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Home > This isn't a WANT it is a NEED!

This isn't a WANT it is a NEED!

August 3rd, 2008 at 07:15 pm

So today at 1:00 I was supposed to be arriving at, or already be at the nursing home for my first meetup with this particular group.

Instead, I just walked in through my front door a few minutes ago.

How'd that happen?, you may ask.

I left my mom and stepdad's a bit after 11 a.m. which *should* have given me plenty of time to get home, put my clothes away and change.

Instead, somehow I got it in my brain that I needed to take 121 S to get home. 45 minutes later after going through parts of Fort Worth TWICE, I finally stopped and got directions to get back to a familiar road.

So, what is this NEED I'm saying is not a want anymore? Some kind of a GPS device - a foolproof one!

Today was especially annoying because I've driven this route MANY MANY times and so I would think that my normal directional cluelessness wouldn't come into play. But, it did.

So, I ended up wasting a whole bunch of gasoline, plus a whole bunch of time -- and am now going to be a no-show for my first RAoK meetup. Frown

Please give me some suggestions as to the least expensive way for me to go in a car GPS unit. Knowing me, I probably need something that will say the directions out loud - maybe yell at me "get in the left lane for the next turn!".

---

In other news . . my mom, stepdad and I went to see "Mama Mia" last night. It wasn't a great movie, but it was a fun movie. I thought the girl who played Meryl Streep's daughter was really pretty, and it was kind of weird/fun to see Pierce Brosnan breaking out into song. Smile

My stepdad had some more coke codes for me to enter, so we're now up to 154 pts - nearly halfway to our first movie ticket. Smile

13 Responses to “This isn't a WANT it is a NEED!”

  1. spendinginsocal Says:
    1217790511

    I'm really horrible with directions so I hear ya. If you don't want to pay a lot for a real GPS system in your car, a lot of cell phones have a turn-by-turn GPS app that you can download for 10/month (or even 2-3 dollars per use). They talk to you, have search functions, and work just as well as the in-car one. The only disadvantage is not having it in the dash.

  2. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1217790825

    Hmmm . . . I'll have to check into that. Thanks for the idea!

  3. sillyoleme Says:
    1217793323

    Since my phone has internet capabilities, I use the MapQuest or Google Maps feature ALOT. I have absolutely no sense of direction, and so it's become essential for me to have some sort of portable get-me-out-of-here device when I am travelling for work.

    A full-size GPS would be nice though, I don't know how many times I've had to try and read the small text on my phone for directions, WHILE driving of course. One of the guys at my work conference had a Tom-Tom that worked pretty well. It said the directions out loud like "Prepare to turn left in 200 feet". But, he said if he had it to do over, he would go with a Garmin brand. Just a thought!

  4. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1217795726

    Sillyome,

    I'm really not sure that looking at my cell phone while driving is the best idea. I think what I need is something that will let me know when I've messed up - such as today when I decided to take 121 S instead of N it sure would have saved me a lot of time and gas if I'd had something that would've started ringing a loud bell and saying TURN AROUND you're going the wrong way!!!

    I'll take a look at the garmins - did he mention what kind he'd have gotten?

  5. monkeymama Says:
    1217805125

    I am not sure on the cell phones - my dh just looked into it and Verizon charged $10/month for the GPS data service. (They only charge $5 for internet - this was separate).

    $10/month can add up to a GPS device pretty fast. Seems like a waste. (Though I thought they had voice commands).

    I'd also look at Craigslist and look for a used one (or ebay).

    I wouldn't buy anything but Garmin. But they have gotten more affordable with time.

    We're planning to buy one for Christmas. saved gas will make up the cost in no time (I drive around in circles way too much too. Wink )

  6. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1217807655

    Monkeymama,

    That's not a bad idea -- maybe I'll tell my family that is the one thing I'd really like for my birthday and Christmas present this year. Smile I have a solid rep in my family for my driving in circles (one very memorable time in San Antonio where I somehow managed to do the 1604 loop TWICE - goes all around San Antonio proper + burbs).

    Although I don't know if I can wait that long . . .

    I'll have to take a look at Craigslist and see what's available.

  7. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1217811313

    Ok, I've been checking out the Garmin's. The Garmin nuvia 200 looks like a good possibility. It's $150 on amazon, and I found it for $120 on Craigslist.

    Anyone know anything about the Garmin nuvia 200?

  8. JanH Says:
    1217862448

    I'm directionally challenged....I got lost in my own neighborhood once. If you get a system, let me know if it helps because I might add that to my list of needed gifts!

  9. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1217864129

    JanH,

    When I get one I'll be sure to let you know how it works out. Smile

  10. monkeymama Says:
    1217881320

    We sold MIL's old GPS on ebay for her - why I figured to look used.

    BUT I am not sure on their exact model (their new GPS) but we used it on vacation and have borrowed it on occasion. The screen looked the same as the Nuvi (maybe that's what they have). We really like it.

    Once you try it you can't live without it. Wink

  11. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1217886427

    I looked on ebay and found a good many of them for around the $130 to $140 range. I think if I'm going to pay that close to retail value (amazon has them for $150+free shipping) I probably would go with amazon where I have a bit more recourse in case of any problems.

    I imagine you're right - once I get a taste of using one, I won't want to be without one. Smile

  12. sillyoleme Says:
    1217887566

    I agree with monkeymama... I got the hankering for one just by riding in the truck with the guy from my work conference. (Oh, and no, he didn't mention what model he would have gotten... sorry)

    I think I may ask for one as a Christmas present as well, I spend WAY too much time going the wrong way. And what's worse - when you get stuck in TRAFFIC when you're lost... ick!

  13. frugaltexan75 Says:
    1217888595

    Yes! That is the worst - getting stuck in traffic AND being lost! Arghh!

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