Have you ever considered what your free time’s worth?  I usually do when my wife wants me to drive a long way to go to some store that’s having an “amazing sale.”  After driving an hour out of my way and waiting in line for a half hour, I usually conclude that, when I factor in the cost of my free time, the savings were hardly worth it.

I consider that what I normally earn in an hour is also the cost of my idle time.  If I am worth $25 or $50 or a thousand dollars an hour (I wish) at work, that’s what my free time is worth to me.   Unfortunately, my wife disagrees with this concept and usually wins the argument and so, off to sales we go.

However, if you don’t take my wife’s side of this argument and do agree with me, I have some advice for you when it comes to shopping for a new life insurance policy.  You can save a lot of time (and money, per my theory) if you follow this advice – find a website that provides life insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies.  Also, make sure the website doesn’t ask for your contact information prior to showing you quotes.  More on that later.

Don’t be fooled by the websites offering life insurance quotes that are nothing more than lead generation sites for life insurance agents and brokers.  What happens on these sites is you fill in your information and several choices pop up.  However, most of what’s being displayed are other life insurance websites.  So you’ve just spent this time on this site only to be directed to other sites.  When you click over to these sites, you will be asked to fill in your information again in order to get quotes.  Not only did you just waste your (valuable) time, but now multiple web sites have your personal information.  Aside from the value of your time we’re discussing here, do you really want your information spread over multiple websites?

Another similar type of lead generation website is one in which they gather your information, don’t show you quotes, but rather sell your information to multiple brokers and agents who will call you and try to sell you a policy.  How much of your precious time will be spent speaking to (or avoiding) these phone calls and emails?

I shop on the Internet for the convenience and, contrary to my wife’s opinion, I value what my time is worth.  I do most of my shopping online because it is fast and relatively simple and I can find and purchase what I want in a short period of time.  If I want to buy a new computer, for example, I don’t want to go to a computer website that will recommend me to other sites (Amazon.com is an exception to this because, even though I might be purchasing from a vendor that isn’t Amazon, they process and guarantee the transaction).  I want to go to a site that shows me all the computers within my price range with the features I am looking for.  Once I find one, I can read up on it and make my purchase on the spot.   This way, I save not only on the price but, if you factor the value of my time into it, the savings are even greater.

There are several excellent life insurance websites that will show you quotes from life insurance companies without needing your contact information.  You can then apply for the policy without having to go to one or more additional websites. The price of the policy will be the same no matter who you purchase from but, with this type of website, you will be saving a significant amount of time.

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After three or four months, though, the impact wears off and drivers continue to leadfoot around town.  So, the next time a cop gives you a ticket, give him a big smile and say thank you–he or she may be saving your life.

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One state has already caught on. Legislation in Utah equates texting while driving with drunk driving. If a driver who is texting while driving causes an accident resulting in a fatality, he or she will be sentenced as harshly as if they had been driving drunk and could face up to 15 years in prison.

The National Safety Council estimates that 200,000 crashes are caused each year by drivers who are text messaging.

Check out the IJ article–you won’t look at texting while driving in the same way again.

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The study involved 30 men–16 skinny, 14 obese–who were videotaped while eating a meal. The researchers guessed that the skinnier subjects would chew each bite more thoroughly than the heavier subjects. It turns out they were right.

During the next experiment, the subjects were instructed to chew each bite 15 times, while another experiment they were asked to chew 40 times.

When the subjects chewed each bite 40 times, they consumed 12 percent fewer calories than when they chewed 15 times. The 40-chew group also had lower levels of ghrelin, a hunger-producing hormone, in their stomachs.

So there you have it: Chewing, along with diet and exercise, should be a part of your weight-loss routine.

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The continuing battle between Sainsburys and Tesco for our groceries pound has spread into the cut throat world of motor insurance. Whilst many shoppers show loyalty to one or the other of these two heavyweights, one imagines that brand loyalty is going to be tested to the full in the UK  insurance sector.

The Tesco car insurance offering plays on the image of the comnpany as delivering excellent value for money. In addition the company incorporates offers for Tesco Clubcard holders (in our opinion, the most successful loyalty card scheme).

Hot on the heels of Tesco motor insurance is the recently re-launched Sainsbury’s car insurance. Central to the re-worked offering is the partnership with RBS Insurance and the promises to give customers a saving of about 15% on premiums in the form of Nectar loyalty card points.

With the average price of motor insurance in the UK having risen by about 30% to £815 in the past 12 months it’s clear that both these two mighty organisations see the potential in delivering incentives to motorists that utilise possible savings through other parts of their business i.e. Buy our car insurance and get cheaper fuel or clubard vouchers for money off cineworld tickets!

Whilst fighting each other for the insurance pound it is clear their is also an opportunity to take business away from high street banks and specialised insurers, both of which have a somewhat tarnished reputations from the banking crisis (fiasco) and the spiralling costs of insurance! It will be interesting to see how it plays out – our money is on Tesco!

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Drivers in ID are required by law to purchase Idaho auto insurance and provide proof of financial responsibility when necessary. This means that a large number of motorists in the Gem State may need to shop around for a policy. One of the more convenient ways to search for quotes is to use tools that are readily available online. Often with only a small amount of information a resident could see dozens of quotes at once. To receive an accurate estimate, drivers typically only need to relay a few details, such as their age, gender, marital status, garaging address, vehicle information and annual mileage. Motorists do not, however, need to give any personally sensitive data to see a policy estimate. In most cases drivers should refrain from revealing their social security, driver’s license, and credit card info while shopping for quotes to avoid potentially fraudulent activity.

Personal Info Used in ID auto insurance

Although policy estimates can usually be obtained free of charge and without personally sensitive details, sometimes certain information is required to produce an accurate quote. Apart from the aforementioned data, insurers usually need to know an individual’s driving record. Premiums are largely determined by a resident’s likelihood of filing a claim. If a motorist has a history of accidents or other vehicle related offenses, an insurer is more likely to set a higher premium to counter the possibility that they may file a claim in the future. Some companies may deny coverage entirely. Additionally, in some situations insurers want to know an individual’s credit score to help determine their premium.

For motorists with Questions and Answers About How Your Credit Affects Your Insurance Rates the Idaho Department of Insurance has a wealth of information. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act insurers are able to use a person’s financial information to assist in determining the price of their policy, but there are certain restrictions as well. Coverage providers can use this information as a contributing factor when determining whether or not to insure an individual, but it cannot be the primary cause of accepting or denying a resident of Idaho. This information may be used in the same way with the same restrictions when determining a person’s premium as well. Although some details may be required when shopping for coverage, residents in the Gem State can typically find an adequate policy without having to divulge any personally sensitive info.

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When many residents search for a policy, one of the first details they take into consideration is the price of a plan. The NAIC estimates that in 2008 the average expenditure in the Land of Enchantment was $728 but with a small amount of research, residents can typically find a wide range of prices. Price comparisons are essential because New Mexico auto insurance is often priced different based on the insurer; a resident’s personal information, vehicle detail, and a number of other factors typically have an influence. Shopping online can usually produce some of the best results because dozens of estimates can usually be gathered at once, allowing for quick and efficient evaluations. The price of a policy, however, is just one factor to consider. Often the quality of an insurer can make a difference, and finding this information can be simple.

Choosing an NM auto insurance Company

As previously stated, the quality of an insurer can make a difference in a motorist’s overall satisfaction. The New Mexico Department of Transportation estimates that in 2002 an automobile accident occurred every 11 minutes, amounting to nearly 49,700 crashes in a year. After being involved in one of these accidents it is important to have purchased a policy from an insurer that is easy to contact and can handle claims quickly and efficiently. Attempting to file a claim with an unhelpful and confusing company can potentially take an inconvenient occurrence and turn it into a stressful situation. To research these qualities, residents can use the Internet to view rankings provided by various business based on surveys answered by current and previous customers.

In order to Register Your Vehicle in New Mexico, a person needs to meet the state’s financial responsibility requirements. Buying coverage from a company on the verge of bankruptcy, however, may lead to complications in the future. Residents should know that no insurer is entirely exempt from financial ruin, and investigating a business’ financial strength is often recommended before making a purchase. To help drivers learn more about their insurers, many agencies provide rating information online that ranks companies based on qualities like investment history, creditworthiness and overall financial strength. Taking the time to research these details, as well as an insurer’s attentiveness to customer service and pricing details, a resident in the Land of Enchantment can often find an adequate insurer with a minimal amount of effort.

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