet you're supposed to signal ahead of a turn?  And even if I did know how many feet, I wouldn't really know what that means in real life - I just do it.  I'm also one of the few people who seems to know that, on the highway, you're supposed to drive in the right lane and use the left lane for passing.  And, this probably has nothing to do with a drivers license, but I'm also one of the few people that knows pedestrians are supposed to walk on the left side of the street, facing traffic.  At least one of the few in this town - maybe they all know that over there.

Unless, of course, they drive on the other side of the road there, in which case pedestrians should still walk facing traffic, but it would be on the right-hand side of the street.

Seriously, I doubt any of the rules in the new state are any different than in all the rest of the states, which kind of makes a written test a bit ridiculous for people who have been driving for years.

And then there's the fact that a valid current Wisconsin drivers license isn't good enough for ID.  No, they want a birth certificate, and my social security card, and I don't know what all.  Really?  Let's just treat all the new people as if they don't know anything and as if they lied to get the license they currently hold.  Yep, way to make me feel at home.

Smartphone Apps for Families

Besides transferring all your contacts (and figuring out how to block those spam calls), the most important thing when you get a new smartphone is to install all the apps that will make your life easier.  And probably a few games, as well.

Most phones come with some preloaded apps to get you started, and there are many, many more available through Google Play, Amazon, and even your provider.

Because families today are getting busier and busier, many are using smartphones to make their lives easier, more efficient and meaningful. U.S. Cellular offers several apps specifically to help with that and to help people enjoy Better Moments with family.  Two of those are the Family Organizer and U.S. Cellular's new Family Protector.

Family Organizer helps you manage your busy family with a centralized calendar, shopping lists, to do lists and a family journal that everyone can share on the go.  It's like an updated version of the family wall calendar/schedule - only this one goes with everyone in the family everywhere they go.  Which is good, because busy families may not be home enough to actually read that calendar on the wall.

The Family Protector app is one I wish we'd had when my kids were still at home.  Of course, we would have had to have to have smartphones back then, too, but that's beside the point.  This app allows parents to monitor and control usage on their children's cell phones.  You can monitor text messages, photos, and call history as well as restricting apps, blocking websites, and setting time limits and schedules for when your children can talk, text, or browse the internet.  The app will also allow you to monitor your child's location, which could be a matter of life and death should, God forbid, something happen.  It's also a great way of making sure your teenager is where she says she is. (not that mine would ever have told me otherwise.  Uh, yeah)

When Beth would go to visit friends, we always had her call when she got there so we'd know she got there safely - and the caller ID would show whose phone she was calling from so we could see that she was where she said she was.  Then she got a cell phone, and she'd still call to let us know she got there, except that because she was calling from the cell phone, she could have been calling from anywhere.

I'm not necessarily advocating the Family Protector app as a way to spy on your teenagers, but it could work that way, and because it cannot be uninstalled without a password, there would be nothing they could do about it.  I do think it's a good way to protect your children and, yes, teenagers too.  Our kids didn't get cell phones until they were ready to drive, and then I wanted them to have the phones just in case they had car trouble or something else happened when they were out on the road.  It's hard to believe we all used to drive everywhere all the time without those phones!  But, while our kids didn't have phones until they were a bit older, many families are choosing to give their kids phones at earlier ages so that they can always keep in touch and keep up with their busy schedules.

That doesn't always mean the kids are ready for or responsible enough to handle having a cell phone and everything that goes along with it.  I've heard great stories about moms who set all kinds of rules and guidelines for phone use - and those stories circulate widely because the rest of us are so impressed at the way those moms handled the phone situation, and we wonder why we didn't think of that!  Oh, my kids had basic rules like don't text and drive and don't spend all night texting or talking on the phone, but I wasn't very good at checking up on them or really being able to enforce those rules.  I mean, I didn't even think about checking their phones regularly just to see who they were calling, when they were calling, what kind of texts they were sending and receiving, etc.

If only I'd had an app...  Or this customizable Parent-Child Agreement from U.S. Cellular has provided to help parents think about guidelines and phone responsibility.  It has some basic guidelines to get you started, and you can remove, edit or add your own guidelines that work best for you and your child, and that fit within your family.

So, if you've got kids with cell phones, that's great because I know, with the right apps and guidelines, they help families keep in touch and keep organized, but if you're looking for a good way to monitor your kids' phone usage and enforce the cell phone rules you've set, be sure to check out the Family Protector app.  It's free to try for 30 days and then $9.99/month after that for up to 5 devices.

Are there any other apps you've found useful for your family and that you'd recommend to other moms?  Feel free to share them here.  

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade as well as receiving a new phone.  My experiences with and opinions of U.S. Cellular are 100% mine.

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