Does your policy contain a Loss of Use provision that will help pay for hotel, restaurant and other expenses accrued while you're displaced? Chances are your homeowners insurance isn't going to provide you with enough coverage to resume the lifestyle to which you've grown accustomed should a disaster strike.

Homeowners Don't Know They Are Underinsured
Homeowners are spending billions of dollars a year to add onto their homes, but most of them don't update their homeowners insurance coverage which leaves them grossly underinsured.

According to a Marshall & Swift / Boeckh survey, 66% of U.S homes are undervalued for the purpose of insurance by an average of 18%. If you add a new deck to your home, but fail to notify your homeowners insurance provider, you could end up underinsured.

How Much Homeowners Insurance Coverage Do You Need?
Many homeowners might be unaware of how much homeowners insurance coverage they need. You need enough coverage to protect your home and assets in case of a worst case scenario and your home is lost due to a covered disaster. You need to review your policy at least once a year to make sure all your belongings are covered.

Homeowners insurance policies can be broken down into four categories - structures, possessions, living expenses and liability:

Structures
You generally want to have coverage equal to at least the amount of your mortgage. Your policy should cover rebuilding costs. And if you've recently remodeled your home, you need to update your coverage to cover these additional renovations.

Possessions
Your homeowners policy will also cover your possessions. You may choose between replacement coverage (the cost to replace each item) and actual cash value coverage (the item's original value less depreciation). If you have valuable jewelry, an art collection or a state-of the-art home theater system, you should consider purchasing additional coverage to cover these items.

Living Expenses
This often overlooked coverage will provide you with coverage for hotel, restaurant and other miscellaneous expenses you may accrue if your home is rendered uninhabitable by a covered disaster.

Liability
Most policies offer a base amount of liability coverage - typically $100,000. However, if you have a swimming pool or a dog whose breed is aggressive by nature, you may want to consider increasing your limits.

Review Your Policy
The most effective way to know if you have enough insurance is to maintain a home inventory that you update regularly, and check your homeowners insurance policy at least once a year. Keeping your home inventory up-to-date will help you determine how much homeowners insurance coverage you need. After updating your home inventory, you may find you need to increase your coverage.

Even if you need to add more coverage to your homeowners insurance policy, there are still ways to keep your rates low. The best way is to compare multiple homeowners insurance quotes to find the right policy with the best price. Nothing is more costly than having an underinsured home.

1. Comparison Shopping: The Best Way to Save on Home Insurance
The number one way to save money on your homeowners insurance is to shop around for coverage. Homeowners insurance rates are always fluctuating and vary from company to company. If you've just purchased or are about to purchase a new home, compare several quotes before choosing a home insurance provider. If you're a long-time homeowner, review your current rates and compare them to rates offered by other carriers. Your current company could be overcharging you, and it only takes a few minutes to compare rates. Switching companies can potentially save you a significant amount of money.

2. Raise Your Homeowners Insurance Deductible: Save up to 25%
Another great way to save money on your home insurance is to increase your deductible. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), if you raise your deductible from $500 to $1,000, you may save as much as 25% on your annual premium.

Remember, homeowners insurance is not intended for small fix-it claims. Therefore, the benefits of a lower deductible can be quickly dissolved by the higher rates you'll experience after making such claims. As homeowners insurance is intended for major perils, consider higher deductibles and collect the savings resulting from a lower premium.

3. Multi-line Policy Insurance Discounts: Save up to 15%
Purchasing your homeowners insurance and your car insurance from the same insurance carrier could save you up to 15% on both premiums.

4. Additional Security and Safety: Save up to 20%
Have you added new security devices to your home in the last year; perhaps a deadbolt lock, window locks, or even an alarm system? Insurance companies highly value the protection afforded by fire sprinkler systems, burglar alarms, and fire alarms -- especially those connected to monitoring agencies such as your local police and fire departments. Accordingly, some carriers will reduce your premium by as much as 20% if you install some of these home security devices.

5. Discounts for Home Improvements
A new home's electrical, heating and plumbing systems, and overall structure for that matter, are likely to be in better condition than those of an older home. Accordingly, their insurance rates are generally lower as the risk for a potential claim is reduced. If you've made any home improvement in the past year, see if you'll be rewarded with policy discounts.

6. Eliminate Coverage You Don't Need: Analyze Your Homeowners Limits
Ideally, you want your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to your home, but you shouldn't spend money for coverage you don't need. You may have jewelry, appliances, electronics and other valuable possessions that depreciate over time. Therefore, it's in your best financial interest to compare the limits of your homeowners policy to the actual value of your possessions at least once every year.

Do Men Pay Higher Auto Insurance Rates than Women?
Car insurance companies base your rates on how high of a risk you are to insure. In 2006, nearly 30,000 male drivers died in car accidents, while only 13,000 women suffered the same fate (IIHS).

Because male drivers are more likely to die in a car accident, car insurance companies perceive them to be a higher risk to insure, especially young male drivers who just got their license. Consequently, young male drivers aged 16-25 typically pay more for auto insurance than young female drivers in the same age group.

Good News for Male Drivers
The good news for male drivers is that they are only perceived as a higher risk to insure from the ages of 16 to 25. Once you reach age 25, as long as your driving record is devoid of accidents and tickets, your car insurance rates should start to decrease and will eventually become level with your female counterparts. While this news can be disheartening to young male drivers, they can take solace that their car insurance rates will gradually decrease over time as long as they maintain a clean driving record.

Men and Women Can Both Save on Car Insurance
While both genders can continue to argue which sex is the better driver, one thing we all can agree on is that saving money on your car insurance benefits everyone. If you have a teenage driver, especially a male teenage driver, you can still find discounts on your car insurance. While you are in school, car insurance companies usually offer good student discounts if you maintain a "B" average or better. Men and women alike can raise their deductibles to make their car insurance rates a little lower as well. When looking for car insurance at any age, comparing quotes is the best way to find the best rates.

Does your policy contain a Loss of Use provision that will help pay for hotel, restaurant and other expenses accrued while you're displaced? Chances are your homeowners insurance isn't going to provide you with enough coverage to resume the lifestyle to which you've grown accustomed should a disaster strike.

Homeowners Don't Know They Are Underinsured
Homeowners are spending billions of dollars a year to add onto their homes, but most of them don't update their homeowners insurance coverage which leaves them grossly underinsured.

According to a Marshall & Swift / Boeckh survey, 66% of U.S homes are undervalued for the purpose of insurance by an average of 18%. If you add a new deck to your home, but fail to notify your homeowners insurance provider, you could end up underinsured.

How Much Homeowners Insurance Coverage Do You Need?
Many homeowners might be unaware of how much homeowners insurance coverage they need. You need enough coverage to protect your home and assets in case of a worst case scenario and your home is lost due to a covered disaster. You need to review your policy at least once a year to make sure all your belongings are covered.

Homeowners insurance policies can be broken down into four categories – structures, possessions, living expenses and liability.

Structures
You generally want to have coverage equal to at least the amount of your mortgage. Your policy should cover rebuilding costs. And if you've recently remodeled your home, you need to update your coverage to cover these additional renovations.

Possessions
Your homeowners policy will also cover your possessions. You may choose between replacement coverage (the cost to replace each item) and actual cash value coverage (the item's original value less depreciation). If you have valuable jewelry, an art collection or a state-of the-art home theater system, you should consider purchasing additional coverage to cover these items.

Living Expenses
This often overlooked coverage will provide you with coverage for hotel, restaurant and other miscellaneous expenses you may accrue if your home is rendered uninhabitable by a covered disaster.

Liability
Most policies offer a base amount of liability coverage – typically $100,000. However, if you have a swimming pool or a dog whose breed is aggressive by nature, you may want to consider increasing your limits.

Review Your Policy
The most effective way to know if you have enough insurance is to maintain a home inventory that you update regularly, and check your homeowners insurance policy at least once a year. Keeping your home inventory up-to-date will help you determine how much homeowners insurance coverage you need. After updating your home inventory, you may find you need to increase your coverage.

Even if you need to add more coverage to your homeowners insurance policy, there are still ways to keep your rates low. The best way is to compare multiple homeowners insurance quotes to find the right policy with the best price. Nothing is more costly than having an underinsured home.

Many people have decided to purchase smaller, more fuel efficient and environmentally safer cars. However, if you drive one of these cars, you could end up costing you more at the gas pump. Even if you have a car that doesn’t get the greatest gas mileage, there are still simple measures you can take to save money on gas.

Shop for Car Insurance (Could Save $301 a Year)
Shopping for car insurance is a great way to save money. InsWeb consumers save an average of $301* on a 6-month policy. This savings becomes increasingly significant as gas prices continue to rise. Experts predict that if gas reaches the $4 a gallon mark, families will be spending an extra $400 on gas in 2008. The money you can save on your car insurance can help offset additional gas expenses.

Keep Your Car Tuned-Up (Save 11.4 Miles per Gallon)
Some mechanics estimate that a poorly tuned engine can use up to 50% more gas than one that is running well. In fact, according to the National Car Care Council (www.carcare.org), if you combine under-inflated tires, a dirty air filter, worn spark plugs, a worn oxygen sensor, dirty oil, and a loose gas cap, you could be losing up to 11.4 miles per gallon.

Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated (Save 3.3% on Gas)
Underinflated tires will cause you to consume more gas. The U.S. Department of Energy says that drivers can save an average of 3.3% on gas by keeping their tires properly inflated. The proper inflation for your tires should be specified in your owner’s manual.

Drive at Steady Speeds
Experts estimate that for every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, you are effectively adding $0.10 to $0.20 to each gallon of gas you purchase. Stop-and-go traffic adversely affects your gas mileage; since you are using gas but not going anywhere. If possible, try to avoid areas where traffic gets congested. Also, when that red light turns green, you don’t have to take off like a drag racer. Controlling the “horses” under your hood can reduce the amount of gas you use.

Minimize Your Time in Your Car

The best way to save on gas is curtail your driving. Carpooling with friends or coworkers can help reduce your gas consumption and save you money. Scheduling a day where you can get all your errands done, instead of making a bunch of shorter trips during the week, can also reduce the amount of fuel you use.]]> tag:blog.insweb.com,2008://1.102 2008-01-25T00:59:24Z 2008-04-16T00:04:24Z

With the arrival of 2008 comes a new time to make resolutions, and hopefully keep them. While some may vow to quit smoking, lose 5 pounds, or start saving more money, this is the perfect time to start reaching your goals. One way to save some extra money that you might not be conscious of is lowering your car insurance rates. While comparing car insurance quotes is the best way to save money, there is still between 20% and 30% of the population that doesn’t comparison shop.* Here are InsWeb’s Top 10 Ways to Save on car insurance.

1. Shop and Compare Rates Every 6 Months
In 2008, if you check your car insurance rates in January, make sure your check them again in June. According to an independent study, people who compare rates and switch carriers at InsWeb.com save an average of $301* on a six month policy. Consider the savings over 12 months! Tickets or no tickets, you’re a different driver than you were last summer. Get updated quotes and see what your individual savings could be.

2. Select Higher Deductibles
Simply put, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Indeed the cost of an accident will be that much more expensive; however, if the damage is minor (grey zone in making accident claim), you’ll be spending the same out-of-pocket amount regardless.

3. Make a Cheaper Policy Even Cheaper: Don’t Pay in Monthly Installments
Additional administrative fees are commonly applied to payments when you split your premium in to installments (i.e. monthly, semi-annual, annual). Be aware that a monthly fee of even $7 can add up to $84 over 12 months.

4. Look for Multi-Line Insurance Discounts
The most under recognized car insurance discount results from the multi-line insurance policy: buying your auto insurance and your homeowners insurance from the same insurance company. According to the Insurance Information Institute, a multi-line policy can save you up to 15% on both premiums.

5. Collect on Your Good Driving
Most insurance companies reward good driving with lower premiums. In fact, in some states a good driving discount is required by law. If you haven't had any accidents or tickets in the last three to five years, shop at InsWeb.com and see whether you are missing out on this money savings discount.

6. Don't Overpay for Tickets
Unfortunately moving violations are an accurate reflection of your liability to an insurance company, and your rates can skyrocket as a result. Perhaps you deserve a higher rate, but don't let the insurance company unduly punish you. Shop around and see if you can find a more reasonable rate with another company.

7. Look for Safe Vehicle Discounts
Many companies offer discounts for various safety features on your vehicle, including air bags, alarms, factory-installed mechanical seatbelts and antilock brakes. In getting updated insurance quotes, be sure to indicate such safety features to benefit from available discounts.

8. Don't Overpay for Your Unnecessary Coverage
You may be paying for coverage that you don't need. For example, you may be a member of an auto club that provides towing services, yet you're also paying for towing on your auto insurance policy. Look for opportunities to eliminate unnecessary costs.

9. Look for a Good Student Discount or Senior Discount
Students currently enrolled in school often receive a discount on auto insurance for good grades, as many companies feel conscientious students make conscientious drivers. Similarly, insurance companies are known to value the wisdom of an experienced driver, offering discounts to drivers over 50 as a result.

10. Pay Less for Driving Less
Many insurance companies will offer discounts on vehicles that incur low annual mileage. In fact, some companies have a predetermined number of what they consider low mileage. Has your commute changed? If so, it might save you money to get an updated quote.

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1. Raise Your Homeowners Deductible: Save up to 25%
The lowest hanging fruit for homeowners insurance savings may be to increase your deductible. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), if you can afford to raise your deductible to $1,000 from $500, you may save as much as 25% on your annual premium.

Remember, homeowners insurance is not intended for small fix-it claims, therefore, the benefits of a lower deductible can be quickly dissolved by the higher rates that you will experience after making such claims. As homeowners insurance intended for major peril, consider higher deductibles and collect the savings in the cost of your premium.

2. Multi-line Policy Insurance Discounts: Save up to 15%
Purchasing your homeowners insurance and your car insurance from the same insurance carrier could save you up to 15% on both premiums.

3. Additional Security and Safety: Save up to 20%
Have you added new security devices to your home in the last year; perhaps a deadbolt lock, window locks, or even and an alarm system? Insurance companies highly value the protection afforded by fire sprinkler systems, burglar alarms, and fire alarms — especially those connected to monitoring agencies such as your local police and fire department. Accordingly, some carriers reduce premiums by as much as 20% if you install some of these features.

4. Discounts for Home Improvements
A new home's electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, and overall structure for that matter, are likely to be in better condition than those of an older home. Accordingly, their insurance rates are generally lower as the risk for a potential claim is mitigated. If you have made any home improvement in the past year, you should see if a new policy will reward you with policy discounts.

5. Eliminate Coverage You Don’t Need: Analyze Your Homeowners Limits
Ideally, you want your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to your home, but you should not spend money for coverage that you don't need. You may have jewelry, appliances, electronics, and other valuable possessions that depreciate over time; therefore, it is in your financial best interest to compare the limits of your homeowners policy to the actual value of your possessions at least once every year.
Homeowners insurance rates are always fluctuating and vary from company to company.

Taking time to review the amount of homeowners insurance that you need will help you from buying more coverage then you need. Also, taking time to compare multiple homeowners insurance quotes will help you find the right amount of homeowners insurance that fits your budget.

There are five basic ways to save on your life insurance policy: (i) shop around and compare multiple quotes; (ii) select the term length that is appropriate for you; (iii) buy only the amount of coverage you need; (iv) check for price breaks; and (v) buy when you’re young.

Shopping Online and Comparing Multiple Quotes
The amount you pay for term life protection depends on the amount and term-length of your policy, your health and age, and the insurance company you select. To find the best price though, make sure to shop and compare quotes from multiple companies. As you will learn, the cost of the same policy can vary by hundreds of dollars among different insurance companies. Just as your needs are always changing, so are term life insurance rates.

Selecting the Appropriate Length of Coverage
Everyone has different life insurance needs; therefore, there isn’t a one size fits all solution when it comes to term life insurance. While it may make sense for people in their 30s and 40s to secure a 20-year term length, a 10-year term might be more appropriate for someone nearing retirement. Individuals who have 30-year mortgages for example, might consider a 30-year term life policy to ensure that the home is protected throughout the life of the loan.

Determining the Right Amount of Coverage
In shopping for term life insurance, many agents may try to sell you more coverage than you need. Understand that the purpose of life insurance is to replace financial loss, and what most people should be looking for is income replacement” for their beneficiaries. Financial planners recommend a policy amount at least equal to 6-10 times your annual gross income.

Checking for Price Breaks: Paying Less for More
Insurance companies are known to offer price breaks at certain coverage amounts (e.g., $500,000 vs. $750,000). Many people can actually pay less money for more coverage. Check how little your prices increase when you when you change your coverage to $250,000, $500,000, or $1,000,000.

Buying When You're Young
While your financial needs may be lower at a younger age, the rates are also substantially cheaper when you're young. The best advice is to lock in as much protection at a young age while your health and prices are still good to avoid paying substantially more when a shorter-term policy expires.

Even if saving money wasn’t your top resolution for 2008, saving money on your life insurance policy is easy enough that you can achieve two New Years resolutions this year.

A DUI’s Impact on Your Car Insurance
All emotions aside: a DUI dramatically increases the degree of risk an insurance company assumes in order to underwrite your car insurance policy. After a DUI, you will be categorized as a high risk driver and can expect your current premiums to double—if your carrier doesn’t just simply non-renew your policy.

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) reports that the average first time DUI offender can expect his/her car insurance rates to range between $3,600 and $6,600 a year. Depending on how long a DUI remains on your state’s driving record, these rates are known to continue for up to 7 years. Furthermore, any additional accidents and tickets (past or future) can easily make the situation exponentially more difficult—like tripled insurance costs!

Other Mandatory Costs of a DUI
Aside from increased car insurance rates, there are many other financial implications that come with a DUI. Unless you live in a major city, there really is no substitute to driving. From the perspective of life’s real world priorities, being able to drive ranks just below air, water, food, and shelter. Salvaging this privilege after a DUI though involves more than just expensive car insurance rates. Depending on the state you live in, additional costs can include:

• Towing: $300 - $1,200
• Bail: $250 - $2,500
• Fines and Court Fees: $500 - $2,500
• Attorney Fees (average): $2,500
• Mandatory Education and Treatment: $350 - $2,000
• Electronic Home Monitoring: $150 - $2,250
• Ignition Lock: $730 - $2,800
Total Cost: approximately $10,828

What the above estimates fail to account for are the daylight hours it takes to satisfy all the corresponding obligations. Time spent in court, at classes and treatment, restitution services, and even jail time can turn a person’s world upside-down. Interestingly, states like Washington make matters more complicated by automatically suspending driving privileges for 90 days upon the first offence. Think of how you would even get to court?

Furthermore, since a DUI is criminal offence, your driving record will be complemented by a criminal record. If your vocation values the integrity of such a mark (medical, transportation, finance, etc.) finding a new job can become as complicated as finding affordable car insurance.

Moving On After a DUI
Although a DUI is a mistake that ravishes a person’s finances, it is possible to bounce back after a conviction. Every day that passes after your DUI conviction can lower your rates, because older charges have less of an impact on your risk profile, especially if you were a teenager or young adult at the time of your conviction. Comparison shopping for car insurance is essential for a driver with a DUI on their record.

Although you won’t have as many options, don’t fall into the trap of signing on with the first company that approves your application. Conduct research, compare quotes, and make a careful decision. In the meantime, take a conservative approach to driving and don’t get any tickets or become involved in accidents. Party smart and enjoy your Holiday season.

The first thing you should do to protect your home is to have the proper homeowners insurance coverage. If a Holiday disaster does happen to you, a homeowners insurance policy can help you get back to normal more quickly then if you are uninsured.

More Decorations Means Higher Fire Risk
December is the deadliest month for home fires. In fact, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve are the top three days for home fires. Although unattended cooking and heating are the primary causes of such fires, almost half (48%) were attributed to Christmas trees, which were caused by some type of electrical failure or malfunction. December is the peak time of year for home candle fires. In December, 13% of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year.

The Deadly Side of Christmas Trees
The NFPA also warns us about Christmas tree fires, as they contribute to over 300 home fires and 14 deaths every year. Christmas tree fires are generally caused by malfunctioning tree lights, and by the tree being too close to a heat source (fireplace, heater, candle, etc.) When decorating your tree, you should never use lights with worn cords or loose bulb connections, and always unplug the lights before going to bed or leaving the house

10 Tips For Holiday Fire Safety

1) Use Caution With Holiday Decorations
Try to choose decorations that are flame-resistant, non-combustible, or made from flame retardant material.

2) Watch Where You Place Candles
Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials. Also, don’t use candles to decorate your Christmas tree.

3) Buy Lights that have been Tested
When purchasing your Holiday lights and electrical decorations, buy those that have a label that they were tested by an independent research lab. Make sure you follow the instructions that come with the decorations.

4) Inspect Your Lights
Inspect new and used light strands and replace damaged items before plugging them in. Also make sure you don’t overload extension cords.

5) Unplug Your Lights When Changing Bulbs
If you have to replace a bulb, make sure you unplug the strand of lights before you change the bulb. Also, if you blew a fuse trying to get Rudolph’s nose brighter, unplug the decoration before checking the fuse box.

6) Check the Number of Strands You Need
Check to see how many strands of lights need to be connected. Make sure you don’t connect more than three strands of push-in-bulbs and a maximum of 50 screw-in-bulbs.

7) Carefully Hang Your Lights
When hanging your lights, make sure you do so in a way that won’t damage the cords wire insulation. An example would be using clips instead of nails.

8) Keep Children and Pets Away From Lights
Make sure that children and pets can’t get to electrical decorations and strands of lights.

9) Turn Off Decorations When Going to Bed
Make sure you unplug and turn off your Holiday decorations when you turn in.

10) Watch the Stove
The number one cause of home fires is unattended cooking. Make sure you don’t lose track of what you’re cooking when spending time with your family or guests.

With all the joys that come with the Holidays, make sure you take the extra precautions to make your Holiday season as safe and joyous as possible. And as the New Year approaches, it’s a good time to start thinking about updating your homeowners insurance policy.

*Content provided by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA.org)

Newlyweds Need New Life Insurance
Congratulations if you got married in 2007. Perhaps you and your significant other felt lucky and tied the knot on 7/7/07. The average number of weddings registered on the website The Knot for any Saturday in July is about 12,000, but for 7/7/07 the number tripled to 38,000. Even if you are feeling lucky after your triple sevens wedding, you shouldn’t gamble by not having life insurance.

Most newlywed couples do not need extremely high levels of life insurance coverage; however, securing extra coverage at a younger age is a sound financial decision. As you begin to purchase things together (such as a house) and acquire debt, it is important to make sure you are adequately covered in the event of a catastrophe. Many find it easy to pay their mortgage when they are part of a two-income household, but those same people could find themselves in a financial pinch if something were to happen to their partner and they had to survive on their income alone.

Divorced or Widowed in 2007? Why You Don't Want to be Like Mike
Famous Chicago Bull Michael Jordan is getting divorced from once wife Juanita. What makes this an atypical divorce is that if Juanita gets the customary half of everything, she could get more then $150 million in the settlement, making it the most expensive divorce in entertainment history.

Being newly divorced or widowed is a difficult time. As much as you may be hurting, you must also consider practical matters such as life insurance. You may have increased financial obligations now (for example, paying for accommodations and expenses on one salary instead of two, etc.), and you may have lost life insurance coverage you previously had through your spouse. Getting divorced means a change in your life insurance coverage needs; make sure you update your coverage if you did get divorced or widowed this past year.

Welcoming a New Addition to Your Family in 2007
This one may seem a little more obvious, but in the excitement of planning for their new baby, many people forget to adjust their life insurance to their new needs. In addition to other important forms of insurance, such as health insurance and coverage for catastrophes such as fire, flooding or burglary, it is also important to make sure that you will be able to take care of your kids financially.

If your spouse were to pass away, would you be able to provide for your children's many needs? Or, if you were a stay at home parent and the major breadwinner of the household were to pass away, how would you take care of your children? Make sure you and your spouse have adequate life insurance coverage to protect both yourselves and your children. And make sure to adjust your beneficiaries as your family grows.

Enjoying the Prime Years of Life
Maybe 2007 was the last year you had to work. Now you can’t start relaxing and living the good life in 2008. But, it is also true that most new retirees do need to think about maintaining an adequate level of life insurance coverage. Consider your children or spouse you may leave behind. Even though your children may be grown and on their own, and your spouse may be able to live comfortably on his or her retirement savings, there are many special circumstances in which they may find themselves in financial trouble if you were to pass, or vice versa, you if they were to.

Life insurance is made to protect your loved ones financially in the event of your passing; keeping them financially secure and avoiding debt caused by funeral expenses. As your life changes, so does the amount of coverage you need. The beginning of the year is an excellent time to either shop around for new life insurance or reflect on the past year to update your coverage. As you ring in the New Year with your family and friends, think about how you could financially protect them with the right amount of life insurance.

Many people may feel they don't need life insurance when they are young. While your financial needs may be lower at a younger age, the rates are also substantially less expensive when you're young. Remember, the goal is to cover your primary assets so should something happen to you; your beneficiaries would be able to persevere financially. The best advice is to lock in as much protection at a young age while your health is good and the price is right.

What About Your Landlord's Policy?
While your landlord might not be Ebenezer Scrooge, you as a renter will not be covered under your landlords insurance policy. Many renters mistakenly presume that their landlord's policy will cover their property losses. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Most landlords' policies only cover the building and the building infrastructure. They do not extend to their tenants personal belongings. What's more, once a guest enters your home, you're liable for any injuries they may sustain while in your home.

What Renters Insurance Covers
Renters insurance is the most viable solution to protecting your belongings. Renters insurance covers personal property losses against a variety of perils including theft, vandalism, fire or lightning, windstorm or hail, smoke, water-related damage from home utilities, electrical surge damage and more. Renters insurance also provides liability coverage against a claim or lawsuit resulting from a bodily injury or property damage to others caused by an accident on your property. In addition, most policies will provide living expense assistance if your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered peril.

Renters Insurance Is Affordable
Renters insurance is relatively inexpensive and you may well qualify for a variety of premium discounts. The average premium for $30,000 of property coverage and $100,000 of liability coverage is only $16 per month. When you do the quick math you can see that you can buy a policy that will protect tens of thousands of dollars in possessions for only a few hundred dollars a year.

You can take measures to lessen the risk of having your home broken into. Installing a deadbolt lock on your front door (if you don't have one already), adding window locks and installing a burglar alarm are great ways to ward off potential intruders. But even if you are victimized by a thief, at least you can take some comfort knowing that your personal belongings will be protected with a renters insurance policy.

Rate Predictions for 2008
The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) estimates the annual premium for a 40-year-old male non-smoker buying a $500,000 20-year level term life insurance policy in 2008 will be about $725 if he qualifies as a “standard” risk and $350 if he meets the more stringent requirements of a “preferred” risk.

Rates for women and younger people would be lower. For example, the comparable rate for a 40-year-old female non-smoker would be about $600 for a standard risk, and $300 for a preferred risk.

Why Life Insurance Rates are Decreasing
Life insurance rates have been dropping the last couple of years as the life expectancy rate has continued to increase. The Center for Disease Control reports that the average life expectancy is up to 77.8 years. As Americans are living longer, life insurance providers are rewarding their consumers with lower rates. The I.I.I. also reports that life insurance companies are running more efficiently, lowering their expenses in their offices and field offices.

Buy Life Insurance When You’re Young
Many people may feel they don't need life insurance when they are young. While your financial needs may be lower at a younger age, the rates are also substantially less expensive when you're young. Remember, the goal is to cover your primary assets so should something happen to you; your beneficiaries would be able to persevere financially. The best advice is to lock in as much protection at a young age while your health is good and the price is right.

Buy Only the Life Insurance Coverage You Need
Many agents may try to sell you more coverage than you need. The purpose of life insurance is to “indemnify” (replace financial loss), and what most people should be looking for is income replacement for their beneficiaries. Independent financial planners recommend the following rule of thumb: purchase an amount of coverage equal to 6-10 times your annual gross income.
Review your policy often

Once you have a life insurance policy, you should review it at least once every three years, if not more often. Rates may be lower, and your circumstances may have changed, necessitating more or less protection. If you are replacing a policy, make sure you allow enough time to get your new policy in place so your coverages won't overlap or lapse.

Disasters are Never Planned
Devastating wildfires ripped through Southern California in late October and burned into November. The fires scorched over 800 square miles, charring 2,768 buildings, including over 2,100 homes. In addition to the loss of homes and businesses, another 430 some buildings were damaged by the flames. In all, over 14,000 buildings were threatened by the fires, which caused an estimated $1.6 billion in damages.

Holiday Season and Home Fire Prevention
With Halloween behind us, many of us have begun decorating our homes for the upcoming holiday season. As we begin preheating our ovens to cook our Thanksgiving turkeys and decking the halls with boughs of holly, we’re also unwittingly increasing the likelihood of becoming victim to a home fire. Cooking fires are more likely to happen on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. In 2005, cooking fires were involved in roughly 1,300 reported home structure fires on Thanksgiving – that’s almost three times the daily average. And the threat of home fires doesn’t end on Thanksgiving. Holiday lights (or other decorative lighting with live voltage) were involved in 16% of the home Christmas tree structure fires. (NFPA)

What’s Covered in a Homeowners Insurance Policy
The typical homeowners policy has two primary sections: Section I covers your property, and Section II provides personal liability coverage to help protect you from lawsuits arising from incidents that occur on your property. Almost anyone who owns or leases property should have this type of insurance. Often, homeowners insurance is required by lenders as a requirement to obtain a mortgage. Simply put, Section I covers damages that happen to your home (and property), while Section II covers injuries that happen to your guests while in your home or on your property (Insurance Information Institute).

Typical Disasters That are Covered with Homeowners Insurance
Typical hazards and perils covered in most homeowners insurance policies include fire, smoke, lightning, windstorm (excluded in certain areas of the country), hail, vandalism/theft, falling objects (such as a tree), water damage from bursting or frozen pipes, weight of snow or ice, a vehicle causing damage to the home, building collapse and structural damage from an electrical surge (not from electronics, such as your stereo, inside your home).

Nobody ever thinks that a fire will burn down their home or apartment. The Southern California wildfires serve as a tragic reminder that anybody can become a disaster victim. As you prepare for the holidays, consider the peace of mind a homeowners policy can provide.

Compare Renters Insurance Quotes
Comparing quotes and coverage is the best way to find a renters insurance policy that you can afford. You can spend a few minutes online and get free, no-obligation quotes to help you determine the policy that provides the best value for your needs.

A Higher Deductible Can Lower Your Renters Insurance Premium
A deductible is the amount you must pay before the insurance provider will make payments on a claim. As a rule, the higher the deductible is (or the more you must pay first), the lower the premium. In determining the deductible that’s right for you, you should weigh the costs of paying a higher premium year after year with the cost of paying a higher deductible should you end-up filing a claim. Renters insurance deductibles usually start at $250 and go up from there.

A Good Credit Rating = Lower Renters Insurance Costs
Good credit has always been one of the easiest and most effective ways to lower insurance costs. A good credit rating shows the insurance company that you pay your bills on time, which means you’re less risky to insure – less risk leads to lower premiums.

Buy Your Renters and Auto Policies from the Same Company
A large number of companies offer multi-line discounts if you combine renters insurance with auto coverage. Having both policies with one company is not only convenient, it can save you money.

Save on Renters Insurance by Installing Safety and Security Devices
Taking initiative to prevent potential losses and damage is another way to save money on renters insurance. The installation of smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher and dead bolt door locks and window locks can lead to savings since your home is less of a security risk.

Stop Smoking and Start Saving on Renters Insurance
Smoking is one of the leading causes of residential fires, damaging more than 23,000 homes every year. Some insurance providers offer reduced premiums to non-smokers.

Look for Senior Discounts on Renters Insurance
Research has shown that retired individuals are less risky to insure. Renters aged 55 and older can look to save up to 10% on their renters insurance.

Save on Renters Insurance with Group Coverage
Find out if your employer or other association (alumni or business) offers affordable group coverage. Group discounts are a great opportunity to save on insurance.

Staying with an Insurer Can Lead to Lower Renters Insurance Premiums
Many insurance companies reward loyalty with lower premiums, as an incentive to keep you happy. Take advantage of these offers by staying with an insurance provider for several years. You may be able to save up to 5% if you stay with the same company for three to five years, with the discount growing to 10% after the six-year mark.

Check Your Renters Insurance Policy Annually
Over the course of a year you may sell items in your possession or acquire new belongings. An annual review of your insurance policy will allow you to adjust your coverage amounts, potentially saving you money.

Even though renters insurance doesn’t cost a bundle, you can still find ways to save. By following the steps outlined in this article, your affordable renters insurance policy may become even less expensive.

* Insurance Information Institute