Resolution # 5: I WILL pay less for car insurance this year.
I know that this year more than any other it will be imperative to cut extra costs around the house. That’s why I’ve been busily reviewing all of my insurance policies over the past few weeks to make sure the coverage amounts are correct and so that I can shop my rates for lower ones if necessary.
What so many people don’t realize is that new discounts and savings offers are implemented all the time by insurance companies. Something that you weren’t getting a discount for before might make you eligible for discounts now. For example, this is my first year as a driver AND a homeowner. I was able to insure both my home and my vehicles under one policy and save about 19% on my homeowners insurance. It’s savings like that I like to see!
We offer a ton of savings tips on the site like this page: http://www.autoinsurancequotes.com/tips/
You can get some great ideas for saving on your auto insurance policy while still getting great coverage.
Happy New Years All!
HomeInsurance.com
Anyone who’s been in a car accident- big or small- knows how easily panic can arise in the event of an emergency. In order to protect your passengers and property, you should always keep a Car Accident Kit in your vehicle. May seem over precautionary- but if you’ve ever had to use one you know how helpful it can be. Here’s some tips on creating your own Car Accident Kit:
How to Make a Car Accident Kit
Your car accident kit should be kept somewhere easily accessible in your car (glove box if it fits, otherwise under the car seat or in the trunk) and should contain the following supplies:
Note: You might want to use a small toiletry case or tupperware box to keep all of the materials together in your car.
You can also purchase kits like this online. But make sure you know what you are buying. Some kits only contain some of the supplies and all of the supplies listed above can come in useful in the event of an accident.
With the economy in it’s current state, drivers and homeowners around the country are finding ways to save money. The scary part is that many people are cutting costs on insurance and exposing themselves to huge risks as a result.
“The number of uninsured motorists nationwide has doubled in the past year”
-Charleston Daily Mail (DailyMail.com)
While we always encourage drivers to save money on their auto insurance, we also promote informed consumerism. Cutting back on coverage is not a way to save money on auto insurance. Mostly because in the event of an accident, you could end up paying 10 times the amount you saved- in damages.
Below are some savings tips that will help you save money and maintain coverage safely:
Top 10 Savings Tips from AutoInsuranceQuotes.com
Also, for competitive rates get an auto insurance quote and see if you are getting the best rates from your auto insurance company.
Traveling with little ones week? We all know how challenging a long trip can be with young children in the car. While this problem seems to be decreasing over the years with the invention of TVs and DVD players for the car, I know there are still some parents out there that could use some car help. Thought I’d help make your road trip a little more enjoyable and suggest a few car games for your trip:
The License Plate Game- from MomsMinivan.com- download their license plate checklist and keep the kids busy for hours!
The Classic- “I Spy”-Help kids learn adjectives and keeps them occupied through a state or two. Get the rules here: http://www.ehow.com/how_13463_play-i-spy.html
Road Trip Scavenger Hunt- Download a Scavenger Hunt list like this one from MomsMinivan.com and let the little ones compete to see who can complete their checklist first.
Anybody have any other suggestions?
For a full list of games from MomsMinivan.com visit: http://www.momsminivan.com/index.html
Happy Traveling Folks!
Drive Safe This Holiday- Avoid Car Accidents
Our partner, Travelers Insurance, has posted some great winter driving tips. Though we’ve posted some other articles related to this topic recently, I think it is important enough to emphasize. The east coast especially is supposed to endure adverse weather conditions the week of Christmas- so- read up!
Winter Driving Tips from Travelers
The AAA motorist group is predicting that while nearly 63.9 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles during the 2008 Christmas-New Year period- this are actually 1.4 million less travelers than were traveling last year.
The cause of this drop can most likely be accredited to the current economic crisis. Because more and more people are hurting financially this winter- there is much less money available for air fare, train tickets and/or gasoline.
AAA said that this is the first “slight decline” in holiday travel since 2002. In recent years before this one, the number of holiday travelers has only been climbing.
Air travel will most likely see the most dramatic decrease-with an 8.5% decline since last year. Rising airfare is most likely to blame for this drop. Airline companies are announcing that while airfare has been on the rise generally, airfare is typically about 9% cheaper this Christmas season as compare to last.
For more on this topic visit: http://www.examiner.com/x-1179-Atlanta-Leisure-Travel-Examiner~y2008m12d18-AAA-Fewer-travelers-expected-this-Christmas
Chrysler announced to employees today that they will be taking a longer-than-planned holiday vacation this month. Starting today, employees were told not to come back to work until the plant reopens- projected to be mid-January.
The announcement was made to employees of not one Chrysler plant- but all 30 factories across the U.S.
The move is being made in an attempt to slow production to meet the lagging customer demand that has fallen off so greatly since the recent credit crunch. Since people are no longer buying cars, Chrysler also announced to dealerships that they may stop lending money for customers who wish to finance vehicles as well.
This decision comes one week after the $14 billion auto rescue plan died out in the Senate last week. President Bush is considering using some of the $700 billion financial industry rescue funds to help the Big Three Automakers that are currently close to going out of business.
The latest news in the Big Auto Bailout is that the U.S.Automakers -asking for over $34 Billion in aid- might see an approved plan as early as Friday after the Treasury evaluates national banking reserves.
In an interview with CNN, president Bush said, “I have abandoned free-market principles to save the free- market system.”
The Treasury is planning on imposing conditions with these loans which are reportedly still under review.
A recent poll by the Washington Post and ABC News shows that the majority of Americans are still against the auto bailout- unconvinced that their failure will hurt the economy.
Your Thoughts?
Do you know the law in your state?
Cell phone laws vary from state to state. Is it legal in your state to talk while driving? Are handheld devices banned and what about hands-free? What about text messaging?
As more and more states tighten up on the laws around cell phone use while driving, it’s good to check in regularly to see what the current law is in your state.
The following website run by The Governors Highway Safety Association outlines the specific cell phone bans in each state: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html Check it out for the specific laws in your state.
Remember, if you get a ticket or get in an accident because cellphone use, you may increase your chances of paying higher car insurance premiums. Stay safe on the road, keep your record clean and you will definitely save some money!
Save on Gas- Plan your Shopping Trips!
Let’s face it- One of the biggest reasons so many people shop online these days is because of convenience. Instead of toting around the kids in the car all day you can shop stores and brands from all over the world in your pajamas, in front of your lap top- if you so choose.
However, with the economy putting such a strain on local businesses, it’s really important for us to shop locally this year around the holidays. How can support your local stores AND have the convenience of online shopping?
I found a great website that gives you all the luxuries-Simply visit ShopLocal.com and type in your location- instantly, you can view circulars and tens of thousands of sales going on in your area. The best part is- you can check out the sales, compare prices and featured products and plan your shopping trip- saving on gas and unsuccessful trips to the mall.
