(2438,1,'2022-04-26 15:36:29','2022-04-26 15:36:29','<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">High-performing employees are worth their weight in gold.</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\">High-performing employees’ have outstanding skills that distinguish them from their mediocre colleagues in the workplace. With a willingness to go above and beyond what is written in their job description, high performers keep the work flowing smoothly. But that’s not all -- they follow directions enthusiastically and are not afraid of challenges. What’s more, they exhibit creative thinking and leadership qualities, especially when decision-making is required. Striving to constantly develop new and existing skills&nbsp;increases their overall performance within the company.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2437,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Productivity-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2437\"/></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\">Managers with high-performing employees can rest assured knowing that these workers will exceed their expectations. Their unmatched skills set them apart from others. In fact, Apple and Google have stated that there is a&nbsp;huge gap between high performers and average employees.</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\"><strong>1. Initiative and self-direction.</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Instead of depending on managers or supervisors for direction, the high performer will carry out their own research. Self-direction drives them to seek apt information for completing a project. This could mean contacting others within the organization who has fitting knowledge. Better still, they’re prepared to attend conferences, sign up to training programs, read edifying books and even attend evening classes if required. Using initiative, they will boldly try new ways of working and take on more responsibilities to develop their career path.</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\"><strong>2. Feedback to develop performance.</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Being open to feedback and taking it constructively is crucial to the growth of an employee and their organization.&nbsp;High performers use feedback to evaluate their efficiency&nbsp;and look for areas where they can make an improvement. Therefore, they will actively seek feedback about their performance from management or supervisors&nbsp;to ensure they are always on track. In addition, feedback from other departments will provide scope for developing fresh, innovative ideas for the organization.</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\"><strong>3. Problem-solving at its best.</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">\"We can\'t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.\"&nbsp; -- Einstein</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\">Fresh challenges present an opportunity for high performers to showcase their problem-solving skills. Instead of dodging complicated tasks, they seek various diagnostic methods such as asking questions, exploring the issue, reading case studies or even calling for emergency team meetings. They use a systematic approach. First, identify the challenge, then look at alternatives, followed by deciding on the best approach and lastly executing the most suitable solution.</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\"><strong>4. Time management to avoid slacking.</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Managing time effectively can save an organization money. High-performing employees are aware that time is money and put that understanding into practice. You won’t find them wasting work time on social media, procrastinating or turning up late in the mornings. They are dedicated to performing at their highest levels to get things done on or before the scheduled time. Handling time well could also mean negotiating less urgent tasks to other colleagues in the department.</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\"><strong>5. A personalized system developed for order.</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Staying focused is crucial for outstanding performance. A high-performing employee will develop a system for keeping their workday organized. And this starts with a clear, clutter-free desk. One principal factor that will reduce stress and tiredness is&nbsp;taking frequent breaks&nbsp;during the day.&nbsp; Other methods helping them stay on top are regular routines, using a checklist, developing a functional filing system,&nbsp;managing incoming emails&nbsp;and even keeping a work journal.</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\"><strong>6. A positive mindset to promote good energy.</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Having a positive mindset doesn’t necessarily mean the workday will flow without problems. But having the right attitude is key for knowing how to look on the bright side and deal with issues constructively. This thinking helps high-performers excel in the workplace. They have an air of excitement, produce superior work and outperform the employee with a negative outlook. Not only that, colleagues prefer to be around the person who is full of energy, optimistic and always engaged with their work. In contrast, a pessimistic employee dampens the atmosphere and moods of those around him.</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\"><strong>7. Healthy working relationships and networking skills.</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Building relationships is important to high performers because of their lean toward&nbsp;like-minded people. As a result, they develop strong networking skills by connecting with other sources to gather information and worthwhile knowledge for their organization, when needed. This performance constantly grows their networking relations and provide easy access to contacts inside and outside of the workplace. In short, the high performer\'s innovative attitude benefits the organization who will be more than willing to invest in their personal development. This, in turn, will add more value to their skills.</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\">To sum up, high-performing employees are worth their weight in gold. Their exceptional skills push them to continually perform at optimum levels to achieve superior results. Not only do they contribute to the bottom line and productivity of any organization, they are also on a successful career path.</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.entrepreneur.com/article/310468\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','7 Traits of Supremely Productive Employees','','inherit','closed','closed','','2303-revision-v1','','','2022-04-26 15:36:29','2022-04-26 15:36:29','',2303,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2438',0,'revision','',0),(2439,1,'2022-04-26 15:37:18','2022-04-26 15:37:18','','Small-Biz','','inherit','open','closed','','small-biz-2','','','2022-04-26 15:37:18','2022-04-26 15:37:18','',2306,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Small-Biz.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2440,1,'2022-04-26 15:37:31','2022-04-26 15:37:31','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2439,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Small-Biz-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2439\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Looking for funding? Find out how to finance your startup without a traditional bank.</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li>Venture capitalists can provide funding, networking and professional guidance to launch your business rapidly.</li><li>Generally, angel investors don\'t ask for any company shares or claim to be stakeholders of your business.</li><li>Businesses focused on science or research may receive grants from the government.</li><li><strong>This article is for small business owners who need information on alternatives to traditional bank loans.</strong></li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Starting your own company can be a daunting but rewarding process. While a great business plan is crucial for founders, financing is one of the most important elements a company needs to succeed.</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\">However, financing a startup or small business can be a difficult, drawn-out process, especially for those with poor credit. While there is no minimum credit score you must have to&nbsp;get a business loan, traditional lenders have a range they usually consider acceptable.</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 a low credit score and no collateral to offer, consider an alternative loan. In this article, we break down 11 small business funding options, examine the benefits of alternative lending and provide tips on how to finance your 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=\"why-is-it-difficult-for-small-businesses-to-get-loans-from-banks\">Why is it difficult for small businesses to get loans from banks?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Capital is difficult for small businesses to access for several reasons. It\'s not that banks are against lending to small businesses – they want to – but traditional financial institutions have an outdated, labor-intensive lending process and regulations that are unfavorable to local shops and small organizations.&nbsp;</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 difficulty of accessing capital is exacerbated because many small businesses applying for loans are new, and banks typically want to see at least a five-year profile of a healthy business (for instance, five years of tax data) before extending an offer.</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=\"what-is-alternative-financing\">What is alternative financing?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Alternative financing is any method through which business owners can acquire capital without the assistance of traditional banks. Generally, if a funding option is based entirely online, it is an alternative financing method. By this definition, options such as crowdfunding, online loan providers and cryptocurrency qualify as alternative financing.</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=\"why-might-small-businesses-seek-alternative-financing\">Why might small businesses seek alternative financing?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">There are several reasons why small business owners might turn to business loan alternatives. Here are three of the most common.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>Lower credit requirements:</strong>&nbsp;Traditional banks are almost certain to decline loans to borrowers with credit scores below a certain threshold that, though different for each loan provider, is often between 600 and 650.</li><li><strong>Easier qualification:</strong>&nbsp;Not all small business owners meet the additional requirements to apply and be approved for traditional loans. In these cases, business loan alternatives are helpful.</li><li><strong>Faster approval:</strong>&nbsp;Traditional bank loans can take weeks to be approved, whereas some business loan alternatives give you access to funding in as little as one week.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" id=\"business-financing-options-without-a-traditional-bank\">Business financing options without a traditional bank</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">If your small business needs capital but&nbsp;doesn\'t qualify&nbsp;for a traditional bank loan, certain alternative financing methods and lenders may meet your needs. Here are some of the top financing options for startups and small businesses.</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\">1. Community development finance institutions</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">There are thousands of nonprofit community development finance institutions (CDFIs) across the country, all providing capital to small business and microbusiness owners on reasonable terms, according to Jennifer Sporzynski, senior vice president for business and workforce development at Coastal Enterprises Inc<a href=\"https://www.ceimaine.org/\">.</a>&nbsp;(CEI).</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\">\"A wide variety of applications for loans come across our desk every week, many of them from ambitious startups,\" Sporzynski said. \"As a mission-oriented non-bank lender, we know from experience that many viable small businesses struggle to access the capital they need to get started, thrive and grow.\"</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\">Lenders like CEI differ from banks in a few ways. First, many lenders look for a certain credit score, and that rules out a lot of startups. If banks see \"poor credit,\" that business will almost always end up in the \"no\" pile. CDFI lenders look at credit scores, too, but in a different way.</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\">\"We look for borrowers who have been fiscally responsible, but we understand that unfortunate things happen to good people and businesses,\" Sporzynski said. \"We seek to understand what happened and assess its relevance.\"</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 instance, personal or family medical issues and job losses can all negatively impact a borrower\'s accounting, but those can all be explained. Also, CDFI lenders do not need nearly as much collateral as a traditional bank would. Other things can compensate for a lack of&nbsp;assets to be used as collateral.</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\">2. Venture capitalists</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Venture capitalists (VCs) are an outside group that takes part ownership of the company in exchange for capital. The percentages of ownership to capital are negotiable and usually based on a company\'s valuation.</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\">\"This is a good choice for startups who don\'t have physical collateral to&nbsp;serve as a lien&nbsp;to loan against for a bank,\" said Sandra Serkes, CEO of Valora Technologies. \"But it is only a fit when there is a demonstrated high growth potential and a competitive edge of some kind, like a patent or captive customer.\"</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 benefits of a VC are not all financial. The relationship you establish with a VC can provide an abundance of knowledge, industry connections and a clear direction for your business.</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\">\"A lot of entrepreneurs lack the skills needed to grow a business, and even though they can make money through sales, understanding how to grow a company will always be a lost cause in the beginning,\" said Chris Holder, author of&nbsp;<em>Tips to Success</em>&nbsp;and CEO and founder of the $100 Million Run Group. \"The guidance from an experienced investor group is the best thing, as the mentorship is key for everyone.\"</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\"><strong>Did you know?</strong>&nbsp;The benefits of a VC are not all financial. The relationship you establish with a VC can provide an abundance of knowledge, industry connections and a clear direction for your business.</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\">3. Partner financing</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">With strategic partner financing, another player in your industry funds the growth in exchange for special access to your product, staff, distribution rights, ultimate sale or some combination of those items. Serkes said this option is usually overlooked.</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\">\"Strategic funding acts like venture capital in that it is usually an equity sale – not a loan – though sometimes it can be royalty-based, where the partner gets a piece of every product sale,\" she added.</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\">Partner financing is a good alternative because the company you partner with is usually going to be a large business and may even be in a similar industry, or an industry with an interest in your business.</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 larger company typically has relevant customers, salespeople and marketing programming that you can tap right into, assuming your product or service is a compatible fit with what they already offer, which would surely be the case or there would be no incentive for them to invest in you,\" Serkes said.</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\">4. Angel investors</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Many think that&nbsp;angel investors&nbsp;and&nbsp;venture capitalists&nbsp;are the same, but there is one glaring difference. While a VC is a company (usually large and established) that invests in your business by trading equity for capital, an angel investor is an individual who is more likely to invest in a startup or early-stage business that may not have the demonstrable growth a VC would want.</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\">Finding an angel investor can also be good in a similar way to gaining funding from a VC, albeit on a more personal level.</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\">\"Not only will they provide the funds, [but] they will usually guide you and assist you along the way,\" said Wilbert Wynnberg, an entrepreneur and speaker based in Singapore. \"Remember, there is no point in borrowing money just to lose it later. These experienced businesspeople can save you tons of money in the long run.\"</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\">5. Invoice financing or factoring</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">With invoice financing, also known as&nbsp;factoring, a service provider fronts you the money on your outstanding accounts receivable, which you repay once customers settle their bills. This way, your business has the cash flow it needs to keep running while you wait for customers to pay their outstanding invoices.</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\">Eyal Shinar, CEO of small business&nbsp;cash flow management&nbsp;company Fundbox, said these advances allow companies to close the pay gap between billed work and payments to suppliers and contractors.</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\">\"By closing the pay gap, companies can accept new projects more quickly,\" Shinar said. \"Our goal is to help business owners grow their businesses and hire new workers by ensuring steady cash flow.\"&nbsp;</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\">6. Crowdfunding</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Crowdfunding&nbsp;on platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo can give a financial boost to small businesses. These platforms allow businesses to pool small investments from several investors instead of seeking out a single investment source.</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\">\"As an entrepreneur, you don\'t want to spend your investment options and increase the risk of investing in your business at such an early age,\" said Igor Mitic, co-founder of Fortunly. \"By using crowdfunding, you can raise the necessary seed funds to get your startup through the development phase and ready to be pitched to investors.\"</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\"><strong>Tip:</strong>&nbsp;Read the fine print of equity crowdfunding platforms before choosing one to use. Some platforms charge payment-processing fees or require you to reach your full financial goal in order to keep any of the money you raised.</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\">7. Grants</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Businesses focused on science or research may receive&nbsp;grants from the government. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers grants through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Recipients of these grants must meet federal research and development goals and have a high potential for commercialization.</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\">8. Peer-to-peer or marketplace lending</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending is an option for raising capital that introduces borrowers to lenders through various websites. Lending Club and Prosper are two of the most notable P2P lending platforms in the U.S.</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\">\"In its simplest form, a borrower creates an account on a peer-to-peer website that keeps records, transfers funds and connects borrowers to lenders,\" said Kevin Heaton, CEO and founder of i3. \"It\'s Match.com for money. A key difference is in borrower risk assessment.\"</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\">According to the SBA, P2P lending can be a solid financing alternative for small businesses, especially given the post-recession credit market. One drawback of this solution is that P2P lending is available to investors in certain states only.</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\">This form of lending, made possible by the internet, is a hybrid of crowdfunding and marketplace lending. When platform lending first hit the market, it allowed people with little working capital to give loans to other people – peers. Years later, major corporations and banks began crowding out true P2P lenders with their increased activity. In countries with better-developed financial industries, the term \"marketplace lending\" is more commonly used.</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\">9. Convertible debt</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Convertible debt is when a business borrows money from an investor or investor group and the collective agreement is to convert the debt to equity in the future.</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\">\"Convertible debt can be a great way to finance both a startup and a small business, but you have to be comfortable with ceding some control of the business to an investor,\" said Brian Cairns, CEO of ProStrategix Consulting. \"These investors are guaranteed some set rate of return per year until a set date or an action occurs that triggers an option to convert.\"</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\">Cairns believes another benefit of convertible debt is that it doesn\'t place a strain on cash flow while interest payments are accrued during the term of the bond. A drawback of this type of financing is that you relinquish some ownership or control of your business.</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\">10. Merchant cash advances</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">A merchant cash advance is the opposite of a small business loan in terms of affordability and structure. While this is a quick way to obtain capital, cash advances should be a last resort because of their high expense. Many of the&nbsp;top merchant services&nbsp;offer this option, so check with your provider to see if this could be a form of capital to explore</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\">\"A merchant cash advance is where a financial provider extends a lump-sum amount of financing and then buys the rights to a portion of your credit and debit card sales,\" said Priyanka Prakash, lending and credit expert at Fundera. \"Every time the merchant processes a credit or debit card sale, the provider takes a small cut of the sale until the advance is paid back.\"</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\">Prakash says that while this appears to be convenient, cash advances can be very expensive and troublesome to your company\'s cash flow. If you can\'t qualify for a small business loan or any of the options above, only then should you consider this option.</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\">11. Microloans</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Microloans (or&nbsp;microfinancing) are small loans given to entrepreneurs who have little to no collateral. Microloans sometimes have restrictions on how you can spend the money, but they typically cover operational costs and working capital for equipment, furniture and supplies. One example of a small business microlender is Kabbage, which offers microloans of $2,000 to $250,000; you can learn more about it in our&nbsp;Kabbage review. Another example are SBA&nbsp;microloans&nbsp;administered by nonprofit organizations.</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=\"the-benefits-of-alternative-lending\">The benefits of alternative lending</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Startups can enjoy a few key benefits in securing funding from a nontraditional source, according to Serkes. She believes that with alternative loans, a business owner gets a strong, invested partner who can introduce them to new clients, analysts, media and other contacts.</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\">These are some other benefits of working with a nontraditional lender.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>Market credibility:</strong>&nbsp;The startup gets to \"borrow\" some of the goodwill that the strategic partner has built up, and working with an established investor lends weight to the brand.</li><li><strong>Infrastructure help:</strong>&nbsp;The larger partner likely has teams for marketing, IT, finance and HR – all of which are things a startup could \"borrow\" or utilize at a favorable rate.</li><li><strong>Overall business guidance:</strong>&nbsp;It\'s likely the strategic partner will join your board as part of the investment. Remember that they have a wealth of experience in business, so their advice and viewpoint will be invaluable.</li><li><strong>Relatively hands-off partnership:</strong>&nbsp;A strategic partner still has their own business to run, so they are unlikely to be very involved in the day-to-day operations of the startup. Occasional updates on your business, such as monthly or quarterly, are usually sufficient check-ins for them.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">All businesses need working capital to thrive. Without the appropriate business financing options, startup companies are likely to fail. Avoiding the traditional bank loan route might seem like an impossible feat, but there are a plethora of small business financing options readily available for entrepreneurs. Gathering the right market data research and implementing the best financing option for your company increases the chances of your business surviving for the long haul.</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=\"how-can-small-businesses-prepare-to-apply-for-alternative-lending-options\">How can small businesses prepare to apply for alternative lending options?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Applying for financing entails much more than just filling out an application. To increase your chances of getting financing, small business owners should do their homework and have a strategy.</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\">Here are five tips to help you prepare your business for financing success:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ol class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>Know how much you need to borrow upfront.</strong>&nbsp;When you apply for business loan alternatives, you\'ll likely find that many different loan amounts are available. Don\'t commit to borrowing more than you need; there may be penalties for early repayment or for not using your whole loan.</li><li><strong>Write a business plan with financial projections.</strong>&nbsp;While not all alternative financing providers will demand to see your business plan, many funding sources have this stipulation, so you should prepare your plan now.</li><li><strong>Do market research and know the conditions of your industry.</strong>&nbsp;Lenders may be more likely to approve borrowers in growing industries. As such, if you can prove that your company\'s sector or market primes your business to expand and succeed, present your argument firmly somewhere in your application. It also demonstrates your knowledge as an entrepreneur and business strategist.</li><li><strong>Know your credit score.</strong>&nbsp;Often, a credit score below a certain number is an immediate disqualifier for loan applications, even if your company is primed for rapid growth and you\'re working on repaying your loans. Find out your credit score, and if it is too low, work to improve it before seeking capital.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Meet with a small business expert and attend training provided through the SBA.</strong>&nbsp;As with any important small business decision, you shouldn\'t go this one alone. Consult experts and seek training on how to apply successfully for the funding your company needs to thrive.</li></ol>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">As a small business owner, you should also establish a strong online presence and pay attention to how your company looks online, because lenders will be reviewing this information, too. Online review sites such as Yelp, Angie\'s List and TripAdvisor help paint a picture of your operations and serve as an indicator of your overall business health. Social connections and customer relationships on social media can also play a role in a lender\'s decision to offer financing.</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=\"how-to-find-business-financing-options\">How to find business financing options?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Trying to find financing for your startup can easily turn into a full-time job. From building a network of investors to connecting with other founders, financing is at the heart of any business\'s success, but it can turn into a serious time commitment.</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\">However, by working with the right investors and taking the time to be purposeful in your pitch, you can take important steps toward funding your company. Make no mistake; it will be difficult, but by being precise in your search, you can position yourself for success.</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\">\"What I find is when people get lots and lots of rejection and little progress, oftentimes they\'re just talking to the wrong investors,\" said Mike Kisch, founder and CEO of sleep technology company Beddr. \"If they had a better sense as to who the right investor was, they\'d see their success rate go up fairly dramatically.\"</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=\"warm-introductions\">Warm introductions</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">The key to obtaining funding as a startup is the \"warm introduction,\" according to Casey Berman, managing director of VC firm Camber Creek. Berman said startup founders can look to their immediate network to try to find opportunities. While this includes obvious connections – like&nbsp;friends and family&nbsp;or other startup owners – it\'s also important to consider professional services your company is using. If, for example, you work with a legal consultant or PR company, they may be able to help you find funding, he said.</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 key, said Berman, is to partner with a company, whether it\'s an investment firm or a payroll processing service, that adds value to your business.</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 warm introduction goes a lot further than really any other potential avenue,\" he said. \"Any professionals that are surrounding the company should absolutely be the first stop and the first location a company goes to try to have access to venture capital and a warm introduction.\"</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\">This is how you can differentiate your startup from its peers. Building a network of individuals that help pull your company up is the best way to give your business the support it needs.</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\">How to target a venture capitalist for business financing?</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Venture capital may be the most difficult to secure, primarily because VCs have very specific investment strategies, want to invest for a relatively short period of time (three to five years) and may want to be involved in your business\' operations and decisions. VCs also usually want to invest sums larger than a few million dollars.</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 startups begin with early seed funding from friends and family, angel investors, or accelerators. If you\'re already past this step and are looking for longer-term funding, it\'s important to approach VC firms the right way. Kisch said it\'s crucial to find the right investor for the stage your business is in. There are thousands of VC firms out there, so think critically about your business and which investors make the most sense.</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\">\"Finding the right investor who is at the right stage of where your company is but [that] also has some exposure to the environment that you\'re going to be in – I think that\'s the best way that you\'re going to have a productive relationship,\" Kisch said.</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\">Once you\'ve developed a shortlist of VCs that invest in your space and can provide the level of guidance and added value you\'re looking for, it\'s time to set up a formal process.</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\">With your list in hand, Berman recommends spending one to two weeks trying to make that initial contact with the company. Once you\'ve made contact, keep the company up to date on business developments and other information that are relevant to that investor. This ongoing conversation can help you build relationships with investors. When it\'s time to raise funding, you\'ll have to pitch the VC firms you\'ve been in constant communication with.</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 CEO really needs to commit to raising money and doing what\'s called a roadshow to get in front of a large number of venture funds to find the right partner,\" Berman said.</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\">Berman said the whole process, from initial meetings to closing a deal, can take anywhere from 60 to 90 days, or even longer, so plan accordingly. He also recommended looking for funding well before your business will need it.</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\">How to stay motivated?</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">One of the biggest variables throughout this process is motivation. For a startup, rejection is part of the journey. Staying motivated during trying times can be difficult, but it will be the backbone of your business\'s success.</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\">Kisch has been through five rounds of funding with various startups he\'s worked for. He said one thing that has been helpful for him throughout the screening process is that he has tried to maintain low expectations so that rejection doesn\'t overwhelm him. Rather than seeing it as a failure, Kisch sees rejection as part of the process.</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 someone says no, I just think, \'That\'s cool, I guess I\'m just one step closer to a yes,\'\" he said.</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 other takeaway from rejection is how you adapt and respond. Kisch said that a stream of critical feedback allows you to better your product and hone your pitching skills.</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\">He said a good way to think about it is you\'re not getting rejected because your idea or product is bad; it\'s because it can be slightly improved or you haven\'t developed the&nbsp;skills to pitch&nbsp;it in the most effective way. This keeps the responsibility in your hands without adding any pressure. Everything is a work in progress, and even today\'s most successful companies had to deal with challenges at one point.</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\">\"Raising money from people is a very difficult thing,\" he said. \"You just have to sort of roll with it and be aware that there are a lot of companies that were initially rejected that became generation-defining companies.\"</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1733-small-business-financing-options-.html\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Small Business Financing Options That Bypass Traditional Banks','','inherit','closed','closed','','2306-revision-v1','','','2022-04-26 15:37:31','2022-04-26 15:37:31','',2306,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2440',0,'revision','',0),(2441,1,'2022-04-26 15:38:19','2022-04-26 15:38:19','','Insurance-1','','inherit','open','closed','','insurance-1-2','','','2022-04-26 15:38:19','2022-04-26 15:38:19','',2309,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-1.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2442,1,'2022-04-26 15:38:24','2022-04-26 15:38:24','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2441,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-1-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2441\"/></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 cost for homeowners insurance across the U.S. is $1,251 per year, or $104.25 per month, according to&nbsp;National Association of Insurance Commissioners data.&nbsp;</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\">This figure has been on the rise in recent years. That’s because of an increase in home repair and rebuilding costs, higher catastrophe losses due to extreme weather, and more people relocating to disaster-prone areas.</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\">Your actual cost of homeowners insurance can vary widely based on the specific type of policy you choose, your location, and a host of other factors.&nbsp;</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\"><strong>Factors that affect the cost of homeowners insurance</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Your quote for a&nbsp;homeowners insurance&nbsp;premium takes many factors into account, including:&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>Age of the home —</strong>&nbsp;Newer homes may have lower insurance costs than older homes. If a home is particularly old, you may struggle to find adequate coverage.</li><li><strong>Type of construction —</strong>&nbsp;Your house’s construction style can affect its risk of being damaged in a fire or storm. Frame houses, for example, may be more expensive to insure than brick homes.</li><li><strong>Location —</strong>&nbsp;The setting of your home can affect the price of insurance in either direction. For example, homes in urban areas may face a higher risk of crime, but have better fire protection services — while homes in rural areas may have the opposite dynamic. The quality of your area’s fire department is particularly important to homeowners insurance companies. Your city may have a fire protection class rating that insurers use to set prices.</li><li><strong>Deductible —</strong>&nbsp;A deductible is the amount you pay toward a repair before insurance kicks in. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium tends to be, but the more money you pay out of pocket when you file a claim.</li><li><strong>Amount of insurance coverage —</strong>&nbsp;You’ll want to buy enough insurance to cover the cost of replacing your home in the event of a total loss, making your total coverage highly dependent on real estate and construction costs. The more coverage you need, the higher&nbsp;price you’ll pay.</li><li><strong>Risk of natural disasters —</strong>&nbsp;Certain parts of the country are more prone to disasters like hurricanes, brush fires, and tornadoes. These areas may require you to pay higher premiums.</li><li><strong>Local laws and regulations —</strong>&nbsp;Homeowners insurance is heavily regulated, with rules varying from state to state that can affect insurance costs. Certain states may require specific levels of coverage, which can increase your cost.</li><li><strong>Your claim history —</strong>&nbsp;If you’ve filed numerous homeowners insurance claims in the past, you may face higher costs when you renew or purchase a new policy. This can happen even if the claims you filed weren’t your fault.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>What are the most expensive states for homeowners insurance?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">The most expensive states for homeowners insurance all lie on the Gulf Coast, an area at particular risk for hurricanes. All three states have been hit hard recently, with homeowners incurring billions in damages.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>Florida —</strong>&nbsp;$1,954 average annual premium, or $162.83 per month</li><li><strong>Louisiana —</strong>&nbsp;$1,906 average annual premium, or $158.83 per month</li><li><strong>Texas —</strong>&nbsp;$1,878 average annual premium, or $156.50 per month</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>What are the least expensive states for homeowners insurance?</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">The three states with the least expensive homeowners insurance aren’t&nbsp;in areas traditionally prone to hurricanes or tornadoes. Their premiums are less than half the average premiums in the most expensive states.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>Oregon —</strong>&nbsp;$731 average annual premium, or $60.92 per month</li><li><strong>Utah —</strong>&nbsp;$737 average annual premium, or $61.42 per month</li><li><strong>Idaho —</strong>&nbsp;$787 average annual premium, or $65.58 per month</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Average cost of homeowners insurance by coverage amount</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Homeowners insurance policies generally have a&nbsp;dwelling coverage limit, or the maximum amount an insurance company will pay out to repair or replace a damaged house. More-expensive homes require you to buy a higher dwelling coverage limit, which can have a major effect on your premium.</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\">Here’s the average cost of homeowners insurance by coverage amount, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxbusiness.com/foxbusiness.com/content/uploads/2022/03/931/523/CREDIBLE_USE_ONLY_cost-of-homeowners-insurance-by-coverage-amount.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>How to lower the cost of homeowners insurance</strong>?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">If any of the average prices give you sticker shock, keep in mind that it’s possible to lower the cost when you&nbsp;buy homeowners insurance. Consider these strategies:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>Bundle multiple insurance policies.</strong>&nbsp;You may have a number of different insurance policies, including auto insurance, life insurance, and business insurance. Some insurance companies may give you discounts if you choose to have multiple policies with the same company, which is called bundling.</li><li><strong>Take advantage of discounts.</strong>&nbsp;Some insurers will give you a discount on your policy if you do things like install a security system or sprinkler system.</li><li><strong>Increase your deductible.</strong>&nbsp;The higher your deductible, the more you\'ll pay out of pocket if you file a claim — but the lower your insurance premium will be.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\"><strong>Homeowners insurance FAQs</strong></h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Read on for the answers to a few of the most common questions people have about homeowners insurance.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Why does homeowners insurance go up?</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">The cost of your homeowners insurance may rise over time for a variety of reasons, and some of them are specific to your home. Your homeowners insurance may also get more expensive as your home ages, for example, since older homes tend to be more at risk of damage. You may face a higher premium if you have a history of filing homeowners insurance claims, even if they’re for issues that weren’t your fault.</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\">Plus, factors beyond your home can influence rising prices. One of them is inflation: The price of construction, materials, and other items you’d need to repair or replace your home goes up over time, so your insurance does too. Your policy may automatically increase its coverage (and likely its cost) to keep up with overall inflation. Homeowners insurance rates may also go up in your area if your town has been hit by an unusual number of natural disasters or other catastrophes recently.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Does homeowners insurance affect your mortgage payment?</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Yes, in a way. You typically won’t pay your homeowners insurance company directly for your policy. Instead, you’ll pay for your homeowners insurance as part of your monthly mortgage payment, with your lender holding the money in an escrow account and making the premium payments on your behalf. This allows the lender to ensure your homeowners insurance is paid on time, protecting its investment as well as your own. If the cost of your&nbsp;homeowners insurance goes up, so will your mortgage payment.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>What’s not covered by homeowners insurance?&nbsp;</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Homeowners insurance policies generally spell out&nbsp;when damage to your home will be covered&nbsp;and when it won’t. (It usually depends on what caused the damage.) In most cases, your policy will cover damage from fire or storms but won’t cover flood damage or earthquakes. Your policy may or may not cover damage from hailstorms or windstorms.</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\">Wear and tear is generally not covered under a homeowners insurance policy. Your vehicles generally aren’t covered, even if they’re damaged in an event that also damages your house, and your pets aren’t covered either.&nbsp;</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\">You can usually see what’s not covered under your policy in the \"exclusions\" section, or you can speak with your insurance agent to find out.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/cost-of-homeowners-insurance\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','What’s the average cost of homeowners insurance?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2309-revision-v1','','','2022-04-26 15:38:24','2022-04-26 15:38:24','',2309,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2442',0,'revision','',0),(2443,1,'2022-04-26 15:39:25','2022-04-26 15:39:25','','Insurance-2','','inherit','open','closed','','insurance-2-2','','','2022-04-26 15:39:25','2022-04-26 15:39:25','',2312,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-2.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2444,1,'2022-04-26 15:39:32','2022-04-26 15:39:32','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2443,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-2-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2443\"/></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\">Event planning insurance operates on a principle familiar to top-notch event planners: Plan for the best, but always be prepared for the worst.</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\">You already do this. Thanks to your careful wedding planning, for example, the bride’s dress is perfect on the big day. But when a small dog plants its grassy paws on the dress during pictures, your otherwise-invisible preparation saves the day. You open your go-bag for white towels, a stain stick, rubbing alcohol, baby powder, and chalk—and erase the mark in moments.</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\">Event planning insurance operates on the same principle. The unforeseen can happen despite the best possible planning. Having insurance all zipped up in your ‘go-bag’ means that you are prepared and protected—no matter the unwanted circumstances impacting your business and events. Read on to learn the types of insurance you may need and the protection they provide.</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\">Discover the event planning insurance your business needs</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>1. Event planning liability insurance</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Liability insurance protects you financially if you’re sued for personal injury or property damage.</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\">With liability insurance, if a guest or worker gets hurt or someone’s valuable possessions are damaged at your event, a lawsuit over these issues won’t drain every cent from your coffers and put you out of business. A liability insurance policy covers lawyers’ fees and any money awarded to the plaintiff.&nbsp;</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\">Consider a client’s garden party where a glass pitcher of water slipped and shattered on the tile floor—not an accident you could lose your business over. But while you grabbed towels to soak up the water and an employee swept up the glass, a guest slipped in the water, fell, and broke his wrist in several places. This guest could feasibly come after your business to recoup his medical expenses.&nbsp;</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\">Or, let’s say you caught that tilting pitcher of water just before it fell—but knocked over a valuable marble statue in the process. Your client might not want to swallow the lost value of that statue, opting instead to recoup it from your business.</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\">It’s your responsibility to take every precaution to ensure a safe event, such as following best practices for event safety and&nbsp;layout design, but an event completely free of risks is impossible. Liability insurance covers you when rare accidents happen.&nbsp;</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\">Corporate event planners have legal teams to ensure proper coverage at all times and for various events. However, if you run your own business, you need to&nbsp;be your own legal team. Look into event planning liability insurance, as a protection for your business and to ensure you can work with the many venues that require the coverage. Like the cost of car insurance, it’s an expense that is well worth it when you consider the alternatives.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>2. Event planning professional liability insurance</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Professional liability insurance protects you financially if you’re sued by clients who are dissatisfied with your work. This type of insurance is sometimes called ‘errors and omissions insurance’, and in some industries it’s called ‘malpractice insurance’.</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\">It’s important to understand that a lawsuit can drain your company’s funds equally effectively whether or not you are at fault for a mistake, and whether or not the suit has merit.</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 example, let’s say a client just didn’t like your work: the balloons were the wrong shade of mauve and they file a lawsuit claiming you didn’t fulfill your contractual obligations. Professional liability insurance covers the fees for the lawyer you must now hire to get their unmerited case thrown out of court.</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\">Or, more seriously, let’s say you missed the deadline for a venue deposit and the venue booked another event for that time-slot. Meanwhile, nonrefundable deposits for DJs, caterers, and florals were already made. Your client could bring a lawsuit to reclaim that lost money from your business. Professional liability insurance covers the legal fees for the lawsuit and court costs, as well as any damages the judge awards the client.</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\">Nobody likes to think about having dissatisfied, litigious clients. But the truth is that planners often help people plan for important personal milestones and celebrations. When things go wrong, emotions can be very strained, and a lawsuit can land in your lap out of the blue.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>3. Event planning liquor liability insurance</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">This type of insurance protects you against personal injury and property damage claims when people have been drinking at an event.</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 someone who has been drinking leaves the venue, gets in a fight, and injures someone,&nbsp; liquor liability insurance protects your business against a claim for the injured person’s medical bills. Same thing if an attendee runs their car into a fence on the way home from an event—your business won’t be on the hook for the cost of a new fence.</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\"><br>There are two kinds of liquor liability insurance policies. Full policies are for venues like bars and restaurants that serve alcohol frequently. Event planners usually need the second type, known as host policies, which are designed for venues where alcohol is served occasionally, but not as a matter of routine.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>4. Hired and non-owned auto insurance</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">This type of insurance protects you against lawsuits for personal injury or property damage when an employee is driving for work. It covers vehicles that aren’t owned by the business: rental cars, buses, and employees’ personal vehicles.</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\">You are also an employee of your business—this policy also covers you. “But wait,” you may say. “I’m driving my own car, and I already have auto insurance. I don’t need this!” Not so fast. Personal auto insurance generally does not cover driving for business purposes. If you’re driving your own car on the way to a site visit or an event, and get into an accident, this is the insurance policy that will provide financial protection.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":25533} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://2lkcp81qv9i72rn88i4dfqq1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Hand-Shake.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25533\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\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\">Help your clients make smart event insurance choices</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\">Creating events is a partnership between planner and client, and your clients also need the protection provided by event insurance and event cancellation insurance. For events held on your client’s property, direct them to speak with their homeowners, rental, or property insurance provider to make sure the coverage is sufficient if an injury or property damage occurs.&nbsp;</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 events held off the client’s property (a wedding in a city garden, a company event in a historic building, a networking meeting at a hotel), homeowners and property insurance won’t cover damage or injury. Your clients will need short-term event insurance to cover the event. As their advisor, get acquainted with reliable insurance providers in a range of price-points and have the contact information of go-to agents on hand to share with clients.</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\">Let your clients know event insurance generally starts under $200 and goes up from there, with the price varying depending on event type, size, activities, length, and other factors.</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\">Your clients will also need event cancellation insurance. This covers financial losses when extreme weather, hospitalizations, and vendor no-shows force a cancellation of the event. The insurance does not, however, cover factors such as cold feet at a wedding or low ticket sales for a fundraiser.&nbsp;</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":25526} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://2lkcp81qv9i72rn88i4dfqq1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/PeopleOnSofa-1024x755.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25526\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\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\">How to find the right event insurance plans?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Insurance isn’t likely a favorite task or topic of conversation—for you or your clients. But getting insurance plans in place to protect your business and your clients from liability is essential. Here are some search tips to keep in mind as you decide on your insurance provider:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>Accessibility.</strong>&nbsp;For some people, having a walk-in office and an agent to speak with face to face when choosing coverage or navigating a claim is important.</li><li><strong>Specialization.&nbsp;</strong>Most insurance companies cover events. But if you run a small planning company, an agency specializing in small businesses may be ideal. Some companies may also specialize in event coverage in your area.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Cost.</strong>&nbsp;It’s simple—you need coverage with premiums that stay within your budget.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Reviews.</strong>&nbsp;Explore online customer reviews and&nbsp;consumer guides&nbsp;that cover insurance. Pay attention to whether the consumer review site makes money when you link to an insurance company through them. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but the most trustworthy sites are transparent about their business model.</li><li><strong>Word of mouth.</strong>&nbsp;Talk with trusted mentors in the business about their experiences with insurance companies to help you narrow your choices.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Hopefully you’ll never have to make a claim, but with your insurance in order you can focus without worry on the fun stuff—planning outstanding events.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.socialtables.com/blog/event-planning/insurance/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','The 4 Event Planning Insurance Plans You Need','','inherit','closed','closed','','2312-revision-v1','','','2022-04-26 15:39:32','2022-04-26 15:39:32','',2312,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2444',0,'revision','',0),(2445,1,'2022-04-26 15:40:25','2022-04-26 15:40:25','','Insurance-4','','inherit','open','closed','','insurance-4-2','','','2022-04-26 15:40:25','2022-04-26 15:40:25','',2316,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-4.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2446,1,'2022-04-26 15:40:33','2022-04-26 15:40:33','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2445,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-4-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2445\"/></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\">An insurance premium is the amount of money an individual or business pays for an insurance policy. Insurance premiums are paid for policies that cover healthcare, auto, home, and life insurance. Once earned, the premium is&nbsp;income for&nbsp;the insurance company. It also represents a liability, as the insurer must provide coverage for claims being made against the policy. Failure to pay the premium on the individual or the business may result in the cancellation of the policy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-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\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li>An insurance premium is the amount of money an individual or business must pay for an insurance policy.</li><li>Insurance premiums are paid for policies that cover healthcare, auto, home, and life insurance.</li><li>Failure to pay the premium on the part of the individual or the business may result in the cancellation of the policy and a loss of coverage.</li><li>Some premiums are paid quarterly, monthly, or semi-annually depending on the policy.</li><li>Shopping around for insurance may help you find affordable premiums.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\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\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-5\">How an Insurance Premium Works</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-6\">When you sign up for an&nbsp;insurance policy, your insurer will charge you a premium. This is the amount you pay for the policy. Policyholders may&nbsp;choose from&nbsp;several options for&nbsp;paying their&nbsp;insurance premiums. Some insurers allow the policyholder to pay the insurance premium in installments—monthly or semi-annually—while others may require an upfront payment in full before any coverage starts.</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\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-8\">The price&nbsp;of the premium&nbsp;depends&nbsp;on a variety of factors, including:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-10\" class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li>The type of coverage</li><li>Your age</li><li>The area in which you live</li><li>Any claims filed in the past</li><li>Moral hazard and adverse selection</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Important: </strong>There may be additional charges payable to the insurer on top of the premium, including taxes or services fees.</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\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-14\">Auto Insurance</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-15\">For example, in an auto insurance policy, the likelihood of a claim being made against a teenage driver living in an urban area may be higher than a teenage driver&nbsp;in a suburban area. In general, the greater the risk associated, the more expensive the insurance policy (and thus, the insurance premiums).</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_1-0-17\">Life Insurance</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-18\">In the case of a life insurance policy, the age at which you begin coverage will determine your premium amount, along with other risk factors (such as your current health). The younger you are, the lower your premiums will generally be. Conversely, the older you get, the more you pay in premiums to your insurance company.</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_1-0-20\">How Premiums Are Calculated</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-21\">Insurance premiums may increase after the policy period ends. The insurer may increase the premium for claims made during the previous period if the risk associated with offering a particular type of insurance increases, or if the cost of providing coverage increases.</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\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-23\">Insurance companies generally employ&nbsp;actuaries&nbsp;to determine risk levels and premium prices for&nbsp;a given insurance policy. The emergence of sophisticated algorithms and artificial intelligence&nbsp;is fundamentally changing how insurance is priced and sold. There is an active debate between those who say algorithms will replace human actuaries in the future and those who contend the increasing use of algorithms will require greater participation of human actuaries and send the profession to a \"next level.\"</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\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-25\">Insurers use the premiums paid to them by their customers and policyholders to cover liabilities associated with the policies they underwrite. They may also&nbsp;invest in the premium to generate higher returns. This can offset some costs of providing insurance coverage and help an insurer keep its prices competitive.</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\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-27\">While insurance companies may invest in assets with varying levels of liquidity and returns, they are required to maintain a certain level of liquidity at all times. State insurance regulators set&nbsp;the number of liquid assets necessary&nbsp;to ensure&nbsp;insurers&nbsp;can&nbsp;pay claims.</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_1-0-29\">Special Considerations</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-30\">Most consumers find shopping around to be the best way to find the cheapest insurance premiums. You may choose to shop around on your own with individual insurance companies. And if you are looking for quotes, it\'s fairly easy to do this by yourself online.</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\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-32\">For example, the&nbsp;Affordable Care Act&nbsp;(ACA) allows uninsured consumers to shop around for health insurance policies on the marketplace. Upon logging in, the site requires some basic information such as your name, date of birth, address, and income, along with the personal information of anyone else in your household. You can choose from several options available based on your home state—each with different premiums, deductibles, and copays—the policy coverage changes based on the amount you pay.</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\" id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-34\">The other option is to try going through an insurance agent or broker. They tend to work with a number of different companies and can try to get you the best quote. Many brokers can connect you to life, auto, home, and health insurance policies. However, it\'s important to remember that some of these brokers may be motivated by commissions.</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 Do Insurers Do With the Premiums?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Insurers use the premiums paid to them by their customers and policyholders to cover liabilities associated with the policies they underwrite. Some insurers invest in the premium to generate higher returns. By doing so, the companies can offset some costs of providing insurance coverage and help an insurer keep its prices competitive within the market.</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 Are the Key Factors Affecting Insurance Premiums?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Insurance premiums depend on a variety of factors including the type of coverage being purchased by the policyholder, the age of the policyholder, where the policyholder lives, the claim history of the policyholder, and moral hazard and adverse selection. Insurance premiums may increase after the policy period ends, or if the risk associated with offering a particular type of insurance increases. It may also change if the amount of coverage changes.</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 an Actuary?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">An actuary assesses and manages the risks of financial investments, insurance policies, and other potentially risky ventures. Actuaries assess particular situations financial risks, primarily using probability, economic theory, and computer science.&nbsp;Most actuaries work at insurance companies, where their risk-management capabilities are particularly applicable in determining risk levels and premium prices for&nbsp;a given insurance policy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/insurance-premium.asp\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','What Is an Insurance Premium?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2316-revision-v1','','','2022-04-26 15:40:33','2022-04-26 15:40:33','',2316,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2446',0,'revision','',0),(2447,1,'2022-04-26 15:41:18','2022-04-26 15:41:18','','Insurance-5','','inherit','open','closed','','insurance-5-2','','','2022-04-26 15:41:18','2022-04-26 15:41:18','',2319,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-5.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2448,1,'2022-04-26 15:41:28','2022-04-26 15:41:28','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2447,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-5-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2447\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\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\">Some states will allow you to share a renters insurance policy with your roommate, but it’s not always the best decision. You\'ll need more coverage, so you\'ll need to pay a higher premium, and, if you both need different types of insurance, that will be difficult to consolidate under one policy.</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\">Having a roommate is a great way to save cash — on rent, on utilities, and even on groceries.</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\">But what about with insurance? Can you team up on your renters insurance policy and split the bill, too?</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 answer to that is more nuanced than you may think. While some insurance companies allow it, not all of them do. Even if they do, you may not want a shared policy due to the higher risk it comes with.</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\">Can you share renters insurance with a roommate?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":103214} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.moneyunder30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1038686506.jpg\" alt=\"Should You Share Renters Insurance With Your Roommate? - Can you share renters insurance with your roommate?\" class=\"wp-image-103214\"/></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\">It’s possible to share a renters insurance policy, but it depends on your insurance carrier&nbsp;and&nbsp;the unique laws in your state.</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\">Some states only allow policies to be shared between family members or spouses, so if you’re in one of these states (like Florida, for example), you won’t be able to split policies with an unrelated roommate.</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 your state and insurance company&nbsp;<em>do</em>&nbsp;allow it, there are still some considerations you’ll want to take into account before&nbsp;signing up for a&nbsp;joint&nbsp;renters&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;policy.</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\">Let’s look at a few of these together:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Coverage limits</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">First and foremost, you and your roommate should discuss coverage. Though adding them to your policy will cover them to some extent, it won’t protect all of their belongings unless you adjust the coverage limits.</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\">Let’s look at an example:&nbsp;if your policy currently covers up to $25,000 in damages and you add on a roommate — without increasing coverage — then you’ll now&nbsp;<em>split</em>&nbsp;that $25,000 should a disaster occur. That means you’ll each have just $12,500 in property protected.</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\">To make sure you’re both fully covered, you’ll need to increase your coverage limits to account for your roommate’s belongings.</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\">You should also check your lease, as many landlords require a certain amount of coverage per roommate. You’ll need to be sure your shared policy accounts for this, as well.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Budget</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Money is a big consideration when looking at insurance. While sharing renters insurance could make your insurance more affordable, it’s definitely not a given. Since you’ll need to increase your coverage limits to account for your roommate’s belongings, it could mean a higher premium, too.</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\">To see if sharing a renters policy would be best for your budget, be sure to get quotes both individually&nbsp;<em>and</em>&nbsp;as a pair, with the added coverage you’d need for both your belongings. This will allow you to compare the two costs side by side.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Risk</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Your stomach for risk is another consideration to keep in mind. After all, adding your roommate to your policy means increasing your risk. It makes you vulnerable to their incidents or mistakes, and any claim they file could hurt you — financially speaking.</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\">It’s true: insurance claims are reported to&nbsp;CLUE — the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. This system is used by all kinds of insurance providers, including home and car insurers, to assess risk and price policies.</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\">In short: having a claim reported on CLUE, even if it’s not your own,&nbsp;could mean higher premiums&nbsp;on other insurance policies, too.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Types of coverage</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">You should talk to your roommate about what types of&nbsp;coverage&nbsp;<em>they</em>&nbsp;want. If they bring a high-dollar instrument to the property, they might want extra&nbsp;coverage&nbsp;to protect that&nbsp;personal possession&nbsp;in case of&nbsp;theft&nbsp;or damage.</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\">Similarly, you might want extra liability insurance in case your dog bites a guest or additional personal property coverage for your laptops and gaming system. All of these will come with higher premiums.</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\">You’ll also need to agree on your deductible — or how much you’re willing to pay out of pocket when filing a claim. This will also impact your policy premium&nbsp;(lower-deductible policies typically come with higher costs).</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Potential for disputes</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Finally, your status as roommates should also come into play. If a dispute between the two of you were to arise, it could cause problems. You may have trouble getting their half of the premium, or if your roommate steals or damages your belongings,&nbsp;you may not be able to file a claim.</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 one roommate leaves, it could also complicate things with your coverage and policy. In general, if you’re young, your career is in flux, or you’re still in school, there’s a good chance one of you will need to move in the near future. If this happens, you’d need to reapply or update your existing policy.</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\">Make sure you have a conversation with your roommate about all these possibilities before deciding to split a policy.</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\">Is it a good idea to share renters insurance policies?</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\"><strong>Typically, it’s best to have separate renters insurance policies, so you both assume your own risk.</strong>&nbsp;Having your own policy also ensures you’re only paying for coverage for your belongings — not those of your roommates, which may be more or less valuable.</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 live with a family member, long-term significant other, or someone you really know and trust, sharing insurance might be a decent option, but make sure to weigh the risks vs. rewards before adding them to your policy. And remember: any claim they need to file could impact your insurance premiums for years to come.</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\">Pros and cons of sharing a rental policy</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Pros:</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>Potential affordability.&nbsp;</strong>You can split the costs of the premium.</li><li><strong>Ease and convenience.</strong>&nbsp;You’ll only need to fill out one application and can both report claims on the same policy.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Cons</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>More coverage is required.&nbsp;</strong>Just adding someone to your policy isn’t enough. If you want both your&nbsp;<em>and</em>&nbsp;their belongings protected, it will require higher coverage limits.</li><li><strong>Different coverages.</strong>&nbsp;You and your roommate may require different coverages. Your belongings may also hold different values, which would make splitting the cost of your policy unfair.</li><li><strong>Higher risk.&nbsp;</strong>You’re at risk if your roommate files a claim. It could mean higher premiums on other insurance products, too.</li><li><strong>Potential for disputes.&nbsp;</strong>Things could get complicated if a dispute arises or one roommate needs to leave.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\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\">How to share a policy with your roommate?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":104324} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.moneyunder30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1849149088.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-104324\"/></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\">If you decide to share policies (and your state and insurance company allow it), here’s how it works — and how to reduce your risk along the way.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>1. Get to know your roommate</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">You shouldn’t add just anyone to your insurance policy. Sharing a policy is best reserved for people you’re very close to — a sibling, family member, or potentially, a significant other. It should be someone you’ve known for a while and trust implicitly.</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 your roommate fits the bill, make sure you talk to them about the consequences of sharing a policy, too. Let them know what claims could mean for each of you and make sure you’re on the same page about what coverages you want.</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\">You should also discuss how claims money will be split&nbsp;<em>if</em>&nbsp;a claim occurs.&nbsp;According to&nbsp;Allstate, both roommates will need to endorse any check issued on a claim, so you’ll need a system for cashing the check and splitting the funds.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>2. Take a comprehensive inventory of all of your belongings</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Make note of each roommate’s belongings or, better yet, take a video of each roommate’s items — their furnishings, the contents of their closets and drawers, their electronics, and any other items of value. This will help you determine how much you’re both entitled to should one of you need to file a claim.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>3. Discuss your coverages</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">You should sit down and have a talk about how much and what type of coverage you both want. You’ll need to think about how much you’re both willing to pay toward claims (the deductible) and what coverage limits you need. The inventory you took previously can help you calculate this number.</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\">Make sure you discuss any special coverages you may want, too. Insurers sometimes offer add-ons for portable electronics, bikes, art, or collectibles.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>4. Make sure you’re both on the lease</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">You’ll both need to be on the lease&nbsp;if you’re going to share an insurance policy. That means you can’t share a policy with a subletter or someone just temporarily staying with you.</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 your roommate is not already on the lease, get with your landlord to remedy it.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>5. Work with your insurance agent&nbsp;<em>or</em>&nbsp;start getting quotes</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">If you already have a renter’s policy and want to add your roommate to yours, you’ll need to call up your insurance company to adjust the coverage and add the new policyholder.</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 don’t yet have a policy or are just moving into a property, you can shop around for quotes. Keep in mind that not all insurers offer shared policies like this, so you may need to call a few before you’re able to begin the application process.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>6. File claims as necessary</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Once you have your shared policy, you can both file claims with your insurer. When your insurer issues a check, though,&nbsp;it will be issued to both of you, so be prepared to split the costs appropriately. The claim will also go on both of your records.</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\">Summary</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">In some cases,&nbsp;sharing&nbsp;renters&nbsp;insurance&nbsp;could make sense, but it’s rarely the best decision.</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 do opt to share insurance, make sure you set clear expectations regarding how claims, bill payments, and coverage will be handled. You should also be prepared to take thorough stock of your belongings to ensure you’re getting appropriate coverage.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.moneyunder30.com/share-renters-insurance-with-your-roommate\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Should you share renters insurance with your roommate?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2319-revision-v1','','','2022-04-26 15:41:28','2022-04-26 15:41:28','',2319,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2448',0,'revision','',0),(2449,1,'2022-04-26 15:42:11','2022-04-26 15:42:11','','Insurance-6','','inherit','open','closed','','insurance-6-2','','','2022-04-26 15:42:11','2022-04-26 15:42:11','',2331,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-6.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2450,1,'2022-04-26 15:42:21','2022-04-26 15:42:21','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2449,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-6-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2449\"/></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\">Electric cars may be cheaper to “fill up,” but they’re also more expensive to insure. They\'re filled with more expensive parts, and often require more expensive labor when they need repairs.</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’re considering going electric for your next car purchase, you’re probably already relishing in the idea of blasting past the gas station so you can charge up at home for free.</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 EVs are undeniably cheaper to “fill up,” so to speak, they’re also more expensive to insure. Insurance companies aren’t quite sure what to make of electric cars and they’ve come up with some pretty valid reasons why they need to charge higher premiums to keep you 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\">Is electric car insurance more expensive?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":103601} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.moneyunder30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_1641881554.png\" alt=\"Is Electric Car Insurance Really More Expensive? - Is electric car insurance more expensive?\" class=\"wp-image-103601\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\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\">Electric car insurance, quite simply, is conventional auto insurance but for your electric car.&nbsp;<strong>The key&nbsp;difference&nbsp;between electric and conventional car insurance is&nbsp;price</strong>.&nbsp;<strong>Electric cars are, across the board,&nbsp;more&nbsp;expensive to insure.</strong></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\">You might assume that electric cars would require some sort of specialized insurance like they have for ATVs or motor homes, but no; insurance companies basically treat them the same as gas-powered cars.&nbsp;This means that you’ll be able to purchase collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and all that other good stuff you’re familiar with.</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\">Why&nbsp;is it more expensive to insure an electric car?</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\">Although your personalized auto insurance premiums are heavily driven by factors like where you park, how you drive, etc., one of the&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;ones is:&nbsp;how expensive will your car be to repair?</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\">Electric cars are much more expensive to repair than gas-powered cars for a variety of reasons, including:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>They’re filled with more sensitive electronics</strong>&nbsp;which can easily get damaged in a fender bender. My neighbor’s daughter once bumped into a Tesla Model S at a stoplight doing under 15mph. Her Jeep had nary a scratch, while the Tesla suffered $12,000 in damage. Apparently, the impact dislodged several sensors throughout the car. Ouch.</li><li><strong>They&nbsp;generally require more specialized parts and labor</strong>&nbsp;to work on since they’re more like giant laptops than traditional automobiles. You can’t take them to the corner shop where Ed throws in a new radiator for $150. They almost always have to go back to the dealership, which holds a monopoly on parts and labor.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></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\">Are electric cars more expensive to insure than hybrids?</h3>\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\">Yep, and for much the same reasons. Electric cars are more expensive to buy, made with more expensive parts, and are costlier to work on than hybrids.</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 coverage do electric car drivers need?</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\">If you buy an electric car instead of a gas or hybrid one, will it change up how much collision, comprehensive, and other types of insurance you’ll need?</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\">In a word,&nbsp;yes.</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\">Here’s a quick breakdown of which insurance types you’ll want more or the same of when you insure an electric car:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li><strong>Property damage liability/Bodily injury liability – possibly more coverage.&nbsp;</strong>Liability doesn’t protect you or your car – it protects your net worth. If you have $25k worth of liability and cause $60k worth of damage, the other driver can sue you for the remaining $35k.&nbsp;Furthermore, they’re more likely to sue you if they think you’re rich and have the money to pay. That’s why drivers of “rich” looking electric cars like Teslas and Porsches might want to up their liability.</li><li><strong>Collision – definitely more coverage.</strong>&nbsp;Collision covers&nbsp;your&nbsp;repair bills after you cause an accident. Since even minor fender benders can cause $10,000+ worth of damage to electric cars, I&nbsp;strongly&nbsp;recommend getting at least $10k worth of collision coverage.</li><li><strong>Comprehensive –&nbsp;possibly more coverage.&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;This covers damage your car suffers in a non-accident, like fire damage, hail damage, vandalism, theft, and generally unlucky stuff happening to your car. Even though your electric car is more sensitive to damage than a gas car (and more expensive to repair), you may still be okay skipping comprehensive coverage if you park your car in a safe area.</li><li><strong>Towing and labor – same coverage.&nbsp;</strong>Towing and labor helps to cover the cost of towing and roadside assistance. You’ll want towing coverage for your electric car in case you run out of battery or experience a breakdown.</li><li><strong>Uninsured motorist bodily injury/property damage – same coverage.&nbsp;</strong>As the name implies, UMBI and UMPD cover your costs if the driver who hit you doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your damage.&nbsp;<strong>When you consider the high costs of repairing your electric car&nbsp;and&nbsp;the fact that 1 in 8 drivers on the road is uninsured, according to the&nbsp;Insurance Information Institute, you’d be wise to shield your EV with uninsured motorist protection.</strong></li><li><strong>Personal injury protection (PIP) – same coverage.&nbsp;</strong>I recommend you purchase at least enough PIP coverage to meet your health insurance deductible plus one month of lost wages. There’s no reason that I can think of that you’d need to&nbsp;increase&nbsp;your PIP coverage in an electric car.</li><li><strong>Gap insurance –&nbsp;same coverage.&nbsp;</strong>If you leased your electric car, chances are the dealer baked gap insurance into the price. Give ‘em a call to confirm.&nbsp;<strong>If you&nbsp;financed&nbsp;your car, take a minute to compare how much you still owe on the car with its&nbsp;True Market Value. If the TMV is way lower, you’ll want gap insurance.&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>Rental reimbursement –&nbsp;same coverage.&nbsp;</strong>Rental car reimbursement coverage is self-explanatory, and the same principles apply as when insuring a gas car.&nbsp; Will the dealer give you a loaner while your EV is in the shop? If not, can you go without your EV for a while? If you answered “no” to both, treat yourself to some rental reimbursement coverage.</li><li><strong>Usage-based insurance –&nbsp;same coverage.&nbsp;</strong>There’s no reason owning an electric car should inherently push you towards UBI –&nbsp;unless&nbsp;you bought it with the specific intent to drive less.</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\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\">Are electric cars still cheaper to own overall?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":103605} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.moneyunder30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_34516006.png\" alt=\"Is Electric Car Insurance Really More Expensive? - Are electric cars still cheaper to own overall?\" class=\"wp-image-103605\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\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\">If you were primarily looking at buying an EV to save money on ownership costs, you might be bummed to read that they’re actually&nbsp;more&nbsp;expensive to insure.</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\">But will owning an EV save you money&nbsp;overall?</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\">EVs are more expensive to buy up front, and in 10 years, they’ll likely need a replacement battery service costing $10,000 or more.</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\"><strong>So basically, EVs are expensive at 0 miles, expensive at 100,000 miles, and cheap for all those miles in between</strong>. The sweet spot, then, may be to buy a gently-used EV and flip it before it turns 10!</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\">How can you save on electric car insurance?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":104002} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https://www.moneyunder30.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/shutterstock_523890190.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-104002\"/></figure>\n<!-- /wp:image -->\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\">If you’re not too excited to&nbsp;pay way more than your current insurance rate on your new EV, here are some simple ways you can get your rates down:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Buy an EV that’s cheap to insure</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">As with conventional cars, certain EVs are cheaper to insure than others.&nbsp;Teslas are at the top of the range, unfortunately, because they’re so darn pricey to fix. But&nbsp;Chevy Bolts, Kia Niros, and Nissan Leafs are much cheaper.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Call your provider and hunt for discounts together</strong></h3>\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\">I know, it sounds a little ridiculous to call up your provider and ask “how can I pay you less,” but I swear it works.</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\">All you have to do is connect with a live agent over the phone and ask them if you qualify for a better rate. They’ll update your driver info first, then go down the list of possible discounts you may not be taking advantage of – especially any that are EV-related.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Opt-in to telematics programs</strong></h3>\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\">Lastly, a great way to slash your EV insurance premiums is to opt into your provider’s telematics program. Telematics is just industry-speak for “thingy you plug into your car to grade your driving behavior for a discount.”</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\">Premium discounts for safe, mindful driving can be&nbsp;crazy.&nbsp;Your&nbsp;only challenge will be to resist stomping on the accelerator at every stoplight to feel the pull of that sweet electric motor.</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\">Summary</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\">Electric cars are&nbsp;more expensive to insure than their gas-powered equivalents for many reasons, including their perceived “luxury” status, sensitivity to damage, and high cost of repairs.</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\">However, as EVs implement more safety tech and adoption becomes more widespread, that gap may narrow.</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\">In the meantime, buying a gently-used EV and getting plenty of quotes is the best way to save on EV 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://www.moneyunder30.com/is-electric-car-insurance-really-more-expensive\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','Is Electric Car Insurance Really More Expensive?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2331-revision-v1','','','2022-04-26 15:42:21','2022-04-26 15:42:21','',2331,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2450',0,'revision','',0),(2451,1,'2022-04-26 15:43:07','2022-04-26 15:43:07','','Insurance-7','','inherit','open','closed','','insurance-7-2','','','2022-04-26 15:43:07','2022-04-26 15:43:07','',2334,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-7.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2452,1,'2022-04-26 15:43:14','2022-04-26 15:43:14','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2451,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-7-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2451\"/></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\">When&nbsp;building a home inventory&nbsp;of your belongings, items at the top of your list might be especially valuable possessions like art or fine jewelry. But while a standard policy for&nbsp;homeowners&nbsp;or&nbsp;renters&nbsp;insurance provides coverage for personal belongings, they are often limited for specific high-value items. Fortunately, most insurance companies offer ways to adjust your policy and ensure adequate protection for all your possessions.</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 valuable items might be in your home?</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\">When purchasing a home insurance policy, insurance carriers will ask if valuable personal belongings are kept in the home. The term “valuables” refers to an item that is expensive, rare or collectible. Insurance companies consider many items valuable, including:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li>Fine jewelry</li><li>Watches</li><li>Art</li><li>Furs</li><li>Fine china and silverware</li><li>Coin collections</li><li>Stamp collections</li><li>Firearms</li><li>Sporting equipment</li><li>Musical instruments</li><li>Cameras</li><li>Electronics</li><li>Medical devices</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\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\">Tips for insuring your valuable items</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Valuable items, like a wedding ring or antique collection, are likely prized possessions, and it’s important to get the right type of insurance and the right amount of coverage to protect them. Here are some tips for insuring expensive items:</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Check what your policy covers</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Whether it’s homeowners or renters insurance, check to see what the policy covers and what coverage limits are for valuables. Note that most insurance policies have different coverage limits for damage and theft. Find out if the policy includes&nbsp;all perils or named perils coverage&nbsp;for personal property to determine what losses are covered under your policy.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Get your items appraised</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">If unsure how much valuable items are worth, consider getting them appraised by a professional. An appraisal will help determine if an insurance policy’s coverage limits offer enough protection or if extra coverage is needed. Because some valuable items appreciate over time, it’s a good idea to get appraisals every few years to ensure their value is accurate and the coverage is sufficient.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Make a home inventory</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Every homeowner should have a home inventory of their personal belongings with a separate section for valuables. A home inventory is essentially a catalog of everything in the home and should include an image and description of each valuable item, plus the original value, date of purchase, place of purchase and the receipt if possible. Having a home inventory comes in handy when filing a personal property claim.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Upgrade to replacement cost coverage</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Most home and renters insurance policies reimburse damaged or stolen personal property at their&nbsp;actual cash value&nbsp;(ACV). With ACV, payouts for the damaged or stolen item include depreciation. Upgrading to a&nbsp;replacement cost value (RCV) policy&nbsp;helps ensure a payout for the item’s original cost without depreciation. Among&nbsp;the differences between RCV and ACV policies, the main one is that RCV policies are more expensive than ACV policies, but the claim payout is higher.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Purchase an endorsement</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">One good way to insure jewelry or other valuable items is to&nbsp;purchase a scheduled personal property endorsement. This add-on policy is available from most insurance companies, and it allows for an increase to the personal property coverage limit for specific items, like a fine art collection or firearm. Purchasing an endorsement will raise the premium but result in a higher payout after a covered loss.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Consider a buyer’s protection plan</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">When purchasing new valuable items, consider purchasing a buyer’s protection plan from the merchant. Popular with jewelry and electronics companies, a buyer’s protection plan offers coverage on top of what a standard home or renters insurance already includes. There is usually a monthly or annual fee, but it may cost less than buying an add-on policy.</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\">How homeowners insurance covers valuables differently than renters insurance?</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Homeowners insurance and renters insurance both offer coverage for valuables, but the coverage limits vary. Typically, home insurance policies offer more coverage for valuable items than renters insurance policies.</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\">Home insurance policies also include more options for valuables add-on coverage. It is important to determine coverage needs with either type of policy and purchase additional coverage if extra protection is needed for valuable personal belongings.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:table -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Homeowners insurance</strong></td><td><strong>Renters insurance</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Higher valuables coverage limits</td><td>Lower valuables coverage limits</td></tr><tr><td>Covers items anywhere in the house</td><td>Covers items anywhere in the building</td></tr><tr><td>More options for add-on coverages</td><td>Few or no options for add-on coverages</td></tr><tr><td>More expensive premiums</td><td>Less expensive premiums</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>\n<!-- /wp:table -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"large\"} -->\n<h2 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Frequently asked questions</h2>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>How do I create a home inventory?</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">To create a home inventory of your personal belongings, we suggest working room-by-room and writing down a list of all personal belongings. It should include things like furniture, electronics, valuables, appliances, clothing, sporting equipment and office equipment. Photograph each item and include a short description, date of purchase, place of purchase, serial number and original value. Any available receipts should be included with the inventory. It’s also a good idea to keep a digital and hard copy of the home inventory file in a safe place outside of the home.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3,\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<h3 class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Is jewelry covered under homeowners insurance?</strong></h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\">Yes, jewelry is typically covered under a homeowners policy. However, every home insurance company treats valuables coverage differently. According to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), many home insurance companies only include&nbsp;$1,500 in jewelry coverage&nbsp;with standard policies. For renters insurance, the limit could be even lower. It’s a good idea for the insured to determine what their specific policy includes and look into scheduled personal property coverage or other endorsements if more coverage is needed.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To read the full article,&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/homeowners-insurance/insuring-expensive-possessions/\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','How to insure valuable items?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2334-revision-v1','','','2022-04-26 15:43:14','2022-04-26 15:43:14','',2334,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2452',0,'revision','',0),(2453,1,'2022-04-26 15:43:57','2022-04-26 15:43:57','','Insurance-8','','inherit','open','closed','','insurance-8-2','','','2022-04-26 15:43:57','2022-04-26 15:43:57','',2337,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-8.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(2454,1,'2022-04-26 15:44:00','2022-04-26 15:44:00','<!-- wp:image {\"id\":2453,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Insurance-8-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2453\"/></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\">Whether your most valuable possessions are electronics, family heirlooms or a new piece of furniture, protecting your belongings is a priority for most homeowners or renters. Fortunately, if you have a&nbsp;homeowners, condo or renters insurance policy, you probably already have just that.</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\">All of these policy types almost always include contents insurance, also known as&nbsp;personal property coverage. That means that if your belongings are damaged by a covered peril — like a fire — your policy can pay out to help you replace what you lost.</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 other countries offer contents insurance as a standalone policy, in the U.S., this protection for your possessions comes standard with insurance policies for your residence (i.e., homeowners, renters or condo insurance). With a single policy that includes contents insurance, you can have peace of mind with a level of financial protection against a broad range of risks.</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 does home contents insurance cover?</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\">What is contents insurance, exactly? As its name suggests, it covers the contents of your home (up to your policy limits and barring exclusions).</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\">In short, your personal property coverage applies to the vast majority of the belongings that you store in your house. Some insurance professionals make this concept easier to understand by saying that contents insurance covers anything that would fall out if your residence was turned upside down.</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 your contents insurance usually does not cover installed items — like your carpet or your hot water heater — your&nbsp;dwelling insurance&nbsp;probably does. This applies to home and condo owners. If you rent, your landlord is typically the one responsible for insuring built-in features.</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\">Your contents insurance may also offer protections for&nbsp;things you store off-premises&nbsp;(up to a certain policy limit) and reimbursement if any of your guests’ belongings are damaged or destroyed by a covered peril. It will not, however, protect the possessions of any people who live with you long-term but are not related to you (e.g., tenants or roommates).</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\">Note that your house and contents insurance only kicks in after a covered loss. So if a fire damages your couch, your policy will almost definitely provide coverage to repair or replace it. But if you spilled on it and now want a new one, a claim would likely be unsuccessful.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></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\">What is typically covered:</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li>Furniture</li><li>Clothing</li><li>Electronics, including TVs and computers</li><li>Decor</li><li>Books</li><li>Sports equipment, including bikes</li><li>Dishes</li><li>Jewelry</li><li>Art</li><li>Appliances that are not built-in (e.g., blenders, toasters, mixers)</li><li>Firearms</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></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\">What is not typically covered:</h3>\n<!-- /wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"textColor\":\"black\",\"fontSize\":\"medium\"} -->\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><li>The&nbsp;full value of expensive items</li><li>Vehicles and aircrafts</li><li>Installed features like flooring, furnaces, cabinets, etc. (if you own a home, dwelling insurance will step in here)</li><li>Animals, including birds and fish</li><li>Items covered by a separate insurance policy (e.g., jewelry that has its own policy)</li><li>Belongings owned by any tenant or boarder</li></ul>\n<!-- /wp:list -->\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\">Contents insurance coverage limits</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 Insurance Information Institute (III)&nbsp;indicates&nbsp;that most homeowners insurance policies offer contents insurance in the amount of 50-70% of your dwelling coverage. So if you have $300,000 of dwelling insurance, you can expect somewhere between $150,000 and $210,000 of house contents insurance.</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\">As a renter or condo owner, because you lack a dwelling coverage amount to guide your limit, you get to set your own contents insurance limit, although your carrier may indicate a required or recommended minimum. Similarly, if you live in an area where you can purchase standalone contents insurance — like&nbsp;the UK&nbsp;or&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;— you will be able to buy a contents insurance policy with the coverage limit you want.</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\">In the event that you buy a contents insurance policy and get to pick your coverage limit, you may be best served by first creating a&nbsp;home inventory, or a comprehensive list of what you own. This will help you determine where you should set your policy limits.</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\">Additionally, whether you own a home or condo or rent, you do get a big say in how your buildings and content insurance works because you get to choose between the following two options.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></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\">Actual cash value versus replacement cost value</h3>\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\">Generally, policies include&nbsp;actual cash value&nbsp;(ACV) by default. This coverage factors in depreciation, meaning they will pay out the item’s actual cash value today after a covered loss. That means that if you were hoping to replace your TV from 2010 with a new one, you will be left covering a fair chunk of the expense yourself.</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\">You do have an option to bump up your coverage level, though: you can choose&nbsp;replacement cost value&nbsp;(RCV). This type of contents insurance pays out to replace the item with the same type of item purchased at today’s prices.</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\">RCV can help you better maintain your quality of life after a covered loss, but it costs more. Expect your premiums to be somewhat higher if you opt for RCV over ACV.</p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p></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\">Valuable item sublimits</h3>\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\">You will notice quite a few high-value items have been included in the list of what contents insurance covers. While personal property coverage usually will pay to help you replace the item, almost all policies place sub-limits on certain item types. For example, your policy might&nbsp;pay out up to $1,500&nbsp;to<br>replace stolen jewelry.</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\">Read your policy to identify any specific sub-limits. If your house and contents insurance would not be sufficient to cover some of your more expensive belongings, you can explore specifically adding them to your insurance policy through a rider or endorsement (for an additional cost). Alternatively, you may be able to get a separate insurance policy for them.</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\">Do I need contents 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\">Most insurance experts recommend carrying some form of contents insurance. Most mortgage lenders require homebuyers to carry house and contents insurance in the form of a homeowners insurance policy, but although landlords commonly mandate renters insurance for their tenants, the personal property portion is usually optional and up to your preference.</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\">Even if contents insurance is optional for you, it can go a long way in helping you recover after a disaster. With this type of coverage in place, you can replace or repair your belongings after a fire, theft, vandalism, windstorm, or other covered loss, up to policy limits.</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.bankrate.com/insurance/homeowners-insurance/contents-insurance/?itm_source=parsely-api\">click here.</a></p>\n<!-- /wp:paragraph -->','What is contents insurance?','','inherit','closed','closed','','2337-revision-v1','','','2022-04-26 15:44:00','2022-04-26 15:44:00','',2337,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?p=2454',0,'revision','',0),(2455,1,'2022-04-26 15:45:40','2022-04-26 15:45:40','','fIxNt1a','','inherit','open','closed','','fixnt1a','','','2022-04-26 15:45:40','2022-04-26 15:45:40','',2341,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/fIxNt1a.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(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),