A 30-something Seattle girl's quest to maximize net worth through frugal living and simplicity
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Why Your Car Model Is Expensive to Insure
As there are numerous different makes and models of cars on the road, the insurance rates cannot be the same across the board. When a person makes the decision to get a new car, they must also decide what type of car insurance coverage they want to have, and where to obtain it.
Each car insurance quote will be different depending on the company giving it - even for the same person. This is due to the type of coverage that will be provided, as well as the driving record and personal attributes of each individual driver. Auto insurance rates also differ depending on the type of vehicle that will be insured, making more expensive vehicles more costly to insure. If you’re curious to see what your vehicle costs to insure, you can find automobile insurance rates here.
For those looking to find inexpensive auto insurance coverage for their vehicle, choosing a more expensive car may not be the right decision. The cost of the insurance is also dependent on the model of the vehicle, so even if it is an inexpensive car, the size, number of doors, and even color of the car could change the final cost of the insurance coverage. Auto coverage rates also differ between states, so getting a rate adjusted after a move may raise (or even lower) the insurance costs for a vehicle.
Another factor that will influence the overall cost of auto insurance is the person that will be holding the policy. Younger drivers - even with older model cars - will pay more than experienced drivers due to their lack of a driving record. This reason is why many drivers look forward to their 25th birthday - the day that their insurance rates will drop (as long as they have previously been a responsible driver).
Car insurance is a necessity, but it does not have to be an inconvenience or a burden to those paying for it. There are many options and choices for drivers to consider before making their final purchase and choosing the insurance path that will work best for their particular car model.
Monday, November 05, 2012
How To Know If You’re Getting a Good Deal on a Car
One of the worst parts of car buying is trying to get a good deal on a car. The car dealer is trying to make as much money as possible, while at the same time you are trying to get the best car deals possible as well. As a result, it can be really difficult to know if you’re getting a good deal on a car. So here are some things that you can do to make sure that you get the best new car deals possible.
Do Your Homework
The first thing you can do is your homework on the car. Many sites like Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds will have the prices that you can expect to pay for cars in various conditions. Also, you can see how prices vary by market, and features on the vehicle.If you’re buying a new car, it is important to find the invoice price for the car. This is essentially the price the dealer will pay for the vehicle. You should also look for dealer incentives that the car manufacturer is offering. Many companies, like Honda, will pay the dealers $X amount per vehicle sold, so even if the dealer has an invoice price, they make money in other ways.
Ask The Dealer
If you’re at the point of negotiation on the car, you can always ask the dealer for their bottom line price. The goal of negotiation should always be win-win: meaning the dealer makes a fair profit and you get a good deal. A smart dealer will be willing to pull out the actual invoice for the car and show you in good faith.Then, you can remember if there are any dealer incentives, and know what the dealer’s true bottom line price for the car really is.
Don’t Be Afraid to Walk Away
Finally, if the dealer really won’t budge, or won’t even be honest about the price of the car, don’t be afraid to walk away. There are thousands of every model car made each year, so you can always find another one at a different dealership.Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Some of My Favorite Comedy Shows
When I was in high school and college, I really wasn’t a fan of comedy shows or stand-up. I sometimes felt bad for the comedians and I didn’t really get it. However, now a few years later, I’ve really started to enjoy several comedians’ comedy routines, and I thought I’d share them with you. Some many not perform any more, but I enjoyed what I saw.
Chris Rock
I thoroughly enjoy Chris Rock’s comedy routines, and they air regularly on networks like Comedy Central. What I love about Chris rock is that he is funny about current events, while at the same time funny about life situations (usually using his own life as an example). I follow Chris Rock on Twitter, and his tweets are usually the highlight of my boring workday.Michael McIntyre
Michael McIntyre is a British stand-up comedian, but he has also done shows here in the United States. He is considered one of the most popular British comedians. His comedy is very observational, and is often about himself, similar to Chris Rock. If you like his style, but without the inherent racism in Rock’s humor, you will probably enjoy McIntyre.Lewis Black
Lewis Black is another stand up comedian who I was first introduced to through the Daily Show’s Back in Black. He is know for his harsh style, but also breaking down stories that end up looping back to the punch line at the very end. He also starred as the Dean in one of my favorite movies, Accepted, where he delivered one of the greatest line about higher education ever.Ron White
Ron White is a stand up comedian who made his big time debut as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. I find him funny because he also jokes about his own life, but also about stupid things that people do. He likes to call out “common sense stupid” things, but they are very funny in both content and his delivery.Thursday, October 18, 2012
Tips to help you stick to a gaming budget
The current economic situation is tough and there’s no denying that people are feeling the pinch and becoming more financially aware. This awareness is a positive sign, and budgeting is becoming more and more common for people who want to take control of their finances and stabilize themselves and avoid debt traps. For those who enjoy online casino entertainment the smartest way to play is to set a budget and assign a portion of money that is not needed for necessary items to gaming. The portion you have budgeted for then becomes your allowance and it’s important that you stick to it and do not live beyond your means.
If you are struggling with sticking to your budget and finding your resolve is slipping and perhaps your self control or discipline is not as strong as you would like it to be, there are some resources you can consider to help you play responsibly.
Special limits are easy to set and simple to manage and will ensure you keep within your budget over a particular time period. Established and reputable sites like RiverBelle online casino offer you the opportunity to set your limits by contacting their support team 24/7 and the process is easily managed by both the casino and yourself. You can set daily, weekly and monthly limits, as well as spend per game and session limits. Varying limits can be set that control how much you deposit, how much you play, lose and bet. All of these limits are set at your request, but they are not easy to change as the casino recognizes you have created them for a reason and they are designed to help you stick to your budget.
Access control is a more serious way of ensuring you stick to your budget and is offered in 2 different levels. Level 1 is a time out or cooling off period whereby your account is temporarily closed for a duration specified by yourself, and level 2 is self exclusion, where you exclude yourself from playing for 6 months or longer.
All of these resources are designed to help you stay in control of your finances and there are plenty of ways for you to manage your money and ensure that you stick to your budget, using these or other methods.
If you are struggling with sticking to your budget and finding your resolve is slipping and perhaps your self control or discipline is not as strong as you would like it to be, there are some resources you can consider to help you play responsibly.
Set special limits
Access control
All of these resources are designed to help you stay in control of your finances and there are plenty of ways for you to manage your money and ensure that you stick to your budget, using these or other methods.
Thursday, July 05, 2012
Tips for Finding Business Insurance for Your Small Business
If you own a small business or are in the
process of forming a start-up, you will no doubt be considering what type of business insurance to have
in place to cover the risks associated with your particular trade or
profession. Should you opt for public
liability insurance, professional indemnity insurance, employers’ liability
insurance, business property insurance, key person insurance, business
interruption service …?
An important decision to make, aside from
which type(s) of cover you’ll need is how much cover to take out to adequately
protect your business. Check any
existing or potential contracts with clients for details of any types and
values of cover they would expect you to have in place, and also speak with any
professional body or trade organisation that covers your type of business for
impartial advice.
Then you need to check the details of the
terms and conditions in all of the quotes you receive for your cover, to see
whether there are any significant exclusions or conditions that would reduce
your ability to claim. Perhaps a policy with a low premium might exclude claims
that arise from using electrical equipment (useless if you are an electrician,
say); or perhaps it limits the number of claims you could make in a year (what
if you are sued more than once?).
There are fewer companies that offer
business insurance than offer car or home insurance, so there are fewer
policies to choose between.
Nevertheless, the insurers are keen to get and retain your business and
if you find a cheaper quote for the same or similar cover it is worth taking
that to your current insurer or to other insurers that offer you a quote and
haggling.
You should make sure that any insurer you
choose to take your policy/policies from is reputable and has a proven track
record of paying out on claims and for good customer service. The last thing you want, when faced with a
letter from a customer threatening to sue, or with a fire at your business
premises, is a company that won’t answer the phone or that gives you the
run-around.
Check online customer reviews to check
whether you would be happy to take your insurance from that particular company.
Needless to say, the best thing you can do
to protect yourself against having to claim against your insurance is to reduce
risks as far as possible by taking steps such as installing smoke detectors and
sprinkler system, sturdy locks and burglar alarms, and making sure that you and
your staff are fully aware of health and safety issues.
The more years you can manage without
making a claim, the more no-claims bonus you will accrue and the lower your
business insurance premiums will be.
Finally, don’t reduce the amount of cover
you buy just to reduce your premiums: think carefully about how much cover you
will need and stick to that because reducing your cover is a false economy that
could ultimately ruin your business.
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