Applying for insurance? Better be honest.

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Julie

Perhaps there is no more universal life lesson than that of being honest. Why it is important makes a lot of sense in the everyday. Being labeled as dishonest, or a liar can have very real consequences in the real world. But, this line of thinking doesn’t always extend to all components of our behaviour; at least in those situations where the consequences aren’t as obvious or immediate.

Take applying for insurance. If you’re tempted to be dishonest on your application form to save on your premiums, or even just so you’ll get coverage the consequences can actually be pretty severe. That’s because the law says that when you apply for insurance, it is your duty to be honest. What does this mean? It means if you lied on your initial application 30 years ago, the insurance company can deny your claim even if what you were dishonest about is completely unrelated to the loss. If you failed to disclose you were a smoker, yet were killed by a derailed train, the insurance company can invalidate your life insurance policy; leaving your family without the financial support the insurance was intended to provide. Not to mention, they’d also be out the premiums you had paid for years and years.

So why would anyone take this risk and be dishonest on their application? For some, the fact the insurance company doesn’t actually investigate the truthfulness of your application is interpreted as the insurance company not actually caring that much. Unfortunately, when the insurance company does care is when there is a loss and that’s when the investigation does happen.

Insurance serves a very specific function in providing peace of mind. Be sure that when applying, and that little devil is whispering in your ear to fudge the truth “just a little,” you don’t listen. It would be a terrible shame, and a completely unavoidable one, that a little white lie that saved you a few dollars a month ended up costing you or your family much more in the end.

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Expensive Habits You Can Live Without

Posted on October 3, 2010 by Ryan

Saving money is getting harder and harder to do these days. And yet, we waste a fortune every year on things we don’t need or are too absentminded to stay on top of.  With enough legitimate demands on our money, it’s a shame to squander what’s left on too much comfort or convenience. Here are six habits we can live without.

Butt Out

Quitting smoking is tough. Anyone who has tried can tell you that. But you won’t find a more rewarding habit to break. The health benefits aside, let’s focus on the financial windfall that’s waiting at the end of that last puff. Nothing about smoking is cheap: the price of a pack of cigarettes gives the value of gold bullion a run for its money. Then there’s dry-cleaning for your clothes, breath mints and gum, gas when you drive to the store to restock, etc. They even charge for matches these days. So butt out and save! Big!

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Kitchen

Everyone loves a nice meal in a fine restaurant. Every once and awhile. Sure, dining out is easy and there are no dishes to wash afterward but it’s a habit that will starve your wallet. Buy groceries and eat at home most of the time. Save that trip to the restaurant for a special occasion not because you’re too tired or lazy to cook.

Plain Ol’ Joe

If you’re serious about saving money, then say goodbye to the $5 coffee! It doesn’t matter if you like the taste of coffee or are just drinking it for the caffeine to keep you going throughout the day, buy plain ol’ coffee. Or, better yet, bring a thermos of the stuff from home to drink. Do the math: 3 X $5 coffee a day = $15. Multiply that by a 5-day work week = $75. Times 52 weeks = $3900! We’re talking serious savings here.

Get Me To The Bank On Time

Nobody likes to pay bills, which is why we’re so often late doing it. But that tardiness is costing you extra money through late fees and other charges. They seem minimal when one pops up on a statement. However being chronically late with payments can add up to a serious cash drain. Stop the bleeding and stay on top of your bills. Paying late fees is totally unnecessary.

No More Trial And Error

Like snake charmers, magazines, newspapers and other mail clubs have a way of spellbinding us and getting us to agree for free trials of stuff. But how often do we forget that it is up to us to cancel these things when the free trial period is over! Failure to do so makes for surprise subscription charges to your credit card. And if it’s something you weren’t enjoying for free, you’re now paying for it! Either stay away from free trials or be vigilant. Either way, you’ll save.

Dr. Retail Will See You Now

Feeling blue? Go for a walk. Call a friend. But stay out of the stores! Buying stuff because you feel depressed is one habit that you want to break. Instead of trying to buy happiness, work at making your life better, improve, challenge yourself. This will give you more peace of mind that than dress you’ll never wear or that new car.

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Top 6 Most Important Birthdays

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Ryan

Some people make a big deal about their birthdays. Others won’t tell anyone what day they were born and would prefer that their birthday didn’t come around every 365 days.

There are some birthdays that we’ll never forget though. We could have been traveling in Northern Europe at the time or it could have been the time your husband bought you your favorite necklace.

There are some birthdays that are significant to almost everyone – here are the top most important birthdays.

1st Birthday

You probably don’t remember your first birthday but I bet your parents do. First birthdays are an important day for small children. Just like your first steps and your first words, your first birthday will be thoroughly documented and remembered by your family for many years to come. If you go through most old photo albums you’ll likely see a chubby baby with some cake on their face. We’ve all been there.

13th Birthday

Many countries around the world don’t celebrate Sweet Sixteen but becoming a teenager is a significant day for most kids. Joining the ranks of the teenage world means more responsibility in your life: you’re not a child anymore but you’re not quite an adult either.

16th Birthday

In many places around the world, turning 16 means you can get your driver’s license. If you were born to drive, then this was likely a pretty exciting birthday for you.

Many young ladies also have their Sweet Sixteen party on this day. Some of these parties can be rather extravagant too.

21st Birthday

In the US, your 21st birthday is usually a significant day because it means you can legally purchase alcohol. For many people this is a big day and one that they’ve been looking forward to for a while.

40th Birthday

Turning 40 means that you’re now middle aged and that means you’re over the hill. Your 40th birthday can be a pretty big deal for some folks – if it’s your birthday expect to be mocked mercilessly – even by friends that are older than you!

100th Birthday

A centenarian is a person that is 100 years old or more. In the UK and its Commonwealth Realms, the Queen will send you a greeting on your 100th birthday. Unfortunately most of us wont make it this far but congratulations to all those that have. You don’t get a letter from the Queen everyday!

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Financial Rules to Live By

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Ryan

1) Protect what you already have

Make sure that you have developed an estate plan and that you have sufficient insurance. Write a will that you’re happy with and one that names a guardian for your children. This stuff is very important so seek help if you need it.

2) Don’t use your credit card unless you can pay it off right away

And if you have credit card debt get rid of it as soon as you can. Carrying that much interest is terrible way to manage your money. You’re just throwing money out the window.

3) Spend less money than you earn

This is so simple but it’s the single most important part of getting rich. Unfortunately it’s not the easiest thing to follow through on.

Try starting a budget. It might help you get your finances on the right track.

4) Always look for ways increase your income

This doesn’t mean you need to have 2 full time jobs and part time job. It doesn’t mean that you need to focus entire existence on making money.

It does mean that you should look for small ways to increase the incoming funds that you receive each month. The best way of doing this is to look at ways to improve your career. Your job is your most valuable financial asset in many cases.

If you’ve already gone down that route then you can try looking for additional ways to make money.

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Best Things to Buy on Craigslist

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Ryan

You might not find Craigslist to be the best website for finding normal people to date but that doesn’t mean you should write it off for everything.

There are lots of great deals to be found and here is a list of the best things to buy on Craigslist:

Antiques (in the ‘antiques’ section)

Most people use Craigslist to either get rid of something or to make a quick buck. They often wont do the proper research needed to identify rare and valuable antiques. This allows you the chance to find some hidden gems at an affordable price.

You will have to sift through a lot of junk but if you’re persistent you might be able to find a treasure. Do the research, reap the benefits.

Cars (in the ‘cars & trucks’ section)

Craigslist is a great place to find deals on cars. The only tough part is that you have to be fast! Very fast! A good deal on Craigslist wont last long so you might want to sit around hitting refresh if you’re serious about finding a deal.

If you’re not that serious, you can still find good deals on used cars. Avoid the high markups and commission fees that come with dealerships and buy off another person on Craigslist.

Plus size clothes (in the ‘clothing & accessories’ section)

Many people have a hard time finding affordable plus sized clothing but Craigslist is great place to look. You can’t beat the prices and some people are getting rid of lots of their clothing for a variety of reasons – such as weight loss or maybe just a wardrobe change.

If you’re in need of bigger sizes or if you want to resell clothing then check out Craigslist today.

Clothing for Children (in the ‘baby & kid stuff’ section)

Being a parent means that you not only have to dress yourself but you also have to dress your children. Not an easy task.

Some people are lucky and have a lot of relatives with older kids that can pass down their second hand shirts, pants, and dresses. Others aren’t so lucky. For them, I would recommend Craigslist’s clothing section. Next time your kid brings home a ripped pair of pants you can at least take solace in the fact that the pants weren’t expensive.

Free stuff (in the ‘free stuff’ section)

I just did a quick search on the ‘free stuff’ section of our local Craigslist and found the following: a lamp, 2 hiking tents, a foam topper for a bed, a new IKEA bunk bed, a printer, a skateboard quarter pipe, an older entertainment centre, and a nice looking sofa.

All of that was free and only just scratched the surface of the free stuff on there. You could furnish your home and fill your backyard or garage with the free stuff you find on Craigslist. If you’re not in much of a hurry you could even take free items and sell them later.

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Alien Abduction Insurance Policies

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Ryan

Alien abduction insurance is a type of insurance policy first introduced by the St. Lawrence Agency in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The company has apparently paid out two claims already.

Apparently you can get policies for as low as $19.95 for a lifetime premium through their website UFO2001.com.

Even famous people such as Shirley MacLaine have taken out policies – as well as a noted Harvard University professor. The number of people with this type of policy is around 20,000 worldwide as of 2010.

These insurance companies should have advertised during episodes of the television show X-Files.

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Dreamy Pastures Insurance – Banned Commercial

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Ryan

Posted in Ads, Funny | Leave a comment