2012 END OF WORLD !!

Staying on top of your bills is complicated these days. Used to be that all bills came via mail and all you had to do was file them and then, depending on your system, pay them at a certain day each month. All payments were done by check and everything worked fairly reliably. Things were simpler in the past, too, because banks, credit card companies and other assorted entities hadn't started assessing the ever-escalating avalanche of fees and penalties and surcharges we're saddled with today. As a result, there really was no need to check up on the phone and utility bills or get frequent home or auto insurance quotes just to see if what they charged you was fair.

Overall, what's been happening is that some costs have gone up a lot whereas others stayed the same or have even gone down. For example, even though I use my phone hardly more than I did 20 years ago, my cell phone bill is hugely higher than my old phone bills were, thanks to the cell phone companies' skills at charging extra for every little thing. Same for my TV bill. Although I probably watch less TV than in the past, somehow the satellite company managed to make it so that I can only get the few channels I really want by subscribing for packages with about 500 channels I never watch. The utility bills also have an ever-increasing number of surcharges and extra fees and additional taxes, but haven't actually gone up all that much, which is surprising given the rising cost of energy.

Insurance is another area where it's hard to figure out what we're actually paying for. Health insurance costs have escalated obscenely and are now a crushing load for many. Where else can you find an industry that routinely increases premiums by 20 or 30% a year even during a recession? Home insurance is also an issue as most homes have declined in value, but premiums seem higher anyway. Then there's auto insurance, another mandatory expense. If you drive you must have insurance, and so most of us have to deal with that as well.

I must say that personally I have always had good luck in that area. Maybe that's because I have been with the same agent for a long time and they've been very good at giving me the best rates, or maybe it's because of my good driving record, or because they consider me a low risk. I am counting my blessings here because most people aren't that lucky, and a lot of my friends are paying through the nose for car insurance. There really isn't such a thing as cheap car insurance anymore, but you can still get good deals that are fair to all involved.

Unless you're okay with throwing money out the window, doing an auto insurance comparison and get auto insurance quotes about once a year is a good thing to do. There's not even a need to call up a broker for that. Just use one of the auto insurance comparison websites to see where you stand. You may find that you can save a bundle by signing up with someone else, or you may find what you currently pay is fair. Either way, it's good to know where you stand.


by: Chris Robertson

Auto insurance brokers are the people that can actually write insurance policies. They are the ones that are licensed to operate an insurance agency and they are also the ones that hire and train the auto insurance agents that staff most agencies. They are typically licensed by the state and have more experience than the agents working under them, but can they save you money?

The answer is yes they can save you money, but not as much money as you could save yourself if you were to shop for your car insurance online. Some auto insurance brokers specialize in finding low quotes for their customers and for many years this was the only way to find a great deal on car insurance.

Now consumers have another option; they can shop online for their car insurance and cut out the middle man. Shopping for an auto insurance policy online is the surest way to find the best deal on car insurance.

The reason for this is that when you shop online for vehicle insurance you are able to view quotes from multiple companies. Car insurance is a very competitive industry so the companies will do their best to earn your business. As always competition benefits the consumer.

The car insurance quotes you receive from the competing companies will be estimates based on how you answer certain questions so to get the most accurate quotes it is important to answer the initial questions as completely and accurately as possible.

After you review the quotes and find the one to your liking make sure that it offers you the coverage level that you need before purchasing it. If everything looks good then you will have found the least expensive car insurance for which you are qualified and you should give yourself a pat on the back.


by: David Ackland

It is a pretty ugly landscape out there from an economic perspective. It has reached the point where you barely want to turn on the news. With saving money being all the rage, you definitely should seek out discounts on your car insurance. Fortunately, most insurers offer multiple opportunities to slice and dice your premiums.

Before we talk about discounts, let's make sure we've covered the simplest ways to lower your premiums. The first thing to do is make sure you are only buying the coverage you need. Second, consider raising the amount of your deductible. Both of these moves can make a huge difference in what you pay. Okay, on to the discounts.

Bundling

Most insurance companies write policies in many different areas. The company writing your auto coverage probably also does home insurance and what have you. If you move all your insurance business to one company, they will almost always give you a big discount in the premiums you pay. Make sure to ask for it and be aggressive!

Bundling Cars

Some insurers just stick to auto policies. If your company is one of these, you can still generate a discount by enticing them. How so? Offer to move all your cars over the company. You'd be surprised how often they will consider the situation and cut your rates.

Safe Driving

Make sure to ask for a safe driving discount. If you haven't had any driving accidents, tickets or what have you in the last five years, you should be able to get a discount on your rates. Why? You've proven yourself. Regardless of the statistics the insurance company maintains, you've show that the company isn't risking much giving you a policy.

Security Devices

Car theft has been with us a very long time and it is safe to say that it isn't going away anytime soon. With this in mind, many insurance companies will give you a discount if you go with proactive and reactive security measures. Proactive could be having a security system. Reactive could be having a locater system like Lo Jack that helps police locate your car if it is swiped. Ask your insurer for specific discounts.

Saving money on your car insurance is hugely important. It can make a big difference even if you only save a few bucks. Why? Well, you have to pay for car insurance each and every year. You are going to drive for 40 years or so. If you can cut your insurance by $200 a year, that is $8,000 you'll save over time.

by: Thomas Ajava