earned gross insurance premium

Money
Money

• Time for Fall Home Maintenance
  

  Time for Fall Home Maintenance

  Getting your property ready for the change in seasons.

  California Casualty Management Co.

  The fall season is a good time to look over the household and see what things need to be readied for the coming cold rains and snowfall.

  If you live in a climate where the fall season is a prelude to tough winter weather, the turning of leaves is a good time to tackle home maintenance tasks. For example, shoring up a wobbly fence or cleaning out the gutters may help avoid having a claim on your homeowner’s policy after some heavy winds, rains, and snows this winter.

  Here are a few places to get started with your fall home maintenance chores:

  • Check the chimney and venting system to ensure they are both in safe working condition.
  • Inspect and clean the furnace by using a qualified professional. Clean and eliminate dust and dirt around the furnace, registers, and condensing unit.
  • Install storm windows if they are called for in your climate. Storm doors are recommended to improve heat conservation.
  • Check the roof for leaks and damaged shingles. Look over vents, louvers, and chimney caps for bird nests or animal intruders.
  • Clean the gutters, eaves, and downspouts. Particles from asphalt shingles washed down by the rains often settle in gutters, so remove the debris.
  • Drain sediment from the water heater.
  • Repair cracks in the concrete walkways before water penetrates, freezes, and expands into larger, more expensive problems.
  • Seal out drafts in doors and windows. Use weather stripping around openings. Lubricate weather stripping with petroleum jelly to keep it pliable.
  • Check exterior finishes for signs of moisture that might be penetrating wood sidings.

  NEA offers two homeowner's insurance programs: NEA Homeowners Insurance®, underwritten by Horace Mann Insurance Companies, and NEA Members Auto & Home Insurance Program®, underwritten by California Casualty Management Company. Both programs offer special features for NEA members. To learn about these programs, visit www.neamb.com.

  This article, and hundreds more, can be found in the “Member Library” section on the NEA Member Benefits Web Site at www.neamb.com.

• Coupons Still Offer Savings
  

  Coupons Still Offer Savings

  Suggestions to put coupons to work for you

  Utah State University Extension

  Coupons, long a staple for budget-conscious families, save consumers nearly $3 billion annually. Yet, consumers use less than one percent of available coupons.

  About three-fourths of Americans use coupons, totaling nearly $3 billion in annual savings for grocery and other items. However, less than one percent of coupons distributed to consumers are actually used.

  Consider these suggestions to make coupons work for you:

  • Be selective. Buy only those items that you normally select for your family. Just because you have a coupon doesn't mean you have to use it. Do not allow coupons to cause you to buy on impulse, rather than need.
     
  • Comparison shop. Don't assume bigger is better. It may be less expensive to buy two smaller items with coupons than one larger item. If a coupon is good for any size, the smaller size is generally a better buy.
     
  • Know store policies. Does the store match competitor prices and or/coupons? Do they have double coupon days? Can a manufacturer's coupon be used with a store coupon?
     
  • Set up a coupon organization system that works for you. Some shoppers organize coupons according to store layout. Some clip coupons only for items they use.
     
  • Take your coupons. There may be closeouts or other specials not listed in the store ads. Always take your coupons with you.
     
  • Know how small savings add up. Remember that even coupons for small amounts add up quickly if they are for items that you use regularly.
     
  • Combine coupons. Mix coupons with rebates. Combine manufacturer and store “buy one get one free” coupons. Use coupons on seasonal promotions and closeouts.
     
  • Look for prescription offers. When buying prescriptions, many pharmacies offer discounts with multiple refills. New or transferred prescriptions may receive discounts or gift cards.
     
  • Watch for other discounts. Don't forget to look for discounts on things such as home repairs, yard work, dry cleaning, photo developing, fitness centers, restaurants, car repairs, and travel.
     

  This article and hundreds more can be found on the “Member Library” at the NEA Member Benefits Web Site at www.neamb.com.

• Buying a Used Car
  

  Buying a Used Car

  Federal Citizens Information Center

  There are lots of ways you can check out a used car, as to its condition and fair market value. The time to do it is before you make your purchase, not after. Here are some useful links and tips for checking out that used car.

  • Contact your state's motor vehicle department. Find out in advance what paperwork you will need to register a used vehicle.
     
  • Check out the seller. For car dealers, consult your state or local consumer protection office. If it's an individual, check the title to make sure you're dealing with the vehicle owner. Also browse the classifieds for other auto ads with the same phone number – a sign of an unlicensed broker who sells used cars by posing as the owner.
     
  • Take a test drive. Drive at different speeds and check for smooth right and left turns. On a straight stretch, make sure the wheels are aligned and the car doesn't pull to one side.
     
  • Check prices of similar models using the NADA Official Used Car Guide (www.nadaguides.com) published by the National Automobile Dealer Association or the Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com). These guides are usually available at local libraries.
     
  • Research the vehicle's history. Ask the seller for details concerning past owners, use, and maintenance. Next, find out whether the car has been damaged in a flood, involved in a crash, been labeled a lemon or had its odometer rolled back. The vehicle identification number (VIN) will help you do this.
     
  • Your state motor vehicle department can research the car's title history. Inspect the title for “salvage,” “rebuilt,” or similar notations. Get the written mileage disclosure statement from the seller that is required by federal law and make sure it matches the odometer reading on the car.
     
  • www.carfax.com and www.autocheck.com sell information on the history of vehicles gathered from state motor vehicle departments and other sources.
     
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.dot.gov) lists VINs of its crash-test vehicles and will let you search an online database of manufacturer service bulletins.
     
  • The Center for Auto Safety (www.autosafety.org) provides information on safety defects, recalls, lemons as well as service bulletins.
     
  • www.safetyforum.com allows a free online search of its database of lemons registered by previous owners.
     
  • Check the warranty. If a manufacturer's warranty is still in effect, contact the manufacturer to make sure you can use the coverage. In every used car and truck offered for sale, dealers are required by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to post a Buyers Guide that specifies whether the vehicle is being sold “as is” or with a warranty, and what percentage of repair costs a dealer will pay under the warranty. Keep in mind that private sellers generally have less responsibility than dealers for defects or other problems. Private sellers generally don't have to post information.
     
  • Ask about the dealer's return policy. Get it in writing and read it carefully.
     
  • Have the car inspected by your mechanic. Agree in advance with the seller that you'll pay for the examination if the car passes muster and the seller will pay if significant problems are discovered. A qualified mechanic should check the vehicle's frame, tire wear, air bags and undercarriage as well as the engine.
     
  • Examine dealer documents carefully to make sure you are buying, not leasing, the vehicle. Dealer finance managers may try to “flip” your purchase to a lease, ignoring the agreed upon sales price and the promised allowance on the trade-in. A balloon payment and “base mileage” disclosures are warning signs you may have a lease.

  Whether you need help picking investments to build your nest egg, establishing credit, buying a home, choosing auto insurance, or simply have questions concerning your finances, NEA Member Benefits can help. Call us to lea