Do You Need Disaster Insurance?

When we purchase home owners insurance we tend to think disasters won’t happen. Which is why most people don’t purchase earthquake coverage or flood insurance, or any other disaster insurance. Some people play the odds that it won’t happen to them and other people just aren’t knowledgeable about what their insurance will and will not cover.  And some people are, well, cheap!

Take for example the Seattle earthquake a few years ago. Luckily the majority of people didn’t have any damage but what if you did? Would your insurance cover you? What about the floods over I-5 a few years ago? Yes federal aid was available but some of those people had to wait MONTHS to see that money. If you were affected would your insurance cover you?

You never know when disaster is going to strike. I’m not telling you what to do, I’m just suggesting you be knowledgeable about what your insurance will and will not cover when disaster does come along. 

Here’s a great article from the folks at Zillow. When you need disaster Insurance.

How Many Times Have You Said “I Wish”

Sometimes, I think about going for a stroll, knowing how good it is for my physical state and how wonderful I will feel afterwards.  But then I too lazy, and prefer to watch TV instead. Can you relate to this?  You know you need to change your eating habits or stop smoking, yet, you don’t have the inner power and persistence to change these habits.

How many times have you said, “I wish I had will power and self discipline”? How many times have you started to do something, only to quit after a short while? I think most folks have experiences like these. 

Everyone possesses some addictions or habits they wish they could overcome, such as smoking, excessive eating, laziness, procrastination, or lack of assertiveness. I have committed myself for 2009 to increase my awareness, will power, and self-discipline. My goal is to make changes in my life, and increase my inner strength, self-mastery, and decisiveness.  Check out my blog entries to see my thoughts and progress.  And don’t hesitate to make a comment or share your thoughts, tips and advice for everyone to share.

Wow – a glimmer of light!

The powers to be are coming to the rescue and helping out the banks from the ugly Sub-Prime Loan mess.  Maybe, just maybe, Real Estate will lead the way for a better 2009 – again!

The current economic crisis can be traced to loose lending practices for home purchases – especially loans to borrowers with poor credit. Everyone was counting on home prices to keep escalating like they have over the last few years.  But when the Real Estate market dropped, home prices plummeted in many instances overnight!

Foreclosures rates skyrocketed because many people were left owing more on their mortgage than their home was worth. Many homeowners began walking away from their responsibilities.

This is a massive rescue plan.  Will it work?  Who knows but given how important housing is to our national economy, we don’t have a lot of options at this point. 

Falling ill while traveling overseas

I recently read about a fellow who went for a midnight walk on the beach of a small Thai village he thought made the perfect ending to his first day on the Phi Phi Islands, a tropical archipelago in the Andaman Sea. But he probably should have opted out of the “fresh” pineapple smoothie offered by a beachside vendor before turning in for the night. By 2:00 a.m., he was at the clinic where he’d spent two days with severe food poisoning… and a few thousand dollars. As this person found out, getting injured or falling ill while traveling overseas can be more than just an inconvenience. Improper medical care, especially in undeveloped countries, can slow your recovery… and even lead to long-term health problems. Here are few tips to help you avoid this:

• Check with your doctor for advice and vaccinations appropriate to the area you will be visiting.

• Be up to date with your regular vaccinations before your trip.

• Register with the local U.S. Embassy at your destination. You can do this at travel.state.gov.

• Bring all the medication you take regularly, as well as a back-up supply.

• Purchase travel health insurance. The policy you have at home probably won’t cover your medical care overseas (or an expensive evacuation if that becomes necessary).

• Practice basic health and safety: Wear your seatbelt, wash hands thoroughly and often, and wear a helmet while riding a scooter or motorcycle.

We never wanted to move again . . .

Why would anyone consider moving, given that just a few years ago we moved to a new house that we expected to be our last? The short answer is: Life changes — often in ways you don’t expect. And sometimes those changes make you re-evaluate what you’re doing, where you’re doing it and what you want out of the rest of your life.