The Insurance Doctor

Category: holidays

  • 7 Mother’s Day Tips to Save Money!

    7 Mother’s Day Tips to Save Money!

    Mother’s Day has snuck up on us and is this weekend.  If you think about it, none of us would be here without our Mothers!  Surprisingly, few people ask their Mothers what they actually want for Mother’s Day!  This would be a good question for “The Family Feud Show!” 

    A recent survey was done by www.mommypoppins.com asking Mothers what they REALLY want for Mother’s Day:

    1. Alone Time
    2. A Clean House (without asking or nagging)
    3. Spa Time and Pampering
    4. Food
    5. Sleep

    This is the one day that the woman who often puts herself last is first on the list for millions this Sunday!  For those who are tight on funds this Mother’s Day, here are a few smart money moves to save a few dollars and still do great things for Mom:

    1. Search the Internet for a Less Expensive Deal: If flowers are her thing, almost every website that sells flowers are running coupon codes for saving money.  If you cannot shop locally, for example, www.ProFlowers.com is offering flowers on sale and 15 American Airline Miles for every $1 spent.
    2. Go For a Day at The Movies: It is still fun to go to see a show and matinees are usually half prices.  There are often restaurants, such as Cheeburger Cheeburger near movie theaters, that offer a dinner and movie ticket package at a discount. 
    3. Do ALL the Chores:  As you can see in the survey above, doing the chores ranks #2.  Although not so much fun for you, one way to save $$$ and have a happy Mother is to do ALL the chores to free her up to have fun on her special day!
    4. Do Something Creative and/or Artsy:  Most moms will appreciate something special created just for them.  Whether it is a creative and cool card, collage, or getting a special picture frame, it has a special meaning when coming from your heart 😊!
    5. Breakfast in Bed: If you have never done this, give it a try.  They say the most important meal of the day is breakfast.  Let Mom sleep in and serve her a fabulous breakfast in bed to start the day off right.
    6. Move the Day:  There are many people who work on weekends and cannot see Mom this Sunday.  Moving celebration dates have been the norm during Covid-19 and are much more acceptable.  Moving her special day to Tuesday or Wednesday can save you between 50%-70% on chocolates and 25%-50% on flowers.
    7. Hit the Clearance Section Button:  If clothes are her thing, try going to her favorite store’s online website and clicking on the clearance section, usually on the far-right hand side of the website.

    The most important thing is to do something to acknowledge your Mother, Wife or Grandmother on Mother’s Day!  It is about making this day different and special!  Let me know how it goes!

    I would like to wish my Mother, Sharon Rose Meade Intelisano, the happiest of Mother’s Days.  I Love You Very Much!

  • Post-Thanksgiving Holiday Shopping Tips

    As we enter the post-Thanksgiving holiday season, I was thinking about what I am thankful for.  In addition to good health, my family, and friends, I am thankful to “The Wave” for giving me the opportunity to create “The Financial Wave” column back on May 1st, 2020! 

    I saw a piece on the news this week that people are feeling pressure to spend money on holiday gifts.  Chanukah starts this weekend and Christmas is right around the corner.  Heed these 7 tips to save $$$ and reduce holiday shopping stress this season:

    1. Start Your Holiday Shopping Now: There is a saying “Action Diffuses Anxiety!”  Getting into action and knocking off items on your list now will reduce your stress levels.  Also, due to product shortages and issues with standard mail, it is wise to commence now.
    2. JoinHoney.com: On your IPAD, desktop or laptop, click on www.JoinHoney.com (does not work on mobile phones) and add the extension to chrome.  Honey automatically (similar to Capital One and others) searches for the best prices and attaches coupons when you are at the checkout section while internet shopping.  This often can save you more money than using Amazon and Ebay.
    3. Make a Budget:  Budget “X” dollars per person and keep the list with you when you are shopping either online or in brick-and-mortar stores.  Sticking to your budget is just as important as crafting it!
    4. Points, Points, Points: Using points is a very good way to bring prices down.  Credit card points, Verizon, AARP and many other companies and retailers have point programs that can mitigate high pricing.
    5. Buy Hot Toys Early: Research shows that, unlike other items, prices (and availability) of toys are better the earlier you can buy them.
    6. Search Out Free Shipping: There is no reason to pay extra for shipping if you do not have to.  These savings can add up over multiple holiday gift purchases. 
    7. Consider Switching to a Secret Santa:  Years ago, during a family dinner, the topic of doing your own Christmas shopping came up.  When my mother estimated she was buying about 80% of all the family gifts, we decided to adopt the “Secret Santa” program for us adults.  The way this works is that each adult (we still spoil the kids) is assigned one other adult to buy for, with a maximum price cap. 

    Last but not least, I would like to thank YOU, the loyal Wave subscribers and “Financial Wave” readers for your support! 

    For those interested in being added to our monthly email list or if there are topics you are interested in learning about, by all means email me at Rob@InsuranceDoctor.us.  Happy Holidays!!!

  • 6 Tips to get your 2020 financial house in order

    6 Tips to get your 2020 financial house in order

    Now that we are in the first quarter of 2020 it’s easy to get off track from our goals.  Follow these 6 tips and with a little time and effort your 2020 finances will be more organized and less stressful.

    1. Organize your paperwork: It’s hard to feel in control when you can’t find anything.  Gather all papers, shred duplicates/old statements and put them all in a box or accordion file.
    2. Go Paperless:  I know habits are hard to break.  Wherever possible create electronic files.  See if you can receive e-bills instead of paper.  Use a flash or thumb drive as a back-up and keep it off-premises.
    3. Protect against identity theft: You can request a free copy of your credit report once per year from all 3 credit bureaus.  Go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com
    4. Put your finances on autopilot: Use EFT direct deposit for all checks, pension and social security received.  Set up automatic payments for recurring bills.  It’s easy and will save time going forward.
    5. Create your 2020 tax file: Most people have to scramble to pull together all tax forms etc.  Start now by setting up a 2020 file and stashing forms/receipts etc as needed.
    6. Review your insurance coverage:  Protect your nest egg and your family by regularly reviewing your life, health disability, and long term care insurance.  If this is confusing to you contact us for a 2nd opinion.

    Your financial house needs regular upkeep.  Putting in a little time and organization will decrease clutter and help you focus on your goals and objectives.

  • The 4 Hottest Tech Gifts of 2019

    The holidays are here, which means the shopping season is in full swing. Some of this year’s most popular wish list items are digital devices that entertain and make life easier.  Check out the highest-rated Family gifts and gadgets

    1. iPhone 11: Apple’s newest series of iPhones, the iPhone 11, 11Pro and !!Pro Max was released two months ago and reviews remain the same – the device is the best value for your money. If you’re looking to upgrade from a previous model, the iPhone 11 is the best deal available on the market with its latest processor, OLED.   The 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max come with three camera lenses: wide, ultra-wide and telephoto.
    2. Amazon Fire TV Stick: With the rise of streaming services, Amazon’s Fire TV Stick provides an array of video applications, from YouTube to Netflix. Watch your favorite viral videos, listen to a podcast or binge that show you’ve been meaning to watch. At just $39.99, it is one of the least-expensive streamers you can buy. The device also comes with voice commands, allowing Amazon Echo/Echo Dot owners to control it with Alexa.
    3. The Kindle Paperwhite: The release of the latest Kindle model unveiled some exciting upgrades to the highly acclaimed device. The newest change is water resistance, which allows the device to spend up to one hour in up to six feet of water. Other useful features include adjustable light for clear reading indoors and outdoors, additional storage space (8 or 32GB) and new Blue tooth listening. Even with all the upgrades, the price barely rose, making the Paperwhite a good value purchase.
    4. Tile Essentials: Do you or someone you know have a problem with losing things all the time? The 2020 Tile has some new options to make it easier to keep track of your belongings. The Essentials pack includes the Slim, Mate and two Stickers, a variety that’s a perfect fit for any family. If you haven’t heard of Tile, the devices are registered to you through an app so you can easily locate your Tile. If it’s nearby, the Tile will sound an alarm for you to find. You can find the nee 2020 Tile Essentials on Amazon.
  • 6 Tips to save $$$ on Holiday Shopping

    6 Tips to save $$$ on Holiday Shopping

    Last year people spent on average $1,000 per child for the holidays.  Heed these tips to avoid out of control spending:

    1. JoinHoney.com: On your iPad, desktop or laptop click www.JoinHoney.com and add the extension.  This extension (not for phones) automatically searches for the best price and attaches coupons, often cheaper than Amazon when you are checking out!
    2. Make a budget: Budget X dollars per person and keep the list with you while shopping.
    3. Points, Points, Points Credit cards, Verizon, AAR, and many other companies offer points to discount prices.
    4. Buy Toys early others late: Statistics show prices are best on Toys early so buy those first and wait on other goods and services.
    5. Search out Free Shipping: This can add up over multiple purchases.
    6. Secret Santa: For Christmas celebrants consider a “secret Santa” where each person is assigned 1 person to buy for instead of buying for everyone. Set a price max and watch your stress levels go down.  My family adopted this strategy years ago after my Mother calculated she was buying 80% of all family gifts.
  • 5 little known tidbits about Hanukkah

    5 little known tidbits about Hanukkah

    Since it’s Hanukkah time and my sister in law is Jewish, I decided it was time to deepen my knowledge of the holiday. The holiday with the most different spellings I have ever seen. Happy Hanukkah, here’s what I found out;

    1 ) Spinning the dreidel was originally done by students illegally studying torah . When Greek soldiers would make a surprise raid , students would whip out a dreidel pretending to play a gambling game . dreidel

    2 ) The war of the Maccabees was the first ideological war, fought by a small band of pious Talmudic scholars who engaged in cunning stealth warfare. ( In Israel you can visit the caves they hid in )

    3 ) Hanukkah is celebrated 8 days even though the miracle of the oil was only 7 ( the first day’s lighting shouldn’t count – it’s natural ) to teach us that everything in the “natural” world is really a miracle caused by God .

    4 ) Hanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas. There is no significance to giving gifts during the holiday. But there is a tradition to give gelt ( money ) to give kids an incentive to learn torah . ( Hanukkah also comes from the word “Hinuch,” education. )

    5 ) Around 17.5 million oily doughnuts ( sufganiyot ) are eaten in Israel during Hanukkah , commemorating the miracle of oil . ( Not a good time to start a diet! )

  • 8 Summer Travel Tips

    8 Summer Travel Tips

    Having touched foot on 5 of the 7 continents, I have learned a lot.  With solid planning, I was able to do 3 weeks in Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia with 1 carry-on bag and 1 computer bag.  My top travel tips are:insurance, New York, travel

    1. Call your credit card companies in advance: and tell them where you are going and what dates. I have had cards frozen because companies see a string of out of town charges and they think your cards were stolen.
    2. Think in body sections when packing: I do this in the morning while getting work ready and start from feet to head.  It can be stressful the last days before a trip so you don’t want to forget anything so do the same with the kids.
    3. Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on bag: 29 million bags are lost/delayed each year. Be ready when it happens to you!
    4. Buy a guide book if going overseas: Can’t stress this enough. Advanced research prevents issues which can ruin a trip.  For example, my research told me that in Myanmar and Cambodia they accept US dollars however not with folds or wrinkles.  I went to the bank in advance and withdrew $500 of new bills in 1’s, 5’s, 10’s and 20’s. I like “lonely planet” and “rough guides” the best.  Look for the most recent edition.
    1. Read negative reviews on hotels: I prefer trip advisor and Agoda for international travel.
    2. If touring by car get a tune-up and GPS: Nothing worse than getting lost or having your car break down.  GPS your destinations in advance for proper time planning.
    3. Buy an off color suitcase: This way you can spot in from a long distance away.
    4. Sign up for the TSA: The TSA pre-check can make the difference between missing and making a flight and decrease travel stress considerably.
  • Ten last minute Mother’s day gifts on a budget under $100

    Ten last minute Mother’s day gifts on a budget under $100

    Ten last minute Mother’s day gifts on a budget under $100

    Mothers usually appreciate the little things that are thoughtful and lasting so most of these ideas will have that theme and some are do-it-yourselfers.

    1. The store “things remembered” will do custom engraving on short notice. They are located in most malls and their “custom couture jewelry” is drawing rave reviews.

    2. Things Remembered will also do a custom “music box” so mom can think of you when she’s home doing chores listening to her favorite tunes.mom-gift

    3. Her favorite plant.  Some folks will print out family pictures and wrap them around the plant pot so she can look at the family in addition to the plant.

    4. A yoga mat and/or towel.  For the yoga mom, these gifts are available and reasonably priced on amazon.com with overnight or 2-day shipping.

    5. A VHS to DVD format converter is available new and used online at amazon.

    6. A gift basket.  This can be customized yourself and include some of your mom’s favorite oils, bath salts, perfume, a book, candles and a relaxing CD.

    7. A family scrapbook or montage.  This can also be framed and hung up.  Mom’s love this stuff and appreciate the effort putting it together.

    8. A certificate for a home cleaning.  Give mom a day off and either hire somebody to clean the house or better yet do it yourself.

    9. A dinner gift card.  You can go to restaurant.com and get discounted gift cards either in general or to mom’s favorite restaurant for half price.

    10. If you can’t afford the “day of beauty” a mani/Pedi gift card will go over very well as moms deserve to be spoiled.

    11. Bonus belated gift idea.  Mom’s usually have a special feeling for the grandchildren so get pictures of them put onto coffee mugs.

    Cheers to my mom and all the fabulous moms out there that do so many things they don’t always get acknowledged for!!

  • 8 Holiday Road Travel Tips

    8 Holiday Road Travel Tips

    This weekend will have millions of Americans on the road most of them to see relatives to celebrate the upcoming holidays.  Traffic and unprepared parents can put a damper on the family trip.  Enjoy these tips to smoothen your ride!

    1. Check traffic in advance: We prefer Waze or Google Maps to check for accidents and weather delays
    2. Gas up in advance: Running out of gas can suck the fun out of any trip. We like gasbuddy.com to find cheap gas in foreign cities and towns.
      insurance, New York, financial services
    3. Put presents in black garbage bags: This prevents gifts from “accidentally getting opened” when in the back seat with curious kids, lol.
    4. Stock up: Stock up on snacks (preferably healthy) fluids and coffee for your upcoming mission!
    5. Check tire pressure: Low pressure leads to blowouts, uneven tire wear and worse gas mileage.
    6. Create a “Road Trip Kit”: Surprise the kids with activities, crayons, books and or movies to help the time go by more fun and faster.
    7. Pack wipes: You never know what can happen when with the family on the road.
    8. Brings snacks for pets: Remember to not give pets a full meal within 1 hour before leaving as they are more prone to car sickness.

    Enjoy folks and wishing you the happiest of holidays!

  • 6 Tips to Get Your 2017 Financial House in Order

    6 Tips to Get Your 2017 Financial House in Order

    Now that we are in the final month of 2016 it’s easy to get off track from our goals.  Follow these 6 tips and with a little time and effort your 2017 finances will be more organized and less stressful.

    1. Organize your paperwork: It’s hard to feel in control when you can’t find anything. Gather all papers, shred duplicates/old statements and put them all in a box insurance, New York, financial servicesor accordion file.
    2. Go Paperless: I know habits are hard to break.  Wherever possible create electronic files.  See if you can receive e-bills instead of paper.  Use a flash or thumb drive as a back-up and keep it off-premises.
    3. Protect against identity theft: You can request a free copy of your credit report once per year from all 3 credit bureaus. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com. Another great tool is Credit Karma which allows you to track your credit scores throughout the year.
    4. Put your finances on autopilot: Use EFT direct deposit for all checks, pension and social security received. Set up automatic payments for recurring bills.  It’s easy and will save time going forward.
    5. Create your 2016 tax file: Most people have to scramble to pull together all tax forms etc. Start now by setting up a 2016 file and stashing forms/receipts etc as needed.
    6. Review your insurance coverage: Protect your nest egg and your family by regularly reviewing your life, health disability and long term care insurance.  If this is confusing to you contact us for a 2nd

    Your financial house needs regular upkeep.  Putting in a little time and organization will decrease clutter and help you focus on your goals and objectives.
    Contact Robert here for more ideas to get your financial house in order.