This is the most common time of year for people to start experiencing an overall feeling of discontent with their lives. Some researchers even claim that seasonal mood disorders are a common complaint amongst patients who tend to feel more depressed during fall and winter months. Here are a few top ways to shake the seasonal slump and boost your mental health until Spring:

Make a goal for the Spring: One way to forget about the winter blues is to start planning for the warmer months ahead. Plan a trip for April or give yourself a weight loss goal to hit by May. Giving yourself something to look forward to will help you forget about the stagnant feeling you have right now.

Get outdoors even if it’s cold: Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to stay locked in the house. Take up a winter sport or just get outside for a stroll once a day and breathe some fresh air. Oftentimes a lack of sunshine is the reason for seasonal mood disorders so just getting outside to take in a little sun can do you some good. Too often we succumb to cabin fever when we really need to dust off our snow boots and get out into nature.

Socialize More: When the weather gets especially frigid and intolerable there’s no reason to bear it alone. Call that friend you’ve been meaning to get in touch with or plan a dinner party for a few pals. Having friendly faces around is refreshing.

Go on a healthy eating binge: Many of us start to feel unhealthy this time of year and a lack of in-season fruits and vegetables at the grocery store doesn’t help. But don’t resort to TV dinners just yet. Incorporate as much fresh produce as possible into your diet this time of year to make sure you are still getting all the vitamins your body needs. When all else fails go for canned or frozen alternatives.

Reaffirm your new year’s resolutions: Oftentimes new year’s resolutions are in full swing after the Holidays but come February and March, they begin to taper off. Get re-motivated to strive towards your new years resolutions or, make up a few new ones! Dreary weather provides no better opportunity for creating a personal finance budget or organizing the laundry room- tasks you won’t want to take on when the weather is beautiful.

With the recent explosion of SOPA and PIPA in the news media this week, the term “digital content piracy” has received a ton of exposure and left many people wondering if they themselves are guilty of this very crime.

An online pirate is anyone who reproduces the work of another without authorization to do so. Ever downloaded a song from Napster, Limewire or BitTorrent? How about when you burned that DVD so you could have your own copy?  These works are protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Most people who download these types of content without permission from the copyright owner think that they could never get caught. Or, they believe the site they downloaded the material from is the guilty party. This is so far from true. Not only can you get caught, but you can personally be faced with a massive lawsuit.

Did you know that every time you download or upload content your computer’s IP address can be traced directly back to you?

In a famous recent case, Voltage Pictures went after 24,000 people who downloaded a copy of the film Hurt Locker from a bit torrent website. The Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were required to give up the names of the users who downloaded the content and lawyers began knocking on doors. The Copyright Group demanded payment from the content pirates each between $3,000 and $5,000 to avoid being sued for $150,000. Voltage ended up taking 5,000 of the accused pirates to court.

These “content pirates” were everyday people just like me and you. They were not executives at YouTube or the CEO of Napster. They were our neighbors, cousins, babysitters and friends.

So, can you be sued for downloading copyrighted material from the web? The answer is yes. You can be caught and held liable. And since “content piracy” is not listed as a covered peril on a personal liability insurance policy- I wouldn’t depend on your liability coverage to help you with the legal costs.

So next time you sit down to download a movie or music for “free” from the Internet, you might want to think about the price tag that could actually come along with it. I’ve never seen the Hurt Locker- but I think it’s safe to assume it’s not worth a $5,000 fine- better yet a $150,000 lawsuit.

These days it has become more common for people to work from home as opposed to heading out to the office everyday. Developments in technology and communications have made it easy for workers to perform the same duties from home that they would normally perform at their jobsite. Many employers are jumping on the bandwagon as remote-workers mean less overhead expenses.

However, while working from home may now be a possibility for many, it still depends on the individual as to whteher it will be a success. Consider these tips for getting the most of out of a work-from-home opportunity:

Create a Space- One way to fail miserably is to plop down with your laptop in front of the TV and expect to get anything done. In order to stay productive and focused on the task at hand you should set aside a work space separate from the rest of your home life. Even if you don’t have an entire extra room to use as an office, you can designate one corner of a room for your work area. Treat that area how you would treat your work space at the office. When you enter your work space you will therefore transition from “being at home” to “being at work”. This will also help keep you from over doing it, and working when you should be enjoying down time.

Consider the Tax Deductions- Don’t miss out on money-saving tax deductions that you may be eligible for. Typically most people who have a home office and work exclusively from home can deduct “work-related expenses”  from their taxable income. This often includes a portion of rent or mortgage interest, a portion of utilities, insurance and office supplies. There are requirements, however, to qualify for this deduction. For example, according to the IRS website it is stated that in order to qualify you  must use your home office “regularly and exclusively” as your principal place of business.  Talk to your tax advisor for more information.

Set a schedule- One of the most important charactersitics of those who are successful at working from home are those that are self-disciplined. In order to stay on task you will want to set a schedule for yourself and get into some normal routines for getting your work done. Set deadlines so you stay motivated.

“Don’t stay unshaved in pajamas. Instead, have breakfast, have a shower, get dressed. Then make a list of sensible tasks for the day and get started.”

-zenhabits.net

Consider insurance benefits- If you work entirely from home you won’t be commuting like someone who drives back and forth to the job site each day. You will want to update your insurance policy to designate your vehicle as being used primarily for ‘pleasure’. If you are working from home part-time, you should talk to your insurance agent about reducing the number of miles commuting to work as it is listed on your car insurance policy. Doing either of these will most likely reduce your car insurance premiums.

Stay connected- Not only do you want to stay in regular contact with your co-workers back at the office, but also stay in contact with the human race in general. “Cabin fever” is a common complaint of those that work from home as they begin to miss the social interaction that they previously had while working in an office environment. Have lunch with friends and network with others who work from home in your community. If possible, make plans to see office friends after work and on the weekends to maintain “face time”.  Make a point to take a walk or drive each day so that you are still getting out of the house at some point in the day.

Understand the difference between the replacement cost and the market value of your home so that you are always adequately insured.

It’s a really common mistake and one that can cost a homeowner a ton of money in the event of a total loss to their home. Homeowners across the country see their property values dropping and assume that it’s a good time to lower their home insurance coverage. The problem with this is that your insurance covers the replacement cost of your home NOT the market value.

The replacement cost and the market value of your home are two very different things.  The market value of your home is the price it would sell for in the current real estate market and includes the value of the land that the home sits on. On the other hand, the replacement cost of your home only includes the structure of your home (no land) and is calculated based on current construction rates in your area (amongst other things).

This misconception is even more dangerous now because while home values have dropped significantly over the past few years, construction costs have increased. This has many homeowners believing they are adequately insured while they are actually under-insured.

How to estimate your insurance coverage:

1- For a rough estimate on how much dwelling coverage your home may need you can use an estimator such as this home insurance calculator. It will use  average construction costs in your area and the square footage of your home to provide an approximate coverage for your home. This tool only provides an estimate on coverage and should not be used as a true figure when purchasing a policy.

2- For a more exact idea about how much dwelling coverage you need, you should talk to a licensed homeowners insurance agent. They will ask you about the various features of your home including building style, building materials, finished square footage, etc. to give you an estimated replacement value for your property.

3- Last but not least, make sure to review the coverage listed in your policy at least once a year or anytime you make any updates or significant renovations to your home. It’s important to do this as building costs can inflate and the replacement cost of your home may increase when you perform renovations and additions.

A happy, healthy home reflects largely upon the people who live in it.  Since your home-life sets the tone for the rest of your (and your family’s) day, make sure you add a few “home resolutions” onto your list this year. Here are some of our favorites:

1-      Get organized
If you’re constantly trying to track down certain items in your home, chances are you could use some organization in your life. Make a list of the top 10 items in your home that need a permanent place to live and figure out how you can organize them to best suit your family. For example, do you keep spare batteries in your pantry, in your junk drawer and scattered on top of your desk? Find one place to store your batteries, communicate this to anyone who needs to know and make sure they always go back there. Another great tip I recently read- take a few minutes each day and walk through the house with a tote bag or laundry basket collecting any items that are not in their place (toys, drinking glasses, sneakers) and put them away. This seemingly mundane task will help keep your home organized, save you time in the long run and should only take a few minutes each day.

2-      Curb Spending
Everyone can always use some extra cash around the house and this year will be no different. Planning meals and grocery lists accordingly can save you from wasting food each week. Cutting down on energy usage can slash your power bills each month. Target 2 or 3 of these savings opportunities and post them somewhere in your home so no one forgets about them. Keep track of the money you save and reward your household with a treat now and then to promote ongoing efforts.

3-      Go Green
You don’t have to install solar panels or an expensive geothermal heating unit in order to ‘go green’ around your house. Simply start recycling glass bottles and paper and conserving water around your house in order to make a big difference on our environment. Knowing that you are helping save the planet is a rewarding feeling and if you have children, you’ll be teaching  them a great lesson as well.

4-      Knock out the honey-do list
Ever heard the expression, “Procrastination is the worst -nation”? Putting off that ‘to-do’ list time after time is one way to keep home tasks weighing on your shoulders. It can also mean you are slacking off on important home maintenance that can save you money on major repairs down the road. Start knocking out and crossing out some items on that list and you’ll be saving yourself grief, time and energy in the long run.

5-      Healthier Eating
Finally, promote better eating in your house by taking strides towards incorporating whole foods into your diet rather than processed foods which are full of additives and preservatives.  The notion that whole foods such as fresh produce and meats have to be more expensive than frozen and processed foods is not necessarily correct. In-season  items are often on sale in the grocery store. With a little extra effort you should be able to shop around and find great deals on higher quality food.

To a happy and healthy home in 2012!

Sometimes people dread winter weather so much, they ignore the thought of its inevitable arrival. Even if you don’t want to run out and buy a top of the line snow blower, at least have a few necessary items on hand to get you through the first snow fall.

Snow shovel- Whether you live in an apartment in New York City or a farm house in Nebraska, you will need a snow shovel at some point after a snow storm. Even if you just need to shovel a path to your car, it will come in handy at some point.

Full oil tank- If your home is heated using oil, make sure your oil tank is topped off and functioning correctly before the weather gets really cold. The last thing you want to find out during the coldest part of the year is that you need oil for heat, and can’t get any.

Ice melt- Keep a bag of this stuff handy to get rid of slippery ice on the major walkways around your home. You can pick it up at your local hardware store. Typically costing around $10/bag, if it prevents an injury on your property, (and a subsequent MedPay claim) it’s totally worth it!

Spare food- So, I’m not suggesting that you empty the shelves at your local grocery store but it is a good idea to have some non-perishable food items on hand for you and your family in the event you can’t get out to store and you are low on groceries. Cans of soup and frozen foods are a good idea. Also have a few items that don’t need to be cooked in the event you ever lose power. If you have pets, keep some spare food around for them as well.

Ice scraper- This is one of those things my mom always told me to keep in my car but I never paid much attention to. Until, of course, it was time to head out in the morning and snow and ice was packed onto my windshield and windows. Throw one in your trunk so you have it when you need it.

The weeks surrounding Christmas and New Years are a popular time for marriage proposals. If you plan on getting down on one knee sometime soon (or if you’re waiting for someone to pop the big question) make sure you know the ins and outs of protecting that engagement ring.

First question is- Do you have a homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy? If the answer is yes, then you probably want to purchase a rider, or endorsement, as an extension of your policy to cover the ring through your insurance carrier. Homeowners policies typically provide coverage for jewelry however there are limits.  A standard homeowners policy will usually cover someone up to $1,500 for the loss of jewelry. Keep in mind, this $1,500 limit counts towards all of your jewelry. So, if someone broke into your home and stole your $2,000 wedding ring and $1,000 worth of other jewelry, you would only be eligible to collect $1,500 for everything.  Your best bet is most likely to purchase separate coverage for the ring altogether. Call your homeowners insurance agent and talk to them about your situation. They’ll want to know what the ring is valued at. They can give you an estimate for scheduling an endorsement, or rider, to cover the ring.

If you don’t have a homeowners insurance policy, you will want to shop around companies who specialize in jewelry insurance. They will be able to set you up with a policy to protect your ring in the event of loss or theft.

This time of year is known as a budget blower. No matter how much money you try to set aside you somehow always end up spending more money than you should. Here are a few tips for keeping the Holidays somewhat affordable:

1- Stock up after Christmas- This may not help you out this year, but next year you’ll be thanking me. If you are in need of ornaments, lights or other Christmas decor- be sure to stock up after the Christmas season is over. Most items will be marked down 50-75% from the normal prices which can save you a bundle for next year.

2- Use greenery instead of flowers- Instead of buying poinsettias and floral arrangements to beautify your home this season, get outside and use some of what’s available around your house instead. Fresh sprigs of holly, pine and apothecary make for excellent winter season decor and cost nothing.

3-  Shop ahead of time- Last minute shopping can end up costing you more as prices are generally higher right before Christmas. Try to knock out all of your shopping before (or right after) Thanksgiving when prices are low and you can find some great deals.

4- Limit gifts when appropriate- Do you find yourself exchanging gifts with a ton of people each year? Start limiting some unnessecry gift buying by asking friends and others not to exchange this year. Or, plan to have a nice meal together instead. Otherwise, make a rule to only buy gifts for the kids (for example your nieces and nephews) and not for adults (like between you and your sister). 

5- Negotiate your Christmas tree price- According to Real Simple.com, you can sometimes save 30-40% off of the price of your Christmas tree by negotiating the price within a few days before Christmas. If you don’t mind waiting to get your tree, it can’t hurt to try!

6-  Make your party cost- effective- If you are planning to host a Holiday party, you can still make it a hit without breaking the bank. Instead of supplying a fully stocked open bar, for example, have one speciality cocktail and in addition serve beer and wine. If you have the time, do some of the cooking yourself this year instead of having the entire event catered. Or, host a pot luck dinner where everyone brings a dish.

For more information check out How to Prevent the Top 6 Holiday Insurance Claims

This time of year, the buzz around many workplaces is all about holiday spirit, parties, gifts and celebrations.  Since we are always assessing risks and trying to protect our customers from unexpected holiday-related disasters, conversations tend to be a bit more doom-and-gloom around our office. The talk around the water cooler here at HomeInsurance.com is more about “turkey fryer fires”, ”snow damage” and ”winter weather disasters”.

The upside to all our insurance claim paranoia? We might actually be able to teach you a few things about protecting your home and family this holiday season. So sprinkle some of these responsible home ownership tips on top of your eggnog this year to keep your holidays fun AND disaster free:

#1- Cooking Fires:

The Fear: Did you know that the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. is cooking fires? Around the holiday season many people spend more time in the kitchen cooking up meals for large groups and baking holiday treats. The increased time in the kitchen makes the instance of cooking fires greater than any other time of the year. The most dangerous piece of cooking equipment? For the past few years is has been nothing other than…dum dum dum… the turkey fryer.

The Cheer: Avoid cooking fires and cooking-related injuries by always playing it safe in the kitchen. Avoid loose clothing and keep flammable materials away from heat sources. While cooking up that seasonal meal, always keep an eye on the stove. Practicing safe cooking will help ensure a happy, stress free holiday.

#2- Harsh Winter Weather

The Fear: Did you know that between 1991 and 2010 winter storms resulted in approximately $26 billion in catastrophic losses?! Whether Jack Frost is nipping at your nose or dragging you by your boot straps- snow, ice and cold weather can do quite a lot of damage to your home.

The Cheer: When you’re up on the ladder this year putting up holiday lights, make sure your roof is in good shape and your gutters are cleared out. Also, take a look around for any low lying tree branches that could be brought down by heavy snow and remove or trim them to keep your home safe and warm this season.

#3-  Theft

The Fear: Unfortunately, holiday time burglaries have been on the rise over the past few years. If you think about it, christmas presents wrapped up and placed under the tree are an easy target for a burglar who wants to get in and out of your home quickly and with some valuable items. Also at risk is your car. Many thieves are finding brand new purchases in the trunk or back seat of a vehicle as shoppers go from one store to the next.

The Cheer: Show those burglars that you won’t become their next victim by protecting your valuables this season. Don’t put presents on display in your home especially in front of a window. Don’t leave gifts in your vehicle unattended. As you should do all year round, think like a thief in order to prevent burglaries in your home.

We hear a lot about the effects that alcohol and drugs have on driving and fatal car accidents. However, a lesser known threat are people who drive under the influence of sleepiness. According to a survey (Asleep at the Wheel) conducted by the AAA foundation in 2010,  one in every six fatal accidents involved a drowsy driver.  This week is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (November 6-12) and the AAA and other safe driving advocates are promoting awareness about drowsy driving.

In addition to fatal accidents, drowsy driving also was to blame for 13% of automobile accidents resulting in a hospitalization and 7% of accidents where a vehicle needed to be towed.

Those at a higher risk for driving drowsy are young drivers (under the age of 24) and men.  According to the AAA study, 52% of men reported falling asleep behind the wheel while only 30% of women reported ever doing so. Likewise, younger drivers reported falling asleep behind the wheel more than any other age group.

How do you know if you’re driving drowsy?

You may be too sleepy to drive if:

• Your eyes feel heavy and difficult to keep open.
• You find yourself drifting from lane to lane or over the rumble strips on the highway.
• You have difficulty remembering the last few miles you drove.

What to do:

Tips from the AAA foundation:

• Before a road trip make sure to get a solid 7 hours of sleep before getting on the road.
• If you find yourself driving drowsy pull over immediately.
• Drink a caffeinated beverage.
• Schedule a break every 100 miles or 2 hours.
• Travel with an alert passenger
• Avoid driving at times when you are normally asleep.

Avoiding drowsy driving is just one more way to practice safe driving. Remember that claims-free and violation-free drivers often qualify for the best auto insurance rates.