.jpg)
Now that winters’ over (and Pandemic restrictions are easing), you’re probably ready to take a break and hit the open road.
Is your vehicle ready for spring break travel? It will be when you follow this checklist of six helpful tips.
1. Fill the Fluids
Windshield wiper fluid, coolant, oil and transmission fluid deplete quickly over winter. Fill them to the recommended level for your vehicle as you prepare the engine to operate properly in warmer weather.
2. Check the Tires
After carrying your vehicle over rough winter roads, your tires need some tender loving care. Check the tread and make sure it’s sufficient to handle the wet roads you’ll encounter this spring. Then inflate the tires to the proper pressure as recommended for your specific vehicle. Consider a wheel alignment,
too, as you ensure your tires are ready to work hard all season.
3. Replace the Wiper Blades
The wiper blades work extra hard all winter as they remove ice and snow from your windshield. Protect your view and safety when you replace the wiper
blades.
4. Wash the Exterior
Salt and grime build up on your vehicle’s exterior and can cause corrosion, rust and damage. Wash off winter dirt with a high-powered hose at home or at
the car wash. Reach the underbody, lower doors, roof and all exterior surfaces.
5. Clean Out the Interior
Food wrappers, mud and a dirty windshield create an untidy interior. Plus, salt residue can destroy the fabric on your vehicle’s floors and seats. Grab a trash
can, steam cleaner and wash cloth as you clean out the inside of your vehicle
this season.
6. Update Your Auto Insurance
Insurance requirements don’t change with the seasons, but double check your coverage as part of your prep for spring break travel. Make sure your coverage
meets your needs and renew your policy if necessary. With the right insurance coverage, you have peace of mind wherever the road takes you.
Where are you traveling this spring? Make sure your vehicle is ready when you follow these six tips.
Read more
If you received Unemployment in 2020, then this will be good news. President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 on Thursday March 11th 2021.
The COVID relief bill provides a tax break on unemployment benefits received in 2020, up to $10,200.
If you have filed 2020 taxes already, you are instructed to wait for further instructions before filing an amended return.
Read more at the IRS website.
Read more
Umbrella insurance protects insureds from financial devastation. It’s a common policy homeowners purchase because it protects their home and other assets when an insurance claim exceeds existing homeowners or auto insurance policy limits. However, it could be a smart investment for renters, too. 
It Supplements Existing Liability Protection
Typically, basic liability protection only includes $100,000 in coverage. An umbrella policy can offer $1 million or more in additional coverage. Both types of coverage offer financial protection and peace of mind.
It’s Inexpensive
For $1 million in liability protection, renters could pay as little as $300 a year. Claude Lilly, Clemson University College of Business and Behavioral Science dean, also reminds renters that an addition million may only cost $100 more. This inexpensive investment protects a renter’s possessions, auto and other assets as it gives the insured peace of mind.
It Complements Exposures
The hobbies a renter enjoys can make an umbrella policy a necessity. For instance, the renter’s dog bites a contractor or guest, resulting in thousands of dollars in medical expenses and an expensive lawsuit. The umbrella coverage kicks in after the basic renter’s insurance policy funds are exhausted, and it provides the financial protection the renter needs.
Likewise, owning a swimming pool, hunting as a hobby or playing golf can each be fun activities, but they also have the potential to turn into expensive lawsuits. Renters should invest in an umbrella policy that covers expenses associated with a claim or liability related to the exposures they enjoy.
Consider Net Worth
Each renter can decide how much umbrella insurance to purchase. Overall, the renter’s current assets and net worth determine the basic coverage amount.
Buy Based on Future Earnings
A renter who’s found liable for an auto accident could face wage garnishment. Purchasing an umbrella policy that takes future earnings into account ensures the renter is adequately covered and can pay the judgment without losing his or her home and other assets.
Remember Slander, Libel and Invasion of Privacy Protection
Umbrella coverage does more than protect financial assets after an accident or lawsuit. It also protects renters who are victims of slander, libel or privacy invasion. The protection an umbrella policy offers against these challenges makes it a wise investment.
Overall, umbrella insurance provides beneficial coverage for every consumer, including renters. An insurance agent can offer additional counsel and advice regarding how much umbrella insurance to purchase.
Read more
With easing up on Pandemic lock down restrictions, people are booking travel trips in record numbers.
Well, March is here, and it’s a popular month to visit tropical locations or start planning your next getaway.
Not everyone needs a tan. But, if you do schedule a few indoor tanning sessions, your risks of getting cancer increase when you use indoor tanning salons. Stay safe when you consider several tanning safety tips.
Take Melanoma Seriously
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City found that 54 percent of college students who tan don’t see it as significantly risky. They argue that many things cause. No one’s immune to cancer, though, and indoor tanning actually increases your chances of getting melanoma by 90 percent if you’re under 35.
Melanoma is serious. Even a small amount that’s roughly three grains of salt deep can spread to your lymph nodes and other organs. If that happens, your risk of dying from melanoma increases to 85 percent. Think about your future before you hit the tanning bed.
Protect Your Skin
Squamous and basal cell carcinomas are two common non-melanoma cancers. They don’t spread as fast as melanoma, but they can create skin scars that last the rest of your life.
Indoor tanning also produces sun spots and wrinkles and can damage the retinas in your eyes. These effects of tanning do not disappear as you age but do continue to affect your appearance and health.
Resist Peer Pressure
Women especially have a huge need to focus on their appearance. Tanning can help you fit in with your peers and look attractive. Giving in to peer pressure can also kill you.
Use Exercise and Fashion to Change Your Appearance
Golden-brown skin hides cellulite bumps and can help you look thin. Toning exercises produce the same results, though, and don’t include a cancer risk.
You can also wear clothing that complements your figure, shape and skin tone. Talk to your hairdresser, too, about the right hair style and accessories for you.
Understand the Addictive Risks of Tanning Beds
Even after being diagnosed with skin cancer, researchers find that some dermatology patients continue to visit the tanning salon. Those individuals try but are unable to cut back on their visits and avoid family, friends and hobbies to visit the tanning salon. Be aware of the addiction risk of tanning before you get started.
Despite the risks, you may still choose to tan. If so, use a reputable salon. The staff will evaluate your skin tone and recommend the right amount of tan time for you. Read the waiver, too. It outlines tanning risks.
Tanning can be dangerous. Proceed with caution as you prepare for your next tropical vacation. For more safety tips, talk to your doctor. Oh, and call us if you need Travel Insurance. 🙂
Read more
With more people working from home and spending more time on their screens (phones and computers), here are some useful tips to assist you in promoting healthy eyes.
Evaluate and Adjust your Workspace
Staring at a computer screen or repetitively assembling widgets for hours at a time strains eyesight. Remind co-workers to evaluate their workspace, identify any strain or damage risks, and make adjustments that protect their eye health, such as:
- Turn down the screen brightness and reduce blue light.
- Reposition work materials to between 20 and 26 inches from your eyes.
- Adjust your chair and posture so your worksite is slightly below your eyes level.
- Look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds once every 20 minutes.
- Increase the screen font or use a magnifying glass to see small items.
- Blink regularly throughout the day or use eye drops to prevent dry eye.
Wear the Correct Eye Safety Equipment
Those that work with hazardous materials or operate equipment need to wear the proper eye safety equipment. Glasses, goggles and helmets, along with three steps, protect their eyesight.
- Wear eye safety gear at all times.
- Ensure the eye protection fits properly.
- Replace worn or torn eye safety equipment immediately.
This month, schedule an eye safety equipment inspection. co-workers
Encourage a Healthy Diet
The right foods can prevent eyesight deterioration and protect eyes from damage. For optimal eye health, eat foods that are high in zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids, such as:
- Green leafy vegetables.
- Non-meat proteins, including eggs, beans and nuts.
- Oily fish like tuna and salmon.
- Citrus fruit and juice.
To promote an eye-healthy diet, stock these foods in the break room or serve them during lunches.
Promote Regular Eye Checkups
An optometrist checks for vision changes and reviews eye health. The eye’s health and condition can even indicate a person’s risk of developing diabetes, hypertension or other chronic illnesses.
Read more
You pay premium prices for great Internet, now that you work remotely (from home). You need high speed Internet, so getting it back up to speed when it starts to slow down is a top priority. Here’s a quick troubleshooting guide to help you determine whether you can apply a quick fix, or if you might need to make a phone call:
Boosting Your Wifi Signal
The issue might not be your Internet connection, but your Wifi signal. It doesn’t matter how fast your web connection is when you’re too far away from your Wifi router or it’s putting out a weak signal. Plug directly into your Internet with a wired connection. If it runs fine, you may simply need to buy a more powerful router, switch to wired connections, or rearrange your office space so that your router can reach everyone who needs it. Also, consider a ‘mesh’ wireless system.
Someone’s Doing Some Heavy Downloading
Let others know that business-class internet doesn’t mean “Go ahead and do all your bit torrenting at the office from now on.” Downloading twenty eight movies at once while uploading fifteen others is going to slow you down.
Do a Security Check
Your network may be infected with a worm. More so than most viruses and malware, worms can really drag your connection down to a crawl. A network scan will be able to help you root out the intruder if this is the case.
See if Someone is Stealing Your Wifi
You can check your router device list to see if someone is connecting without permission. If so, you can change the password, and/or switch your security settings to WPA2-AES.
Call Your Provider
Call your provider and ask there are any issues in your area. It may simply be a temporary issue that they are already hard at work rectifying. And if that doesn’t work…
Start Shopping Around for a New Provider
Your provider might just not be up to the task of providing you with top-notch business grade Internet. If there are competing ISP’s in your area, don’t hesitate to get some quotes and compare download speeds. Brand loyalty is all well and good, but you don’t owe it to an ISP that isn’t providing.
Read more
