Is Your Car Insurance Coverage Up-to-date?

One other upside to getting laid off:

I called our car insurance company and had our annual rate lowered because my husband is no longer using his car for a long-distance commute. Savings over the next year: $112

According to the Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org):

"Some companies offer discounts to motorists who drive a lower than average number of miles per year. Low mileage discounts can also apply to drivers who carpool to work." And "The more miles you drive, the more chance for accidents. If you drive a lower than average number of miles per year, less than 10,000, you will pay less."

Their website also includes other tips on lowering your auto insurance, such as:

• ask for a higher deductible
• reduce your coverage on an older car
• get a discount by also getting your homeowner's insurance from the same company
• ask about safe driver discounts

The website also has helpful information about all other types of insurance.

Saving Money by Getting Laid Off

The downside: My husband and I both got laid off recently.

The upside: I keep on thinking of ways we save money by not working. (Obviously this is not a long-term strategy.)

• No longer paying commuting costs: gas, wear-and-tear on the car, public transportation
• No longer tempted to go out to lunch at all the restaurants near our offices
• No need to dress up and spend money on nicer clothes
• No longer tempted to buy coffee
• Not using my cell phone very much

Introduction

During this economic downturn, recession, or whatever you want to call it, people seem to becoming more sensible about how they spend their money. I'm enjoying finding tips in other places about money-saving techniques, and have come up with a few myself. I decided to start a blog in order to share some of these ideas. Some might work for you, some might not . . .

I don't want to become one of those crazy, coupon-cutting ladies who buy all kinds of things they don't need just because they have coupons for them. . . and then end up with a cupboard full of 250 toothbrushes. But if there are simple, no-muss, no-fuss ways to save a little money each day, why shouldn't I make use of them?

Once you get started it's amazing how addictive this becomes . . . a challenge . . . a puzzle.