Buying a Home

6 Things You Should Know About Homeowners Insurance

If, as is often the case, your home is your biggest investment, it stands to reason you want to protect it against damage, theft or other disasters. Your lender, who also has a stake in the property, wants to protect it, too. In fact, they will require proof of insurance coverage before you can close on the purchase.

If you are ready to purchase homeowners insurance, here are six things you need to know:

1. There Are Different Types of Policies.
Policies differ in terms of what they cover, so be sure you understand what you are buying. Does the policy protect you in case of any disaster except those omitted in the policy, such as flood damage? Does it include total replacement coverage? Coverage if someone is hurt on your property, and/or loss of personal belongings? The more substantial the coverage, the more the policy will cost.

2. Not Everything Will Be Covered.
If you’re covered up to $2,000 on personal belongings, for example, and your $4,000 ring is stolen, you won’t be fully reimbursed. But if your luggage is lost or stolen while you are traveling, you will be covered up to the policy limit.

3. Home Maintenance Counts.

Damage incurred because of homeowner negligence, such as failure to fix a longstanding slow leak, will likely not be covered. Also, some companies are leery about dog breeds known to bite, so be sure your dog is covered—and keep potentially dangerous breeds contained.

4. Your Credit Score Counts.
Except in Maryland, California and Massachusetts, insurance companies use credit-based insurance scores to predict losses and determine which customers are more likely to file claims. The scores also evaluate your outstanding debt, length of credit history, whether you pay bills on time, etc. The higher your insurance score, the lower your premium will be.

5. Document What You Own.
Keep receipts and appraisals for your belongings and maintain a list of personal possessions and their value.

6. Ask About Discounts.
Will your premium be discounted if you buy other insurance, such as auto or life insurance, from the same provider? Will making home enhancements, like adding a security system, lower your premium?

Daycare Snacks Get the Thumbs Down

From animal crackers to gummy fruit snacks and calorie-laden juice drinks, kids in child care are not getting the nutrition they need from daily snacks, according to a new study from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center published online in the journal Childhood Obesity.

The study – the first of its kind to compare meals to snacks – shows that despite efforts to improve the diets of children in child care settings, meals – and particularly snacks – still lack nutritional quality. Snacks, while smaller than meals, are an integral part of a preschooler’s diet, typically comprising 26 percent of their daily calorie intake.

Researchers from Cincinnati Children’s reviewed menus at 258 child care centers in southwestern Ohio, analyzing the average weekly frequency for servings of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, juice (100 percent) and sweet or salty foods. They found that the composition of lunches differed from snacks in all food categories.

Fruits, vegetables and meats were rarely included in snacks, but were listed almost daily as a component of lunches. Conversely, 87 percent of centers served sweet and salty foods – such as gummy snacks, pretzels and crackers – at snack time more than three times per week, but rarely at lunch.

The study also found that:

• 87 percent of centers rarely listed non-starchy vegetables for snacks, but 67 percent included them at lunch more than three times per week.
• 100 percent fruit juice was listed as a component of snack at least three times per week in over a third of the centers surveyed, but rarely with lunch.
• 60 percent of the centers reported serving 2 percent milk to children older than age three; 31 percent served whole milk.

“Snack time for kids is a missed opportunity,” said Kristen A. Copeland, MD, from the Division of General and Community Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s and the study’s lead author. “With some 75 percent of kids ages 3–5 in child care, revising the types of foods and beverages served as snacks in child care may be a way to address the growing obesity problem.”

The USDA is expected later this month to release new guidelines for meals and snacks served in child care programs under the Child and Adult Care Food Program. These guidelines are expected to call for increased variety in the types of beverages and foods served at snack times among participating programs, and specifically including more fresh fruits and vegetables and meat or meat alternatives as snacks.

Fun with…Paper Clips!?

It’s amazing what people can accomplish when they’re bored. Take the everyday paper clip, for example. With a little creativity and time on your hands, you can be quite productive, even during a time of severe procrastination! Though you may want to spend your time a little more wisely, here are a few unbelievable things you can do with simple little paper clips.

Have a dirty keyboard? Is one of your keys not working properly or sticking every time you try to hit it? Bend and unfold a paper clip and insert one side of the clip under the edge of the key you wish to remove. The key can then be easily removed, cleaned properly or replaced.

If you are an artist or just have an artistic flair, try using paper clips for creative purposes or to add to something you’re currently working on. Words can be spelled out with colored paper clips or you can create animals or structures by bending and molding multiple clips.

Extra crafty individuals can create necklaces for their friends or family. Add other crafts to the project like beads or pendants and let the paper clips serve for the base of the necklace. Mix and match colored paper clips and beads for a bright, vibrant homemade piece of jewelry.

Using a few simple supplies and an indefinite amount of creativity, you can let your imagination run wild and create things you never thought possible.

Stop Counting Calories

Counting calories making your head spin? Don’t despair – according to WebMD, maintaining a healthy weight isn’t achieved using a magic caloric formula. In fact, there are better things you can do that will help you maintain a healthy weight or achieve your fitness goals. Skip calorie counting and try these methods instead:

Eat smaller portions – Eating smaller portions undoubtedly affects your calorie intake. We’re conditioned to measure portion sizes by assuming the food we’ve been served throughout our lives is appropriately sized. Larger portions at restaurants exacerbate the problem, making us (and our bodies) believe we need the same size servings at home. Monitoring portion sizes puts you back in control.

Eat energy-burning foods – Selecting foods that burn more calories is a sure way to limit calorie intake, because they require more energy (calories) to digest and metabolize. Put simply, your body will burn off the calories you consume, instead of adding to your daily count.

Eat only the best calories – Your body needs calories – what it doesn’t need are the kinds that come from sugary drinks, sweet desserts and alcoholic beverages. Opt for fruits and veggies, which are not only highly nutritious, but also have less calories overall.

5 Home Upgrades to Consider This Season

While many homeowners dream of a huge remodeling job (hello five-star kitchen!), simple home updates that can be completed in a timely manner—without breaking the bank—typically offer the best return on your investment. If you’re itching to upgrade your home this season, whether with your own two hands or by bringing in a certified contractor, consider the following ideas.

Change the Hardware. By simply replacing the hardware (drawer pulls, knobs) and faucets, you can create an entirely different look. If you’re feeling really adventurous, and in the mood for a more drastic effect, you can even paint the cabinets. Or, dress up the kitchen with a decorative backsplash that ties the whole room together.

Add a Little Paint. Do all the rooms in your home blend together because they’re painted the same color? Painting an accent wall is a great way to help a room ‘pop.’ Whether it’s in the kitchen, living room, dining room (or any other room in the home), an accent wall is a simple way to incorporate a color you love into the space without going overboard. If you’re content with the walls just the way they are, another popular alternative is to paint the ceiling.

Update the Entryway. An inviting entryway is just as important for creating a good first impression among visitors as it is among prospective buyers. Wow your guests—and even your family—with an updated facade. From (re)painting the front door to incorporating vinyl door decals to welcome visitors in style, updating the front of your home is a surefire way to create a welcoming environment.

Install Hardwood Floors. Hardwood floors are a popular choice among homeowners looking to update their space, and with a little elbow grease and know-how, avid do-it-yourselfers can complete the look with their own two hands. Tongue-and-groove flooring that fits together like a puzzle is a safe bet for anyone looking to get their hands dirty in home improvement projects this season.

Add a Porch/Patio. Whether they’re semi-enclosed, attached to the home’s front entrance or built at ground level, the addition of a porch/patio extends a home’s living space. From adding value to your home to upping its curb appeal, if you have the space, this is one project you should move to the top of your to-do list.

Buyers May Face Hidden Costs for Homes with Solar Power By Kerry Smith