To Buy or Not To Buy...

I love having all of the bells and whistles but have learned over time that some of the luxury items that I wanted, aren't maybe the best fit for my family any longer. Let me explain.

When my kids were small, I "needed" a DVD player in our van. I really thought it was the only way to travel. As they have gotten older, we rarely use it. This is mostly because they are all three very different in their personalities and what that want to watch. The built in DVD player comes with the ability for wireless headphones. This is great for parents who do not want to hear the same movie played over and over through out the course of the trip. My kids were destructive when they were small and took the headphones apart. Yes, I ordered a few replacement pairs before giving up all together. Now that iPads are more affordable, they each have their own and play on those while on long car trips. Bonus points to my oldest who would rather read a book.

Another item that I thought I couldn't live without is GPS. I wanted the touch screen that was permanently mounted in the center of the dash board. Now that smart phones have evolved so much, I would never use one on a dash board. It's so much easier to pull up the address on my smartphone and go from there. As I understand GPS in cars, you have to update them periodically to ensure that they have the latest information and this mostly likely comes with a fee.

It's funny how our wish lists have changed as technology has evolved. My kids still beg me for a wi-fi enabled vehicle, and I am sure that's where most of the newer cars are headed, but I welcome the break from technology on short trips. It's good to be plugged into the world around you with your eyes and through windows.