4 Safety Features That Lower Car Insurance

The nation’s highways and bi-ways are safer to drive on now than ever before. With the help of modern technology, car manufacturers are equipping vehicles with various safety features that can prevent and reduce auto accidents. While purchasing a car with these safety mechanisms can keep you and your family safe, it can also help you put money back into your pocket.

Many car insurance companies offer significant discounts to individuals who own or operate a vehicle that is equipped with certain safety features. Cars with the following four safety features are known to produce lower auto insurance quotes:

1. Automatic Seatbelts

Manual seatbelts that require drivers and passengers to buckle-up can be easily forgotten. Car insurance companies offer discounts to individual driving cars with automatic seatbelts, as it is almost guaranteed that the seatbelt is strapped when the car is in motion. With over 15,000 lives being saved each year because of the use of a seatbelt, it’s no wonder insurance companies give drivers with automatic seatbelts a discount.

2. Tire Pressure Sensors

Tires are one of the most important features on a vehicle as they are the only things that separate you from the road. While they are the most important, they can also be the most dangerous. Tires with low air pressure can cause problems with steering and moving the vehicle, which can result in an accident. Likewise, too much pressure and the tire can explode, causing an accident.

Car insurance companies offer discounts to those with a tire pressure sensor as it can reduce the likelihood of being involved in an accident. A tire pressure sensor will alert the driver when the tires are over or under-inflated, giving ample time to fix the problem.

3. Lane Departure Warning System

Whether due to falling asleep at the wheel or distracted driving, lane drifting is a problem that can result in serious and potentially deadly accidents. Vehicles equipped with lane departure warning systems use motion sensors to detect when a car is traveling close to the painted highway lanes. In an effort to alert the driver and bring their focus back to the road, the warning system will issue a beep.

4. Blind Spot Alert System

Every vehicle — no matter how big or small — has some type of blind spot or reduced area of visibility, where drivers are unable to see vehicles traveling in adjacent lanes. Without the ability to fully see other vehicles, drivers have an increased chance of getting into an accident when changing lanes. Car insurance companies support the use of a blind spot alert system as it alerts drivers when cars are traveling in the dangerous no-visibility zone and prevents them from making lane changes that can result in an accident.

The advanced technology of vehicle safety features has created a win-win situation for drivers. They are able to drive safer and save money. What safety features will car manufacturers come up with next that offers these same benefits?

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Upsetting the Apple Cart

I don’t know about you, but here at my homestead we’ve been watching the goings-on in New York City, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas and elsewhere across the country (including our own small city 20 miles up the road) that comprise the burgeoning and growing Occupy Wall Street protest movement. As the authoritarian servants of the richest 1% of the nation’s population have moved to isolate and abuse the professional activists, the unemployed, the homeless who have gravitated to the encampments, the juxtaposition with astroturfed, billionaire-funded “Tea Party” demonstrations where denizens were allowed to openly carry guns and assault members of Congress is dramatic. I admit I feel a little guilty to be so enjoying the gorgeous fall colors while people are putting their lives on the line to demand equality and an end to taxpayer bailouts of the criminal 1%.

It is glaringly obvious that the well-funded astroturf ‘movement’ enjoys a far greater share of our supposed First Amendment freedoms than the downtrodden 99% of people who just want to make the rich share in the suffering they order our political class to impose on the rest of us as ‘austerity’. So far the demonstrations have remained entirely peaceful even when police officers start pepper-spraying demonstrators (and their fellow police officers), or when the riot squad barrels into the crowd to choke and fling demonstrators to the ground. Reminds me of 1968. I know ‘they’ say that if you can remember the 1960s you probably weren’t really there, but that was one action-packed year full of billy-clubs and fire hoses and cracked skulls… and that was just the Democratic National Convention. It was still a bit less than 3 years before the Powers that Be started killing college kids wholesale for rudely NOT volunteering for that generation’s dirty big war, but let’s not fool ourselves. The very same thing is possible in 2011, and I’m pretty sure those doing the demonstrating across the country are aware of that possibility.

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Finance Tips for Moms: Planning for the Holidays

Holidays are a wonderful time to spend time with friends and family while reminiscing and enjoying one another’s company. Many people enjoy hosting parties at their homes for major holidays, but this can get expensive. Limiting guests or cutting back on food options is not always a good option, especially for those who like to go all out for the holidays.

One tip for throwing a fantastic holiday party is to start planning and saving months in advance. Put aside some money from every paycheck to help pay for food, drinks, decorations, and gifts. Even just a few dollars over a year’s time could add up to a good chunk. Another benefit of starting early is finding items on post-holiday clearance sales, which often can save a lot of money.

Making some of the food or decoration items by hand can also be a great way to cut costs. Caterers often charge a high service fee on top of the price of food, and this can really add up, based on the number of expected guests. Planning a menu of items that have been taste tested and are easy to make can drastically reduce the expense of hosting a party. However, the added stress of making sure there is plenty of food for everyone could outweigh the savings. Calling around and meeting with multiple caterers will help individuals to find the best price for their party needs. If throwing a Thanksgiving dinner party, enlist the help of the family to create cute homemade turkey decorations to help give the home a warm fall feeling. Serving foods that fit with the season can also be a fun way to incorporate the weather. Rich and hearty soups and stews are delicious in chilly months, while just about anything from the barbecue is always a hit during the summer.

When shopping for materials, party-throwing moms can enjoy the benefits of the Reach Card, such as direct deposit, the security of knowing their money is protected from fraud, and online account management. For those who have a party budget, a prepaid card is ideal because it allows for only the amount of money in the account to be spent. Credit cards can be maxed out, whether or not the customer is able to pay, so this can be dangerous for those who tend to go over the budget without realizing the consequences.

Parties are a fun way to interact with loved ones and create memories together. Planning the party with plenty of time relieves stress and allows customers to find great deals without having to skimp on important details.

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Being Frugal With Your Credit Card: 4 Tips

Becoming financially stable is a multi-faceted endeavor achieved by individuals who understand how to live within their means and how to make the best use of their money. Living frugally entails balancing the essential expenses in life and prioritizing to determine the things that you can live without. While credit cards may cause many financial headaches when used irresponsibly, they can be used to the benefit of your personal finances and help earn you extra rewards in the process. What right-minded frugalist would say no to earning cash back?

The convenience of credit cards can be very enticing and easy to use, which is why they can be so damaging when in the wrong person’s hands. However, they do provide safe transactions with a level of security that’s particularly useful when shopping online. Often faster than using cash or checks, keeping track of expenses can be as simple as viewing the account information online. Using a credit card to make monthly, reoccurring payments can cut bill-payment time considerably and reduces the hassle of sending payments made by check or money order. So apart from getting cash back or another type of reward, there are benefits to paying with your plastic friend.

It is important to understand, however, that the benefits of credit cards are only effective if the balance is paid off, in full, each month. Carrying a balance will only increase the interest on the account and strain your budget further. Maintaining a proper schedule for payment is integral to using your credit cards frugally. And with this in mind, here are four frugal principles to manage your credit card account.

Avoid High Interest, Annual Fees

Finding a credit card with the best terms is imperative. If, by chance, you are unable to make a payment in full, having a low interest rate can save you a considerable money, especially if the balance rolls over into another month or longer. Maintaining a balance should only be done in extreme circumstances, as any interest can eat into your budget and make it difficult to balance your accounts. Another thing you must do is to choose a card that does not charge an annual fee (a ridiculous charge in and of itself), otherwise you may get an unwelcome surprise when your statement arrives.

Use Incentives Wisely

Using your credit card to gain extra benefits can make it even more worthwhile to use your card instead of cash. With incentives like airline miles, cash back, or rewards program points, you can earn bonuses on the everyday things you purchase. So for example, if you are a frequent traveler, holding a card that is linked with an airline rewards program can be an excellent way to earn free flights or upgrades and save you a lot of money, plus reward you with access to airport lounges and other travel perks. Be sure, however, that you are only signed up to a card that rewards you for things you would have purchased anyway. Saving money on items that you do not need is not beneficial in any way when trying to live the frugal life.

Schedule Payments and Stick to It

Paying your cards on time and in full is essential. You will need to maintain discipline when spending on your credit cards, otherwise you will be at risk of overspending and even going over your credit limit, which could damage your credit record. By paying in full every month you ensure that there isn’t an unexpected balance with interest on the following month’s bill. Paying on time will also save you from any late fees that may be applied to your account. While a small late fee may seem insignificant in the short term, they will add up if the situation isn’t resolved, taking a chunk out of your budget that could be applied to something better.

Weigh Your Options Carefully

All too often, credit card users will extend themselves beyond their means because they have room in their credit limit. By purchasing only those things that are necessary, you won’t have this issue. When faced with a budget-friendly option and a more expensive item, buying the less expensive alternative will serve the same function and allow you to maintain your budget.

Credit cards, when used properly, can help you to maintain your frugal lifestyle while not going without the essentials. Always remember that you are in charge of the spending and payments, and you must keep track of your balance or you may find it hard to get your spending back under control. By using the above tips, frugal credit card use can be accomplished and sustained.

A guest post contributed by Andy, co-founder of Finance Choices, an independent comparison and reviews website specialising in credit card balance transfers that help consumers reduce their monthly expenses.

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