That could be anything from driving less than the average number of miles per year to quitting smoking.

Certain types of people — senior citizens, for instance — also are eligible for price cuts. You’ll also save by installing certain safety or protective equipment in your home.

There’s one catch: You have to ask. By one estimate, consumers lose some $300 million a year by not taking advantage of discounts.

Here are some other money-saving tactics:

Combine coverage. Because it’s cheaper to service two policies from the same customer, insurers often cut premiums up to 15% if you link auto and homeowners policies.

Sweat the small stuff. Frequent claims are red flags for insurers; some won’t renew policyholders with more than two claims in three years. So try to carry more of the risk by covering claims under $1,000.

Also: Try to boost your credit score. Many insurers give better rates to homeowners with good credit histories.

- money.cnn.com -

1. You’re a statistic.

To an insurer, you’re not a person; you’re a set of risks. An insurer bases its premium (or its decision to insure you at all) on your “risk factors,” including your occupation, who you are, what you own, and how you live.

2. Know your home’s value.

Before you choose a policy, it is essential to establish your home’s replacement cost. A local builder can provide the best estimate.

3. Insurers differ.

As with anything else you buy, what seems to be the same product can be priced differently by different companies. You can save money by comparison shopping.

4. Don’t just look at price.

A low price is no bargain if an insurer takes forever to service your claim. Research the insurer’s record for claims service, as well as its financial stability.

5. Go beyond the basics.

A basic homeowners policy may not promise to entirely replace your home.

6. Demand discounts. Insurers provide discounts to reward behavior that reduces risk.

However, Americans waste money every year because they forget to ask for them!

7. At claims time, your insurer isn’t necessarily your friend.

Your idea of fair compensation may not match that of your insurer. Your insurer’s job is to restore you financially. Your job is to prove your losses so you get what you need.

8. Prepare before you have to file a claim.

Keep your policy updated, and reread it before you file a claim so there are no surprises.

- money.cnn.com -

Claims Notification and Requirements:

This section will outline the rules set by your particular laptop insurance company as to how you are to notify them if you need to make a claim. Don’t just assume that you just make a phone call and that’s it. Technically you must follow the rules as outlined in the conditions of your policy.

They may state that you must notify them by telephone as well as mail with a detailed summary of the event. You may be responsible to have filed a police report.

Claims Settlement:

Here you will find the details as to how basically the Insurance Company will go about settling a claim. Don’t just assume that if something accidentally happens to your computer that you can just take it in and have it repaired and then send the bill to the Insurance company for compensation. It doesn’t work that way.

Alteration of Working Conditions:

When your laptop is insured, it is insured as being in proper working condition. That’s why often you can’t get coverage for used laptops. If during any time you were to discover something wasn’t working right regarding the laptop and it could be a hazard, for example faulty components that could start a fire. This must be reported to the Insurance company, plus you will be expected to rectify the problem immediately by having it repaired. This is just a basic example. Read this area of your policy carefully.

Salvage:

If for some reason you laptop had to be replaced, lets say it had been stolen. So the laptop insurance company replaces it for you. Then a short time later the original one is found and returned to you. You don’t get to keep it, this must be turned into the Insurance company. It’s now their property.

Right Of Inspection:

This section will tell you that the computer insurance company has the right at any time to ask you to produce the laptop for their inspection. If it has been improperly handled and in poor working condition this will become evident in the inspection. It could then affect your policy.

Suspension:

If something comes to the attention of the Insurance Company that a condition may not be being met, they can suspend or put your policy on hold . They will notify you in writing of this. Which means during this suspension you have no right to make any claims should the need arise. In reality you are not covered during this period.

Now knowing a bit more about what the definitions mean, it may enhance your awareness of what your responsibilities and the laptop insurance’s obligations are. You know what a policy will basically consist of. Now find a reputable Insurance company that will explain everything to you in plain and simple terms. Where you can fill in a simple online application and know there are no hidden clauses.

- laptopinsurance.org.uk -

Auto Insurance companies oddly enough were the first people to realize this trend and then favor women. Since insurance is all about risk assessment, it is only fair that lesser risk is recognized and given benefits. It is for this reason that they offer specialist insurance for women and allow them to pay lower premiums and more perks. This proves further that women really are less risky, or why else would insurance favor them.

Flashier the car, the more likely it is to catch the eye of a thief. Same goes for a modified or one with an upgraded engine. These additional features make the car high risk and therefore expensive to insure. Studies from SIRC show that men are more likely to get such cars so specialist insurance for women gives them the benefit for non flashy car insurance.

With many thanks to internet we must admit that it has made our life easier by very much. All you need to do to find good insurance is log on to the internet and search away. There must be some companies that you’ve heard of, some that have been referred by friends, so try these first and you’ll get a good insurance policy without the hassle of using Yellow Pages, or multiple trips all over the city. With the advent of online custom insurance, i.e. insurance depending on your particular case, all you have to do is be an attentive searcher.

The online insurance comparison sites collate the data from all over the web and present to you in a clear and distinct format. Moreover they will the review a company’s reputability before displaying their name on their website, so you can be assured of a good service. If you make your decision, these sites have links that will take to the actual application pages and you can buy you insurance there and then.

While accidents are inevitable, it will help to have a good insurance backing you. Either sex can get that just by showing a little more responsibility of their car, even an insured one. For example, park it in a safer place, don’t take unnecessary risks, and installing anti-theft devices will show your insurer that you care about and value your car, are less of a risk, so they will care about you with a lower premium.

- theinsuranceqoutes.com -

I’ve settled into a comfort, perhaps even complacency, with the iPhone of late. I used to be a worrier about not being contactable. When I used to travel I used to fret about not having my laptop along. Now I could care less; I still have access to my email, news and AIM/Gtalk via the iPhone. In fact, my laptop’s power supply has been broken and I am only now getting around to replacing it. The comfort of being enabled and connected by pulling out this amalgam of plastic, silicon, metal and glass is both a blessing and curse. Good in that you can be contacted almost always, but bad because you can almost always be contacted!

But more practical concern is that iPhone has become increasingly valuable as a repository of, well you and your information. Losing it could be costly in terms of personal information in the hands of a stranger and it can be costly in real money terms. Being a risk averse lawyer I’ve taken the step of having a passcode on my iPhone. At least I have a fighting chance at protecting my information. But, if an iPhone is lost or is stolen, it would cost $500 to replace it. Neither AT&T or Apple sell insurance or has a non-warranty replacement plan. Also, iPhones are not typically covered under your homeowner’s insurance unless it is subject to theft or fire. So when ill befalls your iPhone who do we look to?

Recently, thanks to a targeted Facebook ad, I switched to State Farm for my car (the Good Neighbors slogan people) and found out that there is such a thing as iPhone insurance against loss or theft. Praise be State Farm.

So the logistics: State Farm (statefarm.com) sells iPhone insurance so long as it is tied to a personal effect like a laptop or something like a musical instruments (bicycles do not count sadly, but furs do apparently). The premium for my laptop and my iPhone (16 GB) was $35 a year. It makes sense that someone is finally selling iPhone insurance because they are everywhere. It must also be a good market sector to get into – the moral hazard is relatively low now because of people are used to safeguarding their iPhones, lest they have to bear the costs of replacing it. Now, there’s one less thing to worry about. Hope I’ll never have to use it.

- news.cnet.com -

Now, pet insurance is not that hard to get after all, there are many online websites that aim to provide convenient pet care. As with online pet insurance a simple log in is the solution to all the problems that your pet might be facing. You log in and check all the plans for variant type of pets, regardless of the age, gender or breed of your pet, you would eventually find a scheme that best suits your budgets and requirements. Many health plans for pets now even include the vaccination, routine checkups, minor medications et cetera. Taking care of your pet requires those regular visits to the vet, which is very expensive, an insurance plan for your pet makes sure that your pet gets the best care with the money that you can afford.

Pets are prone to many diseases and may fall victim of life threatening accidents. Fortunately technology has taken as far, and treatment procedures have advanced a lot. An online pet insurance makes sure that these conditions are taken care of without a problem of money, within the budget of the owner. The insurance plans allow you to install small amounts of money that can pay a long way, making sure that whatever kind of pet you own receives the medical attention that it deserves. Even expensive medical treatments that require surgeries such as hip replacement and kidney transplant are available now and are carried out successfully nowadays. For that however you may need the funds, and hence we recommend that you go through the insurance plans that are available online and buy pet insurance online or choose whatever options suits you the best.

Having a pet not just means cuddling with it and taking it for a walk, to pay attention to them whenever you feel like it and amuse yourself and your family with them. It comes with a lot of responsibilities, a major part of which is health care of that pet, including hygiene, vaccination, proper diet et cetera. The scheduled visits to a good vet are also necessary for a healthy pet. With an online pet insurance plan at hand, your pet health will be insured and you will be able to provide the pet with what they deserve, proper love, care and support. Make sure that your pet doesn’t have to face issues or a short life only due to low finances.

- theinsuranceqoutes.com-

For small, expensive, often-dropped devices like cell phones, insurance is becoming an increasingly common add-on purchase. After all, if you spent $300-$400 on a phone, what’s another $50 to ensure that it will keep working for the life of you cell phone contract?

Not from Apple or AT&T

That thinking – and fear of needing to extend cell phone contracts to get new phones when ld ones break – many people seek cell phone insurance. And, with the iPhone being one of the hottest phones on the market, many people are looking for iPhone insurance from Apple or AT&T.

The only problem? Neither sells iPhone insurance.

AT&T has been rumored for some time to be preparing an iPhone insurance plan, but nothing has yet come to light. Apple doesn’t offer insurance on its products, though its AppleCare extended warranty does cover the iPhone.

So, if neither of the official companies behind the product offer iPhone insurance, are you out of luck? Not necessarily.

Traditional Insurance Companies

If you’re in search of iPhone insurance, try the companies you already get insurance from. Many insurance companies that offer homeowner’s, renter’s, or other kinds of property/casualty policies can cover the iPhone under a “personal articles policy.” Rates reportedly run in the US$15-$40/year range.

Start-Ups

With the market opportunity left by Apple and AT&T not offering iPhone insurance, new companies have stepped into the space. When considering these companies, be sure to do your homework: check out how long they’ve been around; search the web for reviews of them, as well as complaints or problems; make sure they’re going to be around when you need help.

Two of the leading iPhone insurance companies to spring up in recent years include SquareTrade and InsureYourPhone.com.

SquareTrade offers policies for US$50-$60/year that cover drops, spills, battery, water damage, and other mishaps.

InsureYourPhone.com seems to have changed its offerings recently and now only offers coverage to users in the Mort Meyers/Cape Coral, Fl., areas. For users in those areas, policies run $70-$120 for up to two years.

- About.com -