Money Saving Tips and Ways to Lower your Rates

There are many ways to save money on your homeowners insurance policy. Most lenders require your home to be insured, but you don't have to pay a fortune to satisfy there requirements. Below are some money saving tips to help you on both your homeowners and your auto insurance policies.

• Look for a Multi-Policy Insurance Discount
  Most insurance companies offer both auto and home insurance. If your doesn't you might want to shop around. Multi policy discounts can really help the pocket book. Example, if your homeowners insurance company also auto sells  insurance, you might get a discount of up to 20% off your premium for buying both products.

• Buy The Homeowners Coverage You Need!
  If you can evaluate your home and your belongings each year you will be able to properly adjust for any major purchases and additions as well as depreciation on your possessions. Reevaluating a policy's limits can make for possible savings.
  Additional Note: Watch for items you may not need on your policy. For example, if you don't live in a flood-prone area, you may not need costly flood insurance.

• Consider Raising Your Deductible
  If your looking for a significant change in your current premium try increasing your deductible by just a few hundred dollars. Deductibles can start at $250; so if you raise your deductible from that to say $1,000, you may save nearly 25% on your premium.

• Look For Discounts That May Apply To You
  Make sure you have gone over all the  homeowners discounts available to you. This is often overlooked by many consumers. Even ordinary safety features like, dead-bolt locks, smoke detectors, alarm system, storm shutters or fire retardant roofing material can discount your premium.

Here are a few more common homeowners insurance discounts often available:

• A new home's electrical, heating and plumbing systems

• Senior discounts over 55 and retired, or if they've been a

• Long-term customer discount

• Security - security systems, alarms, gated communities, double locks on both doors, etc.

• Non-smokers

• Insure Your House, Not the Land
  Often you think..."I need to insure my house for what I could sell it for". Well even if your home was to have a fire the land will most likely remain. Often consumers overpay for homeowners insurance, including the value of the land. Insure your dwelling and your possessions and you will help to save money on your premium.

Driving a car in America requires auto insurance. Here are some money saving tips that can help you keep your premiums down.

• Raise your deductibles
  This can often help to save you money on your insurance, however, if you raise, but do so with caution. Remember your deductible is what comes out of your pocket in the case of an accident or incident.

• Consider dropping physical damage
  This is often a wise choice for older cars. When dealing with Physical Damage coverage's, it is often best to discuss this idea with your agent. There are two parts to physical damage - a collision deductible and a comprehensive deductible. If your car has a lender you will probably not be able to drop this coverage. Perhaps raising your deductibles would be better.

• Always ask about discounts!
  Most insurance companies have a variety of discounts. These may include, but are not limited to:

Good Drivers -or citation-free for three or more years
Good Student - higher grades for students
Low Annual Mileage
Long Term Client
Car Alarm

• Think twice when buying a car
  You may desire that fast sports car - but do you desire the high insurance premium? THis is especially important when buying your newly licensed teen a car. Think of it this way - the more practical the car the more practical the insurance premium. Cars that are susceptible to theft cost more to an insurance company.

• Drive Safely
  Sounds simple. Many insurance companies reward safe drivers with additional discounts. Here are some things to avoid doing while driving:

Talking on a cell phone.
Eating
Driving with one hand
Listening to a electronic device with earphones in
Reaching back to assist your child in the back seat
Taking your eyes off the road
Putting on make-up, looking in vanity mirror, shaving, etc...

• Don't make meaningless claims
  Think your claims through. If you make claims where your pay out is just barely over you deductible its not worth the consequences. You pay for claims! You can lose discounts and it can raise your insurance premiums.