Remember - It's the thought that counts! Tips for Returning Gifts

Use these seven tips for stress-free holiday gift returns:

1. Find that receipt. Even though some retailers can be more lenient with their return policy during the post-holiday rush, you will be able to speed through the returns process when you bring your receipt. Whether it's a purchase receipt or a gift receipt, do whatever you can to find the original or get a digital version of it for the return. Some stores may only offer store credit or a gift card if you try and return the item without a receipt. Others may be able to process the return if you paid with a credit card or if you shared your phone number when you paid with a check or cash.

2. Review the return policy closely. Make sure you return the item in the store's return window, and return it to the right location. Some retailers that have both an online outlet and a brick-and-mortar store may have a limited return policy. For example, you might only be able to return something that was purchased online to the online store, which means you may have to cover the cost of shipping it back. Review the receipt or invoice closely for the return policy so you don't waste time making an extra trip to the store or wasting money.

3. Avoid the post-Christmas sales. The few days right after Christmas are still prime shopping days, which means you'll deal with long lines and slow customer service. If you can wait until the first week of January – or later – to take care of holiday gift returns, you may find it easier to get the refunds or credits you want. Map out your schedule so you can completely avoid the post-Christmas shopping rush.

4. Double check your items. Some stores won't accept items that have been opened or appear to be used. Make sure you double check your items so that everything is still in returnable condition. This will prevent you from waiting in a long line at the customer service counter, only to find out that the store won't honor the return. If the item has been used or cannot be returned based on the store's policy, consider listing it for sale on eBay or Craigslist, or even trading or selling the item on Facebook Marketplace.

5. Bring a form of identification. Even if you're a frequent shopper or have a store credit card, the customer service representative may need to see a form of ID to process your return. Make sure to bring your driver's license or another form of ID to get through the returns process as quickly as possible.

6. Be prepared to pay a restocking fee. If you're returning electronics or other items that have been opened but are still unused, the store might charge you a restocking fee. This can be up to 15 percent of the purchase price, so make sure you are aware of this fee when you return items that cost a few hundred – or even a few thousand – dollars. Consider whether you may be better off selling the item online or posting a local ad for the new item. You might be able to recover the full cost of the item so you don't have to pay a restocking fee.

7. Have a back-up plan for damaged goods. If the item you are returning is slightly damaged and the store will not accept the return, be prepared to ask for a partial store credit, or to sell the item on your own. Even if the damage wasn't your fault, many stores will not accept the item if they cannot sell it easily. Have a back-up plan so you can get the refund you need.

12 Tips for a Better Night's Sleep

Learn the secret to getting good sleep. 

These simple tips will help you sleep better at night and be more energetic and productive during your waking hours.

1. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep. Voluntary sleep deprivation is the most common cause of daytime sleepiness. We all tend to shortchange our hours of sleep to get more work done, watch more TV, etc. Make sleep a bigger priority and give it the respect it needs. Although some can get away with less, most people need seven or eight hours of sleep per night to get all the benefits of good sleep.
2. Reserve the bedroom for sleep and intimacy only. Other activities, such as watching TV, reading, planning, having conversations and eating should be reserved for other rooms. Your brain needs to know that this is the room where you sleep.
3. Along with No. 2 above, ban all television sets, computers and smart phones from the bedroom. Their lights and sounds are disruptive on so many obvious levels, but here's one side effect you might not know about: The bright light emitted from their screens can suppress melatonin, a hormone that's normally released during periods of darkness to help us stay asleep.
4. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests that you think of your bedroom as a cave: a place that should be cool, quiet and dark. Most people need a drop in body temperature to prepare for sleep, and a cool room helps with that. But your room shouldn't be so cold – or warm – that you are too uncomfortable to sleep. Fiddle with the thermostat until you find the sleep temperature that works best for you.
5. Set a regular bedtime and wake time, and stick with that schedule consistently – even on weekends.
6. If you find that you are lying awake for what seems like more than 15 or 20 minutes, get out of bed and engage in some form of relaxing activity, such as reading, outside of the bedroom – nothing too stimulating – and then return to bed when you feel drowsy.
7. Expose yourself to bright light first thing upon awakening. That stimulates the time sensors in your brain to establish that wake time. If it's still dark or gray out when you get up, consider investing in a full-spectrum therapeutic light box (10,000 lux is recommended). Follow the instructions on the package – you don't have to look right into the light. Sitting in front of the light for 30 minutes while you eat your breakfast or read the news can help you feel more awake. Light therapy also helps reduce the symptoms of a form of winter depression known as seasonal affective disorder.
8. Avoid napping, particularly in the late afternoon and evening. Any napping during the day will detract from deep, consolidated, prolonged sleep at night. If you slept poorly the night before – and we all do, every once in a while – don't make up the hours with a nap the next day. It'll only detract from your sleep the next night, and could start a cycle of daytime napping and nighttime sleeplessness. Instead, try to power on through the day, knowing that the next night's sleep will be that much better.
9. Avoid caffeine after noon – or earlier for some, depending on your bedtime. Caffeine has a half-life of 4 to 6 hours, which means that it takes that long to eliminate half of it from your body. A little in the morning, when you get up, shouldn't bother you by bedtime. But drinking caffeine after noon could cause sleep problems.
10. Avoid tobacco. Like caffeine, nicotine is a stimulant that can interrupt sleep. Many smokers light up before bed and have trouble getting to sleep, or wake up in the middle of the night to smoke and then have trouble falling back to sleep. For deep, restful sleep, avoiding tobacco altogether is your best bet. 
11. Limit alcohol to no more than one to two drinks, and avoid it completely within three hours of bedtime. Some people think that alcohol helps them sleep, but the opposite is true. It may help you nod off more quickly, but it impairs sleep during the second half of the night, resulting in less restorative sleep and reduced sleep time overall.
12. Avoid large meals and excessive fluids within three hours of bedtime. Overeating too close to bedtime can cause digestive issues that disturb sleep, and the more you drink before bedtime, the more often you'll wake up needing to use the bathroom.  

Nearly everyone has an occasional sleepless night — but if you often have trouble sleeping, contact your doctor. Identifying and treating any underlying causes can help you get the better sleep you deserve.

Protect Your Home this Winter From Freezing Pipes

What’s worse than a major home maintenance disaster? How about several major home maintenance disasters at once? For the quarter-million families who have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter because of frozen water pipes, frigid nights can very quickly turn to ongoing, inconvenient, extremely expensive ordeals.

The cold weather and freezing overnight temperatures are here to stay. Use these simple tips to avoid waking up to frozen pipes:

1. Insulate all water pipes from cold moving air and keep them dry. Locate the main water shut off in case you need it. Leaks often happen if the pipe is thawed out.

2. Use either heater tapes wrapped around the pipes or a heated reflector lamp in a dry enclosed space. On cold nights, check the light to see that it is working. The heater tapes work by a built-in thermostat. In order to work, the tape must be wrapped between the pipe and the insulation.

3. If electric power is unavailable or is lost, let the water run no faster than a slow constant drip; this is cheaper than repairing it. First start a slow drip on the hot side faucet, then a faster drip on the cold side faucet. There is no need to run a lot of water. Bathrooms can be cold, as long as they aren't freezing.

4. Remember to insulate and heat the drain lines in crawl spaces and cold basements. Again, a heat lamp focused on the drain p-trap will keep it from freezing if it is also protected from moving cold air with a boxed enclosure that you can build yourself.

5. To thaw a frozen pipe, first check the pipe in the area of the freeze. Some plastic or copper pipes will split and will flood the area when thawed. If the pipe looks busted or has a slit in it, call a plumber. If the pipe is all metal, it can be thawed by connecting a welder onto the pipe on each side of the frozen part. After a while it will be running again. This is just like connecting starter cables to the car battery, but with much longer cables.

6. It is far better to heat the area around the frozen part with an electric space heater, a hand-held hair dryer, or a heat lamp in a reflector to prevent a fire. If this is a problem, call the plumber. Some of them don't mind if you watch them as long as you are quiet and not in the way.

7. Always disconnect your water hose from your outdoor spigot in the winter, or before the temperature in your area drops below freezing. The water inside the hose can freeze, and the freezing continues back into the spigot until it reaches your pipes. If you have PVC plastic piping leading to this spigot, it will burst.

8. Use a temperature-controlled thermal convection powered hot water recirculation valve (which does not require electricity to operate) to continuously circulate warm water throughout your hot and cold waterlines anytime the temperature is below the user chosen set point 77F-140F. Unlike heat tape which only heats the pipes, this process circulates water non-stop to prevent crystallization and freezing no matter where the pipes are hidden. Note: This method requires that the valve be installed at a higher level (2nd - 3rd floor) than the water heater. Circulating water throughout your system non-stop will also increase your water heating bill.

9. Use a product called ICE LOC which prevents pipes from rupturing by taking up the expansion of the frozen water. It's an elastomer that fits inside pipes that are in trouble areas.

10. Use a RedyTemp, a device which utilizes an internal water contacting temperature probe to monitor the temperature of the water inside the pipes. Depending on the temperature set point you choose on the unit's temperature dial, it will circulate as needed to maintain the selected temperature. The RedyTemp optimizer installation is a DIY project and takes twenty minutes to install under a sink. Disconnect one end of the existing faucet supply lines and connect to the RedyTemp. Connect the two faucet supply lines which come with the RedyTemp. Plug the unit into a standard wall socket and set the desired temperature set point. Users can gauge the effectiveness of their chosen set point by opening a cold water faucet and feeling how cool/ambient/warm the water is it comes out of the tap, and adjust the set point until optimized.

For more information, please contact a licensed plumber or building professional.

Halloween Candy - What's Your Favorite?

Halloween is the top holiday for candy consumption in the U.S.

It pummels Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day.  This year, Americans will hand out a monstrous $2.3 billion dollars worth of sweets to a potential 41 million trick-or-treating kids across the country.  Yowza!!!

  

Which treats do kids want the most?

Kids say they prefer homes that give anything chocolate (68%), followed by lollipops (9%), gummy candy (7%), chewing gum (7%), leaving 9% for other varieties.

So what's your favorite?  

Deer in the Headlights: Don’t Be Caught Without Comprehensive Auto Insurance

Fall is peak season for deer and auto collisions and that means drivers along the nation’s roadways need to be especially vigilant.  Deer migration and mating season generally runs from October through December, and causes a dramatic spike in the movement of deer population. As a result, more deer-vehicle collisions occur in this period than at any other time of year.

  

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) noted that deer-vehicle collisions in the U.S. cause about 200 fatalities annually. Furthermore, in a recent study of fatal animal crashes, IIHS reported that 60 percent of people killed were not wearing a seatbelt.

 

Drivers should stay alert and pay particular attention to the sides of the road, especially during the hours just before dusk and dawn and they should always wear their seatbelt.

 

Damage caused by an accident with deer or other animals is typically covered under the optional comprehensive portion of an automobile insurance policy. Comprehensive also includes coverage for: fire, theft, vandalism or malicious damage, riot, flood, earthquake or explosion, hail, windstorm, falling or flying objects, damage due to contact with a bird or animal and sometimes, depending on the policy, windshield damage. 

 

If you swerve to miss a deer and hit an object, such as a tree, lamp post, fence or guardrail, the accident would fall under your collision coverage.

 

Sometimes after a deer accident, a tow may be required. If you have comprehensive coverage, the towing costs will automatically be covered as part of the claim. Comprehensive coverage can often be purchased with a lower deductible than collision coverage. 

 

Be Aware

• Deer are not just found on rural roads near wooded areas; many deer crashes occur on busy highways near cities.

• Deer are unpredictable, especially when faced with glaring headlights, blowing horns and fast-moving vehicles. They often dart into traffic.

• Deer often move in groups. If you see one, there are likely to be more in the vicinity.

Take Precautions

• Drive with care when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland.

• Always wear your seatbelt.
 
• When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of any deer on or near the roadway.

• Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before or after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions.

• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.

• Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not proven effective.

 

In the event your vehicle strikes a deer, try to avoid going near or touching the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you and further injure itself. If the deer is blocking the roadway and poses a danger to other motorists, you should call the police immediately. And contact your insurance professional at Modern Insurance Marketing Inc. as quickly as possible to report any damage to your car.

 

Homeowners' insurance isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. In fact, most mortgage companies won't make a loan or finance a residential real estate transaction unless the buyer provides proof of coverage for the full or fair value of the property (most of the time this is the purchase price).

The good news is that although you can't (and shouldn't) avoid purchasing homeowners' insurance, there are ways to minimize the cost.  Here are six ways to make sure you get the right coverage and consequent compensation for your home:

1) Maintain a Security System and Smoke Alarms: A burglar alarm that is monitored by a central station, or that is tied directly to a local police station, will help lower the homeowner's annual premiums, perhaps by 5% or more. In order to obtain the discount, the homeowner must typically provide proof of central monitoring in the form of a bill or a contract to the insurance company.
Smoke alarms are another biggie. While standard in most modern houses, installing them in older homes can save the homeowner 10% or more in annual premiums. Of course, even more importantly, in case of fire, they could save your life!

2) Raise Your Deductible: Like health insurance or car insurance, the higher the deductible the homeowner chooses, the lower the annual premiums. However, the problem with selecting a high deductible is that smaller claims/problems such as broken windows or damaged sheetrock from a leaky pipe, which typically will cost only a few hundred dollars to fix, will most likely be absorbed by the homeowner.

3) Look for Multiple Policy Discounts: Many insurance companies give a discount of 10% or more to their customers that maintain other insurance contracts under the same roof (such as auto or health insurance). Consider obtaining a quote for other types of insurance from the same company that provides your homeowners' insurance. You may end up saving on two annual policy premiums.

4) Plan Ahead for Construction: If the homeowner plans to build an addition to the home or another structure adjacent to the home, he or she should consider the materials that will be used. Typically, wood-framed structures (because they are highly flammable) will cost more to insure. Conversely, cement- or steel-framed structures will cost less because it is less likely to succumb to fire or adverse weather conditions.  Another thing that most homeowners should, but often don't, consider is the insurance costs associated with building a swimming pool. In fact, items such as pools and/or other potentially injurious devices (like trampolines) can drive annual homeowners' insurance costs up by 10% or more. This may seem like a small price to pay given the joy these items bring, but it is still something that should be considered by the homeowner prior to purchase or construction.

5) Pay Off Your Mortgage: Obviously this is easier said than done, but homeowners that pay off their mortgage debts will most likely see their premiums drop. Why? The simple reason is that the insurance company figures that if you own the home outright, you'll take better care of it.

6) Make Regular Policy Reviews and Comparisons: Investors should, at least once per year, compare the costs of other insurance policies to their own. In addition, they should review their existing policy and make note of any changes that might have occurred that could lower their premiums. For example, perhaps the homeowner has disassembled the trampoline, paid off the mortgage, installed a burglar alarm or installed a sophisticated sprinkler system inside his or her home. If this is the case, simply notifying the insurance company of the change(s) and providing proofs in the form of pictures and/or receipts could significantly lower insurance premiums.  Look for changes in the neighborhood that could reduce rates as well. For example, the installation of a fire hydrant within 100 feet of the home, or the erection of a fire substation within close proximity to the property may lower the homeowner's annual premiums.

Additional Items
 
The following are characteristics that all homeowners' insurance policies should carry:

Guaranteed Replacement Value Insurance:  All homeowners should buy "guaranteed replacement value" homeowners insurance. This means that their home will be rebuilt in the event of a disaster - no matter what the cost. Of course, many of you may be thinking that this is what would happen anyway, right? Wrong. Because home values have increased substantially in recent years, it probably costs more to build a house than when you originally purchased your home and your insurance policy. The good news is that guaranteed replacement value policies will absorb the increased costs and provide the homeowner with a cushion if construction prices increase.

Endorsements: Legally speaking, an endorsement is an amendment to the basic homeowner's policy. Practically speaking, it is a way for homeowners to ensure that their high-priced possessions will be insured in the event of a disaster.For example, a woman wanting to insure her diamond engagement ring would obtain an endorsement to her homeowners' policy in order to prove not only that she owned the ring, but also its value. She would do this by obtaining a formal appraisal of the ring from a jeweler, and then sending the appraisal to the insurance carrier for special notation on the insurance contract. Formal endorsements such as these will help in the claims process and ensure that the homeowner gets the full dollar value of the item if it is lost, stolen or damaged in a disaster. Typical items that are endorsed in addition to jewelry include furs, antiques and collectibles.

Wrapping It All Up

To avoid any discrepancies and any delays in receiving your insurance money for your home, make sure you document everything. Photograph and videotape the entire contents of your home and the home itself. Then store these photos and videotapes in a fireproof box. In addition, consider storing a copy of the photos at a relative's house, and/or in a safety deposit box. Doing this will help homeowners compile an inventory of their possessions (which is what the insurance company will demand) after a disaster. It will also, by extension, dramatically shorten the length of the claims process if a disaster does occur.

Homeowners' insurance is a must! There are ways to save money, but there are also some features that homeowners shouldn't skimp on. Make sure you know the difference.  Contact Modern Insurance Marketing, Inc. with any questions/concerns you may have regarding your homeowners' policy. 

Tips on Caring For Your Aging Parents

Do not feel alone if you are caring for your aging parents because you are one of 50 million Americans in the same boat. Whether they are staying with you or in another location, if you have the responsibility for their care, prepare yourself for a time consuming and emotional experience.

 

Tips for the Son or Daughter

Caring for your aging parents can be a very draining and exhausting ordeal. A support system between your brothers and/or sisters and friends will help lighten the load. Caring for aging parents is impossible to do on your own, especially if you work full time. You must come to the realization that at some point in time, one or both of your parents might have their normal thoughts, behavior, and attitudes changed radically by disease.  If this happens, caring for your parent can be like dealing with a complete stranger. For your own emotional and physical health, you will need an occasional break. Having your own parent not recognize you or think you are somebody else can come as a big shock to your system.

 

Tax Implications

Consulting with an accountant and/or attorney, if you are caring for aging parents, is time, energy, and money well spent. By making sure a will is drawn up and estate laws examined in detail, you will be free to give loving care for your aging parents. Depending on your circumstances, you may find that you can claim your parent as a tax deduction.

 

Taking Away the Car

This usually happens before the house is taken away. There are many things that have a negative effect on an older driver. Diminishing eyesight, physical handicaps, and mental disease can all make it very dangerous for these people to drive, both for their own safety and the safety of others. Very seldom does the parent voluntarily give up their car keys. Often times it is best just to make the car disappear over night.

 

Taking Away the House

Get ready for the battle of your lifetime when you determine, for their own safety, that your parents must be moved to a care facility. A home can be a very dangerous place for an older person who forgets things easily or has physical limitations. Falling down the stairs or leaving the stove burner on can have devastating effects.

 

You Are Not a Parent

While you are a care giver for your aging parents, you can never be a parent to your parent. The most that you can do is respond with love to their needs as they responded to your needs when you were young. Always remember that caring for your aging parents requires patience, patience, and more patience. 

Expert Tips for Healthy Dining Out

One of the hardest challenges dieters face is dining out and being social—without sabotaging their weight loss. Believe it or not, you can eat out 365 days a year and still maintain a healthy body weight. It all comes down to the choices you make—like watching portion sizes and ordering a piece of fish grilled, not fried. 

Try these 15 simple suggestions to make dining out a healthier, yet still fun, experience:

1. Choose the restaurant yourself. Instead of blaming someone else when you end up at a restaurant with unhealthy choices, take charge and be the planner. It's not always an option, especially if it's a business dinner, but at least make it happen the majority of the time.

2. Check the menu online. So many restaurants today have menus available online. Before you even step in the door, figure out what the healthy options are and if you should even bother going. Decide ahead of time what you're going to order, and stick with it.

3. Don't skip meals, but do grab a snack. Too many people feel that if they're going out to dinner, they need to starve themselves earlier in the day. Don't skip meals—in fact, have a well-balanced snack before you go. The last thing you want is to wind up in a restaurant feeling starved. If that happens, you'll almost definitely make poor choices.

4. Order first. If you can be the first person at the table to order, do it. As we all know, sometimes we're easily swayed by our peers; by ordering first, we're less likely to change our selection.

5. Read the menu carefully and don't be afraid to ask questions. There's nothing wrong with requesting changes to a menu. Remember, you're the one who is paying the bill. For example, if you see sautéed spinach on the menu but your dish comes with mashed potatoes, ask if you could substitute. But most importantly: Be nice about it.

6. Say no to bread. Bread at the table almost always means more calories for the meal. Simply say "no thank you" when the server wants to place some directly on your plate. If a basket is on the table, move it beyond arm's reach.

7. Start with a salad. The healthiest beginning to any meal is often a salad. It helps fill you up, so you're less likely to finish your entire entrée.

8. Order dressing and sauces on the side. No need to eat your food plain—but it's best to be the one in the driver's seat. When dressings and sauces are on the side, you can flavor your food while controlling how many extra calories you consume.

9. An appetizer can make a great entrée. Many places serve huge portions, and it's tough not to finish these, especially if they taste good. Some appetizers make really delicious entrées, and they're half the size. If you are in the mood for pasta, see if they have a half order available; to make up for the smaller dish, get an extra veggie on the side.

10. Go fishing. Fish is typically a reliable choice compared to many other entrées. But fattier fish, such as tuna and salmon, can still be high in calories, especially if the portions are huge. Opt for a leaner white fish if you dine out often, like flounder, shrimp, halibut, or scallops.

11. Remember that alcohol counts. It affects calories and your ordering skills. Having a snack beforehand is very important, because it helps keep alcohol from going straight to your head and making you more vulnerable to poor menu choices. Aim for a one cocktail mindset and stay away from any fruity drinks. (These are often highest in calories.)

12. The more forks, the merrier. If you must order dessert, share it. Dessert shouldn't be eaten on a regular basis unless you're dining out with a party of six and sharing just one treat. Even sorbet, served usually in three scoops, ought to be shared.

13. Try fruit for dessert. Sometimes fresh fruit isn't listed on the menu, but if you ask, you might be surprised that it's available. Just pass on the whipped cream.

14. Don't finish everything on your plate. Being a member of the clean plate club is passé. If you're a fast eater and finish before anyone else at the table, don't hesitate to ask a server to remove your plate before you eat more than you should. Maybe it isn't proper etiquette to have your plate removed before anyone else's, but that's OK.

15. Bring home leftovers. Leftovers are nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary, they're something to be proud of. They make a statement that says "I was able to stop when I was full"—a really hard thing for most of us to do. However, if you made a poor meal choice that night, no need for a doggy bag. Just leave it behind. 

On some occasions, it's OK to overlook these tips—for instance, on a birthday or anniversary. But if you go out weekly, it's time to buckle down and make some changes. Don't let dining out sabotage your health; but rather, embrace it.

Five Insurance Tips for College Students and Their Parents

As you send your son or daughter back to school with a U-Haul full of expensive items, it's a good time to make sure all of their items are covered. While most of the time these items are covered under the parent's homeowners insurance, find out what you need to know about insurance on campus.

Most students are already covered -- For many students living on campus, there is no need for additional coverage since they will be covered under their parent's homeowners policy. This coverage is dependent on the student still calling mom and dad's address their primary residence and parents should call their insurance company or agent to double check that their student is covered. 

But, you may want to buy extra coverage -- For students with expensive laptops, HDTVs and other expensive items in the dorm room, you should consider investigating a "Valuable Items Endorsement," which provides blanket coverage between $10,000 to $20,000. The price, and name, of this coverage will vary from company to company, but you should expect to pay in the neighborhood of $100 to $120 a year.

Don't forget about that engagement ring -- If your son or daughter got engaged over the summer, now would be the perfect time to make sure that they insure the engagement ring against loss, theft and accidents that could dislodge the stone from its setting. Depending on the value of the ring, it may be covered under a Valuable Items Endorsement, but if the value begins to approach $10,000, you should be sure to have it covered separately.

Discount for the car left at home -- If your child can't take their car to campus for the first year or two, and the car will sit in the driveway at home for most of the year, call your agent and ask for a discount. While you are on the phone, find out if the company offers a good-student discount to further increase your savings.

It's a different ballgame off campus -- The second your student moves off campus, the situation changes and they are no longer covered under their parent's homeowners policy. Instead, they will need to purchase a tenant's or renter's policy to cover the items in their apartment or rented house. These policies can be quite affordable -- at $15 to $20 a month.  This type of policy covers all the stuff you own that would fall out of your apartment if you "turned it upside down and shook it." You can also add the valuable items endorsement to a renter's insurance policy if you need the additional coverage.

Bottom line - contact an agent at Modern Insurance Marketing, Inc.  Given the variances from policy to policy and from company to company, it's important to have a conversation to make sure you have the coverage you need. It should only take a few minutes, and it will save you a headache down the road if something does happen.

Finally, take basic steps to protect your investments. Invest in an inexpensive laptop lock and use it when you leave your laptop on your desk. Also, keep track of the items in your dorm room by taking a picture of all of your gadgets and their serial numbers in case something does happen and you need to file a claim.

National Grandparents Day is this Sunday!

Here are five gifts we suggest you consider giving for Grandparents Day, coming up on Sunday, Sept. 8:

1) A home-made card.
Sure Hallmark may say it more eloquently, but nothing comes close to your kids making a card. If they are too old to draw pretty butterflies, how about just pasting a family photo on the cover? Home-made cards rule in retirement villages and find permanent homes on refrigerator doors. The ones from Hallmark get relegated to the drawer with last year's holiday cards, never to be looked again until they are tossed out.

2) Your time.
Nothing beats spending time with Grandma and Grandpa. And do it on their terms. Yes, you may prefer to throw a big bbq and invite the neighbors and other friends over, but that makes it more about you and less about Grandma and Grandpa. How do you know what the grandparents want to do? You ask them, that's how.

3) Listen.
Sometimes we treat our elderly relatives like problems that need to be managed. We stop seeking their wisdom and engage with them on a very superficial level. They, in turn, tell us what hurts them. They complain about the loud woman next door, the rude desk clerk at the doctor's. Make Grandma happy and ask her opinion on something. Ask what she would do about some situation you are facing. And listen to her answer.

4) Get them on Skype and/or teach them to text.
The Internet helps shorten the distance between us and our older relations. And if grandparents are willing to meet the teen-agers half-way, communications will be more frequent and pleasant. A Skype call where you can see the caller far surpasses a phone call where you are talking to a receiver. And a quick text -- "how'd you do on that chem test you were worried about?" -- brings Granny closer into your teen's life.

5) Make a family video.
Encourage your kids to ask Granddad to talk about his life as a kid and make a video of his answer. It's a memory you will cherish forever.

How To Tend To Others While Nurturing Yourself

If you have kids, you remember the charts in the baby books that lay out the clear milestones you can expect as they grow. Unfortunately, it's not so clear-cut with caregiving for an older person. Things change slowly or rapidly. Every caregiving case is different and it's hard to know how to prepare. Still, to start you off, here are some general tips for new caregivers. They won't answer all your questions, but they may help point you in the right direction.

Six Tips for Caregivers

• Begin the caregiving conversation early. Ideally, you should talk to your loved ones about their care long before they really need it. For instance, adult children might want to start talking to their parents about caregiving when they reach age 70, even if they're healthy. Find out what they would like to happen if they got sick. Would they want home health care? To move in with you? To live on their own in a senior center or assisted living community? It may not be an easy conversation. It's tempting to put it off. But it's better to start talking about these issues now instead of waiting until there's a crisis. 
• Look for caregivers guidance. When you become a caregiver, you suddenly have a million questions. How are you supposed to take care of another adult? What should he be eating? Can she still drive? Get some answers. Check into local resources for caregivers. Some organizations -- like the Red Cross, the National Family Caregivers Association, or the local Area Agency on Aging -- may offer classes in caregiving that could be invaluable. You could also find a geriatric caseworker or geriatric care manager who can help identify your problems and resolve them. 
• Get caregiver support. As soon as you can, connect with other caregivers. Support groups for caregivers are a great way to exchange tips and advice. Support groups also offer a way for you to express your concerns and get backup for some of the hard decisions you'll have to make along the way. Ask at the doctor's office or at a hospital about community support groups. Or get in touch with a caregiving organization. 
• Find help. Don't wait until you're completely overwhelmed with caregiving to ask for help. Start talking to other family members and friends about ways that they can share in caregiving, both now and in the future. Also, look into the types of help you might be able to get at home or in local senior centers and adult day cares. While home health care can be expensive, you may find volunteer organizations that provide some relief for free. 
• Check out local senior care facilities and nursing homes. Even if your loved one is doing fine on her own, it's a good idea to visit local nursing homes and caregiving facilities now. Should your loved one ever need one, you’ll be glad to know what the options are. Keep in mind that many assisted living facilities and nursing homes have waiting lists and it can take years to get a spot. 
• Consider the legal and financial implications. Start thinking about some of the difficult legal and financial issues you may face as a caregiver. If your loved one goes into a nursing home, how will she afford it? Would you sell her house? How does power of attorney work? Does she have a will? Tackling these issues can be upsetting. But it's best to know the details so you're not taken by surprise. Talk to a geriatric care manager, a social worker, an elder law attorney, or get in touch with a caregivers' organization. 

If you're new at caregiving, you may be apprehensive and worried right now. You could already feel swamped by everything you have to do. Just remember that while caregiving is tough, it has rewards, too. And with a little time and experience -- and help from others -- you'll get the hang of it.

Bundling Your Insurance Coverage Policies - A Smart Move

Not only is it harder work shopping around for separate quotes for your auto insurance and then your home insurance but it could also be costing you more money by buying individual policies. 

Many insurance companies offer discounts for loyal customers who choose to give their business to them on several fronts so it is worth checking out to see whether you can save money by bundling. 

Why bundling makes sense 

When you think it about it, if you went into a store and offered to buy three of four big ticket items the store are probably going to listen to your request for a discount and in order to secure your business, they are likely to offer you some sort of discount. 

It is the same principle with insurance deals.  Give it a try!  Contact Modern Insurance Marketing, Inc. (www.moderninsurance.com) and request a quote to cover your auto and home insurance combined and it may well work out to be cheaper than if you ask for two individual quotes. 

Taking advantage of discounts 

One of the biggest sins when it comes to paying for any type of insurance is when you fail to take advantage of any discounts you are entitled to. Most good insurance agents should ask the right questions in order to determine if you are due some sort of discount. 

You can get a discount for plenty of other reasons other than having a good driving record. Things like whether you have an alarm system fitted to the car and also where you park it during the night can all help to reduce your rate, but one of the biggest opportunities to cut through that original quote is to combine your home and auto insurance.

Not just for homeowners 

Not everyone is a homeowner and if you are renting you can still bundle your insurance to get a better deal. If you take our renters insurance and bundle a car insurance policy with it then your insurer should be prepared to offer a discount. 

Even if you don’t need renters insurance there is still an opportunity to bundle by getting a package that includes life insurance combined with your car insurance in one easy to manage premium. 

Easier to manage 

Another big advantage of bundling your insurance together other than the opportunity to get a hefty discount is the fact that having just one policy and dealing with one insurer makes it easier to keep track of your paperwork and also makes it easier to call just the one company when you need to make a claim, either relating to your house or your car. 

Bundle your insurance makes a lot of financial sense and nobody should pass up the opportunity to save some money on their insurance. 

Protect Your Belongings With Renters Insurance

Although the majority of homeowners purchase insurance for their home, when it comes to renters, only 35 percent have renters insurance, according to a poll conducted for the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

The number of renters is steadily increasing. According to an April 2013 U.S. Census Report, the share of housing occupied by renters rose to 35.4 percent in 2013—up from 34.1 percent in 2009. And in some of the country’s largest cities, renters significantly outnumber homeowners. In New York City, 69 percent of households rent their homes, followed by Los Angeles (61.8 percent), Chicago (55.1 percent) and Houston (54.6 percent).

“One of the biggest insurance problems after Sandy was the large number of renters who did not have coverage for their homes,” pointed out Jeanne M. Salvatore, the I.I.I.’s consumer spokesperson and senior vice president. “It can be extremely expensive to have to re-buy the entire contents of your home, so a renters insurance policy provides very important financial protection when there is a hurricane or other covered disaster.”

The good news is that renters insurance is relatively inexpensive. In fact, the average renters insurance policy costs only $185 per year in 2010 (the latest year this data is available) according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. That is less than $16 per month.

When you purchase renters insurance, your belongings are covered against losses from fire or smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorm and water damage—for example, if an upstairs neighbor’s tub overflows and damages items in your apartment. However, renters insurance does not cover damage from flooding. Flood insurance is available for renters from Modern Insurance.

Renters insurance includes additional living expenses (ALE) coverage if you are unable to live in your home because of a hurricane, fire or other disaster listed in the policy. ALE pays for hotel bills, temporary rentals, restaurant meals and other expenses you incur while your home is being repaired or rebuilt.

Like a standard homeowners insurance policy, renters insurance includes liability protection. This covers your responsibility to other people injured at your home or elsewhere by you, a family member or your pet and pays legal defense costs if you are taken to court.

There are two main types of renters insurance policies:

• Actual Cash Value coverage pays to replace your possessions up to the limit of your policy, minus a deduction for depreciation.
• Replacement Cost coverage pays the real cost of replacing your belongings (regardless of depreciation) up to the limit of your policy. This will usually cost about 10 percent more but is a much better value in the long run.

If you have expensive jewelry, furs, sports or musical equipment, or collectibles, you may want to consider adding a floater to your policy. Most standard renters policies include a limited dollar amount for such items. A floater is a separate policy that provides additional insurance for your valuables and may even cover them if they are accidentally lost. 

For pennies a day, safeguard your apartment or rental home with Modern Insurance Marketing, Inc.    

August is National Eye Exam Month!

When to have an eye exam... 

Even if you think your eyes are healthy, it's important to get regular check-ups to prevent any issues. Especially those with diseases like diabetes that could impact sight.  Several factors may determine how frequently you need an eye exam, including your age,health and risk of developing eye problems.

General guidelines include:

Children 5 years and younger:
For children under 3, your pediatrician will likely look for the most common eye problems - lazy eye, crossed eyes or turned-out eyes. Depending on your child's willingness to cooperate, his or his first more comprehensive eye exam should be done between the ages of 3 and 5.


School-age children and adolescents:
Have your child's vision checked before he or she enters first grade. If your child has no symptoms of vision problems and you don't have a family history of vision problems, have your child's vision rechecked every two years. If your child does have vision problems or a family history of vision problems, have your child's vision rechecked as advised by your eye doctor.


Adults:
In general, if you're healthy and have no symptoms of vision problems, you should have your vision checked once in your 20's and twice in your 30's. Between ages 40 and 65, have your vision checked every two to four years. After age 65, get your eyes checked every one to two years. If you wear glasses, have a family history of eye disease or have a chronic disease - such as diabetes - that puts you at greater risk of eye disease, you need to have your eyes checked more frequently. You might also need more frequent eye exams to check for retinal problems if you were born prematurely or to monitor your eyes for glaucoma.

7 Safety Tips for Your Next Road Trip

If your next vacation is a road trip, then be prepared: Your car is about to become a mobile family room. Childproof it accordingly. This will probably take some time, so start a few days before your trip. Here's how:

1. Go for a tune-up. For smooth sailing (and overall sanity), make sure your car is in good working order. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that you have your tires, battery, belts, fluids, and air conditioner checked by a qualified mechanic. If you're driving in a hot climate or towing a boat or trailer, you may need a motor oil with a higher viscosity.

2. Get a good night's sleep. According to the NHTSA, driving while drowsy is a contributing factor in 100,000 accidents annually. Drive only when well rested, and switch off with another adult every few hours, if possible.

3. Give your car seat or booster seat a boost. Not sure if your car seats or booster seats are installed 100 percent correctly? Eight out of 10 aren't, putting children at serious risk for injury or death. Call 866-SEAT-CHECK to find a nearby location for a free safety seat inspection.

4. Gear up for safety. The NHTSA recommends packing an emergency kit that includes:

• Water
• Warm blankets
• A flashlight
• Jumper cables
• Flares
• Tools to change a tire
• A fully charged cell phone
• A first-aid kit

It's also wise to subscribe to a roadside assistance plan -- just make sure you know where to call in an emergency and what kind of assistance your policy includes.

5. Be sun smart. Equip all family members with sunblock and sunglasses -- you may even want to pop hats on your little one's heads and invest in a sunshade for your backseat. When you leave the car, cover safety seats with blankets so they don't get too hot and burn a baby's tender skin, and do a touch test before letting pint-size passengers pile in. Never, ever leave kids alone in the car. With the outside temperature at just 80 degrees, the interior of a parked car can reach deadly temperatures in just seconds.

6. Scour the backseat. Make sure child safety locks are activated on windows and doors within reach of curious hands. You'll also need to remove any poisonous substances, such as washer fluid, from your backseat. Next, look around for choking hazards -- knobs that pop off easily, loose change between the seat cushions -- and remove potential projectiles (hard books, toys, etc.). When your vehicle is traveling at 40 miles an hour, so is everything else in it. Stop suddenly or get in a crash and anything that's not strapped down will keep moving until it hits something, like you or your child, points out Carole Guzzetta, director of the National Safety Council's Occupant Protection Program in Washington, D.C.

7. Keep the weight down. Store heavy items low in the seat wells so they won't become projectiles during a sudden stop. For the same reason, suitcases, strollers, and anything else stowed in an open cargo area should be battened down.

Renting a House this Summer? Be sure you have the right coverage...

If you are renting a vacation home during the summer, any personal possessions you take with you are covered under your homeowners or renters insurance policy. Belongings are protected against losses from fire or smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorm and water damage (not including floods) anywhere in the world, minus your deductible. But keep in mind that some policies may limit the amount of off-premises coverage to 10 percent of the total coverage for personal possessions. For example, if you have $100,000 worth of personal possessions insurance for your primary residence, only $10,000 would be applicable to possessions you bring with you to your vacation home.

Your personal belongings are not only covered at your vacation rental, but also in the event they are stolen from your car.

If you have expensive jewelry, musical instruments or sports equipment, you may want to consider purchasing a floater (also known as an endorsement) to your home or renters policy. This provides a higher amount of insurance and broader coverage. Most floaters, for instance, include additional coverage for “mysterious disappearance,” meaning you are generally protected even if you lose the item. Having a floater or endorsement provides additional coverage not just while you are on vacation but also throughout the year.

When choosing your homeowners or renters insurance, there are two types of policies to consider. Actual Cash Value pays to replace your possessions up to the limit of your policy, minus a deduction for depreciation. Replacement Cost pays the current cost of replacing your belongings (regardless of depreciation), also up to the limit of your policy.

Before heading on vacation, take the following steps:

1. Contact your insurance professional at MIM. Ask about the insurance implications of renting a summer home and whether you may need supplemental insurance. If you have any questions, the time to ask is before you have a loss.
2. Create a “vacation inventory”.  Keep a detailed list and take photos.  Especially of all valuables you plan on taking, such a lap tops, phones, musical devices, sports equipment, etc.   
3. Leave expensive jewelry at home. Unless you plan to attend a fancy event, it may make sense to leave expensive jewelry at home or store it in a safe deposit box. You may save money on the cost of insuring your jewelry as some companies offer “in vault” coverage. If you wear the jewelry for a special occasion, many insurers will offer the option of purchasing additional coverage for the time it is out of the bank. You do, of course, have to notify your insurer in advance.

Whether you’re renting a bungalow at the beach, a log cabin in the mountains or a condo in the desert, Modern Insurance Marketing Inc. can help you understand how to protect your personal possessions while you are away, leaving the worries behind.

www.moderninsurance.com

Wedding Insurance - I do!!!

 

What Is Wedding Insurance?

Basically, wedding insurance protects a couple's investment from circumstances beyond their control, and reimburses expenses incurred. For example, what if your limo driver doesn't show up and you have to book another one the morning of the wedding -- for three times the price? Or what if the groom's custom-made tuxedo is lost in airport baggage, and he has to buy a new one the day before the wedding? What if your reception space goes out of business a month before the wedding, and you lose your deposit and have to book another space? These are the types of big-day financial losses that wedding insurance can help to protect.

Why Get Wedding Insurance?

Consider these scenarios:

Before you buy wedding insurance, check with your each of your vendors to see how well they're covered.

• Janet and Dan spend months planning their winter wedding. But on wedding day, their reception site is made inaccessible by an ice storm. With the right wedding insurance policy, the couple can postpone their wedding and receive every penny they lost (less the deductible) -- including money for the invites, cake, catering, attire, and non-refundable deposits for ceremony musicians, floral designer, and other vendors.
• The bride's father is injured in a car accident just before the wedding and cannot travel. If the couple has to postpone their wedding, with wedding insurance they could be paid back their expenses to enable them to have the wedding when the father recovers.
• Right before the ceremony, Brittany's gown catches a gust of wind. Unfortunately, the tulle dances right over to the end of Uncle Howard's cigar and the dress instantly goes up in flames. Fortunately, the right insurance policy covers the replacement of the veil and gown.

Do You Really Need Wedding Insurance?

Before you buy wedding insurance, check with your each of your vendors to see how well they're covered - your reception site or your caterer may already have their own insurance, so you wouldn't want to pay for overlapping coverage out of your own pocket. Ask your vendors for a copy of their policy, and then figure out where you aren't fully covered.

When Should You Get Wedding Insurance?

The sooner the better. Let's say you put a deposit on your wedding reception hall 12 months prior to your wedding date and then it burns to the ground a few weeks before the big day. With wedding insurance, you'll be sure to get your deposit back. But note: most insurance companies have limitations on how far in advance you can purchase insurance.

What Does Wedding Insurance Cover?

Problems with the site, weather, vendors, key people, sickness, or injury are the top concerns come wedding day. There is usually a specified maximum amount, which can be claimed under each section, and a deductible also applies. Be sure to find out the details of your insurance plan.

• Site: Check to see if your ceremony and reception site is already insured. If it's not, wedding insurance can cover the cost arising out of unavoidable cancellation (such as damage or inaccessibility to the ceremony site), if your reception hall is unable to honor your reservation because it has burned in a fire, experienced an electrical outage, or just plain closed down. Sometimes this policy covers the rehearsal dinner site, too.
• Weather: Any weather conditions which prevent the bride, groom, any relative whose presence at the wedding is essential, or the majority of the guests from reaching the premises where the wedding is to take place. Insurance covers rescheduling the wedding and all the details involved -- such as ceremony flowers, tent rental, and reception food.
• Vendor No-show: What if essential wedding people -- the caterer or the officiant, for example -- fail to show up? A wedding insurance policy usually covers cancellation or postponement of the wedding for these reasons.
• Sickness or Injury: Wedding insurance may also include sickness or injury to the bride, groom, or anyone essential to the wedding.
• Military or Job: It's true, military personnel may be shipped out at a moment's notice. Wedding insurance can cover postponement of the wedding due to the bride or groom suddenly getting called to military duty. This can also apply to a last-minute corporate move -- i.e. the bride's company suddenly relocates her to another city.

Wedding Insurance Doesn't Cover...

• A change of heart. In other words, cold feet don't count.
• Watches, jewelry, or semi-precious gemstones or pearls (even if they are attached to clothing) may not be covered.
• While your wedding rings may be covered by the policy, your engagement ring probably will not.

Additional Coverage

Couples can take out supplemental policies to defend against damages incured by other wedding-related items such as photography, videography, and gifts.

• Photography: Some policies pay to retake the photographs after the fact if the photographer fails to appear or the original negatives are lost, damaged, stolen, or not properly developed. Some policies will pay to re-stage the event -- with the principal participants so that pictures can be retaken. A policy may also pay costs for rehiring a photographer, buying a new wedding cake, and new flowers.
• Videographer: When a videotape produced by a professional videographer is damaged (he or she used faulty materials for example), a policy usually pays a certain amount to have either a video montage created, a video compilation made of the photographs and other wedding memorabilia, or, if possible, a retaking of the official video at a restaging.
• Gifts: Whether they're mailed to your home or handed to you on your wedding day, valuable items like gifts are something else you might want to consider insuring. Think about a party crasher lifting unattended presents from your reception. Gift coverage pays to repair or replace non-monetary gifts that are lost, stolen, or damaged. A police report is usually required for stolen gifts. The damage or theft generally has to take place within a limited time period (ranging from 24 hours to seven days depending on the specific policy) before or after the wedding, in order to be covered.
• Attire: This coverage pays to repair or replace the bridal gown or other special attire when it is in your possession and is lost, stolen, or damaged (including financial failure of the bridal store). Special attire usually includes the clothing and accessories bought or rented that are to be worn by the bride, the groom, and attendants at the ceremony.
• Personal Liability: Personal liability covers bodily injury or property damage caused by an accident that occurs during the course of the wedding (your best man trips and falls on his way up to the mike to roast you or Uncle Murray suffers a Harvey Wallbanger wall banger).
• Medical Coverage: This covers reasonable medical expenses (up to the policy's limits) for each person who is injured during the covered events from a cause of loss, which would be covered by your personal liability.
• Honeymoon: Your honeymoon can cost as much as a new car. But before buying travel insurance to protect your investment, see if your credit card and/or homeowner's policy covers you if your luggage gets lifted, your trip is delayed, or you have to cancel. If not, you can a buy separate, trip-only policy. Call your insurer, or ask your travel agent for details. Also, certain wedding insurance packages include optional travel insurance for your honeymoon.

Things to Consider

Every insurance policy and every wedding scenario is different. Be sure to talk to your insurance agent at MIM (www.moderninsurance.com) - and have him or her explain the nuts and bolts to you. You want to make sure you and your sweetie understand every detail of your policy.