The Insurance Doctor

Category: leisure

  • 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.
  • 6 Ways Father’s Day Golfers can get Best Tee Times

    6 Ways Father’s Day Golfers can get Best Tee Times

    Wishing all fathers a Happy Father’s Day!  For many working full-time, finding time to golf other than weekends and holidays can be a challenge.  Follow these 6 tips to ensure you and Dad can have a great golfing day this weekend:

    1. Plan in Advance: Most golfers book dates between 2-4 days in advance.  Try and reserve your tee time as early as possible.
    2. Book lighter times:  Most golfers book tee times between 10a-1p.  Being an early-bird or late riser can ensure getting tee times at your favorite course.
    3. Heat it up:  Don’t be afraid to golf in the middle of a hot day.  Make sure to hydrate and limit or avoid alcohol midday in the sun.
    4. Use the Internet: There are numerous websites that can assist you in booking tee times.  Try www.GolfNow.com or www.TeeOff.com depending on where you live to book tee times way in advance.
    5. Take a drive:  This is a good weekend to explore a course for the first time out of your comfort zone.  Trying a new course can help you develop your game.
    6. Pony up: When all else fails, ante up and pay the extra money for you and dad to play your favorite course.  Enjoy and don’t forget to stretch before and after playing!

  • 5 Reasons to Visit Sicily

    If there’s one place I love to visit it is ‘old country’, Sicily that is. If there is one destination that is ‘bucket list worthy’ it is Sicily.

    1. Taormina: Sicily’s greatest resort, Taormina was built on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea.  With great shopping and panoramic views of the sea and Mount Etna, Taormina is a must for Sicily visitors.insurance, New York City, financial services, health insurance
    2. Mount Etna: The tallest active volcano in Europe, Etna offers a variety of different hikes. I was actually on the mountain in 1994 which was the last time it erupted.
    3. Syracuse and Ortygia: Siracusa is a dramatic mix of old and new. It was once a key city in the Greek empire.  Ortygia, thousands of years old is known as the old city.  Having been bombed several times, Ortygia was rebuilt in what is called Sicilian Baroque.  These wonderful places can be seen on the same day.
    4. The Godfather tour: In Fiumefreddo  (cold river) it’s about a 30-minute drive from Taormina.  I haven’t seen it advertised, however, it’s a must for Godfather fans.  The most famous scene shot there is when Michael’s Sicilian wife Appolonia blew up in a car meant for Michael.  The property owner, Franco Platania was on the set as a kid in 1971 when Godfather 1 was filmed.
    5. Food and wine: I have had several of my best all-time dishes in Sicily including Tiramisu and rice balls.  Sicily is a must especially if you have been to Italy as many feel that it’s a different country!
  • 10 Tailgating Tips

    10 Tailgating Tips

    One of the best things about the fall aside from the foliage is football season which means tailgating.  Over the years I’ve seen some crazy things at tailgates such as 6 cars going on fire at the Jet’s opening day game in 2016.  Follow these tips to ensure a safe and fun tailgate.

    1. Time it right: Try to arrive about 3 hours before kickoff to get the perfect spot.  If you are not tailgating postgame, pack up 30 minutes before kickoff.tg-jets

    2. Invest in real estate: Seek out spaces (or send somebody else to go early) by the grass, edge of the parking lot and close to the bathroom.  Fewer neighbors mean fewer issues.

    3. Be a tool: Fill a toolbox with your favorite grilling essentials (utensils, zip lock bags, napkins, bottle opener etc).

    4. Rethink your drink: We suggest multi-colored cups to identify which is yours as drinks can get nasty.  Also use cups with straws to protect from insects.

    5. Reduce, reuse, recycle:  Cardboard drink carriers make good snack holders.  Less is more and makes cleanups easier.

    6. Koozie up:  Always keep between 5-10 koozies in your car for guests.

    7. Freeze it: Putting your water in the freezer the night before equals a giant ice cube which comes in very handy on game day .

    8. Dress in layers:  There can be huge temperature swings this time of year especially 4p games when the sun goes down in the middle of the game.

    9. Keep a duffle bag in your trunk:  keep extra clothes, hats, flashlights, batteries, bungee cords and a fire extinguisher can etc.

    10. Dump coals in specified bins:  Almost all stadiums have specified bins for dumping hot coals.  Leaving smoldering coals is hazardous to you and everybody else!

  • 5 Observations from the 2018 US Tennis Open

    Fans flocked to see this year’s US Tennis Open.  In fact, the all-time attendance record was set with over 800,000 people going through the Billy Jean King stadium turnstiles!  Having gone every year since the 1980’s when my brother and I were ball boy kids, I have the following observations:

    1. The ITF (International Tennis Federation): needs to tighten up how they communicate and enforce their codes of conduct. It’s a disgrace that I feel the need to list this as #1 this year!
    2. Roger Federer is not the same player: One of my favorites didn’t look the same in his loss to John Millman.
    3. Flushing Meadows need a new A/C: There was no airflow and it had a huge effect on the tournament.  Refer to #2 above and YouTube the match. Several quality players had to retire due to the heat.
    1. The food is as good as ever: They get about 20% turnover on the food vendors and it makes me proud to be from Queens where you see so much diverse and delicious ethnic specialties ?
    2. Men and women should not be paid the same: Unless the men are playing best of 3 sets or the women switch to a best of 5 format, I don’t think the prize money should be the same. As an avid tennis fan, I’m open to your thoughts on all of these topics!

  • 5 Reasons to see the Shark exhibit in Coney Island

    The Shark Exhibit at the New York Aquarium is a big hit!

    Having grown up in Rockaway by the beach I was always interested in sharks.  The movie Jaws kept me up at night.  I just took my nephew to the Coney Island Aquarium shark exhibit and found out the following;

    1. It’s half price all summer: At $15 for adults and $12 for kids, this represents great value for a fantastic time had by all.  I’m told the prices will go up in the fall.
    2. There are 115 species: Including sea lions, otters and a variety of colorful and interesting fish, sea turtles, and rays. Many people don’t know there are 26 shark species living in the New York area.
    3. The $146 million upgrade: The shark exhibit is complete with a 40-foot tunnel and multiple tanks with stunning visuals.
    4. Interesting tunnels and interactive exhibits: I’m going to leave a little of this as a surprise.  The exhibits are very educational and kid-friendly.
    5. Fish from around the world: There are local fish and species from as far as the Great Barrier Reef and Fiji.

  • 7 Places to take your kids this summer outside Manhattan

    Parents are always looking for fun places to take kids this summer.  Whether it’s education or to tire them out, these places will leave lasting impressions on your loved ones:

    1. New York Hall of Science: Located at 47-01 111th in Corona queens and open 7 days. Many interactive science exhibits and attractions to keep your child’s interest.
    2. Indoor Extreme Sports: Play paintball and Black Ops laser tag this place gets the adrenaline pumping. Located in Long Island city and Staten Island.  We have thrown birthday parties here and I will tell you big kids like it too, LOL!insurance, New York City, financial services
    3. Bounce U: Another great birthday place, Bounce U can be found in Brooklyn and College Point, Queens. Open 7 days and not just for parties as they have open bounce hours to wipe out the most feisty children.
    4. The Queens Zoo: Located in Corona, Queens and close to #1 the Hall of Science. The Zoo is open daily and easier to navigate and less crowded than other Borough Zoo’s although they’re all good.
    5. Kids Fun House: Located on fresh pond road in Ridgewood, Queens it’s for children up to 12 years old. There’s a socks only play area for small children while the bigger kids go thru the maze or play arcade games.  There’s also an on-site café.
    6. Museum of the Moving Image: Open wed-sun this place is really fun and was recently renovated. Took the boys last year to the “Behind the Screen” exhibit with Star Wars props etc.  Also, somewhat hidden is an old-school arcade with Ms Pacman, galaga and other games baby boomers will be familiar with.
    7. Artistic Stitch Sports Complex: Located on Cooper Ave. in Glendale, Queens and open from mon-sat. If you have older children, this place has something for everyone.  Soccer, dodgeball, wiffleball and rock climbing to name a few.
  • 10 Interesting March Madness NCAA Facts

    10 Interesting March Madness NCAA Facts

    March Madness is upon us!  One of my favorite times of the year.  Check out these fun facts about the men’s NCAA basketball tournament:

    1. Started in 1939: In the first year there were only 8 teams and the Oregon Webfoots defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes.
    2. March Madness Phrase: It was first uttered by Brent Musberger in 1982 during the tournament telecast.
    3. First NCAA bracket pool: In 1977 the first bracket pool was invented at Joey’s Club Forest bar in Staten Island, NY. It was a draft, there were 88 teams and it was $10/team. The pool was up to $1.5m in 2005 and was shut down in 2006 by the IRS due to tax evasion.
    4. NCAA tourney single-game scoring record: Notre Dame shooting guard Austin Carr scored 61 points in an opening-round game vs. Ohio. David Robinson is 2nd all-time scoring 50 points in a game for Navy in 1987.
    5. One coach has won NCAA and NBA titles: This was accomplished by Larry Brown with Kansas in 1988 and the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
    6. UCONN Men and Women: UCONN is the only school that has fielded the men’s and women’s champs in the same year having done it twice in 2004 and 2014.
    7. The most NCAA titles: UCLA has won the most titles with 11. They won 7 in a row under legendary coach John Wooden from 1967-73.  Kentucky is in 2nd place all-time with 8 titles.
    8. 16 seed vs. 1seed: This year the #16 seed UMBC aka the University of Maryland Baltimore County beat #1 seed Virginia Cavaliers for the first time in NCAA tourney history!
    9. The lowest seed to win: The 8th seeded Villanova Wildcats were the lowest seed to ever win the tournament in an epic game beating Georgetown in 1985 when there was no shot clock.
    10. Betting and work loss: Wallethub estimates $1.9b in lost hourly corporate losses due to workers’ productivity being diverted to the NCAA. Other than the Super Bowl, the NCAA tournament is the 2nd most betted sporting event of the year!

  • 10 Dirt Cheap Places to buy a Vacation Home

    This article looks at places both in the USA and around the world where you can purchase a home and live in relative luxury on a poor man’s salary.

    1. Argentina:  Argentina has been a tourist mecca for generations and is a great producer of wine.  A 1500 sq, foot home can be had for about $140,000.  The cost of living is a fraction of anywhere in the US and it has the amenities that many Americans and Europeans expect.

    2. Mexico: Americans have known for a long time how inexpensive Mexico is as many Americans relocate, vacation and get medical treatment there.  For about $700/ month you can find a nice 1-2 bedroom home near a tourist area including internet and sightseeing.life insurance, New York City, financial services

    3. Quito, Ecuador: Some great things about Quito is that it’s already an ex-pat US destination and is uses the American dollar for currency.  There are places along the coast which are similar to US places.  Also, food is so cheap that it costs less to eat all meals out in restaurants than it would cost to go to the supermarket and cook for yourself at home.

    4. Cambodia:  Cambodia is super cheap!  A full-time housekeeper costs about $120/month.  A 4 room villa with a pool costs about $600/month and about $7/day to eat all meals out in most areas.  About $20,000 will buy you a nice 3 bedroom home on 1 or more acres.

    5. Vietnam: Vietnam has become a tourist destination.  You used to have to own a business to buy property however those rules have been relaxed.  For $25,000-$50,000 you can find a nice home in or near a resort area.  Food is very cheap as is labor so you can have a cook when there.  Also, because of demand, it’s easy to rent the house out.

    6. Thailand: Thailand is a legendary tourist destination for food, nightlife and amenities.  Like Vietnam, it’s easier to buy property now.  For $30,000 you can buy a high-rise condo with amazing views.  For $60,000 you can buy a 2-3 bedroom home with a beautiful garden and pool.

    7. Bulgaria: Bulgaria is stunning from the ancient architecture to the surrounding hills and countryside.  For $1,000/month you can live in comfort and like a king for $1500/month.  The average monthly salary is about $800 and for $20,000 you can buy a very nice home.

    8. Budapest, Hungary: Hungary is one of the oldest and architecturally stunning places in the world.  A $1,000 sq. foot home with some land runs about $90,000.  The people are kind and hospitable and there are about 50,000 ex-pats living in Budapest alone.

    9. Mississippi, USA: Mississippi offers comparable prices to Budapest and Bulgaria.  A plush 3 bedroom house can be had for $80,000.  The north offers music and jazz while the south has beaches and gambling.  There is great weather year round and cultural diversity.

    10. Louisiana: Louisiana offers a combination of southern charm and Cajun flavor.  You can buy a fully renovated historic 1800’s home for under $100,000.  There is fantastic wildlife and you can hire a cook for half the price of eating out.

  • 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.