Insuring Your Christmas Gifts

Christmas is a time for giving and receiving gifts, and sometimes, we receive gifts with significant financial or sentimental value.  These are the items that we’ll not only enjoy for years to come, but perhaps pass on to the next generation as meaningful heirlooms.

These are the items that should be properly insured.

Different types of insurance will cover different types of possessions.  Of course, you should have the appropriate policies for big-ticket items like vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and other “toys”.  But what about the rest?

Most homeowners’ policies will actually cover items such as:

•  Jewelry
• Electronics (including computers and cameras)
• Antiques
• Artwork
• Collectibles (such as porcelain dolls, stamp and coin collections, and political memorabilia)
• Firearms
• Rare books
• Sports equipment

Although your homeowners’ policy will recoup some of your losses if the item is lost, stolen, or damaged, not all of them will pay the item’s full value. Another option is to purchase a policy specifically for that item (such as jewelry) that will provide full protection.

First, you should decide what kind of coverage you will need. For example, if you want to buy a policy for an engagement ring, you can purchase an individual rider.  If you have a large collection of certain items (like wine, artwork, or memorabilia) you can purchase a policy for blanket protection (be advised that most blanket protection policies will only cover items with a maximum value of $2,500).  If you’d like to insure something worth more than $50,000, then you would need to have it appraised.

There are a few options for protecting your valuables. Of course, you should speak with your agent and choose the right kind of coverage for your most precious items. Everyone wants to enjoy gifts for as long as possible, and purchasing a personal valuables policy can help you do that.

Have you ever bought insurance for your valuables? What type of policy, and what was your experience? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Fun Facts About Christmas

Christmas is only a few days away! In honor of this festive time of year, below are some fun holiday facts that you can use to impress your family and friends at the dinner table.

--Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, and Pennsylvania are the top producers of Christmas trees in the U.S.

   

--The tradition of decorating Christmas trees originated in 16^th century Germany.

--Political cartoonist and illustrator Thomas Nast is credited with creating the image of Santa Claus familiar to most of us. His illustration showing a jolly old man with a bushy white beard and twinkling blue eyes first appeared in the Christmas issue of Harper’s Weekly in 1862.  (Coca-Cola added the red suit in the 1930s for a marketing campaign and the image has stuck ever since).

--The classic Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life originally bombed at the box office. It wasn’t until 1974, when NBC started airing it every holiday season, that it caught on with audiences. NBC continues to show it every year.

--Can’t get enough of Christmas? As their names suggest, these towns take the holiday seriously. Why not visit Santa Claus, Indiana; Christmas, Florida; Rudolph, Wisconsin; North Pole, Alaska; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; or Noel, Missouri?

-- Mister Potato Head was the first toy advertised on TV in 1952. Children had to use a real potato until the molded plastic toy body hit the market in 1964.

--Christmas gifts weren’t always wrapped in paper. For years the tradition was to hang candy and small gifts on the family Christmas tree.

--Rudolph, Santa’s reindeer, was almost named Reginald.  The character was created by a copywriter in 1939 as part of a marketing campaign for Montgomery Ward’s holiday coloring books.

-- In 1936, Alabama was the first U.S. state to declare Christmas a legal holiday.

--The average person consumes approximately 7,000 calories on Christmas Day (including Christmas dinner and any second helpings, appetizers, and alcohol).

Do you have any random Christmas facts that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Lessen Your Travel Stress This Holiday Season

Whether air or land, November and December are two of the busiest travel months of the year, and if you’re one of the millions of people who hit the road or fly to visit family for the holidays, you know how stressful it can be.  Of course, anytime you travel you may run into problems that are out of your control (flights delayed due to weather, traffic backups on highways due to accidents, and more), but with some advanced planning and a lot of patience, you can make your journey a little easier.

Below are a few tips to lessen your holiday travel stress.

Watch flight prices. If you fly often, checking flight prices is probably already second nature. If you only fly occasionally, start checking prices as soon as you confirm your plans (flying around the holidays can be very expensive). Price is important when booking a flight, but other things are important, too—whether it’s a day or night flight, renting a car versus having someone pick you up at the airport, and the airline’s checked bag policy. Some airlines like Southwest offer passengers two free bags (most require that you check larger bags and charge a fee of $25 per bag).  

Get to the airport early. The general rule is to get to the airport two hours before your flight leaves. This allows you plenty of time to go through security, find your gate, and generally get settled in before takeoff.  Sometimes flights do leave earlier than scheduled, so if you’re at the airport well in advance, you’re ready to go.

Be aware of your surroundings.  You should take the same safety precautions in an airport that you would in any other public place.  Never leave your purse or carry-

on unattended; never give your personal information to anyone (the only ones who should ask for any type of personal information are the TSA agents at the security checkpoint and everything they need is on your ID), and be aware of those around you.

Pack accordingly.  Airlines have gotten stricter with their luggage regulations. There is a 50 pound weight limit on checked bags for domestic flights, so try to weigh your bag before you leave (otherwise you may have to repack!) And if you’re planning to pack Christmas gifts, consider ordering them online and having them shipped to your destination, or if there’s time, shop for last-minute items when you get to your destination.

Have your documents ready.  If you’re traveling within the U.S., you’ll need to have a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, military ID, or passport. If you’re traveling internationally, you’ll need to show a photo ID and have a valid passport. (Children under the age of 16, even babies, must have their own passports to fly internationally).

  

If you’re traveling internationally, add some extra peace of mind with a travel medical and international health insurance policy, which will cover you should you get sick or injured while out of the country.  Most regular health insurance plans will only cover a portion of your costs (if that), and so purchasing a plan specifically for traveling abroad will give you the coverage you need.

Do you drive a long distance or fly during the holidays? What are some other tips you’d add? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!   

Holiday Safety Tips

The holiday season can be one of the best times of the year—a time when we sit back and take stock of what matters most to us. Of course, the holiday season is also a time when people go all out with decorating, shopping, baking, and throwing parties. Although it’s a meaningful and celebratory time, the holidays are also full of potential safety risks. Below are a few ways to protect yourself and your property, valuables, and sensitive information this time of year.

At home.

      

      Fires. Fire is always a concern, but there’s an even greater risk around the holidays.  Some of the biggest potential hazards? Real trees, fireplaces, live-flame candles, and faulty Christmas decorations. You can minimize some of these risks by making sure your tree is watered frequently, cleaning your fireplace after each use (especially if it’s a wood-burning unit), keeping any candles with a live flame away from your tree, curtains, or any other potentially flammable items, and carefully checking each electrical cord for any frayed wires or other defects before you put the lights on the tree or the item in your window or on your shelf or mantle.

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         Choking hazards. If you have little ones (or little ones who'll be visiting), you know that they love to put things in their mouths. Be extra careful about potential choking hazards in your home.  Ornament hooks, broken decorations or lights, and of course small pieces that come with new toys are some of the most common ones. If possible, try to keep the little ones out of the room while you’re decorating.  Vacuum the entire work area once you’re finished so there’s even less risk of them finding something harmful.

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          Fall risks. Decorating can be a very physical activity.  Whether it’s putting the star at the top of the tree or stringing several feet of lights and other décor across the exterior of our homes, for many of us, decorating means climbing a ladder. According to OSHA’s website, when climbing a ladder always maintain 3-point contact (two hands and a foot or two feet and a hand). Keep your body near the middle of the step. Come down immediately if the weather takes a turn for the worst.    

On the road.

  

You should always practice defensive driving any time of year, but during the holidays, it’s even more important.

•         Minimize or eliminate any distractions within your vehicle (particularly cell phones) so you can keep your full attention on the road.
•          Be especially careful when driving around mall parking lots. Not only are there more people walking to their cars, there are more people backing their cars out of parking spots!  This means more opportunities for potential collisions.
•          If you’re out at a holiday party, limit your alcohol intake or find a designated driver to take you home.

While shopping.

•      Whether you’re ordering gifts online or shopping in a store, protect your PIN and other financial information. Never give your PIN to anyone.
•      Never leave your bags unattended if you’re in a store.
•       Be aware of your surroundings. Walk in well-lit areas if you're shopping at night. Park as close to the building as possible. If you're alone, pay attention to those around you. If you see anyone suspicious or feel unsafe, contact the authorities.
•        Be sure to lock your car! The holiday season is a prime time for just-bought items to be stolen out of vehicles. Your homeowner’s policy may cover some of the costs for what was lost, but it’s best to not put yourself at risk for theft.

What other tips would you add to this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!