SENIOR NEWS

By Matilda Charles

Rising Cost of Home Insurance

When I got my home insurance bill and it showed a massive payment for my policy renewal, I actually laughed. I ipped the page over, believing I’d received someone else’s mail by mistake ... probably a neighbor down the street. But when I saw my own name, I wasn’t laughing anymore when I grabbed my calculator and discovered that the new amount was a 45% increase over last year.

Still, ever hopeful, I called my insurance company, wondering if someone else’s home had been plugged into my account. No, it hadn’t. e amount listed was indeed for my home, as were the numbers for out buildings, personal property and temporary living expenses.

I called several neighbors: Has your insurance gone up? No, they all said. I discovered the likely reason for that during a call to a friendly local insurance agent. ey’re no doubt in the middle of a policy period, he said. eir bad surprise will come when it’s time to renew that policy and all the price increases hit them.

For

For an application or information please write:

Office Bldg. 4

BRAG-WORTHY GRANDPARENT GIFTS ere are several reasons why a policy can increase, such as material and labor (which is the big one right now), additions to the house, number of prior claims, your deductible, your credit score and the breed of dog you own. e only thing that’s going to save a few dollars is to pay the whole year upfront and not have to pay the monthly budget fees with every payment.

Special shadowbox: Create a shadow box of cherished mementos. If a loved one served in the military, was a beloved teacher or had a worthwhile hobby or other endeavor, gather pertinent items and arrange them in the shadowbox.

A er several calls to di erent insurance companies, it’s not looking good. What I get so far is that if I decide to gamble and lower my coverage level, I run a risk that something will happen and I’ll be stuck for mammoth amounts of money that insurance won’t cover.

Take a deep breath before you open your next policy renewal envelope. Good luck.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Get The Most Out Of Bridal Shows And Wedding Events

Scout out vendors. Check the bridal show’s website for lists of exhibitors and see if your desired vendors are on the list. But even if they’re not, keep an open mind and use the show as a chance to compare offerings. If an event map is available, marking off must-visit booths can help save time.

Get The Most Out Of Bridal Shows And Wedding Events

Come prepared. Chances are each vendor is going to ask couples for information so that they can follow up with a phone call or email with more detailed offerings and estimates. Couples attending the show can expediate the process by coming equipped with labels that feature their names, contact information and wedding date. They can then stick the labels on sign-in sheets or use them like business cards.