A New Item for Your To-do List

It seems that in this busy hustle-and-bustle world we live in, we tend to be so focused on ourselves, our families and our to do lists that we forget about what’s important: basic common courtesy.

When is the last time you held the door for someone? Said hello to the employee at the grocery store who is checking out your groceries or preparing your deli meat? How about asking the bank teller how his or her day is going? Or letting someone pull out in front of you while you are stuck in bumper to bumper traffic…what is one more car in front of you really going to matter?

These things seem so small and maybe they don’t matter to you. But I bet that the person standing behind the counter all day will appreciate it. I bet if you try it just once and see their face after you’ve asked “how is your day going?”, you’ll be so surprised and feel so good…that you’ll add it to your daily to-do list.

New Solutions to Distracted Driving

We hear about it. We read about it. We preach to our teen drivers about it. Did you know that your risk of a crash is 23.2 times as high if you are texting while driving? Despite all of this, when our cell phone rings while we are going 50 MPH on Route 20, we answer it.

In our defense, the advances in technology have led us to believe that we, along with our friends, family and work associates, must be readily available at all times. Also, the simple act of operating a vehicle seems to have become so mundane in our evolved society that multitasking is the only way for us to feel accomplished when we have reached our destination.

So how can we break our addiction? More technology, of course! The following is a list of websites offering cell phone software which disables your device while your car is in motion: www.cellcontrol.com, www.zoomsafer.com, and www.trysafetyfirst.com

What Happens to my Insurance Rates When I Buy a New Car?

Will my rates go up? The short answer is: it depends. Auto insurance rates are based on many factors including the type, age and cost of auto you drive. One thing you can count on is that cars that have been financed require more insurance. The lender will require that you carry comprehensive and collision coverage - which can mean higher premiums.

A Massachusetts Consumer Guide to Home Improvement

Every year, consumers spend millions of dollars on home improvements. Far too often, unsuspecting homeowners are cheated by home improvement contractors. In 1992, the Home Improvement Law was created to protect consumers and regulate the practices of home improvement contractors.

Remodeling and improving your come can be a huge undertaking. Fortunately, by understanding your rights under the law and taking a few precautions, you can help avoid potential problems. Be sure to plan carefully before investing thousands of dollars into home improvements.

• Interview at least 3 contractors and request a written, detailed estimate.
• Confirm references for each contractor. Check the contractor's complaint history with the Attorney General's Office or Better Business Bureau.
• Always ask for a detailed written contract, even for small projects. It will protect you and help ensure that you and the contractor understand the scope of the job and the price. State law requires that home improvement contracts over $1,000 be in writing.
• Be sure the contractor obtains the building permit.
• By law, the contractor cannot collect more than one-third of the cost of the contract in advance.

For more details about the protections afforded to you through the 1992 Home Improvement Contractor Law, go to mass.gov/consumer/home improvement.

Wedding Insurance

You can now purchase insurance in the event that something goes wrong with your wedding in spite of all your careful planning. There are many things that can go wrong - things that are beyond your control - like your reception venue going out of business, your bridal shop closing, wedding rings getting lost or sudden serious illness.

A wedding is an investment; the average cost is now up to $27,000. For as little as $200, you can purchase wedding insurance that help make things right when things go wrong.

Do You Need Special Insurance When You Rent a Hall?

Do you need special liability coverage if you rent a hall, room, the town common, etc. for an event such as a wedding, anniversary or birthday party? The answer is NO as long as you have a Homeowners Policy. The standard Homeowners Policy provides liability coverage for various "insured locations", one of which is "part of the premises occasionally rented to the "insured for personal use." It would also be a good idea to have an Umbrella Policy which would give you an extra $1,000,000 in coverage.

Make Your Computer Safe from Identity Thieves

Here are some tips to reduce the chances of compromising your computer:

• Update your computer to include the latest virus protection software and use a firewall
• Avoid downloading files from strangers or clicking on unknown hyperlinks
• Use a secure browser
• Don't store financial information on your laptop
• Avoid the use of an automatic log-in feature
• Delete personal information before you dispose of a computer
• Read website privacy policies
• Avoid phishing, which is a scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing your personal information.