January 2020
Does Your Hobby Need Insurance Coverage?
Gary and Nancy Doss of Burlingame, CA have been collecting Pez dispensers for two decades. They now have more than 500 of the small candy containers. The rarest product, a "Make a Face" Pez from the 1970s, is worth $5,000.
Do you have a hobby that has grown larger than you may have anticipated? You don't have to be as dedicated as the Dosses to find yourself heavily invested in a hobby. A model locomotive could be valued at $300. One guitar can easily cost $1,500.
Whether you collect, build, or play, funding for hobbies can quickly add up to significant amounts. If you think you've invested quite a bit in your hobby, do a quick review.
Consider the value of your items and supplies. Is it more than $500? If you have invested more than $500 so far, you should make sure it is properly protected.
Review your insurance policies to make sure the items are covered under your homeowners or renters policy in the event they are damaged or stolen.
Keep in mind there are certain limits to most policies, and high-value items might max out the coverage. You may need to purchase a rider to add a particularly valuable piece of equipment to your insurance coverage.
If your hobby investment is less than $500, you should still make sure any high-priced items are included in your home inventory.
January is the perfect time to update this list. Be sure to add any recent holiday gifts to the inventory!
If you have any questions about your insurance coverage or needs, feel free to contact me. I'm just an email or phone call away.
Laughter May Be the Best Medicine After All
As the festive season passes, leaving behind joyful echoes of feasting and family, thoughts naturally turn to the new year and making a fresh start. New Year's resolutions can be met with either trepidation or confidence, but why not tackle them with a belly laugh and a radiant smile instead?
"Laughter is the best medicine" may seem like a well-worn adage, but the phrase carries glimmers of scientific proof. Known to trigger positive physical and emotional changes, a good giggle not only lifts your mood but has also been found to boost the immune system and provide pain relief, according to the research of American journalist, professor, and inquiring mind Norman Cousins.
Cousins and his upbeat attitude were put to the test when a connective tissue disorder left him in an almost quadriplegic state with a slim chance of recovery. Embarking on his own treatment course, he undertook a "laughter routine" in which he induced hours of laughing, leading to significant pain reduction and an eventual clean bill of health.
Whether this medical miracle resulted from his unorthodox cure or the placebo effect, it's worth taking a page out of Cousins's book this new year. An often-untapped wellspring of healing and renewal, laughter stimulates the production of the happiness hormone serotonin, leaving you calmer and better able to handle life's curveballs.
Seek out more opportunities to laugh in 2020. It's the perfect excuse to head to the theater, enjoy a comedy show, or make a friend laugh.
Quick Quiz
Each month I'll give you a new question.
Just send us an email and submit your answer.
Which US state produces the most roses for Valentine’s Day?
First 10 responders will be entered into drawing for 3 Starbuck's gift cards.
Last month's winners were:
Brenda Mendoza
Sergio Avalos
Sabrina Quair
What Auto Insurance Do I Need in 2020?
Liability. Collision. Comprehensive. What exactly do these insurance buzz words mean, and which coverage do you actually need? The right type and amount of coverage vary by inpidual. To determine your personal needs, first familiarize yourself with the options available.
Liability
This protects you in the event you are held responsible for bodily injury or property damage to another party.
This coverage is required by law, but the minimum amount required varies. A good rule of thumb is to carry a bodily injury liability policy with a minimum of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident plus enough property damage liability coverage to cover the cost of a new car. Considering the cost of medical bills and potential lawsuits today, it's often recommended that you bump up your limits to $250,000/$500,000.
Collision
This type of insurance is not required by law, but it covers the cost of damage to your car after an accident.
If you have a new and/or valuable car, collision is typically worth the investment to protect your asset. However, as a car ages and drops in value, you may want to consider whether collision coverage is necessary. For example, if your car is worth $1,000 and you have a $500 deductible, it might make sense to invest your insurance dollars elsewhere.
Comprehensive
This coverage protects you from various damages that aren't included under collision. Common comprehensive claims include fire and theft. If you lease a car, this coverage may be required. Otherwise, you can decide whether you'd like this extra protection and what deductible you prefer. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.
Many vehicle owners choose to add this coverage. It's often only a few extra dollars, but it provides peace of mind that virtually any type of damage to the car is covered. Is it time to make adjustments to your auto coverage? Feel free to contact me with any questions about your current and future insurance needs.
Worth Reading
How to Raise an Optimistic Child By Meghan Moravcik WalbertLifehacker
Despite unrelenting predictions of mass environmental catastrophes and descriptions of political unrest, you can still raise optimistic kids. Teaching children to be optimistic doesn’t mean avoiding reality. It means helping them respond to events appropriately. This includes putting events into perspective and, perhaps most importantly, being optimistic in front of them. More: https://tinyurl.com/worth0220a
How to Prevent the Internet from Tracking You By Steven Max Patterson Gear Patrol
Social media networks were once seen as sites for self-expression. Today, it’s easy to fret about eroding privacy online: finding practical and simple ways to protect yourself can seem complicated. Use this straightforward guide to help you fortify your online privacy, protecting both your personal and banking information as well as your digital footprint. This is not theoretical: the list includes specific suggestions for browsers, search engines, and software to use.
