A Simple Way to Save BIG
On Auto Insurance…
Sometimes the simplest things are the most effective. That’s certainly true with minimizing your cost of auto insurance. Here’s a quick way to almost instantly save 10 to 30 percent on your auto premiums.
Simply take a close look at your deductibles. By increasing discretionary deductibles, such as comprehensive or collision, you can save you a bundle on your insurance premium. This is especially true if you have a good driving record. So check your policy and call your agent – it’ll be time well spent!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
What to Look for in a "Green" Home
Q. I’m planning to buy a “green” home. What do I need to look for?
A. Here are some of the features you should look for, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB):
Energy-efficient. Look for appliances, windows and water heating systems with ENERGY STAR® ratings and efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs. Renewable energy sources further decrease energy consumption in the home.
Water-efficient. Look for programmed, low-volume irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, wastewater treatment systems and hot water recirculation systems.
Resource-efficient. The home should use strategies to reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. It should contain renewable materials and recycled-content materials in carpets, tiles and concrete formulations.
Indoor Air Quality. The heating, air conditioning and ventilation system must be appropriately sized. Look for low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and finishes.
To ensure the home is “green,” look for the Green Certified mark issued by the NAHB Research Center.
If you have any questions, or need capable and trustworthy representation, please call me at 206-226-0565.
A. Here are some of the features you should look for, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB):
Energy-efficient. Look for appliances, windows and water heating systems with ENERGY STAR® ratings and efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs. Renewable energy sources further decrease energy consumption in the home.
Water-efficient. Look for programmed, low-volume irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, wastewater treatment systems and hot water recirculation systems.
Resource-efficient. The home should use strategies to reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. It should contain renewable materials and recycled-content materials in carpets, tiles and concrete formulations.
Indoor Air Quality. The heating, air conditioning and ventilation system must be appropriately sized. Look for low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and finishes.
To ensure the home is “green,” look for the Green Certified mark issued by the NAHB Research Center.
If you have any questions, or need capable and trustworthy representation, please call me at 206-226-0565.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
CPR Is Now Spelled C-A-B
If you saw someone in sudden cardiac arrest, would you know what to do? According to new guidelines from the American Heart Association, you should begin chest compressions immediately.
The Association has changed the order of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from A-B-C (Airway-Breathing-Compressions) to C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing). Instead of tilting the victim’s head back to open the airway first, you should start with chest compressions to help pump oxygen-rich blood to the victim’s brain and heart sooner. The sequence change applies to adults, children and infants (excluding newborns).
If you see someone who suddenly collapses, the Association recommends Hands-Only CPR (CPR without breaths). Take the following steps: Call 9-1-1, and push hard and fast on the center of the victim’s chest (at a rate of at least 100 times a minute) until professional help arrives.
The Association has changed the order of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from A-B-C (Airway-Breathing-Compressions) to C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing). Instead of tilting the victim’s head back to open the airway first, you should start with chest compressions to help pump oxygen-rich blood to the victim’s brain and heart sooner. The sequence change applies to adults, children and infants (excluding newborns).
If you see someone who suddenly collapses, the Association recommends Hands-Only CPR (CPR without breaths). Take the following steps: Call 9-1-1, and push hard and fast on the center of the victim’s chest (at a rate of at least 100 times a minute) until professional help arrives.
Monday, December 20, 2010
5 Foods That Fill You Up
If you’re watching your weight, you can eat more than salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner. These foods will help fill you up, not out:
• Oatmeal (not instant). It’s a healthy carb with a high fiber content.
• Eggs. Eat them for breakfast and you’ll have about 330 calories less than usual throughout the rest of the day.
• Dark chocolate. Researchers say compounds in dark chocolate slow down digestion and make you feel full longer. But don’t eat the whole bar!
• Soup. A Pennsylvania State study showed that people who had two servings of low-calorie soup daily lost 50 percent more weight than those who ate the same number of calories in snack foods. Choose broth or vegetables, not the creamy variety.
• Pine nuts. They contain pinolenic acid, which stimulates hormones that suppress your appetite. Plus, your mouth likes the crunch.
• Oatmeal (not instant). It’s a healthy carb with a high fiber content.
• Eggs. Eat them for breakfast and you’ll have about 330 calories less than usual throughout the rest of the day.
• Dark chocolate. Researchers say compounds in dark chocolate slow down digestion and make you feel full longer. But don’t eat the whole bar!
• Soup. A Pennsylvania State study showed that people who had two servings of low-calorie soup daily lost 50 percent more weight than those who ate the same number of calories in snack foods. Choose broth or vegetables, not the creamy variety.
• Pine nuts. They contain pinolenic acid, which stimulates hormones that suppress your appetite. Plus, your mouth likes the crunch.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Know The Do’s & Don’ts Of Travel Complaints
Have a bad travel experience over the holidays? Follow these tips to make your complaint heard:
DON’T…
Relate every little thing that went wrong. You’ll sound like a whiner and the travel company won’t know which point to address. Just hit the “high” points that are most important to you.
Tell them a sob story. It’s unfortunate that you’re on a fixed income and you need the refund, but so are lots of other travelers.
Copy everyone in the world, including the CEO, the Better Business Bureau and your grandmother.
Threaten to sue or never to do business with the company again.
A) Your letter may end up in the Legal Department; B) you don’t want to be labeled as a “difficult” customer; and C) you may have to use them again (for example, your family wants to take that cruise line).
DO…
• Put your complaint in writing, whether by email or letter, but keep it short and professional, without rage. Take the high road and tell them you’re looking for reasons to do business with them again.
• Include any documentation. List exact times, places, names and dates. You’d be surprised how many people forget the most relevant details.
• Give the system time to work. You may have to write a second letter or email if you don’t get a response in a reasonable period of time. But if you were legitimately disserviced, the airline or travel company will take you seriously and want to make it right.
DON’T…
Relate every little thing that went wrong. You’ll sound like a whiner and the travel company won’t know which point to address. Just hit the “high” points that are most important to you.
Tell them a sob story. It’s unfortunate that you’re on a fixed income and you need the refund, but so are lots of other travelers.
Copy everyone in the world, including the CEO, the Better Business Bureau and your grandmother.
Threaten to sue or never to do business with the company again.
A) Your letter may end up in the Legal Department; B) you don’t want to be labeled as a “difficult” customer; and C) you may have to use them again (for example, your family wants to take that cruise line).
DO…
• Put your complaint in writing, whether by email or letter, but keep it short and professional, without rage. Take the high road and tell them you’re looking for reasons to do business with them again.
• Include any documentation. List exact times, places, names and dates. You’d be surprised how many people forget the most relevant details.
• Give the system time to work. You may have to write a second letter or email if you don’t get a response in a reasonable period of time. But if you were legitimately disserviced, the airline or travel company will take you seriously and want to make it right.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Your Challenge: Get Your Family Fit In 2011
Do you start every new year by resolving to exercise more? You need a program like the President’s Challenge, which will help you and your family commit to daily physical activity, set realistic goals and track your progress during the year – plus it’s free! Here’s what you can do to make your resolution a reality.
Study the program. Go to www.presidentschallenge.org. Talk to your doctor to see if it’s right for you and your family. Sign up as an individual, start a group (a school class) or join one (it’s a worldwide program).
Know the goals. Adults (over 18) need to be active 30 minutes/day at least five days a week for six out of eight weeks. Or, achieve 8,500 steps/day on a pedometer. Kids need to be active 60 minutes/day in the same time frame.
Choose your challenge. Take the Adult Fitness Test (on the website) to estimate your level of aerobic fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition. Kids and teens take the Physical Fitness Test, which includes curl-ups, shuttle run and endurance run/walk. You’ll take these tests over again to see how your fitness changes during the program.
Improve your fitness. You’ll add exercises according to the FITT principle: F (Frequency); I (Intensity); T (Time) and T (Type).
Choose from 100 activities, from biking or swimming to walking, dancing, yoga or skating. You can even choose the interactive video game, Wii Sports.
Move on to the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge or the President’s Champions Challenge. These activities will help make physical fitness an integral part of your everyday life.
Enjoy the benefits. You’ll know you’re helping your heart, building stronger bones, maintaining a healthy weight and having fun with your family.
Study the program. Go to www.presidentschallenge.org. Talk to your doctor to see if it’s right for you and your family. Sign up as an individual, start a group (a school class) or join one (it’s a worldwide program).
Know the goals. Adults (over 18) need to be active 30 minutes/day at least five days a week for six out of eight weeks. Or, achieve 8,500 steps/day on a pedometer. Kids need to be active 60 minutes/day in the same time frame.
Choose your challenge. Take the Adult Fitness Test (on the website) to estimate your level of aerobic fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition. Kids and teens take the Physical Fitness Test, which includes curl-ups, shuttle run and endurance run/walk. You’ll take these tests over again to see how your fitness changes during the program.
Improve your fitness. You’ll add exercises according to the FITT principle: F (Frequency); I (Intensity); T (Time) and T (Type).
Choose from 100 activities, from biking or swimming to walking, dancing, yoga or skating. You can even choose the interactive video game, Wii Sports.
Move on to the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge or the President’s Champions Challenge. These activities will help make physical fitness an integral part of your everyday life.
Enjoy the benefits. You’ll know you’re helping your heart, building stronger bones, maintaining a healthy weight and having fun with your family.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Why You Should Learn To Text
Do you think texting is just for kids? It’s more important than you think. Here’s why you should learn how to send and receive text messages (just don’t do it while you’re driving!).
It improves your chances of communicating when it counts. During an emergency, such as a natural disaster, voice networks can get congested and calls may not go through. Texts, which use less bandwidth, have a higher likelihood of being transmitted. Plus, if you’re texting, you are freeing up the voice lines for emergency officials to use.
You may soon be able to receive Presidential alerts on national emergencies, imminent threat alerts on things such as hurricanes or tornadoes, and child abduction alerts. The government is developing a nationwide system to allow participating wireless service providers to send these texts to their subscribers. A number of colleges and universities already have systems.
Your kids are used to communicating this way. You should know how to speak their language on a basic level. If you don’t know how, look online or ask them for a lesson.
It improves your chances of communicating when it counts. During an emergency, such as a natural disaster, voice networks can get congested and calls may not go through. Texts, which use less bandwidth, have a higher likelihood of being transmitted. Plus, if you’re texting, you are freeing up the voice lines for emergency officials to use.
You may soon be able to receive Presidential alerts on national emergencies, imminent threat alerts on things such as hurricanes or tornadoes, and child abduction alerts. The government is developing a nationwide system to allow participating wireless service providers to send these texts to their subscribers. A number of colleges and universities already have systems.
Your kids are used to communicating this way. You should know how to speak their language on a basic level. If you don’t know how, look online or ask them for a lesson.
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