Insure your cellphone

This is a sad tale, only made better due to buying cellphone insurance.

A year after my son was born, I needed to upgrade my cellphone. I thought that since we were heading into toddler years, I would buy an Otterbox and insure my cell phone. This turned out to be one of the best decisions I made that year.

When I was 8 months pregnant, my coat couldn't handle my belly anymore. When I climbed into the car, my cellphone dropped out of my pocket. I didn't realize this until I made it to the store to collect my groceries and I couldn't call the store to have them bring my purchase to my car. When I got back home I found my cellphone in my parking stall, completely smashed from being run over. Not even an Otterbox saved my cell phone.

Within 2 business days I had my new one.

Fast forward a year and a half later. My son wanted to spin PokeStops for me while driving. As I got him out of his car seat he mindlessly handed me my cell phone and it dropped. It hit the perfect angle that not even my new Otterbox could handle and it broke again.

Lesson learned: Buy cell phone insurance!

Holiday Shopping as a Millennial Parent

Every mom sings this song “I’ve got too much on my plate”. Then comes the holidays and the dark and bitter cold days of January start to feel sunshiny and warm. We are stretched so thin with the crafts, the baking, the social obligations, THE GIFTS! So here are my shopping tips so can beat the holiday crowds and you’ll have one less thing to do in December.

Learn the sale weeks

The first Christmas gift I bought this year was during May long weekend. Sure, kids’ interests will change. Especially when they are back in school and influencing each other with their preferences. But some things will stay the same. I usually will check out gifts during the sales on May long weekend, Canada Day weekend, Amazon Prime Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving weekend, and then for “last minute gifts”, cyber Monday. This will help keep costs down a bit and you’re able to get popular gifts while they are still in stock.

Use Social Media for research

Before your kid is even influenced by other kids’ opinions and suddenly they come home from school asking for the latest toy, you can keep an eye out on trending items for children. They have Pinterest boards for every age group, gender (and gender neutral), and what is expected to be popular for kids. Check out YouTube as well! My toddler for some strange reason loves watching other kids playing with toys on YouTube, and I guess he’s not the only one. Kids with Millennial parents don’t have access to commercials since most of us stream media for them instead of buying a cable bundle. This means toy marketing reaches out to them by having them watch YouTube ads and various YouTube channels.

Buy their holiday outfits in January

It’s a bit of a guessing game predicting their size, and you may not get the current trending “Santa Picture” outfit, but it will sure be cheaper. I bought both my kids matching sweaters at 70% off, and an additional sweater one a size up for my son in case he goes through a huge growth spurt. I spent less on 3 sweaters then I would have buying 1 sweater full price. Best part is, I don’t have to worry about their Santa outfit anymore.

Keep an Amazon wish list

Let’s get real, your phone is usually 5 feet from you at all times. Get an Amazon account, start a Christmas list, and every time your significant other mentions ANYTHING they want, add it to your list. Then you won’t be wandering around the store in December wondering what you’ll be getting your SO. They mention their wants more often then you realize. Guarantee if you wait and ask them for a list, they’ll say “Oh, let me think about that”. Don’t wait to ask them, don’t wait until December. Create a list on your phone and start listening. Then, on an Amazon sale day all you have to do is go to your list and add all the items you decide on into cart. Voila! Your shopping can be done in that 3 minutes of peace you get on the toilet after your SO gets home for the day

Online grocery shop

Some people are skeptical of this program and some have had bad experiences with online grocery shopping. I encourage you to give it a try this holiday season. Sure, you may want to pick out your own turkey and produce. But sit down with all your favorite recipes to bake while your creating an order and buy all your baking goods from home. This will save you multiple trips to the store.

In 15 days, the stores will start transforming into winter wonderlands as they put all their Halloween candy on discount (side note, some candy will work for their stockings, or if you have enough will power you can save them for next year.). After that, consider it the beginning of the Christmas Season. Hopefully these tips will help the next few crazy weeks go a little smoother.