Keep these tips in mind when shopping for car insurance:
Mention your highest degree of education; college graduates will get a break.
If you are a college graduate- find out whether your school receives special discounts.
Talk about your profession; jobs like teaching will help lower your rate.
A common one, cite your employers’ name and ask if there is an associated discount. Some employer's maintain close partnerships within the insurance industry.
Confirm that your medical insurance is listed as your primary coverage in the event of personal injury.
Combine multiple drivers or even home insurance policy for yet an additional discount.
Shop for insurance early- that is, before your current one expires.
Discuss small yet important features of your car like motorized seat belts and lo-jack- and any additional anti-theft or upgrades that will contribute to higher safety provisions.
Set aside your premium perhaps in an escrow savings account this way when renewal time comes, you can make one lump sum payment and avoid additional billing fees.
Take a defensive driving class- nowadays you can take them online from the comfort of your own home! Just make sure you complete it BEFORE renewal time in order to be able to apply the discount.
As an added BONUS to our readers, our friends at Improv Traffic School are helping you with reducing your expenses by offering an additional $5 OFF there already VERY low $28.95 online class fee. Simply type in code NJ201during your registration. Did I mention there are NO hidden fees alike there competitors?
You are probably thinking credit card rewards program- wrong! TD Bank customers have the opportunity of enrolling there VISA Debit Card in the VISA Extras Rewards program- at no charge, or credit check!
Log onto Visa Extras and register your card. When making qualifying purchases, make sure these are submitted via signature; basically when a merchant asks whether you are using Debit or Credit, you ask for CREDIT, or the purchase will not be valid towards earning your rewards.
You can now get paid for the things you buy anyways- i.e. groceries from Target; gas at BP; books from amazon.com; or that tall latte from Starbucks!
You would think that with all the changes and advancements in technology we would be paying less than the original $30 a month we would spend on our monthly cell phone bill 10 years ago. Instead, with all the bells and whistles of texting, data plans, games and ring-tones, we are spending on average three times what we spent back in the day!! There are however a few ways around reducing our monthly outrageous mobile bill....
#1- If you are fortunate enough to not be tied into a contract, call your carrier and request to speak with there customer retention department. Typically they will not ask you to renew a contract, because they are counting on keeping existing customers on the books and will offer you discounted plans that are not advertised or available to the public.
#2- While most carriers are now forcing us to purchase $30 a month data plans with any new smartphone, you can purchase an older version of your phone thru ebay which would NOT require the data plan. Not only are you saving on avoiding that unnecessary data plan, but you are getting an older phone at an average $10 instead of today's outrageous prices of $500.
Do you really need a new phone? Think about it, how much really has changed since the last model? After all we need our cell phone primarily for calls, so why all the features? You have gone thru life without all of these extra add-ons, why can you not live without them now? Why pay more when money is tight?
Remember to use these tough times to remind you to prioritize and differentiate between a true necessity and a want. Wants have gotten us into this financial doom, it is time we learn from our past mistakes and focus on needs. Do not let these harsh times go on without learning your lesson.
