The Good, The Bad

12 Austin South Asian | October 2022

Pandemic Make You More Concerned About Finances? You’re Not Alone

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every aspect of people’s lives and, as it turns out, it also impacted their feelings about financial security and life insurance. In a national survey commissioned by Erie Insurance:

• Two-thirds of respondents (66%) said the pandemic made them more

concerned about their financial security than they were before.

• Sixty-one percent said the pandemic made them more concerned about how their family would be taken care of financially if they became seriously ill or worse and could no longer provide for them.

• Half (49%) said the pandemic made them question whether they had the right type and amount of life insurance as part of their overall plan for financial security, and a quarter (25%) contacted their insurance agent about it.

If you’re among those who want to make sure your family is taken care of in the event something unexpected happens to you, but you aren’t sure where to start, here are three questions to ask your insurance agent: members or loved ones who depend on your income, it is a good idea to have life insurance to ensure they will be taken care of.

The mortgage on your house, your child’s college tuition, car loans, and funds for your final expenses are just a few things that can be paid for with money from your life

insurance policy. Even if no one depends on your income, it still may make sense to get a life insurance policy to cover your final expenses and debts — including student loans.

2. How do I figure out how much life insurance to get? There are several factors to consider, including the needs of the people you want to protect and how long they will need financial support.

Consider your income, or if you aren’t employed outside the home, what it would cost if those left behind would have to pay for services you currently provide, such as childcare or home maintenance.

3. Which is better, term life insurance or whole life? It depends on where you are. Term life insurance protects you for a specific amount of time. are still paying off a mortgage or paying off your child’s college tuition.

Whole life insurance accumulates cash value and allows for your loved ones to be covered throughout your lifetime.

Something else to take into ac-

count as you’re considering purchasing life insurance is the value it provides, even if you never actually need to use it.

“One of the best reasons to get life insurance is that it sets your mind at ease to know that your loved ones will be taken care of,” said Louis Colaizzo, senior vice president of Erie Family Life, Erie Insurance.

“In fact, 44% of those who responded to our survey said the pandemic made them appreciate the peace of mind they get from having life insurance even more now than they did before.”

To learn more about life insurance, contact your agent or visit erieinsurance.com/life-insurance.

Amid the uncertainty created by the pandemic, consider channeling your concerns into action by creating a financial safety net for your loved ones. (StatePoint)

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Ways People Are Banishing Bugs At Home

If you hate the idea of bugs in your home, you’re in fine company -- 1 in 3 Americans have seriously considered burning down their own home after experiencing a bug infestation, according to a new survey.

The study, commissioned by Zevo and conducted by OnePoll, found that 66% of respondents are willing to do “nearly anything” to get rid of bugs at home -- including fumigating their entire home (51%), throwing the nearest thing at it, no matter what that nearest thing is (43%) and even DIYing a flamethrower (35%).

Others have changed their diet and lifestyle to avoid sightings at home, with 59% saying they will even refrain from keeping fresh fruit in their homes or buying houseplants out of fear that it will attract flying insects.

In fact, some people would rather just leave it all behind and start over somewhere new. More than half of respondents (52%) have considered moving because of bug infestations, and of those who considered that option, 69% actually followed through and packed up their things.

When it comes to putting up with bugs, there are a number of home woes people would prefer to live with, including broken appliances (29%), creaky floors (26%), broken windows (26%), not having television connections (25%) and even rodents (24%).

Giving how bugged by insects people are, it’s no wonder that they have come up with some pretty creative and expensive ways to try to deal with the problem, with 48% of survey respondents having turned to DIY “hacks” and the average person spending $177 on creating homemade methods to deal with bugs.

Some of the methods mentioned by respondents include using cinnamon, coffee grounds and even maple syrup to get rid of bugs. One person even recalled pouring gasoline on bugs to drown them.

Of course, many of these homemade solutions produce iffy results at best or are downright dangerous. The bug biology and behavior experts at Zevo say that if you want to rid your home of pests, there are much easier and more effective ways to go about it that don’t involve putting your home on the market and relocating. Here’s an effective two-pronged approach you can try for killing bugs and preventing future infestations:

1. Go worry-free. Most traditional insect sprays on the market today use synthetic pyrethroids as their active ingredients, which can have a noxious smell and make a room uninhabitable after spraying.

For a solution that’s safe for people and pets when used as directed, check out Zevo Instant Action Sprays, which rely on essential oil to target and shut down biological pathways found in insects. The brand carries four different sprays to target everything from cockroaches and ants to yellowjackets and crickets.

2. Safeguard entry points. Pests enter the home most typically through windows, doors and the garage. Check screen doors and windows for tears, and patch or replace them. You can also plug Zevo Flying Insect Traps into outlets in areas where bugs typically gather in your home, like kitchens, bathrooms, garages and entryways. The traps use a combination of UVC and blue light to attract and trap flying insects, offering continuous defense for up to 45 days or until the trap is full.

To learn more about defending your home against insects, visit zevoinsect.com.

The next time you spot bugs, put down the gasoline can and the flamethrower. Simple, worry-free solutions exist that can help you maintain a bug-free home and your sanity. (StatePoint)