This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #YourTaxCash #CollectiveBias All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to Walmart Family Mobile or your local Walmart for current pricing.
Since having my identity stolen several years ago, tax season is no longer simply a refund check we anticipate. The aggravation caused is worth so much more than a short explanation but in the spirit of moving forward instead, this tax season we are looking to maximize how we spend our refund. With Walmart Family Mobile from Walmart this week’s spring break drive to California will have family road trip data for us all. The Walmart Family Mobile PLUS Plan includes Unlimited* Talk, Text, & Data plus a free VUDU movie credit every month per line for $49.88 so our daughters will be happy campers in the car on our way to favorite theme parks.
*Includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE†data then 2G.
We already have mobile service established but with an eight year old daughter constantly eying our electronics during long road trips, a new Samsung Galaxy On5 (currently retails at $119) with 10GB of data and a free VUDU movie credit each month is perfect for our family. For just $49.88 monthly I no longer am worried about data overages. Since Family Mobile bills you later, you only have to pay $19.88 for the SIM kit when you sign up. You can bring your own phone to activate or purchase from the large selection at Walmart.
My husband and I had always filed our taxes jointly and electronically without any issues. Then in 2013 after filing online we received an email advising our return had been rejected as I had already filed my taxes as an individual. Through an exhausting process we learned my identity had been stolen and someone else had filed taxes as me. Learning about identity theft was not easy and unfortunately we still don’t know the extent of the damage. We indefinitely have to file our taxes by mail with a security pin causing any expected tax return to have significant delays. Prior to the identity theft we would be excited to receive our tax return but no longer have that same enthusiasm because it’s taken so long to receive any refund we are owed. In 2012 there were 12.6 million victims of identity theft in the United States and many are affected at tax time; imagine all those delayed refunds. With Walmart Family Mobile, for just the price of the phone, SIM kit and service to be billed later, we maximized this year’s refund to add some fun (and data!) to our spring break family road trip.
Family road trip data is important for us because I work while my husband drives. Our daughters stay entertained in the car with games, books and their favorite electronics. The very last thing we want to do is ask happy kids to put down whatever it is that’s keeping them quiet during a long road trip.
We’ll be spending the week in Carlsbad, California and visiting several favorite parks including Disneyland, SeaWorld and Universal Studios. We incorporated a couple of lazy beach days too that I’m sure will end up with family movie nights, a perfect way to use our first month’s free VUDU $7 credit which is the same as the cost of a new release rental. The long drive won’t feel quite as long with family road trip data. Getting connected is quick and easy – you could even pick up your new phone and service at Walmart while you stop for road trip snacks.
How will you use your Walmart Family Mobile family road trip data to max your tax cash?
We actually just bought a condo up in New Hampshire, so that means there are a lot of 3 hour trips back and forth for us. I will look into this plan for my kids.
Fun! It’s awesome to have a place to go you are familiar with. My kids are so used to our California drive the six hours don’t seem to bother them too much – when I pack the right activities!
Fortunately for me I’m still on a data everything plan so my kids are set for these roadtrips but my husband’s plan with his father is totally different and sometimes they go over so this would be perfect for him!
Data everything sounds awesome when you have children old enough to share data!
So important to really check out every store/companies policies and plans before making a final selection with cell phones. Especially when its for the entire family and kids who use the phone on the road during long drives. That stinks about what happened with the identity theft! Ugh! Glad you get to have a family trip now…
Agreed, and yes identity theft is horrible!
What a great plan to have a family road trip. I remember one time my son went on a field trip and I gave him my phone to use while he was in the car and he used up my entire data plan in the short car ride .
Oh gosh, that’s not good! I have some similar stories from the past too!
This is so smart. I know my step sisters are always driving data through the roof on field trips and day trips and what have you. It’s such a good idea to have this stuff in mind if you’re heading away from wifi!
Absolutely! A little extra data in your pocket is always good!
Data usage is so important on long car trips. It really does help keep my daughter entertained and not grumpy during a long ride!
It’s silly but I can’t even imagine how hard our parents had it without all this technology.
This is an incredible price! As long as the service is good, it sounds like a great deal.
There’s a map to determine the service level in your area. Lucky for me, where I live is part of the strongest signal on the map!
Oh my goodness! Sorry to hear that someone had stolen your identity that is mad! Data usage is a great way of keeping everyone entertained x
Thank you! I’m glad the experience is behind us but it is still something that makes me very nervous at tax time.
Oh my god that’s horrible, I don’t even understand how anyone thinks to file taxes under someone elses name? That’s such a dodgy thing to do! At least you got it all sorted x
That year was definitely not a good one for us. People are horrible sometimes.
That Walmart Family Mobile sounds like a great idea! ..great to keep kids busy during a long travel! Thanks for sharing such an amazing product!
You’re welcome! It’s a great tool to have on long road trips with kids!
There really are some great deals out there like this one from Walmart. I think with kids it also doesn’t have to be the best speed in the world. If it works on a long road trip than it works.
Funny that you bring that up – I’m sure my daughter is the most impatient eight year old!
Ooh this look very handy and I should get something like this for when I got traveling next year. xx
It’s so awesome for travel!
I heard about this also through a blogger friend of mine and it seems like a great plan. I love how there are more affordable ways to have cell and data services now a days especially when kids are getting cell phones sooner. I am on a pay as you go type plan with AT&T because its half the price of having a regular plan since its only me on it and I love it.
There are so many great options out there and for families, this one is awesome!
Wow! I can’t believe people would do this! It’s disgusting!!! I have been thinking about switching to WFM for awhile now because it is so cost effective!
It’s a great price and yes, people are just horrible sometimes!
eugh! Identity theft is the worst, sorry you had to go through that, at least this makes it a little easier!
Thank you! It truly was a horrible experience but I learned a lot about how to handle it (hoping I never need to use those skills again!).
Wow, my sister went through identity theft and she wants us all to sign up for LifeLock but I havent’ yet. I really should do that.
LifeLock is the first thing we signed up for after this experience!
Great idea! We do a lot of traveling with the kids in tow, so I am definitely checking this out!
I agree! We travel with our daughters a lot too and this has definitely helped!
This sounds like a great plan. I feel like I’m paying an arm and a leg just for my one line. I’m sorry to hear about your identity all those years ago.
Thanks, I’m so glad that year is well behind us! I’m always amazed by the cost of family data plans but this one is great for us!
I love Walmart’s Family Mobile plan! Certainly not worrying about using too much data during a road trip can save a lot of headaches! And the kids will love being entertained too!
I agree, no one wants to spend their vacation looking at data usage and worrying about your cell phone bill!
Walmart Family Mobile has a good selection of phones. Plus, if you can’t afford a big phone plan, they are really inexpensive.
I agree! It’s a perfect way to have enough data for the entire family!
This sounds awesome! I hate how road trips just completely drain my data and my kids don’t even use it yet!
Kids grow and so does your data plan! 😉
I’ve had my identity stolen too unfortunately so I can relate. I had no idea Walmart had data plans! Thank you for sharing.
I’m so sorry to hear that about your identity theft. It’s amazing how many people this happens too and the serious backlog on getting help for victims.
My hubby has a walmart mobile phone and loves the thing! You really can’t beat the price if you’re a droid lover!
Agreed!
I can’t wait until my kids are old enough to play on a phone during a road trip! It would help keep them entertained!
For sure!
Girl! You’re brave!!! We fly most places (unless it’s just a couple hours) because our toddler is in the “won’t sit still” phase. Our saving grace on those flights and for those short road trips has been the Netflix downloadable movies, but I can see how non-Netflix users would need an alternative and this mobile plan is a great suggestion!!! I didn’t even know about it, but will definitely be passing this on!
I honestly loathe being at the airport with my spunky two year old. She runs away, talks to all strangers, is a tornado in gift shops, and generally refuses to keep to her clothes on. Love this kid but my goodness, strapping her into a carseat feels so much easier sometimes. 🙂
Love this data plan. Road trips can be hard and very long and even though it’s not great to hand over a tablet or phone to a child to be glued to, during a road trip it’s a must and so helpful for navigation in case it’s needed!
Agreed but our two year old’s current favorite is Team Oomizoomi. I love that she is so engaged and learning math.
Wow, this is amazing combo offer indeed. Can’t ask for more. Such a boon while on road trips with kids of that age. Lovely recommendation!
It sounds ridiculous but having the extra data is also helpful with our indecisive two year old. We download her favorite movies and shows then she wants to watch everything we don’t have on a long road trip!