With the recession still among us, homeowners everywhere are left trying to find even more creative ways to save money. Many families have had to completely change their spending habits and are living more modestly than ever before. Here are a few tips for cutting down on unnecessary costs and expenditures around your own home:

Avoid Aimless Shopping- I can tell you from experience that visiting the mall when you are bored and have a couple extra dollars in your pocket is a sure-fire way to waste some cash. If you must go shopping write out a list so you can stay focused on why you are at the store. Before you purchase anything, especially new clothes, home decor and other non-essentials, ask yourself, “Do I really need this?”

Never Stop Saving- Even if you can only afford to put aside $5/month right now, do it. Just because you cannot save much doesn’t mean you shouldn’t save money at all. In fact, if you stay in the habit of saving money it will be easier to start putting more away when you are financially ready.

Reconsider your Grocery Shopping- When it comes to food for your family, you don’t necessarily want to go cheap as you risk losing nutrition. However, you can save money at the grocery store just by planning your meals carefully before you even go to the store. Create a detailed meal plan for a week’s worth of meals ahead of time and that way you can tailor your grocery list accordingly. This will cut down on purchasing too much food, which can go bad and must be thrown out. It can also prevent running out of food in the fridge and opting to eat out instead.

Shop your insurance, utilities, etc.- Most people just write a check each month for auto insurance, cable, and other common household bills. However, now’s a good time to stop and really look at what you are paying for. The Internet makes it easy as rates for Internet, cable TV, wireless phone service and even home and auto insurance are available with a few clicks of your mouse. Pull out those statements and spend an hour or so shopping around.

The minimum amount of liability coverage for homeowners insurance is typically $100,000 and this is included in a standard homeowners insurance policy. If you feel you need more coverage, however, you can purchase more liability coverage. Talk to your insurance agent about your specific needs for liability coverage and they should be able to recommend a minimum coverage amount that is appropriate for you and your family.

As insurance professionals, the team at HomeInsurance.com knows the trick to keeping insurance premiums low. And as our first gift to you in 2010- we’re going to to share them with you.

4 Tricks to Keeping Your Premiums Low

#1- Use a Multi-Shopper- Shop your insurance with a company who represents multiple insurance providers. Doing so will make sure that you get the best rate available and not just the best rate offered by any one company. >>Start a Quote

#2- Combine your Home & Auto- Many providers offer major discounts of up to 30% off your homeowners insurance policy if you insure both your home and auto with them.

#3- Ask About Discounts- Does your home have deadbolts? A fire or burglar alarm? Is it less than 10 years old? There is a whole list of discounts available for homeowners like you. Most agents will qualify you up front, but it’s always a good idea to know what’s available so you can be a smart shopper! >>See a List of Discounts

#4- Review your Deductibles and Coverages- Deductibles and/or coverage limits that are too high- or too low- can cost you money in one way or another.  Review your current policy with an agent to make sure you are appropriately covered.

Unfortunately, around the holidays shoppers are more prone to having their vehicles broken into as thieves loot through parking lots looking for gifts and other purchases left inside cars. Here are a few tips to prevent a vehicle break-in this time of year:

• If you’re stopping at various stores to go shopping, do not leave packages unattended in the car between trips. If they are small enough, take them with you.
• If you have to leave packages or other items in your vehicle unattended make sure to get them out of plain sight. Lock them in the trunk or store them under the front seat so they aren’t visible from the outside of the car.
• When you get home, make sure you take everything you purchased out of your car and into the house. Vehicle theft can happen anywhere…even in your own driveway.
• When parking in a parking lot at night, try to park in a well lit area as close to the entrance of the building you are heading into as possible. Likewise, on your way out to your vehicle, keep your eyes open for suspicious activity.
• If you ever catch someone in the act of burglarizing your car, do not approach them. Get back to a safe area where you can use a phone to call the police.

>Here are more tips from the Mount Prospect Police Department in Illinois.

With the hustle and bustle of Holiday shopping, parties and traveling, there are more opportunities than ever for insurance claims to occur this time of year. Protect your home and family from the Top 6 Insurance Claims of the Season by brushing up on our Holiday safety tips:

Home Decor and Heat Sources Don’t Mix-Take a few lights on extension cords, throw in some garland and sprinkle in a few open-flame candles and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a potential home fire. Take extra precaution this year:

• Use battery-operated candles
• Don’t overload electrical outlets
• Keep flammable decor away from heat sources like vents, radiators and fireplaces

Safe Driving: On a mad dash to the mall for some last minute shopping? Chances are- so is everyone else. Slow down, hang up your cell phone and stay alert. Keep your eyes on other drivers and you might just prevent a Holiday Season fender bender. How to Stay Safe in Holiday Traffic

Weatherize your Home: Winter storms bring rain, hail and snow that can do serious damage to your home. Prepare your home by:

• Cleaning out your gutters
• Pruning trees and removing dead branches
• Checking your roof for damage

Out of Sight, Not out of Mind: Going away for the Holidays? If you’ve ever seen Home Alone you know how enticing an empty home can look to burglars over the holidays. Make sure you let a neighbor know that your home will be unoccupied and ask them to keep a watch over it. Use timers so your home stays lit at night which will ward off potential intruders. How to Prevent Home Burglary

Protect your Identity: Unfortunately, identity thieves are on the prowl this time of year as credit card usage soars.  The insurance Information Institute recommends taking these steps to prevent identity and credit card theft this year:

• Keep the amount of personal information in your purse or wallet to a bare minimum
• Guard your credit card when making purchases
• Always take credit card and ATM receipts- otherwise you don’t know where they will end up
• Proceed with caution when shopping online- always look for a familiar security symbol (like TRUSTe)

Party on…Safely: Holiday parties hosted in your home can be great fun, but are also an opportunity for liability and MedPay claims. If you are serving alcohol, monitor guests and don’t let anyone drive after drinking. Make sure your steps and handrails are all in working order to prevent slips and falls. Preparing food? Make sure all food is cooked to a recommended minimum temperature to avoid food poisoning.

Whether you’ve just purchased a new home insurance policy or you haven’t shopped around in years- it’s always important to know whether you have enough coverage to really protect your home and family in the event of a claim. While you should always refer to the advice of a licensed insurance agent, you can easily check to see if you are properly covered by pulling out your policy and checking your coverages against the criteria below:

Dwelling Coverage: This is the type of coverage that protects the structure of your home against various perils such as fire, hail and wind damage. Your dwelling coverage should be high enough that you could replace your home in the event of a covered claim. A quick way to determine your dwelling coverage is to multiply the square footage of your home  by local building costs. Local building costs vary per region of the U.S. but you can find some estimates using this dwelling coverage calculator. Also to keep in consideration is the building grade of your home. For example, your replacement cost would be higher than average building costs in your area if your home has hardwood floors, granite counter tops and custom moldings.

Other Structures Coverage: This coverage protects detached structures on your property such as sheds and detached garages. It is calculated as a percentage of your Dwelling Coverage. For example, a home with $200,000 worth of dwelling coverage may have 10% of that coverage, or $20,000, in other structures coverage. Consider the other structures on your property to determine whether this amount is enough to rebuild them in the event they were lost in a covered claim.

Personal Property Coverage:This coverage is also calculated as a percentage of your dwelling coverage but is typically 50-70% of your dwelling coverage. So, a home with $200,000 worth of dwelling coverage would have about $100,000- $140,000 in personal property coverage. Personal Property Coverage is what pays for everything inside your home that is not permanently attached to the home structure. So, your electronics, clothing, jewelry, furniture, etc. Depending on the peril, your home insurance company will replace these items, however, it is a good idea to document what you own in order to prove ownership- especially for a theft claim. Use a Home Inventory spreadsheet to document what you own and you will also get an idea if you have enough personal property coverage to cover all of your belongings. Be aware that there are specific limits for certain items, like jewelry, and you might want to purchase additional coverage for specific items of high value that exceed those limits (also called ’scheduling an endorsement‘).

Loss of Use Coverage:In the event that your home is damaged in a covered claim and you and your family can not live in the home while it is being repaired/rebuilt, loss of use coverage provides financial protection for attaining other living accommodations in the meantime. Loss of Use reimburses you for hotel, restaurant and other living expenses you may incur as a result of your home being uninhabitable. This coverage typically carries a maximum payout of 20% of your dwelling coverage but you should check your policy for specific details.

Personal Liability Protection:Personal Liability coverage protects you against covered lawsuits that arise because you or a covered family member have caused bodily harm or damage to personal property owned by another person not covered under your policy. Most policies carry a minimum of $100,000 worth of personal liability coverage, however, many homeowners choose to purchase $200,000, $500,000 or $1 million in coverage or more. For example, homeowners who have a swimming pool on their property may carry higher personal liability limits as swimming pools pose a high risk for accidents and injuries.

Medical Payments:In order to prevent certain damage from becoming lawsuits, your insurance company also offers Medical Payments coverage which helps you pay medical expenses sustained by others on your property. Medical Payments Coverage (or MedPay) pays for doctor’s bills in various situations where a lawsuit does not exist for example:

• Your friend is bit by your dog and had to get stitches
• Your child’s friend fell off your swing set and sprained his ankle

MedPay will typically pay $1,000 for each injured person, however, higher limits can be purchased.

So, check your policy and if you feel you are not adeuqatly covered, contact an insurance agent for a quote and coverage assessment.

This time of year traffic accidents are on the rise. Shoppers are making a mad dash home from the mall, people are driving home from holiday parties, and people are travelling to visit family. With all of the additional cars on the road, and often distracted drivers, it’s more important than ever to practice smart, defensive driving.

1- Get Back to Basics. Remember all those safe driving tips your Drivers Ed teacher taught you to obey long ago? Now’s a good time to re-adopt those good habits. Keep your hands at 10 o’clock and 3 o’clock on the wheel- this helps give you the best maneuverability. Keep a good distance behind the car in front of you and maintain a safe space between you and the cars in the lanes next to you.

2- When you’re driving…just drive.  Put out the cigarette, put down the sandwich and hang up your cell phone. Focus on the road and situation around you. You never know when you may catch something out of the corner of your eye that is potentially dangerous. Taking driving time to just drive might also give you a few moments of relaxation everyday you would have otherwise gone without. (Many states have now adopted no-cell phone laws so you might just be avoiding a traffic ticket as well.)

3- Don’t mind your own business. Keep your eyes on the other drivers and vehicles on the road around you. Avoid drivers that are swerving, straddling the center line or just driving aggressively.  If you notice an impaired driver on the road it is best to pull off onto an exit or onto the shoulder and wait for the driver to leave your proximity. Don’t hesitate to call 911 to notify them- you might just be saving a life further on down the road.

4- Follow the Rules. Obey speed limits. Wear your seat belt. And by all means do not drive after consuming alcohol. A little extra precaution this holiday season can help save lives and prevent car accident related injuries!

5- Got a Teenage Driver? Review all of these tips with them and have them sign a Teen Driver/Parent Contract. Download a free copy here.

A recent survey by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America foundthat more than 34 percent of respondents, representing 53 million households, admitted they are probably not taking advantage of all the home insurance discounts available to them.

In an economy where people are trying to save money on absolutely everything right now, why would homeowners not be taking advantage of these discounts? The answer is easy. Most survey respondents admitted that they did not know that many of the home insurance discounts even existed.

All too often, homeowners shopping for home insurance will get wrapped up in the process of comparing coverage types , limits and deductibles overlooking the various discounts available from many providers.

Discounts vary by region and provider, so discounts available through one company, may not be offered through another. The best way to find out? Ask.

Most home insurance agents will offer homeowners various insurance discounts during the quoting process as additional savings of up to 20 percent are often a major selling point. However, in order to be a wise consumer, homeowners should go into the quote process already knowing some of the major discounts that are available.

For example, if you can answer yes to any one of these questions, you should be taking advantage of a homeowners insurance discount right now:

• Was your home built in the past 10 years?
• Do you have a security system in your home?
• Are you retired and 55 years of age or older?
• Are you a non-smoker?

The best part about some of these discounts is that even if your home does not qualify right now, there are upgrades and improvements you can make that will help qualify you for home insurance savings in the future. For example, instead of asking for those diamond earrings this Holiday season, why don’t you put a security system on your list? You might be able to save up to $200 on your home insurance premium each year just by having one installed. In the market for a new roof? Ask your provider if they offer discounts for metal or storm resistant roofing and you could save an additional 15-20 percent on your premium.

Bottom line is that the safer your home is against claims, the better rates you should be eligible for from your insurance company.  Don’t be afraid to ask!

More Resources:

Twelve Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs by the Insurance Information Institute

Home Insurance Discounts: Are you saving enough?  by HomeInsurance.com

Cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year? Even a professional chef can get distracted in the kitchen leaving the chance for a cooking fire.

According to the National Fire Protection Council, Thanksgiving is the leading day for cooking fires in the U.S.

Cook smart this year by taking these tips for a safe Thanksgiving Dinner:

• Alcohol and turkeys don’t mix! Don’t drink and cook especially when using a stove or cook top.
• Don’t leave the kitchen unattended especially when frying, grilling or broiling food.
• Use a timer so that you don’t forget about that casserole until smoke starts pluming from the oven
• Keep flammable objects like oven mits, dish towels, etc. away from the stove top

What should you do if a fire strikes in your kitchen? We recommend this FEMA video, “How to use a portable fire extinguisher”:

Does the sound of jingle bells make your shoulders instantly tense and your head hurt? You’re not alone. The holiday season, as joyful as it can be, is typically the most stressful time of year for many people. Seasonal mood changes can add to the situation, as lower amounts of sunlight in the winter are linked to higher depression rates. (Source: National Institute of Mental Health NIMH) So, staying stress free this season is typically more difficult than other times of year. Here are some of the best ways to reduce stress and make the holidays enjoyable again.

#1- Set a budget, stick to it. Most studies agree that finances are the leading cause of stress in the US. This year, set yourself a holiday budget and stick to it. Make a list of common holiday expenses including gifts, entertaining, travel, etc., and set a limit on your spending that works for you and your family. Doing this not only helps your wallet, but keeps you from stressing over your bank account balance.

#2- Shop early.  Procrastination can be a major source of stress and anxiety. Start making gift lists and pick up items as early as possible in the season. It will help you avoid the traffic and mobs of shoppers that flood the malls and department stores in the weeks right before the holidays.

#3- Travel Smart.If you are heading out to visit family, whether by plane, train or automobile, be prepared. First of all, expect flight delays and traffic jams because they are almost unavoidable no matter where you are across the country. Give yourself plenty of time and a less-rigid schedule so you won’t stress out when your trip takes longer than usual. Also, check your driver’s license, registration, auto insurance and vehicle inspection sticker to be sure your documentation is up-to-date and handy when driving. An unexpected traffic ticket is enough to ruin anyone’s holiday cheer.

#4- Avoid Last Minute Meal Preparation. If you are planning on entertaining family and friends this Holiday season, try to plan your meal preparations so that you aren’t frantically cooking at the last minute. Many of your favorites recipes can be partially prepared ahead of time so that you have less to do on the actually day-of.  (Here’s a list from Good Housekeeping)