If you’re planning to get your family out of Dodge, (or out of McKinney) here are some simple tips for road trippin’ with kids!

Plan it out.  One of the best things you can do to get ready for your trip is research.  If you want to go straight to a destination, you usually fly.  If you want to take in the scenery along the way, you drive.  Check out the sights in cities along your route so that you can make sure that you make the most of your trip.  You definitely don’t want to miss out on the world’s largest ball of stamps.

Schedule your stops. To keep kids (and adults) from getting restless, it’s best to stop at least every 2 to 3 hours.  A park or playground is a great place for the kids to let out some energy.  It only takes a few minutes for them to get it all out of their system, and it will prolong them saying, “are we there yet?”

Be realistic.  And safe.  You may be tempted to drive straight through, especially at night when the kids are asleep in the backseat.  Make sure that you still stop at the first sign that you are tired.  It’s better safe than sorry.  Driving while tired has been proven to be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.  Continue your journey once you are well rested.

Pack the snacks.  Stopping for meals along the way can get expensive.  Bring along a cooler with premade sandwiches and bags of sliced fruit and veggies.  Find fun parks or scenic picnic areas along the way to have lunch instead of restaurants.

Try a tech-free trip.  Having some music, or watching a movie isn’t a bad idea for a long trip, but don’t take the scenery for granted.  Encourage your kids to put down the tablets and cell phones, and look out the window.  Play family road trip games by searching for license plates and road signs.

*No time to clean your house before you leave for your road trip?  If you want to relax in a spotless house after your vacation, CLICK HERE to schedule a clean online with My Maid Service right now!

The most important part of taking a road trip is that feeling of togetherness.  Take tons of pictures, be silly, and just enjoy how unique and wonderful your family is.

What’s your favorite part of family road trips?  Leave us a comment to let us know!

Some big brands will send you savings just for asking

Anyone who has watched the show, “Extreme Couponing” on television knows all about the thrill and the addictive nature of the coupon chase. Whether you frequently coupon or haven’t been much of a clipper, there are plenty of brands offering deals and steals online that will streamline and simplify the couponing process. (Many companies require a quick email sign-up so it might behoove your coupon dreams to get a junk email to avoid spam overload.) So, grab your printer and a pair of scissors and prepare to save:

Kelloggs-From toaster pastries to frosted cereals, this brand offers coupons on some of its most popular items.

Campbells-Save some cold hard cash on items like salsa, soups and skillet dish kits.

Tylenol-Check this site often for discounts on pain medications and cold and flu products. Currently, there’s a $2.00 off coupon for Simply Sleep.

Crest-Sign up for special savings sent via email or click on coupons for toothpaste and teeth whiteners. Currently, there’s a promotion for $2.00 off Sensi-Stop Strips. Follow this link for more promotions and offers on dental products from Crest.

Target-This major retailer provides mobile coupons on the Cartwheel app for a variety of products from grocery to clothing items. All savings can be scanned at a brick and mortar store location.

Need help keeping your home’s coupon center clean or just want to polish things up? Call our cleaning service team at My Maid Service in Mckinney, TX at: 513-934-3254 today!