(2456,1,'2022-04-26 15:45:47','2022-04-26 15:45:47','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2455,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/fIxNt1a-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2455\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">The average US household&nbsp;contains 11 connected devices, including seven items with screens (e.g. smartphones, tablets and TVs).&nbsp;The gradual rollout of 5G&nbsp;is expected to prompt an increase in connected device ownership in the home, in the car, and in the form of wearable technology, making it more important than ever for homeowners to consider their insurance options and make sure all their gadgets are covered. So what is gadget insurance, and do you need it?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">What is already covered by your homeowner’s insurance?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Also known as electronics insurance, gadget insurance protects your mobile devices when home insurance does not. Many home insurance policies do&nbsp;cover electrical items in the home. Sometimes this is limited to electrical outlets, electrical panels, interior wiring and other electrical systems integral to the running of the home, and sometimes more items are included. In either situation, additional coverage can often be added to a basic plan to cover items that are not covered in the original policy. However, the limitation of home insurance when it comes to gadgets is that it won’t pay for devices when they have simply stopped working or have been damaged by accident.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Most home insurance plans will pay for damaged electronics if they’re damaged in a disaster (such as a fire or flood) or stolen. Portable devices like laptops, smartphones and tablets are generally only covered up to a value of $1,500 unless you pay for additional coverage. Without replacement cost coverage, stolen or damaged gadgets will only be covered up to their current value, and therefore payouts will not be enough to cover the cost of new devices. Although some home insurance policies cover damage resulting from a lightning-induced power surge, many won’t pay for damage caused by a&nbsp;power surge prompted by any other event.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When to consider gadget insurance?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">The first step in ensuring that all your electrical devices are protected is checking the coverage offered by your current home insurance policy and finding out what additional add-ons are available. It is also worth considering what items you have that are often taken outside of the home. The more items like this you have, the less likely it is that your home insurance will be sufficient.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">If it is not possible to protect all your devices, the best solution is gadget insurance, and this will cover your tech in the event that you damage it by accident — such as by dropping your devices or spilling something on them. All your devices will initially be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, but this usually only applies for the first year, and doesn’t normally include accidental damage. Gadget insurance, however, will.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Gadget insurance typically covers theft and accidental damage, water damage, mechanical breakdown, unauthorized call cover, extended warranty cover, and international cover. The latter essentially functions as travel insurance for your electronic devices, and will protect them when you’re traveling in other countries. However, if you’re a frequent traveler, it’s worth checking the territories this type of cover extends to, as many policies do have limitations. Most policies offer a 48 hour replacement option, so if your devices are integral to your work, it’s worth checking for this too. When considering any gadget insurance policy, consider the elements that are most relevant to your situation, and cross-reference the policies with your home insurance plan to be sure that you’re adequately covered.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The limitations of gadget insurance</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">While gadget insurance is typically quite comprehensive, most policies have some exclusions. For example, your devices may only be covered in the first three years of their lifespan, and you may not be able to make claims for older gadgets. Many providers also exclude wear and tear, and there may be limitations on other types of claims. For example, while some policies protect against loss, there may be stipulations about how the loss occurred — a phone stolen from the back seat of your car where it was clearly visible, for instance, may not be covered, but a phone left in the glove compartment may be.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">For claims against theft, your policy may require you to prove&nbsp;forced entry to your home, and claims may have a time limitation attached to them. This works the other way too: often claims can’t be made within the first 14 days after the damage occurred. Devices that are still under their original warranty are not usually covered by gadget insurance, but most policies require you to provide proof of purchase, no matter when you bought them.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">If you have multiple electronic devices in your home, gadget insurance is usually worth it, particularly if you often travel with your laptop, tablet or smartphone. However, as home insurance policies do cover a certain amount, it’s worth checking what your policy offers before investing in gadget insurance.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://blog.solidsignal.com/tutorials/insuring-your-electronic-devices-is-your-homeowners-insurance-enough/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Insuring Your Electronic Devices: Is Your Homeowner’s Insurance Enough?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2341-revision-v1','','','2022-04-26 15:45:47','2022-04-26 15:45:47','',2341,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2456',0,'revision','',0),(2457,1,'2022-04-29 19:39:52','2022-04-29 19:39:52','<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Being involved in a car accident can be physically and emotionally traumatic. If you were injured, you might have to spend time in the hospital to get the help you need. Along with your medical bills, you will have household bills or repair bills that will need to be paid.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2466,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Money-1-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2466\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you have filed a personal injury lawsuit, you are likely to get a settlement from your&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;company, but that can take more time than you have to pay your past-due bills.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Your&nbsp;car accident lawyer&nbsp;can help you build a case to help you get the compensation that you deserve, but what about the bills that you have to pay now? Let’s take a closer look at how to pay your bills after a car accident.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Medical Bills</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In most states, your insurance is required by the law to pay all of your medical expenses that were caused by a vehicle accident. Your medical bills should be covered under a worker’s compensation claim if you are injured at work. The remainder of your medical bills, with the exception of your&nbsp;deductible amounts, should be covered under your private health insurance. It’s important to keep detailed records of your medical history, injury treatment plan, doctors and specialist contacts, prescription costs, and all other medically-related expenses.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Household Bills</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you have been involved in an accident and have suffered injuries that keep you from working, your&nbsp;household bills&nbsp;could start adding up quickly. You are still required to pay your rent, mortgage, and utility bills. When you file your claim with your insurance agency, they will issue you a payment for up to 85% of your monthly income for a maximum of three years. This payment is to help you pay for your household bills. With some policies, you may be able to apply for household assistance if you can’t do certain things like grocery shopping or laundry.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Vehicle Repairs</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">One of the largest expenses of a car accident is vehicle repairs. Minus your deductible, your insurance company should pay for all of the needed repairs. Make sure that you take your vehicle to a licensed and qualified repair shop to ensure that you get the proper coverage. The first $750 of damage should be paid for by the at-fault driver’s insurance, and the balance will be paid by&nbsp;your collision coverage. Always ensure that you carry enough coverage on your vehicle to cover the total loss of your vehicle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Accessibility</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you are gravely injured in a car accident, it could change the type of long-term needs that you have. You may need to purchase a walker or wheelchair or install a mobility ramp at your home. Your insurance coverage combined with your&nbsp;medical insurance&nbsp;should be able to cover most of these accessibility expenses.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you are involved in a serious car accident, the last thing that you want to worry about is how you will pay your bills. Don’t stress about your past due payments. Your insurance coverage will help you to get the money that you need.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.finance-monthly.com/2022/04/how-to-pay-your-bills-after-a-car-accident/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How To Pay Your Bills After A Car Accident?','','publish','open','open','','how-to-pay-your-bills-after-a-car-accident','','','2022-05-01 00:37:21','2022-05-01 00:37:21','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2457',0,'post','',0),(2458,1,'2022-04-29 19:39:52','2022-04-29 19:39:52','<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Being involved in a car accident can be physically and emotionally traumatic. If you were injured, you might have to spend time in the hospital to get the help you need. Along with your medical bills, you will have household bills or repair bills that will need to be paid.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you have filed a personal injury lawsuit, you are likely to get a settlement from your&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;company, but that can take more time than you have to pay your past-due bills.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Your car accident lawyer can help you build a case to help you get the compensation that you deserve, but what about the bills that you have to pay now? Let’s take a closer look at how to pay your bills after a car accident.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Medical Bills</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In most states, your insurance is required by the law to pay all of your medical expenses that were caused by a vehicle accident. Your medical bills should be covered under a worker’s compensation claim if you are injured at work. The remainder of your medical bills, with the exception of your deductible amounts, should be covered under your private health insurance. It’s important to keep detailed records of your medical history, injury treatment plan, doctors and specialist contacts, prescription costs, and all other medically-related expenses. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Household Bills</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you have been involved in an accident and have suffered injuries that keep you from working, your household bills could start adding up quickly. You are still required to pay your rent, mortgage, and utility bills. When you file your claim with your insurance agency, they will issue you a payment for up to 85% of your monthly income for a maximum of three years. This payment is to help you pay for your household bills. With some policies, you may be able to apply for household assistance if you can’t do certain things like grocery shopping or laundry.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Vehicle Repairs</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the largest expenses of a car accident is vehicle repairs. Minus your deductible, your insurance company should pay for all of the needed repairs. Make sure that you take your vehicle to a licensed and qualified repair shop to ensure that you get the proper coverage. The first $750 of damage should be paid for by the at-fault driver’s insurance, and the balance will be paid by your collision coverage. Always ensure that you carry enough coverage on your vehicle to cover the total loss of your vehicle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Accessibility</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you are gravely injured in a car accident, it could change the type of long-term needs that you have. You may need to purchase a walker or wheelchair or install a mobility ramp at your home. Your insurance coverage combined with your medical insurance should be able to cover most of these accessibility expenses.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you are involved in a serious car accident, the last thing that you want to worry about is how you will pay your bills. Don’t stress about your past due payments. Your insurance coverage will help you to get the money that you need.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How To Pay Your Bills After A Car Accident?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2457-revision-v1','','','2022-04-29 19:39:52','2022-04-29 19:39:52','',2457,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2458',0,'revision','',0),(2459,1,'2022-04-29 19:41:06','2022-04-29 19:41:06','<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Being involved in a car accident can be physically and emotionally traumatic. If you were injured, you might have to spend time in the hospital to get the help you need. Along with your medical bills, you will have household bills or repair bills that will need to be paid.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you have filed a personal injury lawsuit, you are likely to get a settlement from your&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;company, but that can take more time than you have to pay your past-due bills.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Your&nbsp;car accident lawyer&nbsp;can help you build a case to help you get the compensation that you deserve, but what about the bills that you have to pay now? Let’s take a closer look at how to pay your bills after a car accident.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Medical Bills</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In most states, your insurance is required by the law to pay all of your medical expenses that were caused by a vehicle accident. Your medical bills should be covered under a worker’s compensation claim if you are injured at work. The remainder of your medical bills, with the exception of your&nbsp;deductible amounts, should be covered under your private health insurance. It’s important to keep detailed records of your medical history, injury treatment plan, doctors and specialist contacts, prescription costs, and all other medically-related expenses.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Household Bills</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you have been involved in an accident and have suffered injuries that keep you from working, your&nbsp;household bills&nbsp;could start adding up quickly. You are still required to pay your rent, mortgage, and utility bills. When you file your claim with your insurance agency, they will issue you a payment for up to 85% of your monthly income for a maximum of three years. This payment is to help you pay for your household bills. With some policies, you may be able to apply for household assistance if you can’t do certain things like grocery shopping or laundry.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Vehicle Repairs</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the largest expenses of a car accident is vehicle repairs. Minus your deductible, your insurance company should pay for all of the needed repairs. Make sure that you take your vehicle to a licensed and qualified repair shop to ensure that you get the proper coverage. The first $750 of damage should be paid for by the at-fault driver’s insurance, and the balance will be paid by&nbsp;your collision coverage. Always ensure that you carry enough coverage on your vehicle to cover the total loss of your vehicle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>Accessibility</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you are gravely injured in a car accident, it could change the type of long-term needs that you have. You may need to purchase a walker or wheelchair or install a mobility ramp at your home. Your insurance coverage combined with your&nbsp;medical insurance&nbsp;should be able to cover most of these accessibility expenses.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you are involved in a serious car accident, the last thing that you want to worry about is how you will pay your bills. Don’t stress about your past due payments. Your insurance coverage will help you to get the money that you need.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.finance-monthly.com/2022/04/how-to-pay-your-bills-after-a-car-accident/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How To Pay Your Bills After A Car Accident?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2457-revision-v1','','','2022-04-29 19:41:06','2022-04-29 19:41:06','',2457,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2459',0,'revision','',0);
INSERT INTO `smart_posts` VALUES (2460,1,'2022-04-29 20:01:27','2022-04-29 20:01:27','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2468,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Money-2-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2468\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Filing for bankruptcy can be a difficult choice, but sometimes the prospect of starting over and wiping your financial slate clean is the best option. One of the main downsides to filing for bankruptcy, however, is that it can reflect poorly on your credit report and cause your credit score to sink.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Living with bad credit may seem like a decent tradeoff for getting out of crippling debt you can afford. But what happens if you need to apply for a car loan, credit card, mortgage, or even rent an apartment in the future? Your&nbsp;FICO credit score&nbsp;is used to determine your eligibility for credit accounts and may also play a role in determining if you’re approved to rent a home or land a particular job in the future. With this in mind, is it possible to remove a bankruptcy from your credit report?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are a lot of misconceptions about bankruptcy and credit reports floating around the internet. I’ll walk you through the different kinds of bankruptcy, explain when they fall off your credit history, teach you how to dispute an incorrect bankruptcy claim, and give you the details on credit repair companies.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Let’s dive in.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"types-of-bankruptcy-chapter-7-and-chapter-13-bankruptcy\">Types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are two main types of bankruptcy and understanding the difference is important — since they both impact your credit report differently and handle charge-offs differently.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The first kind, chapter 7 bankruptcy, refers to when your debt is eliminated (sometimes entirely). Medical debt and credit card debt are the two main types of debt that can be discharged here. Student loan debt, however, is much harder, but not impossible to eliminate.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When this bankruptcy is filed, you may lose some valuable assets in the process which will be sold and used to pay your lenders.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Chapter 13 bankruptcy will reconfigure your debt into more affordable monthly payments — then discharge the balance after three to five years of successful payments.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"how-bankruptcy-impacts-your-credit-score\">How bankruptcy impacts your credit score?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In both cases, bankruptcy will show up on your credit reports for all three credit reporting bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. A bankruptcy note on your credit report can indicate to future creditors that you’re unable to repay your debts. For this reason, they may be unlikely to lend to you while this mark is still on your report.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But, like all derogatory remarks on your&nbsp;credit report, bankruptcy will eventually fall off your credit report. Chapter 7 bankruptcy will fall off after ten years after your filing date, while chapter 13 bankruptcy will take seven years to fall off.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Bankruptcy will appear on the public records section of your credit reports until then — which could deter lenders from extending your credit and run the risk of you accruing new debt.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"can-i-remove-bankruptcy-from-my-credit-report\">Can I remove bankruptcy from my credit report?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It depends. If you’re checking your credit report and notice a bankruptcy filing that you don’t recognize, you can dispute the false information. To do so, you’ll file a dispute with all three credit bureaus. This can easily be done online at Experian.com, Equifax.com, or Transunion.com. Filing a dispute is done to remove incorrect delinquencies from your credit report — it will not allow you to remove accurate information.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When you dispute a mark, the credit agency will attempt to verify its accuracy. If it cannot or finds the information to be incorrect, it will adjust your credit report, or remove the mark from your credit report completely. While doing this may lead to the inaccuracies being removed from the other credit bureau’s reports, as well, filing a dispute with all three credit reporting agencies is recommended.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The credit agency should alert you once a decision has been made about your dispute, by mail. To help, it’s recommended you provide as much information as possible to the agency to aid their investigation. This can include on-time payment records and credit statements,</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If a bankruptcy claim on your credit report is correct, there’s not much you can do except wait for the designated period of time. If it doesn’t fall off after seven or ten years, you can file a dispute asking that the information be removed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"can-credit-repair-companies-help-remove-bankruptcy-marks-from-credit-reports\">Can credit repair companies help remove bankruptcy marks from credit reports?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Credit repair companies are businesses that often charge you money upfront — and monthly — while offering services advertised to improve your credit score and remove “bad” marks. While using one of these services may sound tempting, it’s important to proceed with caution.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">First, you should know that&nbsp;credit repair agencies&nbsp;do not have the ability to do anything that you cannot do on your own. They often charge you to help you write a credit dispute letter, which you can also do when filing your own dispute at the respective credit bureaus. While these companies may have more manpower to reach out more frequently on disputes, they are not able to remove marks from your credit report that is accurate.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">And, in many cases, credit repair companies will charge you for services they know they cannot provide, such as hiding negative items and information from your credit report.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">That said, if you don’t have the time to file disputes on your own and want help, finding a reputable credit advisor with good ratings and a high Better Business Bureau rating is recommended.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"how-can-i-improve-my-credit-after-filing-bankruptcy\">How can I improve my credit after filing bankruptcy?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">First, understand that you’ll need to start small and take strides towards rebuilding your credit. If you have any remaining credit accounts, paying them on time and in full can help to build a history of healthy credit repayments.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you don’t have credit accounts remaining, you can start by applying for a secured credit card, which allows you access to credit in exchange for a security deposit. This deposit then functions as your credit line. Using this card wisely — not exceeding 30% of your credit balance, making on-time payments, and paying your balance in full each month — can help you start to rebuild your credit.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It may take months or years to get approved for another credit account, so don’t get discouraged in the meantime. Services like Equifax Boost may help you count utility and rent payments towards your credit score and could offer a much-needed credit boost.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">While credit can be important in today’s world if taking on too much credit caused you to file for bankruptcy, giving yourself a break from credit is not a bad idea. This allows you to put some distance between your bankruptcy and a new credit application, so you can apply for a new account when you feel financially ready.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"whats-the-best-way-to-check-your-credit-report\">What’s the best way to check your credit report?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">To view your credit report and score, you can visit&nbsp;annualcreditreport.com, where you’re entitled to a free credit report from each credit bureau. And, under new legislation put into place during the pandemic, you can currently request credit reports each week — for free. You can also visit Experian, Equifax, and Transunion’s sites directly to request a free copy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are other services, such as&nbsp;Credit Karma&nbsp;and FreeCreditReport.com that also offer credit score access. In addition, sometimes your cell phone, internet, and other utility providers offer access. Personal finance apps like Mint and even some credit cards can also provide you with a copy of your credit score.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"the-bottom-line\">The bottom line</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Claiming bankruptcy can impact your credit for up to a decade — and can make it more difficult to repair your credit report. In some cases, however, bankruptcy may be the best option. Understanding your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act can help keep you protected.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you’ve filed for bankruptcy, you cannot remove this claim from your credit report until seven or ten years have passed — depending on the type of bankruptcy you filed. However, if bankruptcy appears on your credit report in error, you can dispute this claim.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Avoid credit repair company schemes claiming they can remove bankruptcy marks from your credit report and instead spend time repairing your credit by applying for a secured card.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://joywallet.com/article/how-to-remove-a-bankruptcy-from-your-credit-report/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Remove A Bankruptcy from Your Credit Report?','','publish','open','open','','advertiser-disclosure','','','2022-05-01 00:39:23','2022-05-01 00:39:23','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2460',0,'post','',0),(2463,1,'2022-04-29 19:55:29','2022-04-29 19:55:29','<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Being involved in a car accident can be physically and emotionally traumatic. If you were injured, you might have to spend time in the hospital to get the help you need. Along with your medical bills, you will have household bills or repair bills that will need to be paid.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you have filed a personal injury lawsuit, you are likely to get a settlement from your&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;company, but that can take more time than you have to pay your past-due bills.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Your&nbsp;car accident lawyer&nbsp;can help you build a case to help you get the compensation that you deserve, but what about the bills that you have to pay now? Let’s take a closer look at how to pay your bills after a car accident.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Medical Bills</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In most states, your insurance is required by the law to pay all of your medical expenses that were caused by a vehicle accident. Your medical bills should be covered under a worker’s compensation claim if you are injured at work. The remainder of your medical bills, with the exception of your&nbsp;deductible amounts, should be covered under your private health insurance. It’s important to keep detailed records of your medical history, injury treatment plan, doctors and specialist contacts, prescription costs, and all other medically-related expenses.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Household Bills</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you have been involved in an accident and have suffered injuries that keep you from working, your&nbsp;household bills&nbsp;could start adding up quickly. You are still required to pay your rent, mortgage, and utility bills. When you file your claim with your insurance agency, they will issue you a payment for up to 85% of your monthly income for a maximum of three years. This payment is to help you pay for your household bills. With some policies, you may be able to apply for household assistance if you can’t do certain things like grocery shopping or laundry.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Vehicle Repairs</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">One of the largest expenses of a car accident is vehicle repairs. Minus your deductible, your insurance company should pay for all of the needed repairs. Make sure that you take your vehicle to a licensed and qualified repair shop to ensure that you get the proper coverage. The first $750 of damage should be paid for by the at-fault driver’s insurance, and the balance will be paid by&nbsp;your collision coverage. Always ensure that you carry enough coverage on your vehicle to cover the total loss of your vehicle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Accessibility</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you are gravely injured in a car accident, it could change the type of long-term needs that you have. You may need to purchase a walker or wheelchair or install a mobility ramp at your home. Your insurance coverage combined with your&nbsp;medical insurance&nbsp;should be able to cover most of these accessibility expenses.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you are involved in a serious car accident, the last thing that you want to worry about is how you will pay your bills. Don’t stress about your past due payments. Your insurance coverage will help you to get the money that you need.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.finance-monthly.com/2022/04/how-to-pay-your-bills-after-a-car-accident/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How To Pay Your Bills After A Car Accident?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2457-revision-v1','','','2022-04-29 19:55:29','2022-04-29 19:55:29','',2457,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2463',0,'revision','',0),(2462,1,'2022-04-29 19:54:38','2022-04-29 19:54:38','<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Being involved in a car accident can be physically and emotionally traumatic. If you were injured, you might have to spend time in the hospital to get the help you need. Along with your medical bills, you will have household bills or repair bills that will need to be paid.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you have filed a personal injury lawsuit, you are likely to get a settlement from your&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;company, but that can take more time than you have to pay your past-due bills.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Your&nbsp;car accident lawyer&nbsp;can help you build a case to help you get the compensation that you deserve, but what about the bills that you have to pay now? Let’s take a closer look at how to pay your bills after a car accident.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Medical Bills</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In most states, your insurance is required by the law to pay all of your medical expenses that were caused by a vehicle accident. Your medical bills should be covered under a worker’s compensation claim if you are injured at work. The remainder of your medical bills, with the exception of your&nbsp;deductible amounts, should be covered under your private health insurance. It’s important to keep detailed records of your medical history, injury treatment plan, doctors and specialist contacts, prescription costs, and all other medically-related expenses.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Household Bills</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you have been involved in an accident and have suffered injuries that keep you from working, your&nbsp;household bills&nbsp;could start adding up quickly. You are still required to pay your rent, mortgage, and utility bills. When you file your claim with your insurance agency, they will issue you a payment for up to 85% of your monthly income for a maximum of three years. This payment is to help you pay for your household bills. With some policies, you may be able to apply for household assistance if you can’t do certain things like grocery shopping or laundry.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Vehicle Repairs</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">One of the largest expenses of a car accident is vehicle repairs. Minus your deductible, your insurance company should pay for all of the needed repairs. Make sure that you take your vehicle to a licensed and qualified repair shop to ensure that you get the proper coverage. The first $750 of damage should be paid for by the at-fault driver’s insurance, and the balance will be paid by&nbsp;your collision coverage. Always ensure that you carry enough coverage on your vehicle to cover the total loss of your vehicle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Accessibility</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you are gravely injured in a car accident, it could change the type of long-term needs that you have. You may need to purchase a walker or wheelchair or install a mobility ramp at your home. Your insurance coverage combined with your&nbsp;medical insurance&nbsp;should be able to cover most of these accessibility expenses.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you are involved in a serious car accident, the last thing that you want to worry about is how you will pay your bills. Don’t stress about your past due payments. Your insurance coverage will help you to get the money that you need.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.finance-monthly.com/2022/04/how-to-pay-your-bills-after-a-car-accident/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How To Pay Your Bills After A Car Accident?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2457-revision-v1','','','2022-04-29 19:54:38','2022-04-29 19:54:38','',2457,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2462',0,'revision','',0),(2465,1,'2022-04-29 20:02:02','2022-04-29 20:02:02','<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Filing for bankruptcy can be a difficult choice, but sometimes the prospect of starting over and wiping your financial slate clean is the best option. One of the main downsides to filing for bankruptcy, however, is that it can reflect poorly on your credit report and cause your credit score to sink.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Living with bad credit may seem like a decent tradeoff for getting out of crippling debt you can afford. But what happens if you need to apply for a car loan, credit card, mortgage, or even rent an apartment in the future? Your&nbsp;FICO credit score&nbsp;is used to determine your eligibility for credit accounts and may also play a role in determining if you’re approved to rent a home or land a particular job in the future. With this in mind, is it possible to remove a bankruptcy from your credit report?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are a lot of misconceptions about bankruptcy and credit reports floating around the internet. I’ll walk you through the different kinds of bankruptcy, explain when they fall off your credit history, teach you how to dispute an incorrect bankruptcy claim, and give you the details on credit repair companies.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Let’s dive in.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"types-of-bankruptcy-chapter-7-and-chapter-13-bankruptcy\">Types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are two main types of bankruptcy and understanding the difference is important — since they both impact your credit report differently and handle charge-offs differently.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The first kind, chapter 7 bankruptcy, refers to when your debt is eliminated (sometimes entirely). Medical debt and credit card debt are the two main types of debt that can be discharged here. Student loan debt, however, is much harder, but not impossible to eliminate.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When this bankruptcy is filed, you may lose some valuable assets in the process which will be sold and used to pay your lenders.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Chapter 13 bankruptcy will reconfigure your debt into more affordable monthly payments — then discharge the balance after three to five years of successful payments.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"how-bankruptcy-impacts-your-credit-score\">How bankruptcy impacts your credit score</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In both cases, bankruptcy will show up on your credit reports for all three credit reporting bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. A bankruptcy note on your credit report can indicate to future creditors that you’re unable to repay your debts. For this reason, they may be unlikely to lend to you while this mark is still on your report.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But, like all derogatory remarks on your&nbsp;credit report, bankruptcy will eventually fall off your credit report. Chapter 7 bankruptcy will fall off after ten years after your filing date, while chapter 13 bankruptcy will take seven years to fall off.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Bankruptcy will appear on the public records section of your credit reports until then — which could deter lenders from extending your credit and run the risk of you accruing new debt.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"can-i-remove-bankruptcy-from-my-credit-report\">Can I remove bankruptcy from my credit report?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It depends. If you’re checking your credit report and notice a bankruptcy filing that you don’t recognize, you can dispute the false information. To do so, you’ll file a dispute with all three credit bureaus. This can easily be done online at Experian.com, Equifax.com, or Transunion.com. Filing a dispute is done to remove incorrect delinquencies from your credit report — it will not allow you to remove accurate information.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When you dispute a mark, the credit agency will attempt to verify its accuracy. If it cannot or finds the information to be incorrect, it will adjust your credit report, or remove the mark from your credit report completely. While doing this may lead to the inaccuracies being removed from the other credit bureau’s reports, as well, filing a dispute with all three credit reporting agencies is recommended.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The credit agency should alert you once a decision has been made about your dispute, by mail. To help, it’s recommended you provide as much information as possible to the agency to aid their investigation. This can include on-time payment records and credit statements,</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If a bankruptcy claim on your credit report is correct, there’s not much you can do except wait for the designated period of time. If it doesn’t fall off after seven or ten years, you can file a dispute asking that the information be removed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"can-credit-repair-companies-help-remove-bankruptcy-marks-from-credit-reports\">Can credit repair companies help remove bankruptcy marks from credit reports?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Credit repair companies are businesses that often charge you money upfront — and monthly — while offering services advertised to improve your credit score and remove “bad” marks. While using one of these services may sound tempting, it’s important to proceed with caution.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">First, you should know that&nbsp;credit repair agencies&nbsp;do not have the ability to do anything that you cannot do on your own. They often charge you to help you write a credit dispute letter, which you can also do when filing your own dispute at the respective credit bureaus. While these companies may have more manpower to reach out more frequently on disputes, they are not able to remove marks from your credit report that is accurate.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">And, in many cases, credit repair companies will charge you for services they know they cannot provide, such as hiding negative items and information from your credit report.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">That said, if you don’t have the time to file disputes on your own and want help, finding a reputable credit advisor with good ratings and a high Better Business Bureau rating is recommended.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"how-can-i-improve-my-credit-after-filing-bankruptcy\">How can I improve my credit after filing bankruptcy?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">First, understand that you’ll need to start small and take strides towards rebuilding your credit. If you have any remaining credit accounts, paying them on time and in full can help to build a history of healthy credit repayments.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you don’t have credit accounts remaining, you can start by applying for a secured credit card, which allows you access to credit in exchange for a security deposit. This deposit then functions as your credit line. Using this card wisely — not exceeding 30% of your credit balance, making on-time payments, and paying your balance in full each month — can help you start to rebuild your credit.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It may take months or years to get approved for another credit account, so don’t get discouraged in the meantime. Services like Equifax Boost may help you count utility and rent payments towards your credit score and could offer a much-needed credit boost.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">While credit can be important in today’s world if taking on too much credit caused you to file for bankruptcy, giving yourself a break from credit is not a bad idea. This allows you to put some distance between your bankruptcy and a new credit application, so you can apply for a new account when you feel financially ready.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"whats-the-best-way-to-check-your-credit-report\">What’s the best way to check your credit report?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">To view your credit report and score, you can visit&nbsp;annualcreditreport.com, where you’re entitled to a free credit report from each credit bureau. And, under new legislation put into place during the pandemic, you can currently request credit reports each week — for free. You can also visit Experian, Equifax, and Transunion’s sites directly to request a free copy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are other services, such as&nbsp;Credit Karma&nbsp;and FreeCreditReport.com that also offer credit score access. In addition, sometimes your cell phone, internet, and other utility providers offer access. Personal finance apps like Mint and even some credit cards can also provide you with a copy of your credit score.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"the-bottom-line\">The bottom line</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Claiming bankruptcy can impact your credit for up to a decade — and can make it more difficult to repair your credit report. In some cases, however, bankruptcy may be the best option. Understanding your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act can help keep you protected.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you’ve filed for bankruptcy, you cannot remove this claim from your credit report until seven or ten years have passed — depending on the type of bankruptcy you filed. However, if bankruptcy appears on your credit report in error, you can dispute this claim.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Avoid credit repair company schemes claiming they can remove bankruptcy marks from your credit report and instead spend time repairing your credit by applying for a secured card.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://joywallet.com/article/how-to-remove-a-bankruptcy-from-your-credit-report/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Remove A Bankruptcy from Your Credit Report','','inherit','closed','closed','','2460-revision-v1','','','2022-04-29 20:02:02','2022-04-29 20:02:02','',2460,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2465',0,'revision','',0),(2464,1,'2022-04-29 20:01:27','2022-04-29 20:01:27','<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":1} -->\n<h1>How to Remove A Bankruptcy from Your Credit Report</h1>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Filing for bankruptcy can be a difficult choice, but sometimes the prospect of starting over and wiping your financial slate clean is the best option. One of the main downsides to filing for bankruptcy, however, is that it can reflect poorly on your credit report and cause your credit score to sink.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Living with bad credit may seem like a decent tradeoff for getting out of crippling debt you can afford. But what happens if you need to apply for a car loan, credit card, mortgage, or even rent an apartment in the future? Your FICO credit score is used to determine your eligibility for credit accounts and may also play a role in determining if you’re approved to rent a home or land a particular job in the future. With this in mind, is it possible to remove a bankruptcy from your credit report?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are a lot of misconceptions about bankruptcy and credit reports floating around the internet. I’ll walk you through the different kinds of bankruptcy, explain when they fall off your credit history, teach you how to dispute an incorrect bankruptcy claim, and give you the details on credit repair companies.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Let’s dive in.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"types-of-bankruptcy-chapter-7-and-chapter-13-bankruptcy\">Types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are two main types of bankruptcy and understanding the difference is important — since they both impact your credit report differently and handle charge-offs differently.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The first kind, chapter 7 bankruptcy, refers to when your debt is eliminated (sometimes entirely). Medical debt and credit card debt are the two main types of debt that can be discharged here. Student loan debt, however, is much harder, but not impossible to eliminate.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When this bankruptcy is filed, you may lose some valuable assets in the process which will be sold and used to pay your lenders.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Chapter 13 bankruptcy will reconfigure your debt into more affordable monthly payments — then discharge the balance after three to five years of successful payments. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"how-bankruptcy-impacts-your-credit-score\">How bankruptcy impacts your credit score</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In both cases, bankruptcy will show up on your credit reports for all three credit reporting bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. A bankruptcy note on your credit report can indicate to future creditors that you’re unable to repay your debts. For this reason, they may be unlikely to lend to you while this mark is still on your report.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But, like all derogatory remarks on your credit report, bankruptcy will eventually fall off your credit report. Chapter 7 bankruptcy will fall off after ten years after your filing date, while chapter 13 bankruptcy will take seven years to fall off.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Bankruptcy will appear on the public records section of your credit reports until then — which could deter lenders from extending your credit and run the risk of you accruing new debt.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"can-i-remove-bankruptcy-from-my-credit-report\">Can I remove bankruptcy from my credit report?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It depends. If you’re checking your credit report and notice a bankruptcy filing that you don’t recognize, you can dispute the false information. To do so, you’ll file a dispute with all three credit bureaus. This can easily be done online at Experian.com, Equifax.com, or Transunion.com. Filing a dispute is done to remove incorrect delinquencies from your credit report — it will not allow you to remove accurate information.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When you dispute a mark, the credit agency will attempt to verify its accuracy. If it cannot or finds the information to be incorrect, it will adjust your credit report, or remove the mark from your credit report completely. While doing this may lead to the inaccuracies being removed from the other credit bureau’s reports, as well, filing a dispute with all three credit reporting agencies is recommended.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The credit agency should alert you once a decision has been made about your dispute, by mail. To help, it’s recommended you provide as much information as possible to the agency to aid their investigation. This can include on-time payment records and credit statements,</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If a bankruptcy claim on your credit report is correct, there’s not much you can do except wait for the designated period of time. If it doesn’t fall off after seven or ten years, you can file a dispute asking that the information be removed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"can-credit-repair-companies-help-remove-bankruptcy-marks-from-credit-reports\">Can credit repair companies help remove bankruptcy marks from credit reports?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Credit repair companies are businesses that often charge you money upfront — and monthly — while offering services advertised to improve your credit score and remove “bad” marks. While using one of these services may sound tempting, it’s important to proceed with caution.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">First, you should know that credit repair agencies do not have the ability to do anything that you cannot do on your own. They often charge you to help you write a credit dispute letter, which you can also do when filing your own dispute at the respective credit bureaus. While these companies may have more manpower to reach out more frequently on disputes, they are not able to remove marks from your credit report that is accurate.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">And, in many cases, credit repair companies will charge you for services they know they cannot provide, such as hiding negative items and information from your credit report.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">That said, if you don’t have the time to file disputes on your own and want help, finding a reputable credit advisor with good ratings and a high Better Business Bureau rating is recommended.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"how-can-i-improve-my-credit-after-filing-bankruptcy\">How can I improve my credit after filing bankruptcy?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">First, understand that you’ll need to start small and take strides towards rebuilding your credit. If you have any remaining credit accounts, paying them on time and in full can help to build a history of healthy credit repayments.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you don’t have credit accounts remaining, you can start by applying for a secured credit card, which allows you access to credit in exchange for a security deposit. This deposit then functions as your credit line. Using this card wisely — not exceeding 30% of your credit balance, making on-time payments, and paying your balance in full each month — can help you start to rebuild your credit.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It may take months or years to get approved for another credit account, so don’t get discouraged in the meantime. Services like Equifax Boost may help you count utility and rent payments towards your credit score and could offer a much-needed credit boost.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">While credit can be important in today’s world if taking on too much credit caused you to file for bankruptcy, giving yourself a break from credit is not a bad idea. This allows you to put some distance between your bankruptcy and a new credit application, so you can apply for a new account when you feel financially ready.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"whats-the-best-way-to-check-your-credit-report\">What’s the best way to check your credit report?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">To view your credit report and score, you can visit annualcreditreport.com, where you’re entitled to a free credit report from each credit bureau. And, under new legislation put into place during the pandemic, you can currently request credit reports each week — for free. You can also visit Experian, Equifax, and Transunion’s sites directly to request a free copy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are other services, such as Credit Karma and FreeCreditReport.com that also offer credit score access. In addition, sometimes your cell phone, internet, and other utility providers offer access. Personal finance apps like Mint and even some credit cards can also provide you with a copy of your credit score.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"the-bottom-line\">The bottom line</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Claiming bankruptcy can impact your credit for up to a decade — and can make it more difficult to repair your credit report. In some cases, however, bankruptcy may be the best option. Understanding your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act can help keep you protected.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you’ve filed for bankruptcy, you cannot remove this claim from your credit report until seven or ten years have passed — depending on the type of bankruptcy you filed. However, if bankruptcy appears on your credit report in error, you can dispute this claim.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Avoid credit repair company schemes claiming they can remove bankruptcy marks from your credit report and instead spend time repairing your credit by applying for a secured card.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://joywallet.com/article/how-to-remove-a-bankruptcy-from-your-credit-report/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','<a>Advertiser Disclosure</a>','','inherit','closed','closed','','2460-revision-v1','','','2022-04-29 20:01:27','2022-04-29 20:01:27','',2460,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2464',0,'revision','',0),(2468,1,'2022-05-01 00:39:00','2022-05-01 00:39:00','','Money-2','','inherit','open','closed','','money-2-3','','','2022-05-01 00:39:00','2022-05-01 00:39:00','',2460,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Money-2.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2469,1,'2022-05-01 00:39:23','2022-05-01 00:39:23','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2468,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Money-2-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2468\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Filing for bankruptcy can be a difficult choice, but sometimes the prospect of starting over and wiping your financial slate clean is the best option. One of the main downsides to filing for bankruptcy, however, is that it can reflect poorly on your credit report and cause your credit score to sink.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Living with bad credit may seem like a decent tradeoff for getting out of crippling debt you can afford. But what happens if you need to apply for a car loan, credit card, mortgage, or even rent an apartment in the future? Your&nbsp;FICO credit score&nbsp;is used to determine your eligibility for credit accounts and may also play a role in determining if you’re approved to rent a home or land a particular job in the future. With this in mind, is it possible to remove a bankruptcy from your credit report?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are a lot of misconceptions about bankruptcy and credit reports floating around the internet. I’ll walk you through the different kinds of bankruptcy, explain when they fall off your credit history, teach you how to dispute an incorrect bankruptcy claim, and give you the details on credit repair companies.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Let’s dive in.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"types-of-bankruptcy-chapter-7-and-chapter-13-bankruptcy\">Types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are two main types of bankruptcy and understanding the difference is important — since they both impact your credit report differently and handle charge-offs differently.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The first kind, chapter 7 bankruptcy, refers to when your debt is eliminated (sometimes entirely). Medical debt and credit card debt are the two main types of debt that can be discharged here. Student loan debt, however, is much harder, but not impossible to eliminate.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When this bankruptcy is filed, you may lose some valuable assets in the process which will be sold and used to pay your lenders.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Chapter 13 bankruptcy will reconfigure your debt into more affordable monthly payments — then discharge the balance after three to five years of successful payments.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"how-bankruptcy-impacts-your-credit-score\">How bankruptcy impacts your credit score?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In both cases, bankruptcy will show up on your credit reports for all three credit reporting bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. A bankruptcy note on your credit report can indicate to future creditors that you’re unable to repay your debts. For this reason, they may be unlikely to lend to you while this mark is still on your report.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But, like all derogatory remarks on your&nbsp;credit report, bankruptcy will eventually fall off your credit report. Chapter 7 bankruptcy will fall off after ten years after your filing date, while chapter 13 bankruptcy will take seven years to fall off.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Bankruptcy will appear on the public records section of your credit reports until then — which could deter lenders from extending your credit and run the risk of you accruing new debt.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"can-i-remove-bankruptcy-from-my-credit-report\">Can I remove bankruptcy from my credit report?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It depends. If you’re checking your credit report and notice a bankruptcy filing that you don’t recognize, you can dispute the false information. To do so, you’ll file a dispute with all three credit bureaus. This can easily be done online at Experian.com, Equifax.com, or Transunion.com. Filing a dispute is done to remove incorrect delinquencies from your credit report — it will not allow you to remove accurate information.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When you dispute a mark, the credit agency will attempt to verify its accuracy. If it cannot or finds the information to be incorrect, it will adjust your credit report, or remove the mark from your credit report completely. While doing this may lead to the inaccuracies being removed from the other credit bureau’s reports, as well, filing a dispute with all three credit reporting agencies is recommended.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The credit agency should alert you once a decision has been made about your dispute, by mail. To help, it’s recommended you provide as much information as possible to the agency to aid their investigation. This can include on-time payment records and credit statements,</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If a bankruptcy claim on your credit report is correct, there’s not much you can do except wait for the designated period of time. If it doesn’t fall off after seven or ten years, you can file a dispute asking that the information be removed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"can-credit-repair-companies-help-remove-bankruptcy-marks-from-credit-reports\">Can credit repair companies help remove bankruptcy marks from credit reports?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Credit repair companies are businesses that often charge you money upfront — and monthly — while offering services advertised to improve your credit score and remove “bad” marks. While using one of these services may sound tempting, it’s important to proceed with caution.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">First, you should know that&nbsp;credit repair agencies&nbsp;do not have the ability to do anything that you cannot do on your own. They often charge you to help you write a credit dispute letter, which you can also do when filing your own dispute at the respective credit bureaus. While these companies may have more manpower to reach out more frequently on disputes, they are not able to remove marks from your credit report that is accurate.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">And, in many cases, credit repair companies will charge you for services they know they cannot provide, such as hiding negative items and information from your credit report.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">That said, if you don’t have the time to file disputes on your own and want help, finding a reputable credit advisor with good ratings and a high Better Business Bureau rating is recommended.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"how-can-i-improve-my-credit-after-filing-bankruptcy\">How can I improve my credit after filing bankruptcy?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">First, understand that you’ll need to start small and take strides towards rebuilding your credit. If you have any remaining credit accounts, paying them on time and in full can help to build a history of healthy credit repayments.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you don’t have credit accounts remaining, you can start by applying for a secured credit card, which allows you access to credit in exchange for a security deposit. This deposit then functions as your credit line. Using this card wisely — not exceeding 30% of your credit balance, making on-time payments, and paying your balance in full each month — can help you start to rebuild your credit.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It may take months or years to get approved for another credit account, so don’t get discouraged in the meantime. Services like Equifax Boost may help you count utility and rent payments towards your credit score and could offer a much-needed credit boost.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">While credit can be important in today’s world if taking on too much credit caused you to file for bankruptcy, giving yourself a break from credit is not a bad idea. This allows you to put some distance between your bankruptcy and a new credit application, so you can apply for a new account when you feel financially ready.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"whats-the-best-way-to-check-your-credit-report\">What’s the best way to check your credit report?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">To view your credit report and score, you can visit&nbsp;annualcreditreport.com, where you’re entitled to a free credit report from each credit bureau. And, under new legislation put into place during the pandemic, you can currently request credit reports each week — for free. You can also visit Experian, Equifax, and Transunion’s sites directly to request a free copy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are other services, such as&nbsp;Credit Karma&nbsp;and FreeCreditReport.com that also offer credit score access. In addition, sometimes your cell phone, internet, and other utility providers offer access. Personal finance apps like Mint and even some credit cards can also provide you with a copy of your credit score.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"the-bottom-line\">The bottom line</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Claiming bankruptcy can impact your credit for up to a decade — and can make it more difficult to repair your credit report. In some cases, however, bankruptcy may be the best option. Understanding your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act can help keep you protected.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you’ve filed for bankruptcy, you cannot remove this claim from your credit report until seven or ten years have passed — depending on the type of bankruptcy you filed. However, if bankruptcy appears on your credit report in error, you can dispute this claim.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Avoid credit repair company schemes claiming they can remove bankruptcy marks from your credit report and instead spend time repairing your credit by applying for a secured card.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://joywallet.com/article/how-to-remove-a-bankruptcy-from-your-credit-report/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Remove A Bankruptcy from Your Credit Report?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2460-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 00:39:23','2022-05-01 00:39:23','',2460,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2469',0,'revision','',0),(2470,1,'2022-05-01 00:55:24','2022-05-01 00:55:24','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2471,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Money-3-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2471\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-1\">The 50/30/20 rule of thumb is a way to allocate your budget according to three categories: needs, wants, and financial goals. It’s not a hard-and-fast rule but rather a rough guideline to help you build a financially sound budget.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-4\">To better understand how to apply the rule, we’ll look at its background, how it works, and its limitations, and we\'ll go through an example. In other words, we’ll show you how and why to set up a budget using the 50/30/20 rule of thumb yourself.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-heading_1-0\"><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>The 50/30/20 rule of thumb is a guideline for allocating your budget accordingly: 50% to “needs,” 30% to “wants,” and 20% to your financial goals. </li><li>The rule was popularized by Elizabeth Warren and her daughter, Amelia Warren Tyagi.</li><li>Your percentages may need to be adjusted based on your personal circumstances.</li><li>It’s only a rule for how to plan your budget; it doesn’t actually track your budget for you.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-8\">What Is the 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-10\">The 50/30/20 rule of thumb is a set of easy guidelines for how to plan your budget. Using them, you allocate your after-tax income to the following categories.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-13\">50% to Needs</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-15\">Needs are what you can’t live without, or at least not very easily. They include things like:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-18\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Rent</li><li>Groceries</li><li>Utilities, such as electricity, water, and sewer service</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-21\">30% to Wants&nbsp;</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-23\">Wants are what you desire but don’t actually need in order to survive. They might include:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-26\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Hobbies</li><li>Vacations</li><li>Dining out</li><li>Digital and streaming services like Netflix and Hulu</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:image -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-29\"><img src=\"https://www.thebalance.com/thmb/GQLT4j_tO0YRHz-PmWtywPRoeKM=/672x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/the-50-30-20-rule-of-thumb-453922-final-5b61ec23c9e77c007be919e1-5ecfc51b09864e289b0ee3fa0d52422f.png\" alt=\"Image shows a pie chart broken up into 50%, 30%, and 20%. Title reads: &quot;The 50/30/20 Budgeting Rule.&quot; Under 50% says &quot;Needs: groceries, housing, utilities, health insurance, car payment.&quot; Under 30% reads: &quot;Wants: shopping dining out, hobbies.&quot; Under 20% says &quot;Savings&quot;\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-31\">0% to Financial Goals</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-33\">This category covers two main areas:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-36\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>All savings, such as retirement contributions, saving for a house, and setting money aside in a 529 college savings plan (note that contributions to a 401(k) come from your pre-tax income)</li><li>Debt payments</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-39\">Because this is just a guideline for <em>planning </em>your budget, you’ll need to supplement it with something to monitor spending, such as a budget tracker like YNAB (You Need a Budget), Mint, or Quicken. You can then set the 50/30/20 percentages as targets within whichever budget tracker you prefer.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-41\">Where Does the 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb Come From?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-43\">The 50/30/20 rule was popularized by Senator Elizabeth Warren (a Harvard law professor when she coined the term) and her daughter, Amelia Warren Tyagi, in the book <em>All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan</em>.  It was designed as a rough rule of thumb for working-class families to plan their spending in order to prepare for the future and unforeseen circumstances.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-45\">How to Use the 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb for Budgeting?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-47\">Most people save too little, and unknowingly spend too much. The 50/30/20 rule of thumb is a way to become aware of your financial habits and limit overspending and under-saving. By spending less on the things that don’t matter that much to you, you can save more for the things that do.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-50\">Here’s how it works:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ol id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-53\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li><strong>Calculate your monthly income:</strong> Add up how much you receive in your bank account each month. If you have a workplace retirement plan, find out how much is withheld, and add that amount back in with your take-home pay. If you pay estimated taxes, reduce your monthly income amount accordingly.</li><li><strong>Calculate a spending threshold for each category:</strong> Multiply your take-home pay by 0.50 (for needs), 0.30 (for wants), and 0.20 (for financial goals) to see how much you should ideally spend in each category. </li><li><strong>Plan your budget around these numbers:</strong> Think of these three categories as “buckets” that you can fill with monthly expenses. List and tally your monthly expenses under the category that each falls into and see whether you’re spending less than the monthly targets you established in the prior step.</li><li><strong>Follow your budget:</strong> Track your expenses each month, and make changes where needed, in order to stick to your spending thresholds going forward.</li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-55\">An Example of the 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-57\">Here’s an example using the steps above:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ol id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-60\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li><strong>Calculate your monthly income:</strong> Let’s say you and your spouse have a total of $4,787 deposited into your bank account each month from your jobs. You both check your pay stubs and see that a total of $532 was taken out for 401(k) contributions. This means that together, your monthly income is $5,319 ($4,787 + $532).</li><li><strong>Calculate a spending threshold for each category:</strong> Based on the 50/30/20 rule, the amount you should allocate to “needs” is $2,659 ($5,319 x 0.50). The amount you should allocate to “wants” is $1,596 ($5,319 x 0.30). The amount you should allocate to financial goals is $1,064 ($5,319 x 0.20). Since you’ve already contributed $532 to your 401(k)s, use the remaining $532 to pay down debt or save for other financial goals.<strong> </strong></li><li><strong>Plan your budget around these numbers: </strong>Go through your budget to either plan out your spending or see how well it is already aligned within these targets. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Total Monthly Income</strong></td><td><strong>$5,319</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Needs: $5,319 x 0.50</td><td>$2,659</td></tr><tr><td>Wants: $5,319 x 0.30</td><td>$1,596</td></tr><tr><td>Goals: $5,319 x 0.20</td><td>$1,064</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-65\">Why the 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb Generally Works?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-67\">Figuring out your finances is confusing, and it’s often hard to know where to start. That’s one reason the 50/30/20 rule of thumb works so well: It’s an easy way to get a handle on something that can otherwise be intimidating.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-70\">Even if you don’t take it any further by tracking how well you stick to these targets, it’s still a good way to take your financial pulse.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-72\">Grain of Salt</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-74\">Like any rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to take the 50/30/20 rule of thumb with a grain of salt.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-77\">Potential for Gray Areas</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-79\">It’s sometimes hard to sort out your spending according to three categories. Everyone needs to eat, for example, but some groceries fall into the wants category (like sugary sodas and unhealthy snacks). </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-82\">Can Be Difficult for Low-Income People</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-84\">If you’re earning just enough to make ends meet, you may struggle to save 20% of your income regardless of how you live, especially if you’re supporting a family.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-87\">Savings Might Not Be Enough</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-89\">On the flip side, if you have big goals, like retiring early or buying a house in a high-income area, 20% might not be enough.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-92\">For example, you’d need to save $200,000 to afford a 20% down payment on a median-priced home in San Francisco—almost two-thirds of the cost of an average-priced home nationwide.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-95\">You Still Need to Track Your Budget</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-97\">The 50/30/20 budget rule is only one piece of the budgeting puzzle. It’s good to shoot for these percentages, but unless you track your spending, you’ll never know whether you’re actually hitting them.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-99\">The 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb vs. Other Budgeting Methods</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-101\">The 50/30/20 rule of thumb isn’t the only game in town. Here are a few other budgeting techniques that might work better for you:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-104\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li><strong>The 80/20 Rule:</strong>&nbsp;With this method, you immediately set aside 20% of your income for savings. The other 80% is yours to spend on whatever you want, with no tracking involved.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>The 70/20/10 Rule:</strong>&nbsp;This rule is similar to the 50/30/20 rule of thumb, but you instead parse out your budget as follows: 70% to living expenses, 20% to debt payments, and 10% to savings.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-106\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How does tithing figure into the 50/30/20 rule?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As with any rule of thumb, you\'ll need to adjust it to fit your specific circumstance. When it comes to tithing or any other religious expense, individuals can decide for themselves whether that\'s something they \"want\" or \"need.\"</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Where does credit card debt go in the 50/30/20 rule?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Paying down debt is considered a financial goal. That means you should allocate 20% of your budget toward some combination of paying down debt and saving for the future.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How much of your paycheck should you spend with the 50/30/20 rule?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The 50/30/20 rule doesn\'t specify how much of each paycheck you should spend. The percentage of your paycheck that you spend or save largely depends on the 20% financial goal category. If your main financial goal is to reduce debt, you\'ll be spending more of your paycheck on that. If your main financial goal is to save up an emergency fund, then you\'ll be saving more of your paycheck.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.thebalance.com/the-50-30-20-rule-of-thumb-453922\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','The 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb for Budgeting','','publish','open','open','','the-50-30-20-rule-of-thumb-for-budgeting','','','2022-05-01 00:55:24','2022-05-01 00:55:24','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2470',0,'post','',0),(2471,1,'2022-05-01 00:40:47','2022-05-01 00:40:47','','Money-3','','inherit','open','closed','','money-3-3','','','2022-05-01 00:40:47','2022-05-01 00:40:47','',2470,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Money-3.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2472,1,'2022-05-01 00:55:24','2022-05-01 00:55:24','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2471,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Money-3-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2471\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-1\">The 50/30/20 rule of thumb is a way to allocate your budget according to three categories: needs, wants, and financial goals. It’s not a hard-and-fast rule but rather a rough guideline to help you build a financially sound budget.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-4\">To better understand how to apply the rule, we’ll look at its background, how it works, and its limitations, and we\'ll go through an example. In other words, we’ll show you how and why to set up a budget using the 50/30/20 rule of thumb yourself.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-heading_1-0\"><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>The 50/30/20 rule of thumb is a guideline for allocating your budget accordingly: 50% to “needs,” 30% to “wants,” and 20% to your financial goals. </li><li>The rule was popularized by Elizabeth Warren and her daughter, Amelia Warren Tyagi.</li><li>Your percentages may need to be adjusted based on your personal circumstances.</li><li>It’s only a rule for how to plan your budget; it doesn’t actually track your budget for you.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-8\">What Is the 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-10\">The 50/30/20 rule of thumb is a set of easy guidelines for how to plan your budget. Using them, you allocate your after-tax income to the following categories.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-13\">50% to Needs</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-15\">Needs are what you can’t live without, or at least not very easily. They include things like:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-18\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Rent</li><li>Groceries</li><li>Utilities, such as electricity, water, and sewer service</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-21\">30% to Wants&nbsp;</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-23\">Wants are what you desire but don’t actually need in order to survive. They might include:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-26\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Hobbies</li><li>Vacations</li><li>Dining out</li><li>Digital and streaming services like Netflix and Hulu</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:image -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-29\"><img src=\"https://www.thebalance.com/thmb/GQLT4j_tO0YRHz-PmWtywPRoeKM=/672x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/the-50-30-20-rule-of-thumb-453922-final-5b61ec23c9e77c007be919e1-5ecfc51b09864e289b0ee3fa0d52422f.png\" alt=\"Image shows a pie chart broken up into 50%, 30%, and 20%. Title reads: &quot;The 50/30/20 Budgeting Rule.&quot; Under 50% says &quot;Needs: groceries, housing, utilities, health insurance, car payment.&quot; Under 30% reads: &quot;Wants: shopping dining out, hobbies.&quot; Under 20% says &quot;Savings&quot;\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-31\">0% to Financial Goals</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-33\">This category covers two main areas:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-36\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>All savings, such as retirement contributions, saving for a house, and setting money aside in a 529 college savings plan (note that contributions to a 401(k) come from your pre-tax income)</li><li>Debt payments</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-39\">Because this is just a guideline for <em>planning </em>your budget, you’ll need to supplement it with something to monitor spending, such as a budget tracker like YNAB (You Need a Budget), Mint, or Quicken. You can then set the 50/30/20 percentages as targets within whichever budget tracker you prefer.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-41\">Where Does the 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb Come From?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-43\">The 50/30/20 rule was popularized by Senator Elizabeth Warren (a Harvard law professor when she coined the term) and her daughter, Amelia Warren Tyagi, in the book <em>All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan</em>.  It was designed as a rough rule of thumb for working-class families to plan their spending in order to prepare for the future and unforeseen circumstances.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-45\">How to Use the 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb for Budgeting?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-47\">Most people save too little, and unknowingly spend too much. The 50/30/20 rule of thumb is a way to become aware of your financial habits and limit overspending and under-saving. By spending less on the things that don’t matter that much to you, you can save more for the things that do.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-50\">Here’s how it works:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ol id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-53\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li><strong>Calculate your monthly income:</strong> Add up how much you receive in your bank account each month. If you have a workplace retirement plan, find out how much is withheld, and add that amount back in with your take-home pay. If you pay estimated taxes, reduce your monthly income amount accordingly.</li><li><strong>Calculate a spending threshold for each category:</strong> Multiply your take-home pay by 0.50 (for needs), 0.30 (for wants), and 0.20 (for financial goals) to see how much you should ideally spend in each category. </li><li><strong>Plan your budget around these numbers:</strong> Think of these three categories as “buckets” that you can fill with monthly expenses. List and tally your monthly expenses under the category that each falls into and see whether you’re spending less than the monthly targets you established in the prior step.</li><li><strong>Follow your budget:</strong> Track your expenses each month, and make changes where needed, in order to stick to your spending thresholds going forward.</li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-55\">An Example of the 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-57\">Here’s an example using the steps above:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ol id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-60\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li><strong>Calculate your monthly income:</strong> Let’s say you and your spouse have a total of $4,787 deposited into your bank account each month from your jobs. You both check your pay stubs and see that a total of $532 was taken out for 401(k) contributions. This means that together, your monthly income is $5,319 ($4,787 + $532).</li><li><strong>Calculate a spending threshold for each category:</strong> Based on the 50/30/20 rule, the amount you should allocate to “needs” is $2,659 ($5,319 x 0.50). The amount you should allocate to “wants” is $1,596 ($5,319 x 0.30). The amount you should allocate to financial goals is $1,064 ($5,319 x 0.20). Since you’ve already contributed $532 to your 401(k)s, use the remaining $532 to pay down debt or save for other financial goals.<strong> </strong></li><li><strong>Plan your budget around these numbers: </strong>Go through your budget to either plan out your spending or see how well it is already aligned within these targets. </li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Total Monthly Income</strong></td><td><strong>$5,319</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Needs: $5,319 x 0.50</td><td>$2,659</td></tr><tr><td>Wants: $5,319 x 0.30</td><td>$1,596</td></tr><tr><td>Goals: $5,319 x 0.20</td><td>$1,064</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-65\">Why the 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb Generally Works?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-67\">Figuring out your finances is confusing, and it’s often hard to know where to start. That’s one reason the 50/30/20 rule of thumb works so well: It’s an easy way to get a handle on something that can otherwise be intimidating.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-70\">Even if you don’t take it any further by tracking how well you stick to these targets, it’s still a good way to take your financial pulse.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-72\">Grain of Salt</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-74\">Like any rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to take the 50/30/20 rule of thumb with a grain of salt.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-77\">Potential for Gray Areas</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-79\">It’s sometimes hard to sort out your spending according to three categories. Everyone needs to eat, for example, but some groceries fall into the wants category (like sugary sodas and unhealthy snacks). </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-82\">Can Be Difficult for Low-Income People</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-84\">If you’re earning just enough to make ends meet, you may struggle to save 20% of your income regardless of how you live, especially if you’re supporting a family.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-87\">Savings Might Not Be Enough</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-89\">On the flip side, if you have big goals, like retiring early or buying a house in a high-income area, 20% might not be enough.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-92\">For example, you’d need to save $200,000 to afford a 20% down payment on a median-priced home in San Francisco—almost two-thirds of the cost of an average-priced home nationwide.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-95\">You Still Need to Track Your Budget</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-97\">The 50/30/20 budget rule is only one piece of the budgeting puzzle. It’s good to shoot for these percentages, but unless you track your spending, you’ll never know whether you’re actually hitting them.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-99\">The 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb vs. Other Budgeting Methods</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-101\">The 50/30/20 rule of thumb isn’t the only game in town. Here are a few other budgeting techniques that might work better for you:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-104\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li><strong>The 80/20 Rule:</strong>&nbsp;With this method, you immediately set aside 20% of your income for savings. The other 80% is yours to spend on whatever you want, with no tracking involved.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>The 70/20/10 Rule:</strong>&nbsp;This rule is similar to the 50/30/20 rule of thumb, but you instead parse out your budget as follows: 70% to living expenses, 20% to debt payments, and 10% to savings.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-106\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How does tithing figure into the 50/30/20 rule?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As with any rule of thumb, you\'ll need to adjust it to fit your specific circumstance. When it comes to tithing or any other religious expense, individuals can decide for themselves whether that\'s something they \"want\" or \"need.\"</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Where does credit card debt go in the 50/30/20 rule?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Paying down debt is considered a financial goal. That means you should allocate 20% of your budget toward some combination of paying down debt and saving for the future.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How much of your paycheck should you spend with the 50/30/20 rule?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The 50/30/20 rule doesn\'t specify how much of each paycheck you should spend. The percentage of your paycheck that you spend or save largely depends on the 20% financial goal category. If your main financial goal is to reduce debt, you\'ll be spending more of your paycheck on that. If your main financial goal is to save up an emergency fund, then you\'ll be saving more of your paycheck.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.thebalance.com/the-50-30-20-rule-of-thumb-453922\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','The 50/30/20 Rule of Thumb for Budgeting','','inherit','closed','closed','','2470-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 00:55:24','2022-05-01 00:55:24','',2470,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2472',0,'revision','',0),(2473,1,'2022-05-01 01:58:47','2022-05-01 01:58:47','<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Cleaning out your Gmail inbox is easier than you might think. It could save you money, too.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2474,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Tech-tips-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2474\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">I refuse to let Google win.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Come May 10, the company had planned to charge me $30 to re-up my Google One subscription for the year, which grants me 200GB of cloud storage space.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Would this fee, which breaks down to $2.50 per month, break my budget? No, especially since I’ve been paying since 2018, when I signed up for Google One for the first time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But earlier this year, I decided to push back against subscription overload: $10 per month for a music service I barely use, $36 per month for 2 pounds of “premium” coffee delivered to my door, $20 per year for a magazine that frequently goes straight to the trash.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">With inflation so high, culling unnecessary subscriptions is a great way to save money. And so, I was determined not to pay a penny more for the items archived in my Google account.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As you may know, the company gives all users 15GB of free storage space to house those many keepsakes stowed in Google Photos, Google Docs, and, crucially in my case, Gmail. To be fair, 15GB is a huge amount of free space (three times what Apple offers, if you’re keeping score), so how could I possibly need more?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Well, I created my Gmail account in 2008 and . . . basically, never deleted anything. I mean that: I’m pretty sure I deleted fewer than 10 emails over the life of my account. Instead, I’d invariably “mark as read” and move on with my day.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Big mistake.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As a result, my inbox was bursting at the seams with junk: Old Navy newsletters from a decade ago, Best Buy offers that expired while President Obama was still in office, happy birthday emails from websites that no longer exist. You name it, I had it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Heck, I had so much email that Gmail couldn’t be bothered to even count anymore: “1-50 of many” was what it said in the top right corner of my inbox as opposed to “1-50 of 50,000” or whatever.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">All told, I had a bit more than 20GB of email in my inbox, well past the 15GB limit for free account storage. If I wanted to avoid paying Google another $30 this year to maintain more than a decade’s worth of junk, I had to act fast.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">So about a week ago, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How to Free Up Gmail Space?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Google provides a few tools to help you free up storage space.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Storage manager is like a sledgehammer: It identifies photos and other large files tucked away across your account, making it easy to liberate gobs of space with just a few mouse clicks. Use it to find and delete, say, long-forgotten PDFs or pointless snapshots lurking in your account. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">After deleting a few very large files, I was pleased with myself, but my account was still north of 20GB. What now?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Enter the Gmail Filter tool, which works more like a scalpel: It lets you find, with real granularity, emails that match certain parameters and then delete them in bulk.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Here’s how it works.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Step 1</strong><br>Come up with a search term likely to yield dozens of unwanted emails. To flush out shipment notifications and sales alerts, for instance, I used things like “ebay order update,” “grubhub delivery,”&nbsp;and “from your Steam wishlist is now on sale.” What’s the point of keeping emails advertising video game sales that expired several years ago?&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For the sake of demonstration, let’s use “oldnavy.com.”</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Step 2</strong><br>Type the term into the search box at the top of your Gmail inbox and hit Enter or click the little magnifying glass icon. You should now see&nbsp;<em>every single email</em>&nbsp;that contains the string “oldnavy.com,” whether that’s from an @oldnavy.com email address, a friend who shared a link to a pair of pants on oldnavy.com, whatever.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As you will see, companies use all sorts of email addresses to successfully reach your inbox. I don’t blame them, I guess, but it’s annoying. I found marketing emails along the lines of “no-reply@company.com,” “marketing@company.com,” “offers@company.com,” and so on, meaning that any search you may have targeting, say, “offers@company.com” won’t catch everything.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It’s a slog, which is why I resorted to deleting all emails simply containing “company.com,” over and over again. See ya.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But when you take that approach, you often end up capturing far more emails than you’d like, including some you may want to keep. So, let’s move on to Step Three.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Step 3</strong><br>Click on Advanced Search on the top right of your screen. Here, you can narrow the search, using parameters such as date received, whether or not the email has an attachment, the size of the file (in megabytes). In my case, I was simply looking to delete every single Old Navy email, so I left all of those extra parameters blank, but this is a good way to delete only Old Navy emails that are three years old or more, if, say, you want to hold onto the more recent ones to preserve certain transaction histories.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Step 4</strong><br>Now click “Create Filter.” Another window will pop up with a series of check boxes where you can take action on all the emails caught by the filter. Most pertinent here are the checkboxes “Delete It” and “Apply filter to X-Number of matching conversations.” In my case, this tells Gmail to delete every single email containing the string “oldnavy.com.” Click “Create Filter” once again and then Gmail will churn through your inbox, deleting the chosen emails and sending them to the Trash.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This deletion process may take a while and you may experience some weirdness. In my case, I literally lost access to my account three separate times over the course of a day or two, with Gmail showing some sort of error message (#2008) about being temporarily unavailable. Each outage lasted about 15 to 30 minutes. So, not forever, but definitely scary in the moment.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Afterward, I reached out to Google to see if they might have any advice about this, and it turns out that the company recommends against so-called “bulk operations” in Gmail. In plain English that means you should avoid deleting more than 1,000 emails at the same time. I managed, but you’ve been warned.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Step 5</strong><br>Delete the filter you just created. If you leave it in place, any future emails that match the description in that filter (i.e., contain “oldnavy.com”) automatically get sent to the Trash. To find the filter, click the Settings cogwheel in your Gmail inbox, then Filters and Blocked Addresses. You can then click “Delete” next to the filter. Note that Google recommends having no more than 500 filters enabled at the same time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">So, how many emails are we talking here?&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">I’m pleased to report that I was able to delete more than 100,000 over the course of two days. You read that right: one hundred thousand. You end up with so much email by merely “marking as read” every single email that arrived.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As of right now, early on the morning of April 25, I’m down to 74,196 emails in my Gmail inbox. I intend to keep whittling away at this number as I think of new search terms to use.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">More importantly, how much space was I able to save? Well, my account went from roughly 20GB in size to 13.12GB, well below the 15GB threshold. As it stands, I will safely avoid having to pay Google $30 per year for the privilege of storing, I don’t know, a decade’s worth of GrubHub emails.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">I have definitely learned a few lessons over the course of this operation.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The first is that 15GB of free storage may sound vast, but it’s not infinite, especially if your account is more than a decade old. In a bit of trivia, Gmail debuted on April 1, 2004, with 1GB of free storage space. At the time, that was such a large amount of free storage some people thought it was an April Fool’s joke.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">And, second, it helps to be a little choosy regarding which email newsletters you sign up for. Do you really need routine updates from every single online merchant you’ve used or every app you’ve ever tried? If so, prepare yourself, and your inbox, for mountains of emails you’ll likely never read, until it comes time to free up storage space.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/internet/how-to-delete-emails-from-your-inbox-a1152128256/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Delete 100,000 Emails From Your Gmail Account in Two Days?','','publish','open','open','','how-to-delete-100000-emails-from-your-gmail-account-in-two-days','','','2022-05-01 01:58:47','2022-05-01 01:58:47','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2473',0,'post','',0),(2474,1,'2022-05-01 01:53:22','2022-05-01 01:53:22','','Tech-tips','','inherit','open','closed','','tech-tips','','','2022-05-01 01:53:22','2022-05-01 01:53:22','',2473,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Tech-tips.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2475,1,'2022-05-01 01:58:47','2022-05-01 01:58:47','<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Cleaning out your Gmail inbox is easier than you might think. It could save you money, too.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2474,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Tech-tips-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2474\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">I refuse to let Google win.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Come May 10, the company had planned to charge me $30 to re-up my Google One subscription for the year, which grants me 200GB of cloud storage space.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Would this fee, which breaks down to $2.50 per month, break my budget? No, especially since I’ve been paying since 2018, when I signed up for Google One for the first time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But earlier this year, I decided to push back against subscription overload: $10 per month for a music service I barely use, $36 per month for 2 pounds of “premium” coffee delivered to my door, $20 per year for a magazine that frequently goes straight to the trash.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">With inflation so high, culling unnecessary subscriptions is a great way to save money. And so, I was determined not to pay a penny more for the items archived in my Google account.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As you may know, the company gives all users 15GB of free storage space to house those many keepsakes stowed in Google Photos, Google Docs, and, crucially in my case, Gmail. To be fair, 15GB is a huge amount of free space (three times what Apple offers, if you’re keeping score), so how could I possibly need more?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Well, I created my Gmail account in 2008 and . . . basically, never deleted anything. I mean that: I’m pretty sure I deleted fewer than 10 emails over the life of my account. Instead, I’d invariably “mark as read” and move on with my day.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Big mistake.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As a result, my inbox was bursting at the seams with junk: Old Navy newsletters from a decade ago, Best Buy offers that expired while President Obama was still in office, happy birthday emails from websites that no longer exist. You name it, I had it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Heck, I had so much email that Gmail couldn’t be bothered to even count anymore: “1-50 of many” was what it said in the top right corner of my inbox as opposed to “1-50 of 50,000” or whatever.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">All told, I had a bit more than 20GB of email in my inbox, well past the 15GB limit for free account storage. If I wanted to avoid paying Google another $30 this year to maintain more than a decade’s worth of junk, I had to act fast.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">So about a week ago, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How to Free Up Gmail Space?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Google provides a few tools to help you free up storage space.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Storage manager is like a sledgehammer: It identifies photos and other large files tucked away across your account, making it easy to liberate gobs of space with just a few mouse clicks. Use it to find and delete, say, long-forgotten PDFs or pointless snapshots lurking in your account. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">After deleting a few very large files, I was pleased with myself, but my account was still north of 20GB. What now?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Enter the Gmail Filter tool, which works more like a scalpel: It lets you find, with real granularity, emails that match certain parameters and then delete them in bulk.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Here’s how it works.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Step 1</strong><br>Come up with a search term likely to yield dozens of unwanted emails. To flush out shipment notifications and sales alerts, for instance, I used things like “ebay order update,” “grubhub delivery,”&nbsp;and “from your Steam wishlist is now on sale.” What’s the point of keeping emails advertising video game sales that expired several years ago?&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For the sake of demonstration, let’s use “oldnavy.com.”</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Step 2</strong><br>Type the term into the search box at the top of your Gmail inbox and hit Enter or click the little magnifying glass icon. You should now see&nbsp;<em>every single email</em>&nbsp;that contains the string “oldnavy.com,” whether that’s from an @oldnavy.com email address, a friend who shared a link to a pair of pants on oldnavy.com, whatever.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As you will see, companies use all sorts of email addresses to successfully reach your inbox. I don’t blame them, I guess, but it’s annoying. I found marketing emails along the lines of “no-reply@company.com,” “marketing@company.com,” “offers@company.com,” and so on, meaning that any search you may have targeting, say, “offers@company.com” won’t catch everything.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It’s a slog, which is why I resorted to deleting all emails simply containing “company.com,” over and over again. See ya.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But when you take that approach, you often end up capturing far more emails than you’d like, including some you may want to keep. So, let’s move on to Step Three.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Step 3</strong><br>Click on Advanced Search on the top right of your screen. Here, you can narrow the search, using parameters such as date received, whether or not the email has an attachment, the size of the file (in megabytes). In my case, I was simply looking to delete every single Old Navy email, so I left all of those extra parameters blank, but this is a good way to delete only Old Navy emails that are three years old or more, if, say, you want to hold onto the more recent ones to preserve certain transaction histories.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Step 4</strong><br>Now click “Create Filter.” Another window will pop up with a series of check boxes where you can take action on all the emails caught by the filter. Most pertinent here are the checkboxes “Delete It” and “Apply filter to X-Number of matching conversations.” In my case, this tells Gmail to delete every single email containing the string “oldnavy.com.” Click “Create Filter” once again and then Gmail will churn through your inbox, deleting the chosen emails and sending them to the Trash.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This deletion process may take a while and you may experience some weirdness. In my case, I literally lost access to my account three separate times over the course of a day or two, with Gmail showing some sort of error message (#2008) about being temporarily unavailable. Each outage lasted about 15 to 30 minutes. So, not forever, but definitely scary in the moment.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Afterward, I reached out to Google to see if they might have any advice about this, and it turns out that the company recommends against so-called “bulk operations” in Gmail. In plain English that means you should avoid deleting more than 1,000 emails at the same time. I managed, but you’ve been warned.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Step 5</strong><br>Delete the filter you just created. If you leave it in place, any future emails that match the description in that filter (i.e., contain “oldnavy.com”) automatically get sent to the Trash. To find the filter, click the Settings cogwheel in your Gmail inbox, then Filters and Blocked Addresses. You can then click “Delete” next to the filter. Note that Google recommends having no more than 500 filters enabled at the same time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">So, how many emails are we talking here?&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">I’m pleased to report that I was able to delete more than 100,000 over the course of two days. You read that right: one hundred thousand. You end up with so much email by merely “marking as read” every single email that arrived.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As of right now, early on the morning of April 25, I’m down to 74,196 emails in my Gmail inbox. I intend to keep whittling away at this number as I think of new search terms to use.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">More importantly, how much space was I able to save? Well, my account went from roughly 20GB in size to 13.12GB, well below the 15GB threshold. As it stands, I will safely avoid having to pay Google $30 per year for the privilege of storing, I don’t know, a decade’s worth of GrubHub emails.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">I have definitely learned a few lessons over the course of this operation.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The first is that 15GB of free storage may sound vast, but it’s not infinite, especially if your account is more than a decade old. In a bit of trivia, Gmail debuted on April 1, 2004, with 1GB of free storage space. At the time, that was such a large amount of free storage some people thought it was an April Fool’s joke.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">And, second, it helps to be a little choosy regarding which email newsletters you sign up for. Do you really need routine updates from every single online merchant you’ve used or every app you’ve ever tried? If so, prepare yourself, and your inbox, for mountains of emails you’ll likely never read, until it comes time to free up storage space.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/internet/how-to-delete-emails-from-your-inbox-a1152128256/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Delete 100,000 Emails From Your Gmail Account in Two Days?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2473-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 01:58:47','2022-05-01 01:58:47','',2473,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2475',0,'revision','',0),(2476,1,'2022-05-01 05:26:15','2022-05-01 05:26:15','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2477,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Productivity-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2477\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Boredom!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The bane of creativity and the scourge of productivity. It’s easy to lay the blame and even easier to advise activity as the best way to deal with boredom. However, most times we are stymied when it comes to ‘the what’ exactly should I be doing right now to kill boredom!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The problem comes with the type of things we engage in to alleviate our boredom. How many times do you get told to make productive use of your time, to engage in physical activity, etc.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The dilemma isn’t quite so simple. After all, a walk around the park is a physical&nbsp;activity and technically checks quite a few boxes. But the repetition will tend to put you right back where&nbsp;you were, mentally&nbsp;idle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Most of the activity involved in walking, even walking around a park&nbsp;is muscle memory and needs very little mental engagement.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">That is where we come in with a handy little list for you that will have you mentally engaged in no time. Following these tips will help you achieve the littlest of things you have always wanted to do. Study shows that people who engage their idle time become 8% more productive.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><em><strong>Pro Tip:</strong> You can set up meetings and invite co-workers to a casual banter about work, related activities, and vice versa. Don’t forget to sprinkle it with a side of emojis and videos to engage everyone in a conversation</em>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"the-most-productive-things-to-do-in-2022\">The Most Productive Things to Do in 2022:</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Here is a list of productive things to do that will prove both productive and effectual for you in professional and personal growth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"1-take-a-break\"><strong>1. Take a break</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Sound condescending and counter-intuitive?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But if you are hitting a wall when it comes to that project or that deadline, it’s been proven in studies that a break reenergizes you and boosts your mental acuity. So, you may have actually walked away from work, but when you come back there is renewed enthusiasm, you’ll end up being more productive.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"2-get-organized-with-ntask-productivity-app\"><strong>2. Get organized with nTask productivity app</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8555} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/mobilefirst.png\" alt=\"mobilefirst\" class=\"wp-image-8555\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Productivity apps are beginning to play a significant role in helping manage our workplace tasks, personal organization, and team productivity. These apps allow you to organize your to-do lists, events, meetings, schedules, etc.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>nTask</strong> is one of the best productivity apps, free to use with unlimited tasks and checklists. It helps you stay on track with timely reminders and handy tips on how to carry out some of those tasks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"3-listen-to-productivity-podcasts\"><strong>3. Listen to productivity podcasts</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8999} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Listen-to-podcast-700x280.png\" alt=\"Listen to podcast\" class=\"wp-image-8999\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Podcasts are a great way to boost your morale and get you on top of your game. The best part about them is that you can listen while you are out walking, driving, or while you wait in line for your coffee.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Focus your search and find out more about handy tips and tricks from business leaders who are inspiring people to change their lives and make their careers more interesting. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"4-brush-up-on-your-skills\"><strong>4. Brush up on your skills</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8998} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Brush-skills-700x280.png\" alt=\"Brush skills\" class=\"wp-image-8998\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Choosing a career path involves acquiring knowledge and skills in your field, however, somewhere between the work hours and getting home in time to eat and get your eight hours of sleep can sometimes leave our acquired skills in the dust as there are new things on the horizon every day. A great way to fill up some of your downtimes is to acquire another skill or brush up on the basics.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Research the latest trends in project management, customer management, software development, or any area of interest during your free time. These activities can help in your long-term career growth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"5-learn-a-new-language\"><strong>5. Learn a new language</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8553} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/learn-a-new-language.jpg\" alt=\"Learn a new language\" class=\"wp-image-8553\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Next on our list of productive things to do when bored is to learn a new language. According to language experts at LearnALanguageOnline.net, professionals that are fluent in a second language can earn up to 15 percent more than their monolingual counterparts.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Learning another language doesn’t just improve your career opportunities but it also gives you an edge when you finally decide to take that dream vacation.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"6-declutter-your-inbox\"><strong>6. De-clutter your inbox</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9000} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/clean-your-inbox-700x280.png\" alt=\"clean your inbox\" class=\"wp-image-9000\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">None of us like an impossibly full mailbox, but the emails continue to pile up. Sometimes it’s as simple as something we subscribed to, and now no longer interested in or just spam that we are planning to get rid of as soon as we have a minute for ourselves. Sometimes we mark an email unread as a way of keeping it in our follow up… either way, they pile up very quickly.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">According to The McKinsey Global Institute, an average employee spends 13 hours a week reading and responding to email. However, according to SaneBox’s internal data, the average inbox only contains 38% important and relevant emails!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Email de-cluttering can be one of the most productive things to do in your free time. Set up a reminder with sticky notes on your desk or wherever you can easily see it and get down to cleaning up your inbox.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"7-planning-ahead\"><strong>7. Planning ahead</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/plan-tasks-700x280.png\" alt=\"plan tasks\"></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Planning your task/s ahead of time is one way of ensuring success. This also allows you to identify time slots where you can allocate yourself some me-time. Sometimes planning feels like a tough thing, killing creativity and inspiration, but it also allows you a bird’s eye view of all that requires your attention in addition to making sure nothing slips through the cracks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As a result of preplanning, you will also have the luxury of being able to track down a colleague or a friend who may have carried out similar tasks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"8-read\"><strong>8. Read</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9002} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Read-books-700x280.png\" alt=\"Read books\" class=\"wp-image-9002\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Research at Emory University concluded that reading non-fiction can help the brain function better and boost its connectivity. Another study suggests that people who engage their brains with activities such as reading, chess, or puzzles are 2.5 times less prone to developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who don’t.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you prefer the feel of a real book, walk to your nearest bookstore and pick up the latest offer, and grab a sandwich, and head out to the park for a great afternoon.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"9-learn-a-new-skill\"><strong>9. Learn a new skill</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8560} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/learn-skill.jpg\" alt=\"Learn skill\" class=\"wp-image-8560\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>“</strong><em>Find a niche and stick to it</em>” is all too common a phrase now but the real fun begins when you try to master a skill that is not associated with your field.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Acquiring a new skill creates new neural pathways or strengthens the existing ones, in your brain. This, in turn, creates brain “plasticity” which according to research can stave off the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Discover the untapped areas of your mind and enhance your creativity by learning new skills. You can learn presentation skills, public speaking, graphic designing, video editing, development language, and many more.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"10-evaluate-your-productive-hours\"><strong>10. Evaluate your productive hours</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9003} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Productive-hours-700x280.png\" alt=\"Productive hours\" class=\"wp-image-9003\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Statistics show that typically, individuals get most of their work done (9.7%) at around 11 am. And discovering whether you are a morning or nocturnal person helps you plan your task well. Sit back and determine the time you’re most productive at, so you can get most of your work done during those hours.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you think your energies are off the chart during the daytime, gear yourself up and try to complete most of your important tasks during the day, this way you’ll get more done and still have ample time left to run other errands.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"11-network\"><strong>11. Network</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9004} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Network-with-others-700x280.png\" alt=\"Network with others\" class=\"wp-image-9004\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This can be a little challenging, especially for introverts but trust us when we say this, networking is crucial when it comes to staying at the top of your game. Another productive thing to do when bored when you have free time on your hands is to take the opportunity to reach out to your industry professionals to make yourself visible.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Also, remember to shoot a quick message or email to a former colleague that you haven’t contacted in a while.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Check up on them and ask if they’re up for a short coffee session. By networking, you can build a good rapport with your peers which would facilitate understanding the industry’s trends and give you a quick idea about how things are changing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"12-update-your-resume\"><strong>12. Update your resume</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9005} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Update-your-resume-01-700x280.png\" alt=\"Update your resume\" class=\"wp-image-9005\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">One of the most productive things to do whenever you have free time at work is to update your resume. You never know when an opportunity knocks on your door, so you should be prepared.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It is also an opportunity for you to evaluate your skills, experiences, strengths, and weaknesses that you’ve gathered over time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This might take some time but it will give you useful insights to reflect on your career and what career choices you should look into. This practice can come in handy when there are possibilities of internal advancement.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"13-take-up-some-new-responsibilities\"><strong>13. Take up some new responsibilities</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9006} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Take-the-responsibilities-700x237.png\" alt=\"Take the responsibilities\" class=\"wp-image-9006\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Discovering you have time on your hands at work is an opportunity to pick up more responsibilities. Take a look around you and find a colleague who needs help or an intern you can mentor.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Taking up new roles breaks the monotony of your routine which may be stepping out of your comfort zone, but adds value to your career development and brings better opportunities along the way.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"14-maintain-a-journal\"><strong>14. Maintain a journal</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9007} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Keep-a-journal-700x280.png\" alt=\"Keep a journal\" class=\"wp-image-9007\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Next on our list of productive things to do when bored is keeping a journal.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Journaling is now an accepted way of therapy for many issues. It’s important to document your ideas, thoughts, achievements, and your dreams.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">So take some time out of your schedule and write it all down. Don’t aim for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time, which makes it less of a chore and more check-in with yourself. Your journal is like your best friend, but without the trust issues, just a place for self-reflection and serious venting.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"15-go-for-a-stroll\"><strong>15. Go for a stroll</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9008} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Go-for-Stroll-700x280.png\" alt=\"Go for Stroll\" class=\"wp-image-9008\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you’re a workaholic and spend most of the time at a desk, your health could be at a risk.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Sitting at your desk for long hours without taking a break to move around can have a negative impact on your productivity, studies show that walking has a direct relationship with your creativity levels. People who sit for long hours at work are at a higher risk of contracting multiple ailments.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Squeezing in a strenuous workout routine during your schedule can be tough but very rewarding. Choosing to engage yourself in active exercises for a little bit each day can work wonders for you. Take a small break at intervals to go for a small stroll around the office even if its short distances. You don’t have to take longer breaks to let it work its magic. To improve your productivity and creativity at work, try to move around more often.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"16-organize-your-computer\"><strong>16. Organize your computer</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9009} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/organize-computer-700x280.png\" alt=\"organize computer\" class=\"wp-image-9009\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The digital hoarder inside you might get a panic attack from just thinking about this but you need to get rid of all those extra files you’ve been holding on to. It is also an opportunity to organize your folders into smaller and easily identifiable information.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Categorize all the files according to their type and group them in related folders to make accessing them in the future a whole lot easier.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Another productive thing to try out when bored is giving your keyboard a quick clean-up – it’s buddies with your fingers and deserves all the TLC it can get.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"17-track-your-progress\"><strong>17. Track your progress</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9010} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Track-progress-700x280.png\" alt=\"Track progress\" class=\"wp-image-9010\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you have the opportunity, find a quiet place and track your progress on just about anything you may want to monitor.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This review will help you analyze your goals better and set your priorities straight. It is a great way to highlight your achievements and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. With all your achievements right in front of you, you will likely be motivated to stick to your goals and get better in the decision making.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"18-set-your-goals-for-next-year\"><strong>18. Set your goals for next year</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9011} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/set-goals-for-you-700x280.png\" alt=\"set goals for you\" class=\"wp-image-9011\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Normally this activity is associated with the New Year and its affiliated guilt. Try doing this at a random point in the year, and because there’s no baggage attached, you will find your mind more open to focusing on achievements and goals that may have been daunting earlier.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Use  SMART (<em>Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely</em>) metrics. These carefully thought-out goals will give you a laser focus on what exactly you want to achieve and the accountability comes from the credibility of the life of the written word. It’s been proved in study after study that writing your goals and then setting timelines makes them 2.5 times more achievable.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"19-eliminate-distractions\"><strong>19. Eliminate distractions</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8670} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Distracted-and-unfocused-01-700x280.png\" alt=\"Distracted and unfocused\" class=\"wp-image-8670\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Distractions are everywhere around you. They are also the worst enemy of productivity. Whether its social media, unnecessary emails, or calls, they can turn out to be your productivity killers if not addressed rightly.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">They can also mentally and physically exhaust you, thus taking a toll on your mental health too. To improve your focus and give all your energies to your tasks, you need to eliminate distractions around you. Firstly, try to identify what is distracting you from your standard work routine and is slowing down your productivity. Jot these things down and analyze how much time you use on each one of them.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This will give you a fair analysis of probable distractions and what you need to do to remove them. Another important thing to note here is that a plethora of unnecessary distractions keep our minds occupied. They take up our mental energies, which otherwise could be spent on other productive things.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"20-work-on-your-physical-and-mental-health\"><strong>20. Work on your physical and mental health</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9012} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/physical-and-mental-health-700x280.png\" alt=\"physical and mental health\" class=\"wp-image-9012\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Boredom is one of the known causes of depression and anxiety. Doing nothing results in losing energy and motivation to achieve your short term and long-term goals. Zhuzh up your day by doing something physical which breaks the monotony and gives you that energy boost to finish that task.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Try walking, jogging, swimming, or biking, to start becoming more active. Yoga and meditation work like a mental exercise to help you relax and surprisingly improve your focus.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"21-make-your-grocery-list-in-advance\"><strong>21. Make your grocery list in advance</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9013} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grocery-list-700x280.png\" alt=\"grocery list\" class=\"wp-image-9013\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Fill up some of that space in time by making a grocery list. Break it up into daily, weekly, or monthly shopping. This will not only help with the frustration of never again forgetting a prime ingredient in a planned dinner, but it’ll also give you a birds-eye view of what you are spending.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For those of us who need to watch what we eat or those who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, an advance list will show you just where you need to focus to maintain your goals.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"22-write-thank-you-emails\"><strong>22. Write thank you emails</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9014} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Thank-you-email-700x280.png\" alt=\"Thank you email\" class=\"wp-image-9014\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This is definitely an activity that is going out of fashion due to extra busy schedules but goes a long way in bringing a smile to someone’s face and ensuring you are always remembered in your network. Saying ‘thank you’ to the people who matter to you is necessary to live a happy life.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Take out time on your list of productive things to do to think about the people who have given you the courage to be at the place you are right now. It could be your colleagues, teachers, managers, bosses, friends, or family members.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can either send them handwritten thank you cards or a nicely crafted email. Sending a message on their social media accounts will also suffice. This will help you the same as networking in events for your career and personal growth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Take a moment to tell them that you love them all and also when finishing up on an important project or when you have achieved a big milestone, remember to thank the people who helped you out in life.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"23-help-others-in-need\"><strong>23. Help others in need</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9016} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/help-friends-700x280.png\" alt=\"help friends\" class=\"wp-image-9016\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The best use of your time can be helping those who need help. Join your local shelter or volunteer group to spread goodwill. These small actions can make a huge difference in someone’s life.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The feel-good element of course is a bonus as volunteering has been proven to help with symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, and depression.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"24-watch-motivational-videos\"><strong>24. Watch Motivational Videos</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9019} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/motivational-videos-700x280.png\" alt=\"motivational videos\" class=\"wp-image-9019\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Watching motivational videos is an important investment in your personal and professional development and is another productive thing to do when bored.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can search for the most popular motivational speakers on YouTube like Tonny Robbin, Les Brown, Nick Vujicic, and many others.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"25-start-your-personal-blog\"><strong>25. Start your personal blog</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9018} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Start-personal-blog.png\" alt=\"Start personal blog\" class=\"wp-image-9018\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This can be fun and enlightening. It is an awesome way to add your voice to the world and interact with people who may subscribe to your blog or even just read it and leave comments. Some blogs can be added plus for your career and can improve your CV.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Blogs are a great way to build your confidence and help you figure out your skillset or passion. Try picking up on a niche where you have some knowledge or some expertise; like if you are a good student, share your tips with others; if you are a stay at home mom, share your home and life hacks, your survival stories, and so on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Once you are up and running on blogging and microsites like, Medium, Tumblr, or LinkedIn Publisher, you can look into buying a domain and creating and copyrighting your identity. Start off with WordPress, Wix, or Weebly. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"26-join-product-hunt\"><strong>26. Join Product Hunt</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9020} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Product-Hunt-700x383.jpg\" alt=\"Product Hunt\" class=\"wp-image-9020\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you are a tech enthusiast and always looking for the next new thing, the next new software, mobile applications, or tech gadgets, then you should join Product Hunt. This platform curates the best new products in the market every day. You can search, collaborate, ask questions, and get feedback on the latest products.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Product Hunt has around a million subscribers that talk about tech products and share their knowledge with the community. So, as the next item on your productivity list, log in to this amazing platform to learn about new stuff that is trending. You can also upvote your favorite apps listed on Product Hunt and give useful suggestions.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"27-cook-something-new\"><strong>27. Cook something new</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9692} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Cook-something-new-700x280.png\" alt=\"Cook something new\" class=\"wp-image-9692\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Learning to cook something new is another exciting item that should be on your productivity list. Now is the time to try out the cuisines you loved in MasterChef series.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You aren’t looking to impress Gordon Ramsay or the MasterChef judges. You want to try out something new and in the process make your friends and family happy too! Do a search of the best recipe on the net, figure out which method suits you best. Sometimes you have to check if the ingredients are available… like wanting to do a pumpkin pie in the middle of summer. No harm in dreaming, but then you’ll have to use tinned options.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can also share your experience on social media or start a blog!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"28-leave-online-reviews-for-products-you-love\"><strong>28. Leave online reviews for products you love</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9693} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Leave-online-reviews-700x280.png\" alt=\"Leave online reviews\" class=\"wp-image-9693\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Leaving positive reviews for the products, services, events, or places you love is a great way of encouraging those who made them available.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It could be anything at all, a t-shirt you recently ordered from an e-commerce store or software you use to manage your work online.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Take out time to write some good, honest reviews for the products you love as a token of appreciation and an opportunity for them to make improvements to their products.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/blog/productive-things-to-do-when-bored/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','The 28 Most Productive Things to Do When Bored','','publish','open','open','','the-28-most-productive-things-to-do-when-bored','','','2022-05-01 05:26:15','2022-05-01 05:26:15','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2476',0,'post','',0),(2477,1,'2022-05-01 02:00:11','2022-05-01 02:00:11','','Productivity','','inherit','open','closed','','productivity-4','','','2022-05-01 02:00:11','2022-05-01 02:00:11','',2476,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Productivity.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2478,1,'2022-05-01 05:26:15','2022-05-01 05:26:15','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2477,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Productivity-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2477\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Boredom!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The bane of creativity and the scourge of productivity. It’s easy to lay the blame and even easier to advise activity as the best way to deal with boredom. However, most times we are stymied when it comes to ‘the what’ exactly should I be doing right now to kill boredom!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The problem comes with the type of things we engage in to alleviate our boredom. How many times do you get told to make productive use of your time, to engage in physical activity, etc.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The dilemma isn’t quite so simple. After all, a walk around the park is a physical&nbsp;activity and technically checks quite a few boxes. But the repetition will tend to put you right back where&nbsp;you were, mentally&nbsp;idle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Most of the activity involved in walking, even walking around a park&nbsp;is muscle memory and needs very little mental engagement.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">That is where we come in with a handy little list for you that will have you mentally engaged in no time. Following these tips will help you achieve the littlest of things you have always wanted to do. Study shows that people who engage their idle time become 8% more productive.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><em><strong>Pro Tip:</strong> You can set up meetings and invite co-workers to a casual banter about work, related activities, and vice versa. Don’t forget to sprinkle it with a side of emojis and videos to engage everyone in a conversation</em>.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"the-most-productive-things-to-do-in-2022\">The Most Productive Things to Do in 2022:</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Here is a list of productive things to do that will prove both productive and effectual for you in professional and personal growth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"1-take-a-break\"><strong>1. Take a break</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Sound condescending and counter-intuitive?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But if you are hitting a wall when it comes to that project or that deadline, it’s been proven in studies that a break reenergizes you and boosts your mental acuity. So, you may have actually walked away from work, but when you come back there is renewed enthusiasm, you’ll end up being more productive.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"2-get-organized-with-ntask-productivity-app\"><strong>2. Get organized with nTask productivity app</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8555} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/mobilefirst.png\" alt=\"mobilefirst\" class=\"wp-image-8555\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Productivity apps are beginning to play a significant role in helping manage our workplace tasks, personal organization, and team productivity. These apps allow you to organize your to-do lists, events, meetings, schedules, etc.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>nTask</strong> is one of the best productivity apps, free to use with unlimited tasks and checklists. It helps you stay on track with timely reminders and handy tips on how to carry out some of those tasks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"3-listen-to-productivity-podcasts\"><strong>3. Listen to productivity podcasts</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8999} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Listen-to-podcast-700x280.png\" alt=\"Listen to podcast\" class=\"wp-image-8999\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Podcasts are a great way to boost your morale and get you on top of your game. The best part about them is that you can listen while you are out walking, driving, or while you wait in line for your coffee.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Focus your search and find out more about handy tips and tricks from business leaders who are inspiring people to change their lives and make their careers more interesting. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"4-brush-up-on-your-skills\"><strong>4. Brush up on your skills</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8998} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Brush-skills-700x280.png\" alt=\"Brush skills\" class=\"wp-image-8998\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Choosing a career path involves acquiring knowledge and skills in your field, however, somewhere between the work hours and getting home in time to eat and get your eight hours of sleep can sometimes leave our acquired skills in the dust as there are new things on the horizon every day. A great way to fill up some of your downtimes is to acquire another skill or brush up on the basics.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Research the latest trends in project management, customer management, software development, or any area of interest during your free time. These activities can help in your long-term career growth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"5-learn-a-new-language\"><strong>5. Learn a new language</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8553} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/learn-a-new-language.jpg\" alt=\"Learn a new language\" class=\"wp-image-8553\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Next on our list of productive things to do when bored is to learn a new language. According to language experts at LearnALanguageOnline.net, professionals that are fluent in a second language can earn up to 15 percent more than their monolingual counterparts.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Learning another language doesn’t just improve your career opportunities but it also gives you an edge when you finally decide to take that dream vacation.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"6-declutter-your-inbox\"><strong>6. De-clutter your inbox</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9000} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/clean-your-inbox-700x280.png\" alt=\"clean your inbox\" class=\"wp-image-9000\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">None of us like an impossibly full mailbox, but the emails continue to pile up. Sometimes it’s as simple as something we subscribed to, and now no longer interested in or just spam that we are planning to get rid of as soon as we have a minute for ourselves. Sometimes we mark an email unread as a way of keeping it in our follow up… either way, they pile up very quickly.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">According to The McKinsey Global Institute, an average employee spends 13 hours a week reading and responding to email. However, according to SaneBox’s internal data, the average inbox only contains 38% important and relevant emails!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Email de-cluttering can be one of the most productive things to do in your free time. Set up a reminder with sticky notes on your desk or wherever you can easily see it and get down to cleaning up your inbox.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"7-planning-ahead\"><strong>7. Planning ahead</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/plan-tasks-700x280.png\" alt=\"plan tasks\"></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Planning your task/s ahead of time is one way of ensuring success. This also allows you to identify time slots where you can allocate yourself some me-time. Sometimes planning feels like a tough thing, killing creativity and inspiration, but it also allows you a bird’s eye view of all that requires your attention in addition to making sure nothing slips through the cracks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As a result of preplanning, you will also have the luxury of being able to track down a colleague or a friend who may have carried out similar tasks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"8-read\"><strong>8. Read</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9002} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Read-books-700x280.png\" alt=\"Read books\" class=\"wp-image-9002\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Research at Emory University concluded that reading non-fiction can help the brain function better and boost its connectivity. Another study suggests that people who engage their brains with activities such as reading, chess, or puzzles are 2.5 times less prone to developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who don’t.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you prefer the feel of a real book, walk to your nearest bookstore and pick up the latest offer, and grab a sandwich, and head out to the park for a great afternoon.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"9-learn-a-new-skill\"><strong>9. Learn a new skill</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8560} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/learn-skill.jpg\" alt=\"Learn skill\" class=\"wp-image-8560\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>“</strong><em>Find a niche and stick to it</em>” is all too common a phrase now but the real fun begins when you try to master a skill that is not associated with your field.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Acquiring a new skill creates new neural pathways or strengthens the existing ones, in your brain. This, in turn, creates brain “plasticity” which according to research can stave off the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Discover the untapped areas of your mind and enhance your creativity by learning new skills. You can learn presentation skills, public speaking, graphic designing, video editing, development language, and many more.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"10-evaluate-your-productive-hours\"><strong>10. Evaluate your productive hours</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9003} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Productive-hours-700x280.png\" alt=\"Productive hours\" class=\"wp-image-9003\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Statistics show that typically, individuals get most of their work done (9.7%) at around 11 am. And discovering whether you are a morning or nocturnal person helps you plan your task well. Sit back and determine the time you’re most productive at, so you can get most of your work done during those hours.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you think your energies are off the chart during the daytime, gear yourself up and try to complete most of your important tasks during the day, this way you’ll get more done and still have ample time left to run other errands.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"11-network\"><strong>11. Network</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9004} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Network-with-others-700x280.png\" alt=\"Network with others\" class=\"wp-image-9004\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This can be a little challenging, especially for introverts but trust us when we say this, networking is crucial when it comes to staying at the top of your game. Another productive thing to do when bored when you have free time on your hands is to take the opportunity to reach out to your industry professionals to make yourself visible.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Also, remember to shoot a quick message or email to a former colleague that you haven’t contacted in a while.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Check up on them and ask if they’re up for a short coffee session. By networking, you can build a good rapport with your peers which would facilitate understanding the industry’s trends and give you a quick idea about how things are changing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"12-update-your-resume\"><strong>12. Update your resume</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9005} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Update-your-resume-01-700x280.png\" alt=\"Update your resume\" class=\"wp-image-9005\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">One of the most productive things to do whenever you have free time at work is to update your resume. You never know when an opportunity knocks on your door, so you should be prepared.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It is also an opportunity for you to evaluate your skills, experiences, strengths, and weaknesses that you’ve gathered over time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This might take some time but it will give you useful insights to reflect on your career and what career choices you should look into. This practice can come in handy when there are possibilities of internal advancement.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"13-take-up-some-new-responsibilities\"><strong>13. Take up some new responsibilities</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9006} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Take-the-responsibilities-700x237.png\" alt=\"Take the responsibilities\" class=\"wp-image-9006\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Discovering you have time on your hands at work is an opportunity to pick up more responsibilities. Take a look around you and find a colleague who needs help or an intern you can mentor.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Taking up new roles breaks the monotony of your routine which may be stepping out of your comfort zone, but adds value to your career development and brings better opportunities along the way.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"14-maintain-a-journal\"><strong>14. Maintain a journal</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9007} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Keep-a-journal-700x280.png\" alt=\"Keep a journal\" class=\"wp-image-9007\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Next on our list of productive things to do when bored is keeping a journal.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Journaling is now an accepted way of therapy for many issues. It’s important to document your ideas, thoughts, achievements, and your dreams.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">So take some time out of your schedule and write it all down. Don’t aim for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time, which makes it less of a chore and more check-in with yourself. Your journal is like your best friend, but without the trust issues, just a place for self-reflection and serious venting.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"15-go-for-a-stroll\"><strong>15. Go for a stroll</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9008} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Go-for-Stroll-700x280.png\" alt=\"Go for Stroll\" class=\"wp-image-9008\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you’re a workaholic and spend most of the time at a desk, your health could be at a risk.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Sitting at your desk for long hours without taking a break to move around can have a negative impact on your productivity, studies show that walking has a direct relationship with your creativity levels. People who sit for long hours at work are at a higher risk of contracting multiple ailments.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Squeezing in a strenuous workout routine during your schedule can be tough but very rewarding. Choosing to engage yourself in active exercises for a little bit each day can work wonders for you. Take a small break at intervals to go for a small stroll around the office even if its short distances. You don’t have to take longer breaks to let it work its magic. To improve your productivity and creativity at work, try to move around more often.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"16-organize-your-computer\"><strong>16. Organize your computer</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9009} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/organize-computer-700x280.png\" alt=\"organize computer\" class=\"wp-image-9009\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The digital hoarder inside you might get a panic attack from just thinking about this but you need to get rid of all those extra files you’ve been holding on to. It is also an opportunity to organize your folders into smaller and easily identifiable information.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Categorize all the files according to their type and group them in related folders to make accessing them in the future a whole lot easier.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Another productive thing to try out when bored is giving your keyboard a quick clean-up – it’s buddies with your fingers and deserves all the TLC it can get.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"17-track-your-progress\"><strong>17. Track your progress</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9010} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Track-progress-700x280.png\" alt=\"Track progress\" class=\"wp-image-9010\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you have the opportunity, find a quiet place and track your progress on just about anything you may want to monitor.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This review will help you analyze your goals better and set your priorities straight. It is a great way to highlight your achievements and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. With all your achievements right in front of you, you will likely be motivated to stick to your goals and get better in the decision making.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"18-set-your-goals-for-next-year\"><strong>18. Set your goals for next year</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9011} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/set-goals-for-you-700x280.png\" alt=\"set goals for you\" class=\"wp-image-9011\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Normally this activity is associated with the New Year and its affiliated guilt. Try doing this at a random point in the year, and because there’s no baggage attached, you will find your mind more open to focusing on achievements and goals that may have been daunting earlier.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Use  SMART (<em>Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely</em>) metrics. These carefully thought-out goals will give you a laser focus on what exactly you want to achieve and the accountability comes from the credibility of the life of the written word. It’s been proved in study after study that writing your goals and then setting timelines makes them 2.5 times more achievable.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"19-eliminate-distractions\"><strong>19. Eliminate distractions</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":8670} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Distracted-and-unfocused-01-700x280.png\" alt=\"Distracted and unfocused\" class=\"wp-image-8670\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Distractions are everywhere around you. They are also the worst enemy of productivity. Whether its social media, unnecessary emails, or calls, they can turn out to be your productivity killers if not addressed rightly.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">They can also mentally and physically exhaust you, thus taking a toll on your mental health too. To improve your focus and give all your energies to your tasks, you need to eliminate distractions around you. Firstly, try to identify what is distracting you from your standard work routine and is slowing down your productivity. Jot these things down and analyze how much time you use on each one of them.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This will give you a fair analysis of probable distractions and what you need to do to remove them. Another important thing to note here is that a plethora of unnecessary distractions keep our minds occupied. They take up our mental energies, which otherwise could be spent on other productive things.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"20-work-on-your-physical-and-mental-health\"><strong>20. Work on your physical and mental health</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9012} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/physical-and-mental-health-700x280.png\" alt=\"physical and mental health\" class=\"wp-image-9012\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Boredom is one of the known causes of depression and anxiety. Doing nothing results in losing energy and motivation to achieve your short term and long-term goals. Zhuzh up your day by doing something physical which breaks the monotony and gives you that energy boost to finish that task.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Try walking, jogging, swimming, or biking, to start becoming more active. Yoga and meditation work like a mental exercise to help you relax and surprisingly improve your focus.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"21-make-your-grocery-list-in-advance\"><strong>21. Make your grocery list in advance</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9013} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/grocery-list-700x280.png\" alt=\"grocery list\" class=\"wp-image-9013\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Fill up some of that space in time by making a grocery list. Break it up into daily, weekly, or monthly shopping. This will not only help with the frustration of never again forgetting a prime ingredient in a planned dinner, but it’ll also give you a birds-eye view of what you are spending.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For those of us who need to watch what we eat or those who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, an advance list will show you just where you need to focus to maintain your goals.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"22-write-thank-you-emails\"><strong>22. Write thank you emails</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9014} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Thank-you-email-700x280.png\" alt=\"Thank you email\" class=\"wp-image-9014\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This is definitely an activity that is going out of fashion due to extra busy schedules but goes a long way in bringing a smile to someone’s face and ensuring you are always remembered in your network. Saying ‘thank you’ to the people who matter to you is necessary to live a happy life.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Take out time on your list of productive things to do to think about the people who have given you the courage to be at the place you are right now. It could be your colleagues, teachers, managers, bosses, friends, or family members.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can either send them handwritten thank you cards or a nicely crafted email. Sending a message on their social media accounts will also suffice. This will help you the same as networking in events for your career and personal growth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Take a moment to tell them that you love them all and also when finishing up on an important project or when you have achieved a big milestone, remember to thank the people who helped you out in life.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"23-help-others-in-need\"><strong>23. Help others in need</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9016} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/help-friends-700x280.png\" alt=\"help friends\" class=\"wp-image-9016\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The best use of your time can be helping those who need help. Join your local shelter or volunteer group to spread goodwill. These small actions can make a huge difference in someone’s life.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The feel-good element of course is a bonus as volunteering has been proven to help with symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, and depression.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"24-watch-motivational-videos\"><strong>24. Watch Motivational Videos</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9019} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/motivational-videos-700x280.png\" alt=\"motivational videos\" class=\"wp-image-9019\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Watching motivational videos is an important investment in your personal and professional development and is another productive thing to do when bored.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can search for the most popular motivational speakers on YouTube like Tonny Robbin, Les Brown, Nick Vujicic, and many others.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"25-start-your-personal-blog\"><strong>25. Start your personal blog</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9018} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Start-personal-blog.png\" alt=\"Start personal blog\" class=\"wp-image-9018\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This can be fun and enlightening. It is an awesome way to add your voice to the world and interact with people who may subscribe to your blog or even just read it and leave comments. Some blogs can be added plus for your career and can improve your CV.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Blogs are a great way to build your confidence and help you figure out your skillset or passion. Try picking up on a niche where you have some knowledge or some expertise; like if you are a good student, share your tips with others; if you are a stay at home mom, share your home and life hacks, your survival stories, and so on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Once you are up and running on blogging and microsites like, Medium, Tumblr, or LinkedIn Publisher, you can look into buying a domain and creating and copyrighting your identity. Start off with WordPress, Wix, or Weebly. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"26-join-product-hunt\"><strong>26. Join Product Hunt</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9020} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Product-Hunt-700x383.jpg\" alt=\"Product Hunt\" class=\"wp-image-9020\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you are a tech enthusiast and always looking for the next new thing, the next new software, mobile applications, or tech gadgets, then you should join Product Hunt. This platform curates the best new products in the market every day. You can search, collaborate, ask questions, and get feedback on the latest products.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Product Hunt has around a million subscribers that talk about tech products and share their knowledge with the community. So, as the next item on your productivity list, log in to this amazing platform to learn about new stuff that is trending. You can also upvote your favorite apps listed on Product Hunt and give useful suggestions.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"27-cook-something-new\"><strong>27. Cook something new</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9692} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Cook-something-new-700x280.png\" alt=\"Cook something new\" class=\"wp-image-9692\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Learning to cook something new is another exciting item that should be on your productivity list. Now is the time to try out the cuisines you loved in MasterChef series.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You aren’t looking to impress Gordon Ramsay or the MasterChef judges. You want to try out something new and in the process make your friends and family happy too! Do a search of the best recipe on the net, figure out which method suits you best. Sometimes you have to check if the ingredients are available… like wanting to do a pumpkin pie in the middle of summer. No harm in dreaming, but then you’ll have to use tinned options.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can also share your experience on social media or start a blog!</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"28-leave-online-reviews-for-products-you-love\"><strong>28. Leave online reviews for products you love</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":9693} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Leave-online-reviews-700x280.png\" alt=\"Leave online reviews\" class=\"wp-image-9693\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Leaving positive reviews for the products, services, events, or places you love is a great way of encouraging those who made them available.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It could be anything at all, a t-shirt you recently ordered from an e-commerce store or software you use to manage your work online.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Take out time to write some good, honest reviews for the products you love as a token of appreciation and an opportunity for them to make improvements to their products.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.ntaskmanager.com/blog/productive-things-to-do-when-bored/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','The 28 Most Productive Things to Do When Bored','','inherit','closed','closed','','2476-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 05:26:15','2022-05-01 05:26:15','',2476,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2478',0,'revision','',0),(2479,1,'2022-05-01 05:36:39','2022-05-01 05:36:39','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2480,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Retirement-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2480\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\">What Is Retirement Readiness?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-1\">The term retirement readiness refers to the state and degree of being ready for retirement. Retirement readiness requires being financially prepared for retirement. Individuals need discipline, clearly defined goals, and a plan in order to become ready for retirement. Some people may consult a financial professional in order to help them achieve their goals. People who are ready for retirement are generally on target to meet their future income goals so they can maintain and enjoy the same standard of living they have while working.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-heading_1-0\"><strong>KEY TAKEAWAYS</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Retirement readiness is the state and degree of being ready for retirement.</li><li>Readiness requires discipline, clearly defined goals, and plans.</li><li>Individuals may seek out the help of a financial professional to help achieve their goals.</li><li>Being ready for retirement means you\'re generally on target to meet your income goals to maintain the same standard of living you have while working.</li><li>Starting a plan early can help you become retirement-ready without a sense of urgency or risk.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-5\">Understanding Retirement Readiness</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-6\">As noted above, retirement readiness is the state of being prepared and ready for retirement. People who are ready for retirement have a clear plan and goals set out that they stick to in order to maintain the same way of life they have while they are in the workforce.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-8\">Retirement planning is a key element of retirement readiness. This is the process by which someone lays out their income and personal goals, as well as the steps they need to take in order to achieve them. This entails financial planning by choosing investments and savings vehicles that are suitable for retirement, such as:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-10\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Employer-offered plans like 401(k)s</li><li>Individual retirement accounts (IRAs)</li><li>Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs)</li><li>Savings accounts</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Individuals may also consider setting up emergency funds and life insurance policies. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-12\">People should also take care to plan for any debt they may have and ensure their assets are properly managed. Many people often seek out the help of a professional, such as a financial or investment advisor to help guide them to the point where they are retirement ready.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-14\">Although retirement readiness depends on each person\'s financial situation, many financial experts believe that retirees need between 80% to 90% of their pre-retirement income to be able to maintain their lifestyles and, more importantly, keep up with their living expenses. This means saving as much as 12 times their pre-retirement salaries.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-16\">Financial readiness is only one part of being prepared for retirement. Being prepared mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically are also important. Many experts recommend taking part in activities that will satisfy these aspects of your life. Knowing where you will live when you will retire and whether you will go back to work or school are all important aspects of financial readiness.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-heading_1-0-1\"><strong>FAST FACT</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Nearly one-third of people are ready for retirement.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-20\">Special Considerations</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-21\">Retirement readiness isn\'t always easy, In fact, it takes a lot of planning, hard work, and discipline. Individuals who aren\'t financially healthy may not be adequately prepared for retirement. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-21\">Not having a plan and being overburdened by debt can also prevent you from reaching your retirement goals.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-23\">There are a few factors that you should consider if you want to be ready for retirement. We\'ve listed just a few of the most common ones below.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-25\">Goals and Retirement Plans</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-26\">Before you start planning and saving, you may want to note down some of your goals and plans. For instance:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-28\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>At which age do you intend to retire?</li><li>Where will you live?</li><li>How much will you need in order to live every month?</li><li>Do you intend to work or volunteer during retirement?</li><li>Is travel a big part of your retirement plan?</li><li>Will you have dependents to care for after you stop working?</li><li>How will you account for emergency expenses?</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-30\">The answers to some of these basic questions may help you shape your plan and show how ready you\'ll be when it comes time to retire. Of course, your priorities may change over time, but some of these questions will likely remain, such as where you\'ll live.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-32\">You can use the answers to these questions to help you plan a monthly and annual budget that you can stick to and use as a guide as you move closer to your ideal retirement age.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-34\">Age</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-35\">The age at which you begin your retirement planning is very important, not to mention the age at which you intend to retire. Financial experts agree that the earlier you start planning (and saving), the better.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-37\">When you\'re younger, you have a greater tolerance for risk and you only need to invest a smaller amount of money to reach your goals. If you start planning when you\'re younger, you have a longer time horizon to invest your money and make your plans and map out your goals.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-39\">If you start planning and saving when you\'re older, you have less time for your nest egg to grow, so it\'s imperative that you start as soon as you can. This doesn\'t mean that you can\'t accomplish your goals. It just means that you have to sock away more money and curb your risk.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-41\">Income</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-42\">One of the main questions you should ask yourself while planning is how you intend to support yourself during retirement. Most people will get Social Security, but the program may not help you achieve all your goals. The program increased the age when full benefits kick in from 65 to 67, depending on when you were born. This is referred to as your Full Retirement Age (FRA). However, you can choose to defer your benefits even longer, up to age 70, which will increase the benefit you receive.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-44\">Most employers offer their workers retirement plans like 401(s) and ESOPs. Companies deduct money from your paycheck every month before your income is taxed and the funds are put into an investment that grows with time. Some employers even match their employees\' contributions, which sweetens the pot.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-46\">You can also choose to invest your own money through IRAs, certificates of deposit (CDs), and savings accounts.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-48\">Example of Retirement Readiness</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-49\">The Transamerica Center for Retirement studies conducts annual surveys of American workers and employers about their views of retirement benefits and security. The firm\'s 2020 survey found that retirement readiness is still a big concern for most people. As many as 52% of the respondents said they would retire after 65 or don\'t plan to retire at all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-51\">As many as 70% of the people surveyed said they have a plan in place for retirement. Only 27% of these individuals, though, have a written plan. As many as 30% of responders said they didn\'t have a retirement plan in place at all.<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://transamericacenter.org/docs/default-source/retirement-survey-of-workers/tcrs2020_sr_20th_annual_compendium_of_workers_report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-53\">The economic changes in 2020 and 2021 caused a shift in financial priorities for most people. In fact, about 33% of Americans had to dip into their retirement savings. But more than half said they remain confident that they can retire confidently even with financial setbacks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/retirement-readiness.asp\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','What is Retirement Readiness?','','publish','open','open','','what-is-retirement-readiness','','','2022-05-01 05:36:39','2022-05-01 05:36:39','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2479',0,'post','',0),(2480,1,'2022-05-01 05:27:56','2022-05-01 05:27:56','','Retirement','','inherit','open','closed','','retirement','','','2022-05-01 05:27:56','2022-05-01 05:27:56','',2479,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Retirement.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2481,1,'2022-05-01 05:36:39','2022-05-01 05:36:39','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2480,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Retirement-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2480\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\">What Is Retirement Readiness?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-1\">The term retirement readiness refers to the state and degree of being ready for retirement. Retirement readiness requires being financially prepared for retirement. Individuals need discipline, clearly defined goals, and a plan in order to become ready for retirement. Some people may consult a financial professional in order to help them achieve their goals. People who are ready for retirement are generally on target to meet their future income goals so they can maintain and enjoy the same standard of living they have while working.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-heading_1-0\"><strong>KEY TAKEAWAYS</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Retirement readiness is the state and degree of being ready for retirement.</li><li>Readiness requires discipline, clearly defined goals, and plans.</li><li>Individuals may seek out the help of a financial professional to help achieve their goals.</li><li>Being ready for retirement means you\'re generally on target to meet your income goals to maintain the same standard of living you have while working.</li><li>Starting a plan early can help you become retirement-ready without a sense of urgency or risk.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-5\">Understanding Retirement Readiness</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-6\">As noted above, retirement readiness is the state of being prepared and ready for retirement. People who are ready for retirement have a clear plan and goals set out that they stick to in order to maintain the same way of life they have while they are in the workforce.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-8\">Retirement planning is a key element of retirement readiness. This is the process by which someone lays out their income and personal goals, as well as the steps they need to take in order to achieve them. This entails financial planning by choosing investments and savings vehicles that are suitable for retirement, such as:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-10\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Employer-offered plans like 401(k)s</li><li>Individual retirement accounts (IRAs)</li><li>Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs)</li><li>Savings accounts</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Individuals may also consider setting up emergency funds and life insurance policies. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-12\">People should also take care to plan for any debt they may have and ensure their assets are properly managed. Many people often seek out the help of a professional, such as a financial or investment advisor to help guide them to the point where they are retirement ready.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-14\">Although retirement readiness depends on each person\'s financial situation, many financial experts believe that retirees need between 80% to 90% of their pre-retirement income to be able to maintain their lifestyles and, more importantly, keep up with their living expenses. This means saving as much as 12 times their pre-retirement salaries.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-16\">Financial readiness is only one part of being prepared for retirement. Being prepared mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically are also important. Many experts recommend taking part in activities that will satisfy these aspects of your life. Knowing where you will live when you will retire and whether you will go back to work or school are all important aspects of financial readiness.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-heading_1-0-1\"><strong>FAST FACT</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Nearly one-third of people are ready for retirement.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-20\">Special Considerations</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-21\">Retirement readiness isn\'t always easy, In fact, it takes a lot of planning, hard work, and discipline. Individuals who aren\'t financially healthy may not be adequately prepared for retirement. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-21\">Not having a plan and being overburdened by debt can also prevent you from reaching your retirement goals.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-23\">There are a few factors that you should consider if you want to be ready for retirement. We\'ve listed just a few of the most common ones below.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-25\">Goals and Retirement Plans</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-26\">Before you start planning and saving, you may want to note down some of your goals and plans. For instance:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-28\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>At which age do you intend to retire?</li><li>Where will you live?</li><li>How much will you need in order to live every month?</li><li>Do you intend to work or volunteer during retirement?</li><li>Is travel a big part of your retirement plan?</li><li>Will you have dependents to care for after you stop working?</li><li>How will you account for emergency expenses?</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-30\">The answers to some of these basic questions may help you shape your plan and show how ready you\'ll be when it comes time to retire. Of course, your priorities may change over time, but some of these questions will likely remain, such as where you\'ll live.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-32\">You can use the answers to these questions to help you plan a monthly and annual budget that you can stick to and use as a guide as you move closer to your ideal retirement age.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-34\">Age</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-35\">The age at which you begin your retirement planning is very important, not to mention the age at which you intend to retire. Financial experts agree that the earlier you start planning (and saving), the better.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-37\">When you\'re younger, you have a greater tolerance for risk and you only need to invest a smaller amount of money to reach your goals. If you start planning when you\'re younger, you have a longer time horizon to invest your money and make your plans and map out your goals.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-39\">If you start planning and saving when you\'re older, you have less time for your nest egg to grow, so it\'s imperative that you start as soon as you can. This doesn\'t mean that you can\'t accomplish your goals. It just means that you have to sock away more money and curb your risk.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-41\">Income</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-42\">One of the main questions you should ask yourself while planning is how you intend to support yourself during retirement. Most people will get Social Security, but the program may not help you achieve all your goals. The program increased the age when full benefits kick in from 65 to 67, depending on when you were born. This is referred to as your Full Retirement Age (FRA). However, you can choose to defer your benefits even longer, up to age 70, which will increase the benefit you receive.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-44\">Most employers offer their workers retirement plans like 401(s) and ESOPs. Companies deduct money from your paycheck every month before your income is taxed and the funds are put into an investment that grows with time. Some employers even match their employees\' contributions, which sweetens the pot.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-46\">You can also choose to invest your own money through IRAs, certificates of deposit (CDs), and savings accounts.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-48\">Example of Retirement Readiness</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-49\">The Transamerica Center for Retirement studies conducts annual surveys of American workers and employers about their views of retirement benefits and security. The firm\'s 2020 survey found that retirement readiness is still a big concern for most people. As many as 52% of the respondents said they would retire after 65 or don\'t plan to retire at all.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-51\">As many as 70% of the people surveyed said they have a plan in place for retirement. Only 27% of these individuals, though, have a written plan. As many as 30% of responders said they didn\'t have a retirement plan in place at all.<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://transamericacenter.org/docs/default-source/retirement-survey-of-workers/tcrs2020_sr_20th_annual_compendium_of_workers_report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-53\">The economic changes in 2020 and 2021 caused a shift in financial priorities for most people. In fact, about 33% of Americans had to dip into their retirement savings. But more than half said they remain confident that they can retire confidently even with financial setbacks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/retirement-readiness.asp\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','What is Retirement Readiness?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2479-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 05:36:39','2022-05-01 05:36:39','',2479,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2481',0,'revision','',0),(2482,1,'2022-05-01 05:49:53','2022-05-01 05:49:53','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2483,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Home-improvement-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2483\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When it comes to home renovations, dealing with an older residence can pose a unique challenge. Not just historic houses, either: Even homes built 40 years ago could contain chemical-laden materials, outdated electrical systems and weak roofs — to name just a few problems.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Sometimes the troubles are due to changes in construction codes and standards, and sometimes they’re just due to old age. But if you are thinking about restoring an old home, here are some things you should know before you take on the project — and what you can do about the trouble spots.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">1. The walls could be toxic</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Many properties of a certain age contain dangerous substances. Of course, it wasn’t known at the time they were built that they were dangerous, and even today these substances are not harmful — unless they are released into the air during demolition or renovations, or through damaged surfaces.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For example, houses that were built before the 1980s are likely to contain asbestos, which can be found in textured paint, steam pipes, spray-on insulation and floor tiles. When you rip up old tiles or tear down insulation, asbestos can get released into the air, causing lung damage in people working on or living in the house.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In addition, it’s important to be aware of lead paint when renovating an older home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 87 percent of homes built before 1940, and a quarter of those built between 1960 and 1978 were adorned with lead-based paint, which can cause both physical and mental problems —  particularly for children and pregnant women.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When it comes to renovating a home with toxic chemicals, specifically asbestos, it’s best to call in the professionals. You can test for asbestos yourself, but you need the right safety gear, as well as a respirator, to remove it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Lead paint may be less of a problem: It can be painted over with lead-free paint. However, if you notice that the walls or ceilings or window sills/frames are peeling, chipping or cracking, it needs to be removed using certain precautions. Again, ask the pros.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">2. Mold and mildew is spreading</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Older homes are more likely to have moisture problems, due to unidentified leaks and flooding or water damage that was never fixed properly. As a result, mold or mildew may be present, especially in basements and dark spaces. If the home you are renovating is near the ocean, or in a very humid climate, the chance of mold and mildew is even higher.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">While the risk is less severe than with lead or asbestos, mold and mildew can cause health problems, especially for those with respiratory ailments or allergies; at the very least, they cause unpleasant smells, and can lead to rot. Molds grow fast, and they won’t go away on their own. So if you find mold or mildew during renovations, it needs to be addressed right away.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Although there are professionals that specialize in safe mold and mildew removal, it’s often possible to get rid of it yourself. But you cannot paint over mold or just cut out a piece of drywall where it is growing — mold can become airborne and spread to nearby areas. Mold can usually be removed using a solution containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide, but you need to wear gloves, a mask and eye protection, and ventilate the space using a box fan or by opening windows.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">3. The roof might not meet current building codes</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you are renovating an older home, there’s a good chance that it will need a new roof. Even quality roofs need to be replaced every 25 to 50 years, on average. Plus, roofs on older homes were often built with wooden shingles, which are susceptible to mold, leaks and fire.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Depending on the year the house was built, there’s also a good chance that the roof needs to be replaced to comply with the current building codes, which specify materials, thicknesses, and construction practices to ensure safety and durability. An old roof may have been okay for its day, but not up to the latest regs.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For example, in some states where wildfires occur each year, roofs are required to be constructed with fire-resistant shingles. There are also codes around roof design: Contractors are required to install a drain at each low point of the roof, unless the roof slope is designed to drain over the roof edges. Having an up-to-date roof can be important for homeowners insurance coverage as well.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Even for the most experienced DIY-ers, replacing a roof should be left up to a professional contractor. They can help you decide what type of roof will be best for your home, and make sure that it meets your local construction standards — or makes sense for your climate. For example, if the home is located in a high-risk hurricane area, you might decide to install a metal roof, which is more resistant to high winds than asphalt shingles.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">4. The foundation is unstable</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Foundation cracks can occur in any house, but as homes get older, the foundation is more likely to get damaged. There are a variety of things that can create cracks in a foundation, including groundwater, tree roots, poor construction and drainage issues. In addition, many older homes have a brick foundation, which is not as strong and resilient as newer foundations that are made of concrete.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you notice cracks in your home’s foundation that are bigger than ⅛ of an inch, or cracks that are getting larger, you may need to repair them during the renovation process. You should also keep an eye out for foundation cracks that are accompanied by bulging, which can indicate a more serious structural issue.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It’s fairly simple to repair small cracks (¼ inch or smaller) with store-bought epoxy sealer. However, larger cracks that are ½ inch long or bigger are better addressed by a professional. The same holds for foundation walls that are out of alignment or bulging.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">5. The electrical wiring works but is out-of-date</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It’s been over a century since electricity became commonplace in residences, and electrical wiring methods and regulations have changed a lot in that time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Many older or historical homes have knob-and-tube wiring, which was widely used until the 1930s. It’s not illegal and it’s still acceptable under today’s electrical codes.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">However, knob-and-tube wiring is not the most ideal system for contemporary usage. It does not have a grounding pathway, so it’s more likely to damage your electronics. In addition, knob-and-tube electrical systems don’t have three-prong outlets, which many appliances require today. And the wire coating can be well on the way to wearing off; if it does, it exposes a live wire (which can cause an electrical fire).</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Also, knob-and-tube wiring has some limitations when it comes to the restoration of a historic house. For example, you cannot put insulation over a knob-and-tube electrical system because the wires can easily overheat. So, if you intend to insulate or re-insulate your older home, you may have no choice but to replace the entire electrical system.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">6. The plumbing system uses galvanized pipes</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If your home was built around 1960 or so, you will want to check for galvanized pipes. Made of steel, galvanized pipes were one of the first replacements for lead pipes. Coated in zinc, they are pretty durable — for a time. But over the decades, the coating breaks down, causing the pipes to corrode and rust from constant water exposure. When galvanized pipes become worn, it can increase the risk of leaks and bursting, which can cause serious water damage.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Similar to knob-and-tube electrical systems, galvanized pipes do not have to be replaced. This plumbing system is acceptable under today’s building codes. However, if you notice pipes that are severely rusted, have low water pressure or notice that the water coming out of your faucets is discolored, you should think about replacing the plumbing system.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Depending on the size of your home, replacing galvanized pipes can be a lengthy process. However, it’s best to replace the pipes during the early stages of renovation. Replacing the plumbing will involve cutting into walls and floors, and replacing rusted and corroded pipes can be messy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">The final word on renovating old houses</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This is not to put you off historic housing. Just be aware that, even if it appears to be in great shape, an old home can have hidden troubles — and if it’s a fixer-upper, the problems can be even more acute. Consider and check on these often less-than-obvious concerns, and factor fixes for them into your renovation budget.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','6 things to know about renovating an old house','','publish','open','open','','6-things-to-know-about-renovating-an-old-house','','','2022-05-01 05:49:53','2022-05-01 05:49:53','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2482',0,'post','',0),(2483,1,'2022-05-01 05:46:05','2022-05-01 05:46:05','','Home-improvement','','inherit','open','closed','','home-improvement-3','','','2022-05-01 05:46:05','2022-05-01 05:46:05','',2482,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Home-improvement.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2484,1,'2022-05-01 05:49:53','2022-05-01 05:49:53','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2483,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Home-improvement-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2483\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When it comes to home renovations, dealing with an older residence can pose a unique challenge. Not just historic houses, either: Even homes built 40 years ago could contain chemical-laden materials, outdated electrical systems and weak roofs — to name just a few problems.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Sometimes the troubles are due to changes in construction codes and standards, and sometimes they’re just due to old age. But if you are thinking about restoring an old home, here are some things you should know before you take on the project — and what you can do about the trouble spots.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">1. The walls could be toxic</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Many properties of a certain age contain dangerous substances. Of course, it wasn’t known at the time they were built that they were dangerous, and even today these substances are not harmful — unless they are released into the air during demolition or renovations, or through damaged surfaces.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For example, houses that were built before the 1980s are likely to contain asbestos, which can be found in textured paint, steam pipes, spray-on insulation and floor tiles. When you rip up old tiles or tear down insulation, asbestos can get released into the air, causing lung damage in people working on or living in the house.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In addition, it’s important to be aware of lead paint when renovating an older home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 87 percent of homes built before 1940, and a quarter of those built between 1960 and 1978 were adorned with lead-based paint, which can cause both physical and mental problems —  particularly for children and pregnant women.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">When it comes to renovating a home with toxic chemicals, specifically asbestos, it’s best to call in the professionals. You can test for asbestos yourself, but you need the right safety gear, as well as a respirator, to remove it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Lead paint may be less of a problem: It can be painted over with lead-free paint. However, if you notice that the walls or ceilings or window sills/frames are peeling, chipping or cracking, it needs to be removed using certain precautions. Again, ask the pros.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">2. Mold and mildew is spreading</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Older homes are more likely to have moisture problems, due to unidentified leaks and flooding or water damage that was never fixed properly. As a result, mold or mildew may be present, especially in basements and dark spaces. If the home you are renovating is near the ocean, or in a very humid climate, the chance of mold and mildew is even higher.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">While the risk is less severe than with lead or asbestos, mold and mildew can cause health problems, especially for those with respiratory ailments or allergies; at the very least, they cause unpleasant smells, and can lead to rot. Molds grow fast, and they won’t go away on their own. So if you find mold or mildew during renovations, it needs to be addressed right away.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Although there are professionals that specialize in safe mold and mildew removal, it’s often possible to get rid of it yourself. But you cannot paint over mold or just cut out a piece of drywall where it is growing — mold can become airborne and spread to nearby areas. Mold can usually be removed using a solution containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide, but you need to wear gloves, a mask and eye protection, and ventilate the space using a box fan or by opening windows.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">3. The roof might not meet current building codes</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you are renovating an older home, there’s a good chance that it will need a new roof. Even quality roofs need to be replaced every 25 to 50 years, on average. Plus, roofs on older homes were often built with wooden shingles, which are susceptible to mold, leaks and fire.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Depending on the year the house was built, there’s also a good chance that the roof needs to be replaced to comply with the current building codes, which specify materials, thicknesses, and construction practices to ensure safety and durability. An old roof may have been okay for its day, but not up to the latest regs.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For example, in some states where wildfires occur each year, roofs are required to be constructed with fire-resistant shingles. There are also codes around roof design: Contractors are required to install a drain at each low point of the roof, unless the roof slope is designed to drain over the roof edges. Having an up-to-date roof can be important for homeowners insurance coverage as well.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Even for the most experienced DIY-ers, replacing a roof should be left up to a professional contractor. They can help you decide what type of roof will be best for your home, and make sure that it meets your local construction standards — or makes sense for your climate. For example, if the home is located in a high-risk hurricane area, you might decide to install a metal roof, which is more resistant to high winds than asphalt shingles.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">4. The foundation is unstable</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Foundation cracks can occur in any house, but as homes get older, the foundation is more likely to get damaged. There are a variety of things that can create cracks in a foundation, including groundwater, tree roots, poor construction and drainage issues. In addition, many older homes have a brick foundation, which is not as strong and resilient as newer foundations that are made of concrete.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you notice cracks in your home’s foundation that are bigger than ⅛ of an inch, or cracks that are getting larger, you may need to repair them during the renovation process. You should also keep an eye out for foundation cracks that are accompanied by bulging, which can indicate a more serious structural issue.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It’s fairly simple to repair small cracks (¼ inch or smaller) with store-bought epoxy sealer. However, larger cracks that are ½ inch long or bigger are better addressed by a professional. The same holds for foundation walls that are out of alignment or bulging.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">5. The electrical wiring works but is out-of-date</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It’s been over a century since electricity became commonplace in residences, and electrical wiring methods and regulations have changed a lot in that time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Many older or historical homes have knob-and-tube wiring, which was widely used until the 1930s. It’s not illegal and it’s still acceptable under today’s electrical codes.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">However, knob-and-tube wiring is not the most ideal system for contemporary usage. It does not have a grounding pathway, so it’s more likely to damage your electronics. In addition, knob-and-tube electrical systems don’t have three-prong outlets, which many appliances require today. And the wire coating can be well on the way to wearing off; if it does, it exposes a live wire (which can cause an electrical fire).</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Also, knob-and-tube wiring has some limitations when it comes to the restoration of a historic house. For example, you cannot put insulation over a knob-and-tube electrical system because the wires can easily overheat. So, if you intend to insulate or re-insulate your older home, you may have no choice but to replace the entire electrical system.<br><a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/#\"></a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">6. The plumbing system uses galvanized pipes</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If your home was built around 1960 or so, you will want to check for galvanized pipes. Made of steel, galvanized pipes were one of the first replacements for lead pipes. Coated in zinc, they are pretty durable — for a time. But over the decades, the coating breaks down, causing the pipes to corrode and rust from constant water exposure. When galvanized pipes become worn, it can increase the risk of leaks and bursting, which can cause serious water damage.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Similar to knob-and-tube electrical systems, galvanized pipes do not have to be replaced. This plumbing system is acceptable under today’s building codes. However, if you notice pipes that are severely rusted, have low water pressure or notice that the water coming out of your faucets is discolored, you should think about replacing the plumbing system.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Depending on the size of your home, replacing galvanized pipes can be a lengthy process. However, it’s best to replace the pipes during the early stages of renovation. Replacing the plumbing will involve cutting into walls and floors, and replacing rusted and corroded pipes can be messy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">The final word on renovating old houses</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This is not to put you off historic housing. Just be aware that, even if it appears to be in great shape, an old home can have hidden troubles — and if it’s a fixer-upper, the problems can be even more acute. Consider and check on these often less-than-obvious concerns, and factor fixes for them into your renovation budget.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/things-to-know-renovating-an-old-house/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','6 things to know about renovating an old house','','inherit','closed','closed','','2482-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 05:49:53','2022-05-01 05:49:53','',2482,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2484',0,'revision','',0),(2485,1,'2022-05-01 09:01:25','2022-05-01 09:01:25','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2486,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Small-biz-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2486\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\">To succeed in business today, you need to be flexible and have good planning and organizational skills. Many people start a business thinking that they’ll turn on their computers or open their doors and start making money,&nbsp;only to find that making money in a business is much more difficult than they thought.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-2\">You can avoid this in your business ventures by taking your time and planning out all the necessary steps you need to achieve success.&nbsp;Whatever type of business you want to start, using the following nine tips can help you be successful in your venture.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-heading_1-0\"><strong>KEY TAKEAWAYS</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Starting a business requires analytical thinking, determined organization, and detailed record-keeping.</li><li>It’s important to be aware of your competition and either appropriate or improve upon their successful tactics.</li><li>You’ll almost certainly end up working harder for yourself than you would for someone else, so prepare to make sacrifices in your personal life when establishing your business.</li><li>Providing good service to your customers is crucial to gaining their loyalty and retaining their business.</li><li>Make sure not only that the business is ready for launch, but you are as well.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h4 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-inlinevideo__title_1-0\"><strong>9 Tips For Growing A Successful Business</strong></h4>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-8\"><strong>1. Get Organized</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-9\">To achieve business success you need to be organized. It will help you complete tasks and stay on top of things to be done. A good way to be organized is to create a to-do list each day. As you complete each item, check it off your list. This will ensure that you’re not forgetting anything and completing all the tasks that are essential to the survival of your business.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-11\">Many software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools exist to increase organization. Tools like Slack, Asana, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other newer additions. That being said, a simple Excel spreadsheet will meet 95% of a business\'s organization requirements.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-13\"><strong>2. Keep Detailed Records</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-14\">All successful businesses keep detailed records. By doing so, you’ll know where the business stands financially and what potential challenges you could be facing. Just knowing this gives you time to create strategies to overcome those challenges. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-16\">Most businesses are choosing to keep two sets of records: one physical and one in the cloud. By having records that are constantly uploaded and backed up, a business no longer has to worry about losing their data. The physical record exists as a backup but more often than not, it is used to ensure that the other information is correct.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-18\"><strong>3. Analyze Your Competition</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-19\">Competition breeds the best results. To be successful, you can’t be afraid to study and learn from your competitors. After all, they may be doing something right that you can implement in your business to make more money.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-21\">How you analyze competition will vary between sectors. If you\'re a restaurant owner, you may simply be able to dine at your competition\'s restaurants, ask other customers what they think, and gain information that way. However, you could be a company with much more limited access to your competitors, such as a chemicals company. In that case, you would work with a business professional and accountant to go over not just what the business presents to the world, but any financial information you may be able to get on the company as well.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-23\"><strong>4. Understand the Risks and Rewards</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-24\">The key to being successful is taking calculated risks to help your business grow. A good question to ask is “What’s the downside?” If you can answer this question, then you know what the worst-case scenario is. This knowledge will allow you to take the kinds of calculated risks that can generate tremendous rewards.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Important: Understanding risks and rewards includes being smart about the timing of starting your business. For example, did the severe economic dislocation of 2020 provide you with an opportunity (say, manufacturing and selling face masks) or an impediment (opening a new restaurant during a time of social distancing and limited seating allowed)?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-28\"><strong>5. Be Creative</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-29\">Always be looking for ways to improve your business and make it stand out from the competition. Recognize that you don’t know everything and be open to new ideas and different approaches to your business.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-31\">There are many outlets that may lead to additional revenues. Take Amazon for example. The company started out as a bookseller and grew into an eCommerce giant. Not a lot of people expected that one of the major ways that Amazon makes its money is through its Web Services division. The division did so well that when Jeff Bezos stepped down as CEO, the head of Amazon Web Services was named the new CEO.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-33\"><strong>6. Stay Focused</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-34\">The old saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” applies here. Just because you open a business doesn’t mean you’re going to immediately start making money. It takes time to let people know who you are, so stay focused on achieving your short-term goals.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-36\">Many small business owners don\'t even see a profit for a few years while they use their revenues to recoup investment costs. This is called being \"in the red.\" When you are profitable and make more than you need to spend to cover debts and payroll, this is called being \"in the black.\"</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\">That being said, if the business is not turning a profit after a substantial period of time, it\'s worth looking into if there are issues with the product or service, if the market still exists, and other possible issues that might slow or halt a business\'s growth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-40\"><strong>7. Prepare to Make Sacrifices</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-41\">The lead-up to starting a business is hard work, but after you open your doors, your work has just begun. In many cases, you have to put in more time than you would if you were working for someone else, which may mean spending less time with family and friends to be successful.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-43\">The adage that there are no weekends and no vacations for business owners might ring true for those who are committed to making their business work. There is nothing wrong with full-time employment, and some business owners underestimate the true cost of the sacrifices that are required to start and maintain a profitable business.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-45\"><strong>8. Provide Great Service</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-46\">There are many successful businesses that forget that providing great customer service is important. If you provide better service for your customers, they’ll be more inclined to come to you the next time they need something instead of going to your competition.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-48\">In today\'s hyper-competitive business environment, often the differentiating factor being successful and unsuccessful businesses is the level of service that the business provides. This is where the saying \"undersell and overdeliver\" comes in use, and savvy business owners would be wise to follow it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-50\"><strong>9. Be Consistent</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-51\">Consistency is a key component to making money in business. You have to keep doing what is&nbsp;necessary to be successful day in and day out. This will create long-term positive habits that will help you make money in the long run.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">What Is the Fastest Way for Growth of a Business?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Businesses will grow at their own rates, and many times this is out of the control of the business owner or workers. However, there are some aspects to running lean that may help a business grow quickly, such as focusing on a small product line, scaling up instead of scaling down, and providing some sort of obvious edge over your competitors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How Do You Increase Sales?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Increasing sales can come from a few different places. You can increase advertising expenditures where it has a proven effect, offer referrals from existing clients, build a direct-to-consumer email list, and others. You can also expand a product line, but if it underperforms, it will negatively affect your bottom line.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">What Makes a Startup Successful?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Business success is a difficult concept to quantify but if it means generating returns for stakeholders, startups can be an excellent way to deliver returns. The best startups have a good product or service that is scalable. The startup can pivot quickly, understand the market and its financial situation, and is ready to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-59\">The Bottom Line</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-60\">According to 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more.<sup>1</sup> If you want to be among that 25%, rigorous attention to these nine tips is a good start, but certainly not exhaustive. Being a business owner means being in a state of constant learning and adapting.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/make-money-in-business.asp\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Tips for growing a successful business','','publish','open','open','','tips-for-growing-a-successful-business','','','2022-05-01 09:01:25','2022-05-01 09:01:25','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2485',0,'post','',0),(2486,1,'2022-05-01 08:53:46','2022-05-01 08:53:46','','Small-biz','','inherit','open','closed','','small-biz-3','','','2022-05-01 08:53:46','2022-05-01 08:53:46','',2485,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Small-biz.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2487,1,'2022-05-01 09:01:25','2022-05-01 09:01:25','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2486,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Small-biz-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2486\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\">To succeed in business today, you need to be flexible and have good planning and organizational skills. Many people start a business thinking that they’ll turn on their computers or open their doors and start making money,&nbsp;only to find that making money in a business is much more difficult than they thought.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-2\">You can avoid this in your business ventures by taking your time and planning out all the necessary steps you need to achieve success.&nbsp;Whatever type of business you want to start, using the following nine tips can help you be successful in your venture.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-heading_1-0\"><strong>KEY TAKEAWAYS</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Starting a business requires analytical thinking, determined organization, and detailed record-keeping.</li><li>It’s important to be aware of your competition and either appropriate or improve upon their successful tactics.</li><li>You’ll almost certainly end up working harder for yourself than you would for someone else, so prepare to make sacrifices in your personal life when establishing your business.</li><li>Providing good service to your customers is crucial to gaining their loyalty and retaining their business.</li><li>Make sure not only that the business is ready for launch, but you are as well.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h4 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-inlinevideo__title_1-0\"><strong>9 Tips For Growing A Successful Business</strong></h4>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-8\"><strong>1. Get Organized</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-9\">To achieve business success you need to be organized. It will help you complete tasks and stay on top of things to be done. A good way to be organized is to create a to-do list each day. As you complete each item, check it off your list. This will ensure that you’re not forgetting anything and completing all the tasks that are essential to the survival of your business.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-11\">Many software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools exist to increase organization. Tools like Slack, Asana, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other newer additions. That being said, a simple Excel spreadsheet will meet 95% of a business\'s organization requirements.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-13\"><strong>2. Keep Detailed Records</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-14\">All successful businesses keep detailed records. By doing so, you’ll know where the business stands financially and what potential challenges you could be facing. Just knowing this gives you time to create strategies to overcome those challenges. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-16\">Most businesses are choosing to keep two sets of records: one physical and one in the cloud. By having records that are constantly uploaded and backed up, a business no longer has to worry about losing their data. The physical record exists as a backup but more often than not, it is used to ensure that the other information is correct.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-18\"><strong>3. Analyze Your Competition</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-19\">Competition breeds the best results. To be successful, you can’t be afraid to study and learn from your competitors. After all, they may be doing something right that you can implement in your business to make more money.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-21\">How you analyze competition will vary between sectors. If you\'re a restaurant owner, you may simply be able to dine at your competition\'s restaurants, ask other customers what they think, and gain information that way. However, you could be a company with much more limited access to your competitors, such as a chemicals company. In that case, you would work with a business professional and accountant to go over not just what the business presents to the world, but any financial information you may be able to get on the company as well.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-23\"><strong>4. Understand the Risks and Rewards</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-24\">The key to being successful is taking calculated risks to help your business grow. A good question to ask is “What’s the downside?” If you can answer this question, then you know what the worst-case scenario is. This knowledge will allow you to take the kinds of calculated risks that can generate tremendous rewards.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Important: Understanding risks and rewards includes being smart about the timing of starting your business. For example, did the severe economic dislocation of 2020 provide you with an opportunity (say, manufacturing and selling face masks) or an impediment (opening a new restaurant during a time of social distancing and limited seating allowed)?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-28\"><strong>5. Be Creative</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-29\">Always be looking for ways to improve your business and make it stand out from the competition. Recognize that you don’t know everything and be open to new ideas and different approaches to your business.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-31\">There are many outlets that may lead to additional revenues. Take Amazon for example. The company started out as a bookseller and grew into an eCommerce giant. Not a lot of people expected that one of the major ways that Amazon makes its money is through its Web Services division. The division did so well that when Jeff Bezos stepped down as CEO, the head of Amazon Web Services was named the new CEO.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-33\"><strong>6. Stay Focused</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-34\">The old saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” applies here. Just because you open a business doesn’t mean you’re going to immediately start making money. It takes time to let people know who you are, so stay focused on achieving your short-term goals.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-36\">Many small business owners don\'t even see a profit for a few years while they use their revenues to recoup investment costs. This is called being \"in the red.\" When you are profitable and make more than you need to spend to cover debts and payroll, this is called being \"in the black.\"</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\">That being said, if the business is not turning a profit after a substantial period of time, it\'s worth looking into if there are issues with the product or service, if the market still exists, and other possible issues that might slow or halt a business\'s growth.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-40\"><strong>7. Prepare to Make Sacrifices</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-41\">The lead-up to starting a business is hard work, but after you open your doors, your work has just begun. In many cases, you have to put in more time than you would if you were working for someone else, which may mean spending less time with family and friends to be successful.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-43\">The adage that there are no weekends and no vacations for business owners might ring true for those who are committed to making their business work. There is nothing wrong with full-time employment, and some business owners underestimate the true cost of the sacrifices that are required to start and maintain a profitable business.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-45\"><strong>8. Provide Great Service</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-46\">There are many successful businesses that forget that providing great customer service is important. If you provide better service for your customers, they’ll be more inclined to come to you the next time they need something instead of going to your competition.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-48\">In today\'s hyper-competitive business environment, often the differentiating factor being successful and unsuccessful businesses is the level of service that the business provides. This is where the saying \"undersell and overdeliver\" comes in use, and savvy business owners would be wise to follow it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-50\"><strong>9. Be Consistent</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-51\">Consistency is a key component to making money in business. You have to keep doing what is&nbsp;necessary to be successful day in and day out. This will create long-term positive habits that will help you make money in the long run.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">What Is the Fastest Way for Growth of a Business?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Businesses will grow at their own rates, and many times this is out of the control of the business owner or workers. However, there are some aspects to running lean that may help a business grow quickly, such as focusing on a small product line, scaling up instead of scaling down, and providing some sort of obvious edge over your competitors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How Do You Increase Sales?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Increasing sales can come from a few different places. You can increase advertising expenditures where it has a proven effect, offer referrals from existing clients, build a direct-to-consumer email list, and others. You can also expand a product line, but if it underperforms, it will negatively affect your bottom line.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">What Makes a Startup Successful?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Business success is a difficult concept to quantify but if it means generating returns for stakeholders, startups can be an excellent way to deliver returns. The best startups have a good product or service that is scalable. The startup can pivot quickly, understand the market and its financial situation, and is ready to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-59\">The Bottom Line</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-60\">According to 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more.<sup>1</sup> If you want to be among that 25%, rigorous attention to these nine tips is a good start, but certainly not exhaustive. Being a business owner means being in a state of constant learning and adapting.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/make-money-in-business.asp\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Tips for growing a successful business','','inherit','closed','closed','','2485-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 09:01:25','2022-05-01 09:01:25','',2485,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2487',0,'revision','',0),(2488,1,'2022-05-01 09:20:04','2022-05-01 09:20:04','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2489,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Privacy-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2489\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":1,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h1 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>How to Avoid Phishing Simulations False Positives?</strong></h1>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In a&nbsp;survey&nbsp;taken last year, 35% of organizations reported being targeted by at least one phishing attack. While phishing remains a pervasive threat, many organizations have started implementing phishing simulations to measure employee security awareness. Still, those organizations have also struggled to deal with phishing false positive clicks leaking into their data.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Security tools in the environment can automatically scan links and make it look like a user failed to spot a phishing email when, in reality, it was a bot-click, causing the user to fail a test unfairly.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This article will define and examine bot-clicks and showcase how your organization can avoid phishing false positives in phishing simulations.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>What is a Phishing Simulation?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">A&nbsp;phishing simulation&nbsp;is a test where an organization will send employees simulated phishing emails that impersonate real-world scams to see how many employees click on a malicious link. Users that click are deemed to have failed the test, as they’ve been tricked by common cyber threat tactics. Had it been an actual phishing attack, sensitive information may have been compromised.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>What is a Bot Click?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">By measuring user clicks, an organization can deem how effective employees are at spotting scams, whether they’re following the latest security best practices, and if they need access to additional security training opportunities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">However, third-party software solutions and security tools have bots that can click on all the URLs in an email in a sandbox environment. This process is put in place to make sure there’s no malicious content within the email.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This practice, while common, can artificially inflate the results of a particular phishing simulation and thus skew the resulting data.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>What is a Phishing False Positive?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Bot clicks that occur in a safe environment to ensure that this is not an actual phishing attack can be categorized as phishing simulation message clicks, even if they don’t come from a human end user. These instances are called false positives.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For example, if you send a simulated phishing email to an employee, a real-time threat detection solution may scan and ‘click’ on the link in the email and mislead you to believe that the user did.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">False positives can influence how your organization’s phishing simulation reporting data is interpreted and, eventually, lead to unsubstantiated insights fuelling your overall training program strategy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Why Causes Bot-Clicks?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">While most bot-clicks are down to third-party security solutions, there are many reasons why they occur. One of the most common is where an employee will spot a simulated phishing email and then use the “Mark as Phishing” feature using a phishing report button, an add-in obtainable in Outlook and other email clients. Doing so will prompt the email provider to scan the link for malicious content.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Another common scenario is that a user will scan an email or attachment with a third-party security service&nbsp;, such as Microsoft Safelink, to check the attachment is secure, which will again probe the link. This sequence of actions will result in a bot click that causes a phishing false positive bot click.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Other reasons why bot clicks occur include:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Endpoint security and antivirus software scanning links</li><li>Mobile devices previewing link content</li><li>Users forward emails to other users prompting the mail server to scan the email</li><li>Poorly configured spam filter allowlisting scanning links</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Why Is Spotting Bot-Clicks Important?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The most significant problem raised by bot-clicks is that they decrease the accuracy of the phishing simulation and make it harder to gauge employees’ security awareness. If bot-clicks artificially inflate the number of users failing phishing simulations, then this can indicate that your training was ineffective when those were bot clicks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In short, bot-clicks are a problem because they increase false positives, reduce the overall accuracy of the phishing simulation and make it hard to monitor or record employee performance during tests.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">At the same time, being prepared to address false positives increases the effectiveness of your phishing simulations as you’ll be able to gather more accurate data that determines how effective employees are at spotting phishing emails.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>How to Spot False Positives?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Two of the easiest ways to tell if your phishing simulation is affected by false positives is if you see an unusually high click rate or a high volume of external IP addresses. These indicate that a remote security solution scanned your links multiple times.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Also, looking up those IPs to see who they belong to will often provide information around the corresponding tool. For example, Microsoft Safelink would boast an IP address that refers back to Microsoft Azure.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Another sign is if an employee failed a test but claims they didn’t click on any links. So if multiple employees are found to have failed tests but are adamant they didn’t click on any email links, it’s worth investing further.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can also catch bot clicks by looking out for clicks made by operating systems&nbsp; and web browser versions. Often referred to as a “user agent,” it’s the combination of operating system and web browser that opens the URL. Using user agents as a cross-reference can help establish clicks that originate from outside your typical environment.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>How to Prevent a Phishing False Positive?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can prevent false positives by taking an inventory of all the software, security products, and services you’re using throughout your environment, checking the documentation, and identifying if they use scanning, analysis, or probing to see if there is a way to deactivate these capabilities for specific IP addresses and/or domains.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For instance, if you have an email security solution that offers an allowlisting feature, you can prevent links to phishing websites from being scanned or clicked on by bots.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to complete test campaigns before committing to a live simulation to check if your current configurations will generate false positives and adjust your allowlisting and filtering settings to ensure accurate results.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It’s also important to let participants know that they should only report phishing emails through an approved mechanism rather than their email provider’s default reporting function to avoid phishing false positive results.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Recap</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Phishing false positives are inconvenient, but they’re easy to mitigate with some preparation. Getting to know what tools in your environment use bot-clicks enables you to start allowlisting the links so that bot-clicks don’t decrease the accuracy of your data.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This way, you can ensure that, when you complete a phishing simulation, you know which employees were prepared and those who need extra support to combat the latest threats.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://terranovasecurity.com/phishing-simulations-false-positives/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Avoid Popular Phishing Schemes?','','publish','open','open','','how-to-avoid-popular-phishing-schemes','','','2022-05-01 09:20:40','2022-05-01 09:20:40','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2488',0,'post','',0),(2489,1,'2022-05-01 09:15:45','2022-05-01 09:15:45','','Privacy','','inherit','open','closed','','privacy-3','','','2022-05-01 09:15:45','2022-05-01 09:15:45','',2488,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Privacy.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2490,1,'2022-05-01 09:20:04','2022-05-01 09:20:04','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2489,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Privacy-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2489\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":1,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h1 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How to Avoid Phishing Simulations False Positives?</h1>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In a survey taken last year, 35% of organizations reported being targeted by at least one phishing attack. While phishing remains a pervasive threat, many organizations have started implementing phishing simulations to measure employee security awareness. Still, those organizations have also struggled to deal with phishing false positive clicks leaking into their data.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Security tools in the environment can automatically scan links and make it look like a user failed to spot a phishing email when, in reality, it was a bot-click, causing the user to fail a test unfairly.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This article will define and examine bot-clicks and showcase how your organization can avoid phishing false positives in phishing simulations.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>What is a Phishing Simulation?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">A phishing simulation is a test where an organization will send employees simulated phishing emails that impersonate real-world scams to see how many employees click on a malicious link. Users that click are deemed to have failed the test, as they’ve been tricked by common cyber threat tactics. Had it been an actual phishing attack, sensitive information may have been compromised.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>What is a Bot Click?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">By measuring user clicks, an organization can deem how effective employees are at spotting scams, whether they’re following the latest security best practices, and if they need access to additional security training opportunities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">However, third-party software solutions and security tools have bots that can click on all the URLs in an email in a sandbox environment. This process is put in place to make sure there’s no malicious content within the email.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This practice, while common, can artificially inflate the results of a particular phishing simulation and thus skew the resulting data.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>What is a Phishing False Positive?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Bot clicks that occur in a safe environment to ensure that this is not an actual phishing attack can be categorized as phishing simulation message clicks, even if they don’t come from a human end user. These instances are called false positives.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For example, if you send a simulated phishing email to an employee, a real-time threat detection solution may scan and ‘click’ on the link in the email and mislead you to believe that the user did.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">False positives can influence how your organization’s phishing simulation reporting data is interpreted and, eventually, lead to unsubstantiated insights fuelling your overall training program strategy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Why Causes Bot-Clicks?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">While most bot-clicks are down to third-party security solutions, there are many reasons why they occur. One of the most common is where an employee will spot a simulated phishing email and then use the “Mark as Phishing” feature using a phishing report button, an add-in obtainable in Outlook and other email clients. Doing so will prompt the email provider to scan the link for malicious content.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Another common scenario is that a user will scan an email or attachment with a third-party security service&nbsp;, such as Microsoft Safelink, to check the attachment is secure, which will again probe the link. This sequence of actions will result in a bot click that causes a phishing false positive bot click.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Other reasons why bot clicks occur include:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Endpoint security and antivirus software scanning links</li><li>Mobile devices previewing link content</li><li>Users forward emails to other users prompting the mail server to scan the email</li><li>Poorly configured spam filter allowlisting scanning links</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Why Is Spotting Bot-Clicks Important?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The most significant problem raised by bot-clicks is that they decrease the accuracy of the phishing simulation and make it harder to gauge employees’ security awareness. If bot-clicks artificially inflate the number of users failing phishing simulations, then this can indicate that your training was ineffective when those were bot clicks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In short, bot-clicks are a problem because they increase false positives, reduce the overall accuracy of the phishing simulation and make it hard to monitor or record employee performance during tests.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">At the same time, being prepared to address false positives increases the effectiveness of your phishing simulations as you’ll be able to gather more accurate data that determines how effective employees are at spotting phishing emails.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>How to Spot False Positives?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Two of the easiest ways to tell if your phishing simulation is affected by false positives is if you see an unusually high click rate or a high volume of external IP addresses. These indicate that a remote security solution scanned your links multiple times.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Also, looking up those IPs to see who they belong to will often provide information around the corresponding tool. For example, Microsoft Safelink would boast an IP address that refers back to Microsoft Azure.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Another sign is if an employee failed a test but claims they didn’t click on any links. So if multiple employees are found to have failed tests but are adamant they didn’t click on any email links, it’s worth investing further.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can also catch bot clicks by looking out for clicks made by operating systems&nbsp; and web browser versions. Often referred to as a “user agent,” it’s the combination of operating system and web browser that opens the URL. Using user agents as a cross-reference can help establish clicks that originate from outside your typical environment.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>How to Prevent a Phishing False Positive?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can prevent false positives by taking an inventory of all the software, security products, and services you’re using throughout your environment, checking the documentation, and identifying if they use scanning, analysis, or probing to see if there is a way to deactivate these capabilities for specific IP addresses and/or domains.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For instance, if you have an email security solution that offers an allowlisting feature, you can prevent links to phishing websites from being scanned or clicked on by bots.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to complete test campaigns before committing to a live simulation to check if your current configurations will generate false positives and adjust your allowlisting and filtering settings to ensure accurate results.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It’s also important to let participants know that they should only report phishing emails through an approved mechanism rather than their email provider’s default reporting function to avoid phishing false positive results.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Recap</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Phishing false positives are inconvenient, but they’re easy to mitigate with some preparation. Getting to know what tools in your environment use bot-clicks enables you to start allowlisting the links so that bot-clicks don’t decrease the accuracy of your data.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This way, you can ensure that, when you complete a phishing simulation, you know which employees were prepared and those who need extra support to combat the latest threats.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://terranovasecurity.com/phishing-simulations-false-positives/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Avoid Popular Phishing Schemes?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2488-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 09:20:04','2022-05-01 09:20:04','',2488,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2490',0,'revision','',0),(2491,1,'2022-05-01 09:20:40','2022-05-01 09:20:40','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2489,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Privacy-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2489\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":1,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h1 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>How to Avoid Phishing Simulations False Positives?</strong></h1>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In a&nbsp;survey&nbsp;taken last year, 35% of organizations reported being targeted by at least one phishing attack. While phishing remains a pervasive threat, many organizations have started implementing phishing simulations to measure employee security awareness. Still, those organizations have also struggled to deal with phishing false positive clicks leaking into their data.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Security tools in the environment can automatically scan links and make it look like a user failed to spot a phishing email when, in reality, it was a bot-click, causing the user to fail a test unfairly.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This article will define and examine bot-clicks and showcase how your organization can avoid phishing false positives in phishing simulations.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>What is a Phishing Simulation?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">A&nbsp;phishing simulation&nbsp;is a test where an organization will send employees simulated phishing emails that impersonate real-world scams to see how many employees click on a malicious link. Users that click are deemed to have failed the test, as they’ve been tricked by common cyber threat tactics. Had it been an actual phishing attack, sensitive information may have been compromised.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>What is a Bot Click?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">By measuring user clicks, an organization can deem how effective employees are at spotting scams, whether they’re following the latest security best practices, and if they need access to additional security training opportunities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">However, third-party software solutions and security tools have bots that can click on all the URLs in an email in a sandbox environment. This process is put in place to make sure there’s no malicious content within the email.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This practice, while common, can artificially inflate the results of a particular phishing simulation and thus skew the resulting data.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>What is a Phishing False Positive?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Bot clicks that occur in a safe environment to ensure that this is not an actual phishing attack can be categorized as phishing simulation message clicks, even if they don’t come from a human end user. These instances are called false positives.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For example, if you send a simulated phishing email to an employee, a real-time threat detection solution may scan and ‘click’ on the link in the email and mislead you to believe that the user did.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">False positives can influence how your organization’s phishing simulation reporting data is interpreted and, eventually, lead to unsubstantiated insights fuelling your overall training program strategy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Why Causes Bot-Clicks?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">While most bot-clicks are down to third-party security solutions, there are many reasons why they occur. One of the most common is where an employee will spot a simulated phishing email and then use the “Mark as Phishing” feature using a phishing report button, an add-in obtainable in Outlook and other email clients. Doing so will prompt the email provider to scan the link for malicious content.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Another common scenario is that a user will scan an email or attachment with a third-party security service&nbsp;, such as Microsoft Safelink, to check the attachment is secure, which will again probe the link. This sequence of actions will result in a bot click that causes a phishing false positive bot click.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Other reasons why bot clicks occur include:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>Endpoint security and antivirus software scanning links</li><li>Mobile devices previewing link content</li><li>Users forward emails to other users prompting the mail server to scan the email</li><li>Poorly configured spam filter allowlisting scanning links</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Why Is Spotting Bot-Clicks Important?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The most significant problem raised by bot-clicks is that they decrease the accuracy of the phishing simulation and make it harder to gauge employees’ security awareness. If bot-clicks artificially inflate the number of users failing phishing simulations, then this can indicate that your training was ineffective when those were bot clicks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In short, bot-clicks are a problem because they increase false positives, reduce the overall accuracy of the phishing simulation and make it hard to monitor or record employee performance during tests.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">At the same time, being prepared to address false positives increases the effectiveness of your phishing simulations as you’ll be able to gather more accurate data that determines how effective employees are at spotting phishing emails.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>How to Spot False Positives?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Two of the easiest ways to tell if your phishing simulation is affected by false positives is if you see an unusually high click rate or a high volume of external IP addresses. These indicate that a remote security solution scanned your links multiple times.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Also, looking up those IPs to see who they belong to will often provide information around the corresponding tool. For example, Microsoft Safelink would boast an IP address that refers back to Microsoft Azure.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Another sign is if an employee failed a test but claims they didn’t click on any links. So if multiple employees are found to have failed tests but are adamant they didn’t click on any email links, it’s worth investing further.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can also catch bot clicks by looking out for clicks made by operating systems&nbsp; and web browser versions. Often referred to as a “user agent,” it’s the combination of operating system and web browser that opens the URL. Using user agents as a cross-reference can help establish clicks that originate from outside your typical environment.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>How to Prevent a Phishing False Positive?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can prevent false positives by taking an inventory of all the software, security products, and services you’re using throughout your environment, checking the documentation, and identifying if they use scanning, analysis, or probing to see if there is a way to deactivate these capabilities for specific IP addresses and/or domains.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">For instance, if you have an email security solution that offers an allowlisting feature, you can prevent links to phishing websites from being scanned or clicked on by bots.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to complete test campaigns before committing to a live simulation to check if your current configurations will generate false positives and adjust your allowlisting and filtering settings to ensure accurate results.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It’s also important to let participants know that they should only report phishing emails through an approved mechanism rather than their email provider’s default reporting function to avoid phishing false positive results.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Recap</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Phishing false positives are inconvenient, but they’re easy to mitigate with some preparation. Getting to know what tools in your environment use bot-clicks enables you to start allowlisting the links so that bot-clicks don’t decrease the accuracy of your data.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This way, you can ensure that, when you complete a phishing simulation, you know which employees were prepared and those who need extra support to combat the latest threats.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://terranovasecurity.com/phishing-simulations-false-positives/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Avoid Popular Phishing Schemes?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2488-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 09:20:40','2022-05-01 09:20:40','',2488,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2491',0,'revision','',0),(2492,1,'2022-05-01 09:30:27','2022-05-01 09:30:27','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2493,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ledearship-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2493\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\">How would you describe a strong leader? In one study, leadership qualities such as assertiveness, adaptability, intelligence, and conscientiousness were cited as the most important.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-1\">Transformational leaders are positive, empowering, and inspiring. They value followers and inspire them to perform better. So what can you do to embrace these valued leadership qualities and become a stronger and more effective leader?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Transformational leaders are usually described as enthusiastic, passionate, genuine and energetic. These leaders are not just concerned about helping the group achieve its goals; they also care about helping each member of the group reach his or her full potential. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-4\">Consider some of the following tips for how to become a better leader and think about ways that you can implement these strategies in your daily life.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0\">1. Start by Understanding Your Leadership Style</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-1\">Understanding your current leadership style is essential. What are your strengths? Which areas need some improvement? One way to start assessing your skills is to take this leadership style quiz to get a general idea of how you lead.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-2\">Once you have completed the quiz, read about the major characteristics of your dominant style. Are these qualities helping or hindering your leadership? Once you\'ve determined which areas need some work, you can begin looking for ways to improve your leadership abilities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-3\">2. Encourage Creativity</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-4\">Intellectual stimulation is one of the leadership qualities that define transformational leadership. Followers need to be encouraged to express their creativity. Effective leaders should offer new challenges with ample support to achieve these goals.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-5\">One way to foster creativity is to offer challenges to group members, making sure that the goals are within the grasp of their abilities. The purpose of this type of exercise is to get people to stretch their limits but not become discouraged by barriers to success.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-6\">3. Serve as a Role Model</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-7\">Idealized influence is another of the four key components of transformational leadership. Transformational leaders exemplify the behaviors and characteristics that they encourage in their followers. They walk the walk and talk the talk. As a result, group members admire these leaders and work to emulate these behaviors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-8\">Research suggests that leaders are able to foster a specific belief and then transmit that inspiration to their followers. As a result, followers are optimistic and have high standards for performance and achievement.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you want to become a better leader, work on modeling the qualities that you would like to see in your team members.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-10\">4. Be Passionate</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-11\">Would you look to someone for guidance and leadership if they did not truly care about the goals of the group? Of course not! Great leaders are not just focused on getting group members to finish tasks; they have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for the projects they work on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-12\">You can develop this leadership quality by thinking of different ways that you can express your zeal. Let people know that you care about their progress. When one person shares something with the rest of the group, be sure to tell them how much you appreciate such contributions.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-13\">5. Listen and Communicate Effectively</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-14\">Another important quality of transformational leadership involves a focus on providing one-on-one communication with group members. Transformational leadership is effective when leaders are able to communicate their vision to followers, who then feel inspired and motivated by this vision.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Good leaders should express sincere care and concern for the members of their group both verbally and nonverbally.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-16\">By keeping the lines of communication open, these leaders can ensure that group members feel able to make contributions and receive recognition for their achievements.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-17\">6. Have a Positive Attitude</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-18\">Transformational leaders have an upbeat, optimistic attitude that serves as a source of inspiration for followers. If leaders seem discouraged or apathetic, members of the group are likely to also become uninspired.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-19\">Even when things look bleak and your followers start to feel disheartened, try to stay positive. This does not mean viewing things through rose-colored glasses. It simply means maintaining a sense of optimism and hope in the face of challenges.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-20\">7. Encourage People to Make Contributions</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-21\">Let the members of your team know that you welcome their ideas. Leaders who encourage involvement from group members are often referred to as democratic or participative leaders. While they retain the final say over all decisions, they encourage team members to take an active role in coming up with ideas and plans.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Research has shown that using a democratic leadership style leads to greater commitment, more creative problem-solving and improved productivity.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-23\">8. Motivate Your Followers</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-24\">Transformational leaders also provide inspirational motivation to encourage their followers to get into action. Of course, being inspirational isn\'t always easy. Fortunately, you don\'t need motivational speeches to rouse your group members.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-25\">Some ideas for leadership​ inspiration include being genuinely passionate about ideas or goals, helping followers feel included in the process and offering recognition, praise, and rewards for people\'s accomplishments.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-26\">9. Offer Rewards and Recognition</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-27\">Another important quality of a good leader involves knowing that offering effective recognition and rewards is one of the best ways to help followers feel appreciated and happy. It may also come as no surprise that happy people tend to perform better at work.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-28\">10. Keep Trying New Things</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-29\">Who says leadership is a one-way relationship? As you work toward developing some of these leadership qualities, don\'t forget to look to your followers for feedback and inspiration. Pay attention to the things that have been effective in the past and always be on the lookout for new ways to inspire, motivate, and reward group members.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.verywellmind.com/ways-to-become-a-better-leader-2795324\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','10 Tips for Becoming a Better Leader','','publish','open','open','','10-tips-for-becoming-a-better-leader-2','','','2022-05-01 09:30:27','2022-05-01 09:30:27','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2492',0,'post','',0),(2493,1,'2022-05-01 09:23:43','2022-05-01 09:23:43','','Ledearship','','inherit','open','closed','','ledearship-2','','','2022-05-01 09:23:43','2022-05-01 09:23:43','',2492,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ledearship.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2494,1,'2022-05-01 09:30:27','2022-05-01 09:30:27','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2493,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ledearship-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2493\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\">How would you describe a strong leader? In one study, leadership qualities such as assertiveness, adaptability, intelligence, and conscientiousness were cited as the most important.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-1\">Transformational leaders are positive, empowering, and inspiring. They value followers and inspire them to perform better. So what can you do to embrace these valued leadership qualities and become a stronger and more effective leader?</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Transformational leaders are usually described as enthusiastic, passionate, genuine and energetic. These leaders are not just concerned about helping the group achieve its goals; they also care about helping each member of the group reach his or her full potential. </p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-4\">Consider some of the following tips for how to become a better leader and think about ways that you can implement these strategies in your daily life.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0\">1. Start by Understanding Your Leadership Style</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-1\">Understanding your current leadership style is essential. What are your strengths? Which areas need some improvement? One way to start assessing your skills is to take this leadership style quiz to get a general idea of how you lead.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-2\">Once you have completed the quiz, read about the major characteristics of your dominant style. Are these qualities helping or hindering your leadership? Once you\'ve determined which areas need some work, you can begin looking for ways to improve your leadership abilities.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-3\">2. Encourage Creativity</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-4\">Intellectual stimulation is one of the leadership qualities that define transformational leadership. Followers need to be encouraged to express their creativity. Effective leaders should offer new challenges with ample support to achieve these goals.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-5\">One way to foster creativity is to offer challenges to group members, making sure that the goals are within the grasp of their abilities. The purpose of this type of exercise is to get people to stretch their limits but not become discouraged by barriers to success.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-6\">3. Serve as a Role Model</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-7\">Idealized influence is another of the four key components of transformational leadership. Transformational leaders exemplify the behaviors and characteristics that they encourage in their followers. They walk the walk and talk the talk. As a result, group members admire these leaders and work to emulate these behaviors.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-8\">Research suggests that leaders are able to foster a specific belief and then transmit that inspiration to their followers. As a result, followers are optimistic and have high standards for performance and achievement.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you want to become a better leader, work on modeling the qualities that you would like to see in your team members.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-10\">4. Be Passionate</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-11\">Would you look to someone for guidance and leadership if they did not truly care about the goals of the group? Of course not! Great leaders are not just focused on getting group members to finish tasks; they have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for the projects they work on.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-12\">You can develop this leadership quality by thinking of different ways that you can express your zeal. Let people know that you care about their progress. When one person shares something with the rest of the group, be sure to tell them how much you appreciate such contributions.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-13\">5. Listen and Communicate Effectively</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-14\">Another important quality of transformational leadership involves a focus on providing one-on-one communication with group members. Transformational leadership is effective when leaders are able to communicate their vision to followers, who then feel inspired and motivated by this vision.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Good leaders should express sincere care and concern for the members of their group both verbally and nonverbally.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-16\">By keeping the lines of communication open, these leaders can ensure that group members feel able to make contributions and receive recognition for their achievements.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-17\">6. Have a Positive Attitude</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-18\">Transformational leaders have an upbeat, optimistic attitude that serves as a source of inspiration for followers. If leaders seem discouraged or apathetic, members of the group are likely to also become uninspired.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-19\">Even when things look bleak and your followers start to feel disheartened, try to stay positive. This does not mean viewing things through rose-colored glasses. It simply means maintaining a sense of optimism and hope in the face of challenges.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-20\">7. Encourage People to Make Contributions</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-21\">Let the members of your team know that you welcome their ideas. Leaders who encourage involvement from group members are often referred to as democratic or participative leaders. While they retain the final say over all decisions, they encourage team members to take an active role in coming up with ideas and plans.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Research has shown that using a democratic leadership style leads to greater commitment, more creative problem-solving and improved productivity.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-23\">8. Motivate Your Followers</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-24\">Transformational leaders also provide inspirational motivation to encourage their followers to get into action. Of course, being inspirational isn\'t always easy. Fortunately, you don\'t need motivational speeches to rouse your group members.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-25\">Some ideas for leadership​ inspiration include being genuinely passionate about ideas or goals, helping followers feel included in the process and offering recognition, praise, and rewards for people\'s accomplishments.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-26\">9. Offer Rewards and Recognition</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-27\">Another important quality of a good leader involves knowing that offering effective recognition and rewards is one of the best ways to help followers feel appreciated and happy. It may also come as no surprise that happy people tend to perform better at work.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-28\">10. Keep Trying New Things</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0-29\">Who says leadership is a one-way relationship? As you work toward developing some of these leadership qualities, don\'t forget to look to your followers for feedback and inspiration. Pay attention to the things that have been effective in the past and always be on the lookout for new ways to inspire, motivate, and reward group members.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.verywellmind.com/ways-to-become-a-better-leader-2795324\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','10 Tips for Becoming a Better Leader','','inherit','closed','closed','','2492-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 09:30:27','2022-05-01 09:30:27','',2492,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2494',0,'revision','',0),(2495,1,'2022-05-01 09:48:23','2022-05-01 09:48:23','<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Holding on to your vehicle for as long as possible is the best way to save right now</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2496,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Car-related-CR-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2496\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">One day during my high school years, my dad got excited because the odometer on his car—a 1983 Toyota Camry hatchback he’d bought used several years earlier—was about to reach 200,000 miles. We were in the middle of running that afternoon’s errands, but he pulled over to the side of the road so that he, my brother, and I could sing “Happy Birthday” to the car to mark its major milestone. It was a silly thing to do, but we felt a collective sense of pride that the car was still going strong with all those grueling suburban commuter miles piled on. That pride remained for me years later, when I was still driving the same Camry past its 300,000-mile mark.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">I’ve owned a handful of other cars that rolled through 200,000-plus miles since then. Now, years later, my job is to research and write about automotive repair and maintenance, but you don’t need to be an expert to get your car to that milestone. I always stay on top of regular maintenance, and I take care of even small repairs before they can become bigger, more expensive issues. After all, there’s plenty that can go wrong with a car that could, technically, be ignored if the car still starts and gets you to where you need to go. But neglecting small repairs and maintenance issues as they crop up is a bad habit that can shorten your car’s life. I also put some effort into keeping my cars clean to protect against corrosion and to make them look nice.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">John Ibbotson, Consumer Reports’ chief mechanic, says, “It’s not rocket science. If you take care of your car, it will take care of you.”</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Fred Hellrich, who lives in Annapolis, Md., says he has had several cars pass the 200,000-mile mark—and a couple of vehicles that made it more than 400,000 miles—everything from a Chevrolet van to a Toyota Tercel.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">“It helps to get a good car to begin with,” he says, echoing CR’s long-standing advice to buy models with a strong track record for reliability. “That way you know it’ll probably go pretty far if you take care of it.”</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Taking care of and holding on to a reliable car—rather than buying or leasing a new one every few years—is almost always a smart financial move. These days, though, with used-car prices more than 50 percent above pre-pandemic levels and the average new car price over $46,000, it may be especially smart to hang on to what you have.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Whatever your reasons—saving money, the comfort of familiarity, avoiding the worry of new car dings and scratches—it can be a rewarding experience to keep your car going. In the following pages, we tell you what to expect as your car ages, and how to make sure it becomes a 200,000-mile champ.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Cars That Go the Distance</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">We’ve compiled the 10 top car brands for used vehicles, based on the average reliability of their 2012 model lineup that we have sufficient data in our surveys. We’ve also highlighted the most reliable 2012 model within each brand below the brand name. For those in the market for a reasonably priced used vehicle, these are the winners. Our list points to the brands with cars that hold up over time and that you can rely on to get you to 200,000 miles with the fewest repair bumps.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">*Brand reliability score is the average for all models in the automaker’s 2012 lineup.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2497,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2497\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2498,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2498\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:image -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://article.images.consumerreports.org/image/upload/w_652,f_auto,q_auto/v1597176083/prod/content/dam/CRO-Images-2020/Cars/08August/CR-Cars-InlineHero-2020-Toyota-RAV4-Hybrid-f-8-20\" alt=\"red Toyota SUV on road in wooded area\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>The Road to 200,000 Miles</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can coax any vehicle to 200,000 miles with enough patience and cash, but that doesn’t make doing so a good idea for everyone. The best way to minimize visits to the shop is to start with a model that has a reliable track record. And you don’t have to look far for a source. Consumer Reports compiles comprehensive reliability information from our Annual Auto Surveys of members. They provide us with data on more than 1 million vehicles, and we publish the findings.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In addition to choosing a reliable model, make sure to pick a car you’ll want to keep for a long time. Don’t compromise on the features you want or buy less or more vehicle than you think you’ll need. If this is going to be a long relationship, it may as well be a happy one. So choose a vehicle that will fit your lifestyle today and tomorrow, and pick one that you’ll enjoy driving.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>0 to 36,000 Miles</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">During this traditional warranty period, maintenance will be limited to regular oil changes, tire rotations, and inspecting the brakes, wipers, and tires for wear. You can save by replacing simple items yourself, such as wiper blades. Beyond wear items, the vehicle’s various parts and systems will be under warranty, so you can go to the dealership for repairs.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Oil change:</strong> $60<br><strong>Tire rotation:</strong> $60<br><strong>Windshield wiper blades:</strong> $60</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>36,000 to 60,000 Miles</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Your car is likely to need tires during this time. Be sure to consult CR’s expert tire reviews and ratings. Your brake pads, and maybe the rotors, could be nearing the end of their service life and should be checked and replaced, if necessary.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Tires:</strong> $972<br><strong>Wheel alignment </strong>(4 wheels): $297<br><strong>Brake pads</strong> (pair): $607</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>60,000 to 100,000 Miles</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Most vehicles are out of warranty at this point. Continue to monitor brakes and tires for wear, and pay closer attention to suspension parts, such as shock absorbers, struts, and bushings. It’s best to replace suspension and brake parts in pairs, and be sure to get a four-wheel alignment when you buy new tires or have suspension parts replaced.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Front struts</strong> (both): $979<br><strong>Rear struts</strong> (both): $600<br><strong>Control arms </strong>(both): $605</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>100,000 to 150,000 Miles</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Major services, such as timing-belt replacement, are typically needed, and you can expect items such as spark plugs, the starter, the alternator, and suspension parts to need replacing. “In theory, if you get that stuff replaced in the 100,000-to-150,000-mile range, the cycle starts again and you should be good for a while,” Ibbotson says.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Water pump assembly: </strong>$748<br><strong>Spark plugs:</strong> $215<br><strong>Alternator:</strong> $540</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>150,000 to 200,000 Miles</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This is when your car may need larger repairs, such as replacement of leaking engine oil seals, a transmission rebuild or replacement, a new exhaust system, or possibly a head gasket replacement. “The potential for big repairs goes up after 150,000 miles,” Ibbotson says.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Head gasket:&nbsp;</strong>$3,957<br><strong>Transmission replacement:&nbsp;</strong>$7,803<br><strong>Muffler replacement:</strong>&nbsp;$725</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Source: </strong>2020-21 Toyota RAV4 parts and labor pricing in the New York City metropolitan area, provided by CR, RepairPal (a CR partner), and SimpleTire.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>How to Join the 200K Club</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The first rule of getting a car to 200,000 miles (and beyond) is to follow a maintenance plan. That’s why automakers include a schedule in the owner’s manual of every car they sell. Taking care of basics, such as timely oil changes and checkups, can uncover small problems before they metastasize into bigger, more expensive ones. Keeping your car clean, inside and out, helps prevent rust and damage to upholstery.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">“Everything is interconnected, so when one part fails, it can put more strain on other parts, causing them to fail, too,” Ibbotson says.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Oil Changes</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Changing and topping off engine oil and transmission fluid—and differential oil for all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles—are the bedrock of auto maintenance.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often:</strong> Every 3,000 to 10,000 miles, depending on the model.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A repair shop you trust. Avoid chain establishments because they might use cheap oil and filters.<br><strong>Average price range:</strong> $30 to $150.<br><strong>Smart tip:</strong> Use the type of oil recommended in the manual, and don’t splurge on synthetic unless the manual calls for it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Tire Replacement</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Replace tires when the tread is thin or when they’re older than 10 years. Rough roads and worn suspension parts on the car can cause tires to wear faster.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often: </strong>It can be from 30,000 to 80,000 miles, depending on your car, the tire model, and your driving.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>Your usual trusted repair shop or a specialty tire shop.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$556 to $1,256.<br><strong>Smart tip: </strong>Properly inflated tires are safer and save gas. Check the doorjamb sticker for the proper pressure. It’s also important to rotate tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles to promote even wear.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Brakes (Discs/Pads)</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Brakes won’t last as long under frequent stop-and-go conditions or repeated hard braking. Front brakes tend to wear out faster than the rear ones because they provide most of the stopping power.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often:</strong> 25,000 to 70,000 miles.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A repair shop you trust.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$249 to $275.<br><strong>Smart tip: </strong>Driving evenly extends brake life and saves gas. Spend more for high-quality brake parts. Inexpensive pads wear quickly, and cheap rotors can more easily warp and cause vibrations when you’re driving.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Spark Plugs</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">On most cars, spark plugs and other tuneup items aren’t an issue until the 100,000-mile mark, Ibbotson says. Make sure to get the exact type recommended by the manufacturer. Incorrect plugs can wreck fuel economy and even cause engine damage.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often:</strong> Typically, 100,000 miles.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A repair shop you trust.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$196 to $251.<br><strong>Smart tip: </strong>When changing spark plugs, make sure the replacements are equivalent in quality to what came with the car to ensure proper performance. Your mechanic can advise you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Timing Belt</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Not all cars have timing belts, but for those that do, follow manufacturer recommendations on replacement. The service can be expensive, but skipping it can result in major engine damage if a worn belt breaks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often: </strong>Usually every 60,000 to 100,000 miles.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A repair shop you trust.<br><strong>Average price range:</strong> $581 to $746.<br><strong>Smart tip: </strong>It may make sense to replace the water pump, belt tensioners, and pulleys at the same time to save on future labor costs.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Shocks/Struts</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Shock absorbers and struts soak up road bumps and keep the car steady. Like brakes and tires, the life span of these suspension parts can depend on the quality of the roads where you drive.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often:</strong> Shocks and struts can last 80,000 miles or more, but rough roads and aggressive driving can make them wear out faster.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A repair shop you trust.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$853 to $928.<br><strong>Smart tip: </strong>High-quality parts will last longer than cheap ones. Be sure the shocks and struts you use meet manufacturer specifications.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Battery</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often: </strong>Most batteries last from three to five years. Hot weather and letting the car sit for extended periods can shorten the battery’s life.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>An auto parts store (many install free of charge) or a repair shop you trust. Check CR’s car battery ratings.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$317 to $328.<br><strong>Smart tip:</strong> Inspect your car battery periodically. If you see corrosion on the terminals or it looks like it’s leaking, it’s time to replace it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Exhaust System/Muffler</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Most cars come with a stainless steel exhaust system that lasts a long time. When it does wear out, it’s probably at high mileage.<br><br><strong>How often: </strong>When rust holes perforate the pipes or mufflers.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A dependable shop that specializes in replacing exhaust systems and mufflers.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$800 to $834.<br><strong>Smart tip:</strong> Be sure to use quality exhaust parts. Cheap ones are more likely to corrode, so you’ll have to pay labor costs for a replacement sooner.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">The End of the Road</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">No matter how well you choose and care for a car, someday it will be time to move on because it’s costing too much or is no longer safe. Still, saying goodbye can be a tough decision, especially if you’re attached to your car.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Here are signs that it’s probably time to find another vehicle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>It needs a big repair that will cost more to fix than the car is worth.</li><li>Rust is compromising the structural integrity.</li><li>It remains unreliable even with frequent repairs.</li><li>It has been in a flood or a serious accident.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/car-repair-maintenance/make-your-car-last-200-000-miles-a8010293375/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Make Your Car Last 200,000 Miles and More?','','publish','open','open','','how-to-make-your-car-last-200000-miles-and-more','','','2022-05-01 09:48:23','2022-05-01 09:48:23','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2495',0,'post','',0),(2496,1,'2022-05-01 09:31:48','2022-05-01 09:31:48','','Car-related-CR','','inherit','open','closed','','car-related-cr','','','2022-05-01 09:31:48','2022-05-01 09:31:48','',2495,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Car-related-CR.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2497,1,'2022-05-01 09:35:12','2022-05-01 09:35:12','','image','','inherit','open','closed','','image-3','','','2022-05-01 09:35:12','2022-05-01 09:35:12','',2495,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2498,1,'2022-05-01 09:35:46','2022-05-01 09:35:46','','image-1','','inherit','open','closed','','image-1','','','2022-05-01 09:35:46','2022-05-01 09:35:46','',2495,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-1.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2499,1,'2022-05-01 09:37:17','2022-05-01 09:37:17','','image-2','','inherit','open','closed','','image-2-2','','','2022-05-01 09:37:17','2022-05-01 09:37:17','',2495,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-2.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2500,1,'2022-05-01 09:37:17','2022-05-01 09:37:17','','image','','inherit','open','closed','','image-4','','','2022-05-01 09:37:17','2022-05-01 09:37:17','',2495,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(2501,1,'2022-05-01 09:37:17','2022-05-01 09:37:17','','image-1','','inherit','open','closed','','image-1-2','','','2022-05-01 09:37:17','2022-05-01 09:37:17','',2495,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(2502,1,'2022-05-01 09:37:17','2022-05-01 09:37:17','','image-3','','inherit','open','closed','','image-3-2','','','2022-05-01 09:37:17','2022-05-01 09:37:17','',2495,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-3.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2503,1,'2022-05-01 09:37:17','2022-05-01 09:37:17','','image-2','','inherit','open','closed','','image-2-3','','','2022-05-01 09:37:17','2022-05-01 09:37:17','',2495,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(2504,1,'2022-05-01 09:48:23','2022-05-01 09:48:23','<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Holding on to your vehicle for as long as possible is the best way to save right now</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2496,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Car-related-CR-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2496\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">One day during my high school years, my dad got excited because the odometer on his car—a 1983 Toyota Camry hatchback he’d bought used several years earlier—was about to reach 200,000 miles. We were in the middle of running that afternoon’s errands, but he pulled over to the side of the road so that he, my brother, and I could sing “Happy Birthday” to the car to mark its major milestone. It was a silly thing to do, but we felt a collective sense of pride that the car was still going strong with all those grueling suburban commuter miles piled on. That pride remained for me years later, when I was still driving the same Camry past its 300,000-mile mark.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">I’ve owned a handful of other cars that rolled through 200,000-plus miles since then. Now, years later, my job is to research and write about automotive repair and maintenance, but you don’t need to be an expert to get your car to that milestone. I always stay on top of regular maintenance, and I take care of even small repairs before they can become bigger, more expensive issues. After all, there’s plenty that can go wrong with a car that could, technically, be ignored if the car still starts and gets you to where you need to go. But neglecting small repairs and maintenance issues as they crop up is a bad habit that can shorten your car’s life. I also put some effort into keeping my cars clean to protect against corrosion and to make them look nice.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">John Ibbotson, Consumer Reports’ chief mechanic, says, “It’s not rocket science. If you take care of your car, it will take care of you.”</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Fred Hellrich, who lives in Annapolis, Md., says he has had several cars pass the 200,000-mile mark—and a couple of vehicles that made it more than 400,000 miles—everything from a Chevrolet van to a Toyota Tercel.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">“It helps to get a good car to begin with,” he says, echoing CR’s long-standing advice to buy models with a strong track record for reliability. “That way you know it’ll probably go pretty far if you take care of it.”</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Taking care of and holding on to a reliable car—rather than buying or leasing a new one every few years—is almost always a smart financial move. These days, though, with used-car prices more than 50 percent above pre-pandemic levels and the average new car price over $46,000, it may be especially smart to hang on to what you have.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Whatever your reasons—saving money, the comfort of familiarity, avoiding the worry of new car dings and scratches—it can be a rewarding experience to keep your car going. In the following pages, we tell you what to expect as your car ages, and how to make sure it becomes a 200,000-mile champ.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Cars That Go the Distance</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">We’ve compiled the 10 top car brands for used vehicles, based on the average reliability of their 2012 model lineup that we have sufficient data in our surveys. We’ve also highlighted the most reliable 2012 model within each brand below the brand name. For those in the market for a reasonably priced used vehicle, these are the winners. Our list points to the brands with cars that hold up over time and that you can rely on to get you to 200,000 miles with the fewest repair bumps.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">*Brand reliability score is the average for all models in the automaker’s 2012 lineup.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2497,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2497\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2498,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2498\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:image -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://article.images.consumerreports.org/image/upload/w_652,f_auto,q_auto/v1597176083/prod/content/dam/CRO-Images-2020/Cars/08August/CR-Cars-InlineHero-2020-Toyota-RAV4-Hybrid-f-8-20\" alt=\"red Toyota SUV on road in wooded area\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>The Road to 200,000 Miles</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You can coax any vehicle to 200,000 miles with enough patience and cash, but that doesn’t make doing so a good idea for everyone. The best way to minimize visits to the shop is to start with a model that has a reliable track record. And you don’t have to look far for a source. Consumer Reports compiles comprehensive reliability information from our Annual Auto Surveys of members. They provide us with data on more than 1 million vehicles, and we publish the findings.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">In addition to choosing a reliable model, make sure to pick a car you’ll want to keep for a long time. Don’t compromise on the features you want or buy less or more vehicle than you think you’ll need. If this is going to be a long relationship, it may as well be a happy one. So choose a vehicle that will fit your lifestyle today and tomorrow, and pick one that you’ll enjoy driving.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>0 to 36,000 Miles</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">During this traditional warranty period, maintenance will be limited to regular oil changes, tire rotations, and inspecting the brakes, wipers, and tires for wear. You can save by replacing simple items yourself, such as wiper blades. Beyond wear items, the vehicle’s various parts and systems will be under warranty, so you can go to the dealership for repairs.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Oil change:</strong> $60<br><strong>Tire rotation:</strong> $60<br><strong>Windshield wiper blades:</strong> $60</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>36,000 to 60,000 Miles</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Your car is likely to need tires during this time. Be sure to consult CR’s expert tire reviews and ratings. Your brake pads, and maybe the rotors, could be nearing the end of their service life and should be checked and replaced, if necessary.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Tires:</strong> $972<br><strong>Wheel alignment </strong>(4 wheels): $297<br><strong>Brake pads</strong> (pair): $607</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>60,000 to 100,000 Miles</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Most vehicles are out of warranty at this point. Continue to monitor brakes and tires for wear, and pay closer attention to suspension parts, such as shock absorbers, struts, and bushings. It’s best to replace suspension and brake parts in pairs, and be sure to get a four-wheel alignment when you buy new tires or have suspension parts replaced.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Front struts</strong> (both): $979<br><strong>Rear struts</strong> (both): $600<br><strong>Control arms </strong>(both): $605</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>100,000 to 150,000 Miles</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Major services, such as timing-belt replacement, are typically needed, and you can expect items such as spark plugs, the starter, the alternator, and suspension parts to need replacing. “In theory, if you get that stuff replaced in the 100,000-to-150,000-mile range, the cycle starts again and you should be good for a while,” Ibbotson says.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Water pump assembly: </strong>$748<br><strong>Spark plugs:</strong> $215<br><strong>Alternator:</strong> $540</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>150,000 to 200,000 Miles</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">This is when your car may need larger repairs, such as replacement of leaking engine oil seals, a transmission rebuild or replacement, a new exhaust system, or possibly a head gasket replacement. “The potential for big repairs goes up after 150,000 miles,” Ibbotson says.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Head gasket:&nbsp;</strong>$3,957<br><strong>Transmission replacement:&nbsp;</strong>$7,803<br><strong>Muffler replacement:</strong>&nbsp;$725</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Source: </strong>2020-21 Toyota RAV4 parts and labor pricing in the New York City metropolitan area, provided by CR, RepairPal (a CR partner), and SimpleTire.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>How to Join the 200K Club</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The first rule of getting a car to 200,000 miles (and beyond) is to follow a maintenance plan. That’s why automakers include a schedule in the owner’s manual of every car they sell. Taking care of basics, such as timely oil changes and checkups, can uncover small problems before they metastasize into bigger, more expensive ones. Keeping your car clean, inside and out, helps prevent rust and damage to upholstery.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">“Everything is interconnected, so when one part fails, it can put more strain on other parts, causing them to fail, too,” Ibbotson says.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Oil Changes</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Changing and topping off engine oil and transmission fluid—and differential oil for all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles—are the bedrock of auto maintenance.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often:</strong> Every 3,000 to 10,000 miles, depending on the model.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A repair shop you trust. Avoid chain establishments because they might use cheap oil and filters.<br><strong>Average price range:</strong> $30 to $150.<br><strong>Smart tip:</strong> Use the type of oil recommended in the manual, and don’t splurge on synthetic unless the manual calls for it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Tire Replacement</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Replace tires when the tread is thin or when they’re older than 10 years. Rough roads and worn suspension parts on the car can cause tires to wear faster.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often: </strong>It can be from 30,000 to 80,000 miles, depending on your car, the tire model, and your driving.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>Your usual trusted repair shop or a specialty tire shop.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$556 to $1,256.<br><strong>Smart tip: </strong>Properly inflated tires are safer and save gas. Check the doorjamb sticker for the proper pressure. It’s also important to rotate tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles to promote even wear.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Brakes (Discs/Pads)</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Brakes won’t last as long under frequent stop-and-go conditions or repeated hard braking. Front brakes tend to wear out faster than the rear ones because they provide most of the stopping power.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often:</strong> 25,000 to 70,000 miles.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A repair shop you trust.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$249 to $275.<br><strong>Smart tip: </strong>Driving evenly extends brake life and saves gas. Spend more for high-quality brake parts. Inexpensive pads wear quickly, and cheap rotors can more easily warp and cause vibrations when you’re driving.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Spark Plugs</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">On most cars, spark plugs and other tuneup items aren’t an issue until the 100,000-mile mark, Ibbotson says. Make sure to get the exact type recommended by the manufacturer. Incorrect plugs can wreck fuel economy and even cause engine damage.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often:</strong> Typically, 100,000 miles.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A repair shop you trust.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$196 to $251.<br><strong>Smart tip: </strong>When changing spark plugs, make sure the replacements are equivalent in quality to what came with the car to ensure proper performance. Your mechanic can advise you.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Timing Belt</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Not all cars have timing belts, but for those that do, follow manufacturer recommendations on replacement. The service can be expensive, but skipping it can result in major engine damage if a worn belt breaks.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often: </strong>Usually every 60,000 to 100,000 miles.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A repair shop you trust.<br><strong>Average price range:</strong> $581 to $746.<br><strong>Smart tip: </strong>It may make sense to replace the water pump, belt tensioners, and pulleys at the same time to save on future labor costs.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Shocks/Struts</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Shock absorbers and struts soak up road bumps and keep the car steady. Like brakes and tires, the life span of these suspension parts can depend on the quality of the roads where you drive.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often:</strong> Shocks and struts can last 80,000 miles or more, but rough roads and aggressive driving can make them wear out faster.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A repair shop you trust.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$853 to $928.<br><strong>Smart tip: </strong>High-quality parts will last longer than cheap ones. Be sure the shocks and struts you use meet manufacturer specifications.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Battery</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How often: </strong>Most batteries last from three to five years. Hot weather and letting the car sit for extended periods can shorten the battery’s life.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>An auto parts store (many install free of charge) or a repair shop you trust. Check CR’s car battery ratings.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$317 to $328.<br><strong>Smart tip:</strong> Inspect your car battery periodically. If you see corrosion on the terminals or it looks like it’s leaking, it’s time to replace it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\"><strong>Exhaust System/Muffler</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Most cars come with a stainless steel exhaust system that lasts a long time. When it does wear out, it’s probably at high mileage.<br><br><strong>How often: </strong>When rust holes perforate the pipes or mufflers.<br><strong>Where to go: </strong>A dependable shop that specializes in replacing exhaust systems and mufflers.<br><strong>Average price range: </strong>$800 to $834.<br><strong>Smart tip:</strong> Be sure to use quality exhaust parts. Cheap ones are more likely to corrode, so you’ll have to pay labor costs for a replacement sooner.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">The End of the Road</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">No matter how well you choose and care for a car, someday it will be time to move on because it’s costing too much or is no longer safe. Still, saying goodbye can be a tough decision, especially if you’re attached to your car.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Here are signs that it’s probably time to find another vehicle.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>It needs a big repair that will cost more to fix than the car is worth.</li><li>Rust is compromising the structural integrity.</li><li>It remains unreliable even with frequent repairs.</li><li>It has been in a flood or a serious accident.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article, <a href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/car-repair-maintenance/make-your-car-last-200-000-miles-a8010293375/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Make Your Car Last 200,000 Miles and More?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2495-revision-v1','','','2022-05-01 09:48:23','2022-05-01 09:48:23','',2495,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2504',0,'revision','',0),(2553,1,'2022-06-18 14:41:57','2022-06-18 14:41:57','','Money-1','','inherit','closed','closed','','money-1-4','','','2022-06-18 14:41:57','2022-06-18 14:41:57','',2552,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Money-1.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2552,1,'2022-06-18 14:47:29','2022-06-18 14:47:29','<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">CR offers ways to pay less for fuel</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:gallery {\"linkTo\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\"><!-- wp:image {\"id\":2553,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Money-1-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2553\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image --></figure>\n<!-- /wp:gallery -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Update, June 17, 2022:&nbsp;</strong>The&nbsp;national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $5.00, a decrease of 1 cent from the $5.01 cited below.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">At $5.01 for a gallon of regular unleaded, the national average price for regular gasoline is at an all-time high and has climbed $1.94 per gallon from a year ago. Prices at the pump vary by region, trending higher in the West and Northeast, and lower in the Midwest and Southeast.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Patrick De Haan, senior petroleum analyst at&nbsp;GasBuddy, a website and smartphone app that helps drivers find the best deals, said in early March 2022 that the No.&nbsp;1 cause of the current spike is the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the economic sanctions many countries have levied against Russia. Russia, he says, produces about 10&nbsp;percent of the 10&nbsp;million barrels of crude oil the world uses every day, making it a significant player in the oil supply game.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">“This is when Americans need to band together to cut our fuel consumption,” De Haan said in a Facebook Live post on March 7, 2022. “That is really the only thing we can do at this moment.”</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">De Haan cautioned that fuel price forecasting tends to be less precise longer than a few weeks out, and that decisions made by OPEC are the big wild card in figuring out which way prices will swing.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">“You never know when OPEC is going to cut production and raise prices,” he says.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The amount you’ll pay depends, of course, on the gas station where you fill up. The highest average price is in California, at $6.44 per gallon, and the lowest is in Georgia, at $4.50 per gallon.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">But there can also be significant price disparities among prices at filling stations in the same town. For example, according to GasBuddy’s gas price map, the Speedway Express station at 4069 State Street in Santa Barbara, Calif., is charging $6.09 per gallon for regular right now, while only a few miles away, the Chevron station at 1085 Coast Village Road is charging $6.79 per gallon.&nbsp;(Prices as of June 15, 2022.)</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">That means that choosing where you buy gasoline can make a big difference in how much you’re spending to fuel your vehicle. Putting 15&nbsp;gallons of regular gasoline into a small SUV would cost $10.50 more at the Chevron than at the Speedway Express. That difference can really pile up—to the tune of $546 a year with a weekly fill-up.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">There are also drivers who buy higher-cost premium gasoline unnecessarily for cars designed for regular fuel. Based on current national average gasoline prices, midgrade gasoline ($5.40) costs 39 cents per gallon more than what you’d pay for regular, and premium gas ($5.69) costs 68 cents more than regular on average. For a 15-gallon fill-up, that’s $5.85 more for midgrade and $10.20 more for premium.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How to Spend Less on Gas?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">“If you’re just looking at the price from the street, you’re leaving money on the table,” De Haan says. There are things you can do to keep your gas expenses down. Among them:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Use a gas station app or website.</strong>&nbsp;Smartphone apps, such as those from&nbsp;GasBuddy, and&nbsp;Gas Guru, are particularly convenient when you’re traveling and away from your computer. They’re available for Apple and Android devices. Many are free. You can filter results by fuel grade and sort by distance and price, as well as get GPS-guided directions to the station you choose.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">GasBuddy and Fuel Finder also let you check stations for amenities such as ATMs, restaurants, and car washes. GasBuddy has station reviews, which might tell you, for instance, which restrooms to avoid. And Gas Guru lets you save your favorite stations, so you can remember where to stop on your way back.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The Google Maps and Waze apps, which many people use for real-time traffic alerts and driving directions, also offer gas-price info.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">You’re likely to find that you may be able to get a better deal at stations that are not located on major highways, says Michael Calkins. Of course, making a big detour to pay less might not make sense.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Calkins also says to make sure that when you compare prices you consider buying only&nbsp;Top-Tier detergent gasoline, which is better for your car.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Check the prices in the different states you’ll visit.&nbsp;</strong>Prices can vary significantly among states, often because of differences in state gas taxes. On Interstate 90, for example, De Haan found gas prices to be around significantly cheaper on the Ohio side of the border with Pennsylvania.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Think about how best to pay.&nbsp;</strong>Some stations offer a lower price if you pay with cash instead of a credit card. The difference between the cash and credit price usually ranges from around 10&nbsp;to 15&nbsp;cents per gallon, De Haan says, though he adds that it can be as much as a dollar.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Another option is to pay with a cash-back credit card. While the credit card price may be higher than the cash price, the reward you receive could make using the credit card a better deal.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">It’s worth noting that a rewards credit card could even provide greater savings than a gas credit card from a&nbsp;big oil company&nbsp;(such as Texaco or Chevron), De Haan says. Some cards offer introductory cash or points bonuses for signing up, and others offer discounts at the pump. The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card, for example, offers a $200 bonus to people who spend $1,000 on purchases during the first nine days of card ownership. The ExxonMobile Smart Card, by contrast, gives a 6-cent discount per gallon of fuel purchased.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">If you plan to pay by debit card, don’t assume that you are getting the cash price. Some stations could charge you the credit card rate instead. Check the posted prices at the pump. Selecting the debit option and entering a pin when you pump your gas is often a good indication that your transaction will be handled as cash, says Lyle Beckwith, senior vice president of the National Association of Convenience Stores, based in Alexandria, Va.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Slow down.</strong>&nbsp;De Haan says it may sound silly, but with prices being as high as they are, it’s a good idea to keep your foot out of the accelerator pedal. Around town, that means reducing your rate of acceleration, and on the highway, keeping your speed below 75 mph, above which he says wind resistance eats into your fuel economy. “Reducing your speed to 65 on the highway can increase fuel economy by as much as 15 to 20 percent,” he says.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Check your tire pressure.</strong>&nbsp;Making sure your car’s tires are properly inflated to the pressure indicated on the sticker inside the driver’s door will make it run more efficiently.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Reduce the number of car trips.</strong>&nbsp;If you can avoid traveling by car, either by walking, taking public transportation, or staying home, you’ll save money at the pump. If you do have to drive somewhere, try to bundle errands and appointments so you don’t have to make multiple trips and use more fuel.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.consumerreports.org/saving-money/how-to-save-money-at-the-gas-pump-a8520505361/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to Save Money at the Gas Pump?','','publish','closed','closed','','how-to-save-money-at-the-gas-pump','','','2022-06-20 17:31:40','2022-06-20 17:31:40','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2552',0,'post','',0),(2507,1,'2022-05-02 01:13:33','2022-05-02 01:13:33','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2508,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Insurance-1-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2508\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Like it or not, auto insurance is a fact of life. The average American&nbsp;pays $1,674 a year or about $140 a month on auto insurance. Nearly 215 million drivers carry car insurance in the U.S, and the industry as a whole is worth about $311 billion as of 2019, according to IBISWorld.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"stats\">Key auto insurance statistics</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How much is auto insurance?</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li><strong>The average auto insurance premium is&nbsp;$1,674&nbsp;a year</strong>&nbsp;or about $140 a month.</li><li><strong>About&nbsp;2.44% of the average household income&nbsp;is spent on auto insurance.</strong></li><li><strong>Auto insurance rates are on the rise.</strong>&nbsp;According to the NAIC,&nbsp;a 5% increase&nbsp;was observed between 2017 and 2018.</li><li><strong>Nearly 215 million drivers carry car insurance</strong>&nbsp;in the U.S., according to Review42.</li><li><strong>12.6% of drivers on the road are uninsured,</strong>&nbsp;according to the Insurance Research Council.</li><li>The auto insurance industry is worth about $311 billion, as of 2019 data from IBISWorld.</li><li><strong>Motor vehicle crashes cost almost $1 trillion in losses a year,</strong>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;NHTSA 2010 data.</li><li><strong>10 million or more crashes go unreported each year,</strong>&nbsp;according to the NHTSA.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"impact\">What impacts auto insurance rates?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Bankrate’s study of the&nbsp;average annual cost of auto insurance&nbsp;in the U.S. shows a rate of $1,674 per year for full coverage, accounting for about 2.44% of the average U.S. annual household income. Based on the report:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>If your credit score decreases, your premium can increase by $1,351 for an average annual premium of $3,025.</li><li>A speeding ticket can increase your premium by $355 for a total average premium of $2,029 per year.</li><li>If you are involved in a car crash, your insurance premium can increase by $731 for a total of $2,405 per year.</li><li>A lapse in coverage can cost you $187 for an average annual premium of $1,861.</li><li>A DUI conviction can increase your policy premium by $1,662 for a total of $3,336 per year.</li><li>If you add a teen driver to your policy, you add an average of $1,883 to your policy rate for a total annual premium of $3,557.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"types\">What types of auto insurance claims are filed?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">The four categories of auto insurance claims are&nbsp;bodily injury,&nbsp;property damage,&nbsp;collision, and&nbsp;comprehensive. Bodily injury and property damage claims are about liability or the policyholder’s responsibility to others for property damage or bodily injury. Collision and comprehensive cover damage and theft to the policyholder’s car.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Which auto insurance claims are most expensive?</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Unsurprisingly, bodily injury claims are the most expensive, at an average of $15,862 per loss, followed by property damage at $3,630, collision at $3,247, and comprehensive at least expensive at $1,659.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Cost of auto insurance claims by type</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Year</td><td>Bodily injury</td><td>Property damage</td><td>Collision</td><td>Comprehensive</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>$14,406</td><td>$2,881</td><td>$2,778</td><td>$1,476</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>$14,848</td><td>$2,958</td><td>$2,861</td><td>$1,490</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>$14,690</td><td>$3,073</td><td>$2,950</td><td>$1,585</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>$15,441</td><td>$3,231</td><td>$3,144</td><td>$1,621</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>$15,384</td><td>$3,516</td><td>$3,169</td><td>$1,572</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>$16,046</td><td>$3,791</td><td>$3,377</td><td>$1,679</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>$16,149</td><td>$3,969</td><td>$3,442</td><td>$1,747</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>$16,075</td><td>$4,064</td><td>$3,423</td><td>$1,811</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>$17,164</td><td>$4,295</td><td>$3,578</td><td>$1,832</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>$18,417</td><td>$4,525</td><td>$3,750</td><td>$1,780</td></tr><tr><td>Average</td><td>$15,862</td><td>$3,630</td><td>$3,247</td><td>$1,659</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Which auto insurance claims are most common?</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">From a frequency standpoint, collision claims are most commonly filed at an average of 5.9 claims per 100 year of insured coverage on a vehicle. The second most frequent claims are property damage at 3.4, comprehensive at 2.8, and, least frequent, bodily injury at 1 claim per 100 car years.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Frequency of auto insurance claims by type</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Year</td><td>Bodily injury</td><td>Property damage</td><td>Collision</td><td>Comprehensive</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>0.91</td><td>3.53</td><td>5.69</td><td>2.62</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>0.92</td><td>3.56</td><td>5.75</td><td>2.79</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>0.95</td><td>3.50</td><td>5.57</td><td>2.62</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>0.95</td><td>3.55</td><td>5.71</td><td>2.57</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>0.97</td><td>3.41</td><td>5.93</td><td>2.79</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>1.00</td><td>3.41</td><td>6.01</td><td>2.72</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>1.05</td><td>3.44</td><td>6.13</td><td>2.76</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>1.11</td><td>3.46</td><td>6.14</td><td>2.86</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>1.10</td><td>3.32</td><td>6.13</td><td>3.02</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>1.07</td><td>3.18</td><td>6.13</td><td>3.25</td></tr><tr><td>Average</td><td>1.00</td><td>3.44</td><td>5.92</td><td>2.80</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Why do people get in collisions?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Car insurance claims are commonly the result of several factors, as indicated by the iii:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Risk factors in 2018 fatal crashes&nbsp;| Insurance Information Institute</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Risk factor</th><th>Number of fatal crashes</th><th>Percentage of fatal crashes</th></tr><tr><td>Speeding or racing</td><td>8,596</td><td>16.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication</td><td>5,175</td><td>10.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Distracted driving</td><td>2,688</td><td>5.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Drowsy, asleep, fatigued, ill or blacked out</td><td>1,221</td><td>2.4%</td></tr><tr><td>No reason reported</td><td>16,012</td><td>31.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Unknown</td><td>9.167</td><td>17.8%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">How common are collisions?</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Furthermore, the Insurance Research Council (IRC) reports that 79% of all claimed economic losses in auto claims in 2017 covered a multitude of medical expenses.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">On the bright side, data indicates the number of injuries is gradually declining over time.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th></th><th>Total Crashes</th><th>Fatal Crashes</th><th>Injury Crashes</th><th>Property Damage Only Crashes</th></tr><tr><td><strong>2017</strong></td><td>6,452,000</td><td>34,247</td><td>1,889,000</td><td>4,530,000</td></tr><tr><td><strong>2018</strong></td><td>6,735,000</td><td>33,919</td><td>1,894,000</td><td>4,807,000</td></tr><tr><td><strong>2019</strong></td><td>6,756,000</td><td>33,224</td><td>1,916,000</td><td>4,806,000</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\">Who pays for insurance claims?</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Numbers like these raise the question of who is paying for these losses, especially when considering the issue from an insurance perspective. Data from the NHTSA suggests that it is not an even split.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Who pays for insurance claims?&nbsp;| NHTSA</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Responsible Party</th><th>Percentage of all motor vehicle crash costs</th></tr><tr><td>Private insurers</td><td>50%</td></tr><tr><td>Individual crash victims</td><td>26%</td></tr><tr><td>Third parties, charities, and health care providers</td><td>14%</td></tr><tr><td>Federal revenues</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>State and local municipalities</td><td>3%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">With insurance providers covering the bulk of these expenses, U.S. drivers have seen insurance premiums slowly creep up in keeping with the ongoing costs associated with these accidents. This is evident with historical data from the iii below and a glimpse at rates from this year.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Average annual cost of auto insurance&nbsp;| Insurance Information Institute</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Percent change, year-to-year</th></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>-0.5%</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>0.3%</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>0.7%</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>2.2%</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>3.5%</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>3.4%</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>3.1%</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>5.4%</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>6.5%</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>5.0%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">According to rate data from Quadrant Information Services, today, in 2022, the&nbsp;average cost of car insurance is $1,674&nbsp;per year for full coverage.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"percentage\">Percentage of uninsured drivers by state</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Insurance premiums can vary from state to state for several reasons, but one major factor that often contributes to auto insurance costs is&nbsp;uninsured drivers. The IRC credits the&nbsp;economic downturn&nbsp;as a leading reason for uninsured drivers. The Financial Responsibility and Insurance Committee of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators reports that&nbsp;82% of uninsured drivers&nbsp;either cannot afford insurance or do not have a vehicle that is operable or in use.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">An accident with an uninsured driver can be especially detrimental because of the potential unaffordability of out-of-pocket costs for repairs, injuries or damages. Yet, uninsured drivers are prevalent throughout the U.S.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">According to the IRC, about one in eight drivers were uninsured in 2014. About 27% of&nbsp;Florida drivers&nbsp;were uninsured in 2015,&nbsp;according to the iii, although the highest percentage is observed in Mississippi — nearly 30% of drivers in this state are uninsured.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"costs\">Auto insurance costs by state</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Auto insurance is required for drivers in 49 states and Washington, D.C. New Hampshire is the only state without a compulsory insurance liability law. If a driver meets the&nbsp;minimum financial obligations&nbsp;in New Hampshire, they may drive without an active auto insurance policy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Where you live has a significant impact on what you will pay for car insurance. The table below shows average annual car insurance rates by state for full coverage.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Based on average annual rates, Maine and Ohio fall well below the national average. Comparatively, Florida, New York and Louisiana tend to see the highest rates.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Average annual full coverage rates by state&nbsp;| Bankrate.com</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>State</th><th>Average annual cost</th></tr><tr><td>Alabama</td><td>$1,623</td></tr><tr><td>Alaska</td><td>$1,559</td></tr><tr><td>Arizona</td><td>$1,547</td></tr><tr><td>Arkansas</td><td>$1,914</td></tr><tr><td>California</td><td>$2,065</td></tr><tr><td>Colorado</td><td>$2,016</td></tr><tr><td>Connecticut</td><td>$1,845</td></tr><tr><td>Delaware</td><td>$1,775</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Florida</strong></td><td><strong>$2,364</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Georgia</td><td>$1,982</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hawaii</strong></td><td><strong>$1,127</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Idaho</strong></td><td><strong>$1,045</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Illinois</td><td>$1,485</td></tr><tr><td>Indiana</td><td>$1,254</td></tr><tr><td>Iowa</td><td>$1,260</td></tr><tr><td>Kansas</td><td>$1,698</td></tr><tr><td>Kentucky</td><td>$2,128</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Louisiana</strong></td><td><strong>$2,724</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Maine</strong></td><td><strong>$965</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Maryland</td><td>$1,877</td></tr><tr><td>Massachusetts</td><td>$1,223</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Michigan</strong></td><td><strong>$2,309</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Minnesota</td><td>$1,643</td></tr><tr><td>Mississippi</td><td>$1,782</td></tr><tr><td>Missouri</td><td>$1,661</td></tr><tr><td>Montana</td><td>$1,737</td></tr><tr><td>Nebraska</td><td>$1,531</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Nevada</strong></td><td><strong>$2,245</strong></td></tr><tr><td>New Hampshire</td><td>$1,275</td></tr><tr><td>New Jersey</td><td>$1,757</td></tr><tr><td>New Mexico</td><td>$1,419</td></tr><tr><td><strong>New York</strong></td><td><strong>$2,321</strong></td></tr><tr><td>North Carolina</td><td>$1,325</td></tr><tr><td>North Dakota</td><td>$1,264</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Ohio</strong></td><td><strong>$1,034</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Oklahoma</td><td>$1,873</td></tr><tr><td>Oregon</td><td>$1,346</td></tr><tr><td>Pennsylvania</td><td>$1,476</td></tr><tr><td>Rhode Island</td><td>$2,018</td></tr><tr><td>South Carolina</td><td>$1,512</td></tr><tr><td>South Dakota</td><td>$1,642</td></tr><tr><td>Tennessee</td><td>$1,338</td></tr><tr><td>Texas</td><td>$1,823</td></tr><tr><td>Utah</td><td>$1,306</td></tr><tr><td>Vermont</td><td>$1,207</td></tr><tr><td>Virginia</td><td>$1,304</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Washington</strong></td><td><strong>$1,176</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Washington, D.C.</td><td>$1,855</td></tr><tr><td>West Virginia</td><td>$1,499</td></tr><tr><td>Wisconsin</td><td>$1,186</td></tr><tr><td>Wyoming</td><td>$1,495</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"most\">Most expensive states for auto insurance</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Our&nbsp;2022 Bankrate annual report&nbsp;shows that some regions of the country continue to face much more expensive premiums than other regions.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Louisiana has the highest premiums of the costliest states, with an average annual cost of $2,724 per year. The New Orleans metropolitan area is even higher, with an average premium of $4,234 per year.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Rank</th><th>State</th><th>Average annual premium</th></tr><tr><td>1.</td><td>Louisiana</td><td>$2,724</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>Florida</td><td>$2,364</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>New York</td><td>$2,321</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>Michigan</td><td>$2,309</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>Nevada</td><td>$2,245</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"least\">Least expensive states for auto insurance</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Some cities are more affordable for the average cost of car insurance. Maine has the cheapest quote premium at $965 per year, followed closely by Ohio, Idaho, Hawaii and Washington.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Rank</th><th>State</th><th>Average annual premium</th></tr><tr><td>50.</td><td>Maine</td><td>$965</td></tr><tr><td>49.</td><td>Ohio</td><td>$1,034</td></tr><tr><td>48.</td><td>Idaho</td><td>$1,045</td></tr><tr><td>47.</td><td>Hawaii</td><td>$1,127</td></tr><tr><td>46.</td><td>Washington</td><td>$1,176</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"industry\">Auto insurance industry statistics</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Given various risk factors and average annual claim costs, you might wonder what the impact is to auto insurance providers. These statistics reflect the state of the auto insurance industry:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li>The CDC reports that 2010 costs for medical care and productivity losses accounted for almost $100 billion (nearly $500 for every licensed driver in the country).</li><li>Between 2008 and 2017,&nbsp;insurance payments increased&nbsp;by 31% for bodily injury claims and 26% for personal injury protection (PIP) no-fault claims.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Insurance market trends (millions)&nbsp;| NAIC</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th></th><th>2017</th><th>2018</th><th>2019</th></tr><tr><td>Direct property and casualty insurers</td><td>467,724</td><td>460,038</td><td>466,170</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"age\">Auto insurance statistics by age</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Age has historically been one of the most significant&nbsp;factors&nbsp;that car insurance providers use to determine insurance costs. Research continues to show that age is a driving factor in many fatalities, losses and damages associated with motor vehicle accidents. Below are common statistics associated with&nbsp;younger, less-experienced drivers:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li><strong>Teen drivers are three times more likely than older drivers to get into a fatal car accident.</strong>&nbsp;Factors include inexperience behind the wheel, distracted driving, lack of seatbelt use and risky behaviors behind the wheel.</li><li><strong>Handheld cell phone use is highest</strong>&nbsp;among drivers aged 16 to 24.</li><li><strong>Teen drivers typically face more expensive premiums</strong>&nbsp;to offset the higher risk.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"extra-large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-extra-large-font-size\" id=\"gender\">Auto insurance statistics by gender</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Auto insurance premiums can also be affected by gender. Not all states can use your gender when calculating insurance rates, however. In states like California and Michigan, it is illegal for auto insurance companies to use your gender as a factor when determining your insurance rates.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">However, research shows that gender can be a predictor of driver behavior.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><li><strong>Men tend to engage in riskier behaviors behind the wheel</strong>&nbsp;than women, according to&nbsp;IIHS research.</li><li><strong>Men are typically involved in more motor accidents</strong>&nbsp;than women.</li><li><strong>Accidents involving male drivers tend to be more serious</strong>&nbsp;than accidents with female drivers.</li><li><strong>Speeding is a factor in&nbsp;35% of all fatal accidents</strong>&nbsp;involving male drivers between 15 and 25.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Car insurance for teen drivers&nbsp;can be costly, but it is even more so for male 16-year-old drivers, who pay about $500 more than their female counterparts. Even as male drivers get older, they still have marginally higher car insurance premiums than women, on average, as shown below.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Average annual full coverage premium by gender and age&nbsp;| Bankrate.com</strong></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Age</th><th>Males</th><th>Females</th></tr><tr><td>16-year old</td><td>$2,783</td><td>$2,280</td></tr><tr><td>17-year old</td><td>$2,485</td><td>$2,015</td></tr><tr><td>18-year old</td><td>$5,727</td><td>$4,983</td></tr><tr><td>19-year old</td><td>$4,434</td><td>$3,831</td></tr><tr><td>21-year old</td><td>$3,149</td><td>$2,787</td></tr><tr><td>22-year old</td><td>$2,828</td><td>$2,495</td></tr><tr><td>23-year old</td><td>$2,675</td><td>$2,394</td></tr><tr><td>24-year old</td><td>$2,535</td><td>$2,282</td></tr><tr><td>25-year old</td><td>$2,181</td><td>$2,036</td></tr><tr><td>30-year old</td><td>$1,869</td><td>$1,832</td></tr><tr><td>35-year old</td><td>$1,813</td><td>$1,790</td></tr><tr><td>40-year old</td><td>$1,648</td><td>$1,701</td></tr><tr><td>50-year old</td><td>$1,463</td><td>$1,439</td></tr><tr><td>60-year old</td><td>$1,421</td><td>$1,389</td></tr><tr><td>70-year old</td><td>$1,564</td><td>$1,505</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/auto-insurance-statistics/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Auto insurance statistics and facts','','publish','open','open','','auto-insurance-statistics-and-facts','','','2022-05-05 20:49:51','2022-05-05 20:49:51','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2507',0,'post','',0),(2508,1,'2022-05-02 00:59:14','2022-05-02 00:59:14','','Insurance-1','','inherit','open','closed','','insurance-1-3','','','2022-05-02 00:59:14','2022-05-02 00:59:14','',2507,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Insurance-1.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),