Tips to Lower Your Insurance Costs

Published on: 05 July 2017 Last Updated on: 29 July 2024
Tips to Lower Your Insurance Costs

Investing in life insurance can be an intimidating thought. It is safe to say that the younger and healthier you are, the lower your insurance costs will be. This is because a healthy person has a lower risk of dying as compared to a person with an unhealthy lifestyle. Hence, if you are thinking about life insurance here are a few tips that could help lower the cost of your insurance.

   Stop Smoking

A smoker has to pay a much insurance premium as compared to a non-smoker of the same age. In some cases, this can be as high as triple the premium. So, if you smoke or use any other tobacco-based products, now is the time to quit. You will be considered a non-smoker after you have quit smoking for at least 3 to 5 years.

   Lose some Weight

A number of health issues are caused by being overweight. Hence, insurance companies consider obese or heavy people a high risk and hence charge them a higher premium. Maintaining a healthy BMI can help you live a longer, healthier life by reducing your risk of heart diseases, blood pressure problems, etc.

   Schedule an Early Physical

A thorough medical examination is one of the prerequisites of most life insurance policies. Try and schedule this exam in the early part of the day or on a day when you are relaxed and well-rested. This is because studies show that testing for blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. have lower results in the morning as compared to in the latter half of the day after you have had a stressful day or eaten a heavy lunch.  Fasting for 24 hours before your physical could also help lower your cholesterol count.

   Be Honest

If you suffer from a preexisting condition it may be tempting to try and hide this information from your insurance agency. However, doing this could cause you a lot of trouble. In most cases, the insurance company will recognize your health condition during the review of your medical history and medical exam. Since you did not disclose this condition, you will then not have an opportunity to explain the situation.

   Drive Carefully

Along with your health records, an insurance agent might also ask for your driving record. While this may seem unconnected, it is not. According to many insurance agencies, a driver who frequently breaks traffic rules is likely to put himself or herself in a dangerous situation and hence is considered high risk. So, if you have more than the occasional ticket to your name, it may be wise to wait a few years before applying for insurance and drive more carefully in the meantime.

   Keep an Eye on Insurance rates

Like everything else, insurance policy rates also change from time to time. Thus, even if you have already bought a life insurance policy, it is important to review and compare policies every few years. Affordable Life USA has great rates on life insurance. Along with comparing quotes, you should also update your policy from time to time to reflect the changes in your personal situation.

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

GAP Insurance

Your Simple Guide to GAP Insurance

When you buy a new or used car, dealerships will often bombard you with the optional extras you can pay extra for. Whether it’s an extended warranty or a deal on the annual service costs, you might not always be clued up on what these actually mean. GAP insurance is one of these additions you might be offered and we’re here to guide you through what it means and whether you need it… What Exactly is GAP Insurance? If you buy a new car, the value drops by a third as soon as you drive away in it, and then it can fall by 40% in the first year and on average, by about 60% in three years. If your car is stolen or written off before you’ve finished paying it off, your insurer will pay out for what it’s worth at the time rather than it’s ‘brand new’ price. This means there’s a ‘gap’ between what your insurer pays and what you originally paid and this is what ‘Guaranteed Asset Protection’, or GAP insurance, covers. What Else is My Car Covered For? When you buy a new car, it will be protected by a warranty supplied by the manufacturer, e.g. a BMW warranty. Usually, this covers you for three years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first) and means that any defects that might cause your car to malfunction will be replaced or repaired at no cost to you. However, the warranty is likely to be void if your car is written off, and as already discussed, your insurance may not cover the price you’ve paid or have agreed to pay, for the car. What are the Different Types of Policies? There are a few different types of policies available when it comes to GAP insurance, so it’s best to do your research to figure out which one would benefit you the most. Two of the main options are: GAP insurance to cover the difference between the value of the vehicle and your outstanding finance settlement To cover the difference between the cost of the vehicle and replacing it with an equivalent one Do I Need GAP Insurance? The big question is – do you need GAP insurance? It’s not compulsory when you buy a car, but it might be worthwhile as it could save you from being out-of-pocket if you should have an accident. One scenario where GAP insurance would be worth it is if it’s important to you to have a brand-new car and you wouldn’t want a replacement car worth a lower amount. Also, if you’ve taken out finance to buy the car, like a personal loan, for example, you’ll be paying off the full value it was when you first bought it, regardless of whether it's been stolen or written off. GAP insurance would help you pay off the loan earlier, so you’re not forking out for a car you no longer have or a car you're unable to drive. As with your car purchase, deciding on whether or not to buy GAP insurance should be something you have carefully considered and extensively researched. However, when you’ve found the right policy that benefits you, you could save a lot of money if your car is written off or stolen. Read Also : Small Business Guide To Private Health Insurance Exchanges How To Get Low-Cost Life Insurance For Seniors Tips To Lower Your Insurance Costs

READ MOREDetails
gold bullion

2 Reasons to Invest in GoldBullion Even If You’ve Never Invested in an Asset Before 

Why should you consider investing in gold bullion even if you’ve never invested in an asset before? Gold bullion is a potentially valuable investment option for beginning investors looking to build a financial portfolio that can minimize risk and maximize potential returns. Gold has a better portfolio weight than many other asset classes, and it’s also more affordable than other assets. (Silver bullion is even more affordable.)You don’t need to be rich to invest in gold bullion, nor do you have to invest in a lot of gold bullion for your investment to pay off in the short and long term. Here are two reasons beginning investors may want to invest in gold bullion. What Is A Gold Bullion? First off, though, let’s define gold bullion. Gold bullion refers to gold bars, ingots, and coins officially recognized as being made of at least 99.5% pure gold. Gold bullion is kept as reserves at banks, governments, and institutional investors. The standard size of gold bullion bars and coins is 1oz. In North America, you can use bullion coins as legal tender. In Canada, sales tax doesn’t apply to gold bullion, and gold bullion can be included in RRSPs and other tax-deferred income plans. Some Canadian companies permit Canadians to include gold bullion in their retirement portfolios. How To Buy and Selling Gold Bullion? There are many reasons to consider buying and later selling gold in Toronto and elsewhere. Two reasons are that gold bullion is considered:       A safe-haven asset       A hedge against inflation 2 Reasons Are Making The Gold Bullion A Perfect Investment You will hear millions of names and types of investments in the money market. But every investment has some risk factors. Unlike the other money investment types, Gold Bullion has multiple facilities, which makes this a safe asset. Here are the two reasons. Take a look at these and know the advantages of the gold bullion investment. 1st Reason to Invest in Gold Bullion: Gold is Considered a Safe-Haven Asset Gold bullion is a safe-haven-type asset. This is a specific type of asset that tends to increase or retain value over time. That gold is considered a safe-haven asset doesn’t mean investing in it is risk-free. No investment is risk-free. But gold tends to perform exceptionally well during times of economic uncertainty, like the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2007-2008 global financial crisis. In fact, during the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the price per ounce of gold surpassed USD 2,000 for the first time in history. Recently, the price of gold per ounce has been hovering around USD 1,800. 2nd Reason to Invest in Gold Bullion: Gold is Considered a Hedge Against Inflation An asset that hedges against inflation is an asset that can keep pace with or even surpass inflation. Investing in inflation hedges like gold bullion is a smart way to save money. During periods of inflation, gold tends to appreciate. If you were to put your money into a traditional savings account, your money would likely fall behind the rate of inflation over time. Consequently, the value of your money in the future would turn out to be less than the value of your money now. However, if you were to put your money in gold bullion, over time, your money might keep pace with or even surpass inflation, so that the value of your money in the future might turn out to be worth as much or even more than the value of your money now. The Bottom Line There are many reasons why beginning investors could benefit from investing in and buying and selling gold bullion. In addition to being a relatively affordable safe-haven asset and hedge against inflation, gold is considered a strategic asset. Also, gold bullion is easy to purchase. All you need to do is head over to your local gold bullion dealers (although to be sure, it’s always a good idea to try out a few options before settling on the one that will give you the best deal). Later, when you’re ready to sell your gold bullion, you can take it to a gold bullion dealer that buys gold bullion. Your goal when doing so is to sell your gold bullion as close to the spot price as possible. Read Also: Is Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service A Good Career Path In 2021? 5 Reasons Why Bitcoins Are Considered Reliable Investments 5 New Assets To Diversify Your Investments In 2021 Top 5 Investment Decisions You Need To Make In Your Thirties

READ MOREDetails
NFT Art

What Is NFT Art And How Does It Work

At its core, an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) is a digital asset that represents ownership or proof of authenticity of a unique item or piece of content, often an artwork, using blockchain technology. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, NFTs are not interchangeable; each NFT has a distinct digital signature, making it unique and non-fungible.  NFT art refers to digital artworks bought, sold, and traded as NFTs. These can range from digital paintings, animations, music, videos, and more. The art is usually digital, but the NFTs can also represent ownership of physical artwork.  How Does NFT Art Work?  Creation and Minting: Artists create digital art and then "mint" these works as NFTs on various platforms or blockchains like Ethereum. Minting involves creating a new block, validating information, and recording the art as a transaction in the blockchain.  Ownership and Authenticity: Once minted, the NFT's metadata (including the artist's signature, the artwork's details, and ownership history) is securely stored in the blockchain. This ensures the authenticity and provenance of the artwork, making it easy to verify its originality and ownership.  Buying and Selling: NFT art can be purchased on numerous online marketplaces. Transactions are usually made using cryptocurrencies. When an NFT is bought, the ownership is transferred to the buyer, and this transaction is recorded on the blockchain, providing a permanent record of the sale.  Royalties: One of the revolutionary aspects of NFTs is the ability for artists to receive royalties automatically. Artists can program in a royalty system to receive a percentage of sales whenever their art is sold to a new owner.  Benefits of NFT Art  Provenance and Authenticity: NFTs provide a secure and transparent way to prove the authenticity and ownership of artwork.  Global Market Access: Artists can reach a global audience, and buyers can purchase from anywhere.  Royalties: Artists can benefit financially from secondary sales of their work.  Innovative Art Forms: NFTs have encouraged new digital art and creativity forms.  Criticisms and Challenges  Environmental Concerns: The energy consumption of blockchain technology and NFT transactions has raised environmental concerns.  Market Volatility: The NFT market can be volatile, with prices fluctuating dramatically.  Copyright and Plagiarism Issues: There have been instances of art being tokenized without the creator's permission.  Future of NFT Art  The world of NFT art is still in its infancy, and its potential is vast. As technology evolves and more artists and collectors embrace NFTs, we may see new forms of art, innovative uses, and solutions to current challenges. Despite the controversies and growing pains, NFT art is paving the way for a new digital creativity and ownership era.  NFT art represents a significant shift in how we perceive and handle digital ownership and art. By leveraging blockchain technology, NFTs provide a secure and transparent method to buy, sell, and collect digital art. While there are challenges to address, the NFT space's potential for growth and innovation is immense, making it an exciting frontier in the art world. As with any emerging technology, artists, collectors, and enthusiasts need to stay informed and engaged with the evolving landscape of NFT art.  Read Also: How The NFT Market Is Developing In 2021 Is there a Place for Bitcoin in the Fashion World? Creating Successful Mobile Games: What You Need to Know

READ MOREDetails