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Fromregularoil changes to chang- ing furnace filters and annual trips to the dentist, smart consumers know that preventive maintenance can avoid costly repairs down the road. Insurance is another item that needs to go on your routine maintenance list. No one one wants to think about insurance un- less forced to. But at least once a year, it's important that you do a quick review to make sure you have the right amount of coverage at the best price. Some of us have to learn these things the hard way. I really don't know how many years we paid for a special rider to cover my husband's pho- tography equipment on our homeowner's policy. Sure, it was a good idea when he was actually a photographer. But that rider rode on for many years after he'd sold the equipment. And then there's my friend Lucy who got tired of me nagging her and agreed to shop her car in- surance. Within 15 min- utes after calling an in- surance broker, she had a quote for identical cover- age at $500 less per year. Her problem was the loy- alty she felt for the agent she'd been with for 13 years. But $500 is a lot of money, so she called him to break the news that she would be moving on to cheaper pastures. "Wait," the agent pleaded. "Give me one day to try to beat that quote." He did, and rewrote her policy for $600 less per year with no changes in coverage. As your policies come up for renewal, take a lit- tle time to shop around. Automobile insurance. As your cars age, your in- surance needs change. Factor in age and condi- tion when you choose your deductible. You probably want a high deductible on an older car that it won't make sense to fix in the event of a fender bender. Changes in the number of young drivers included in your policy, the distance you commute to work and where you park your car will also significantly af- fect your premiums. In- quire about other dis- counts for which you may qual- ify like for being a good driver or good student. Homeowner in- surance. If you are a homeowner, take an inventory of your belongings once a year and adjust your con- tents coverage accord- ingly. Review all riders and addendum. Update or delete as appropriate. Look closely for changes that the insurance com- pany has made in your coverage. You want to know about this before di- saster strikes. Remodel- ing, renovation and major purchases like appliances should be factored into your policy. A new roof or security system may actu- ally reduce your premium. Life insurance. How you update your life in- surance depends on what type of policy you have. For term life, do a quick comparison of premiums to see if yours are still competitive, especially if your insurer raises them more than you expected. Term insurance is cheap these days, so take advan- tage. For whole-life insur- ance, get rid of riders you no longer need. If you find you don't need as much coverage as you're paying for, request a reduction of the face amount (a "par- tial surrender"). Watch for extra fees, and if you see them, ask that they be waived or negotiated down. When making changes in insurance coverage, never cancel one pol- icy until you are certain its replacement is in full force and effect. You don't want to run the risk of even the smallest gap in coverage. MaryHuntisthefounder of www.DebtProofLiving. com, a personal finance member website. You can email her at mary@eve- rydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheap- skate, P.O. Box 2099, Cy- press, CA 90630. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE You might need an insurance check-up COURTESYPHOTO TheRossfamilyChristmaslightsat37RioVistaLaneinRedBluffarepicturedinthisphotosubmittedbyMike and Jill Ross. Other lighting displays of note can be found at 12121 Craig Ave. and 14388 St. Mary's Way. If you would like your Christmas display to be considered for publication, send your address and, if possible, a photo to editor@redbluffdailynews.com. HOLIDAY SPIRIT RIO VISTA CHRISTMAS DISPLAY Mary Hunt Bewareofhazards First, check for damage. Check for structural dam- age before re-entering your home. Contact profession- als immediately if you sus- pect damage to water, gas, electric or sewer lines. Throw away food that has come in contact with floodwaters. Boil water until authori- ties declare the water sup- ply safe to drink. File your flood insurance claim Call your insurance agent who handles your flood in- surance to file a claim. Have the following information with you when you place your call: (1) the name of your insurance company (your agent may write poli- cies for more than one com- pany); (2) your policy num- ber; and (3) a telephone number/e-mail address where you can be reached. Take photos of any water in the house and damaged personal property. If nec- essary, place these items outside the home. Your ad- juster will need evidence of the damage and damaged items (e.g., cut swatches from carpeting) to prepare your repair estimate. List damaged or lost items and include their age and value where possible. If possible, supply receipts for those lost items to the ad- juster. Officials may require disposal of damaged items. If so, try to keep a swatch or other sample of the items for the adjuster. The Flood Insurance Claims Handbook provides additional guidance. Clean up Remove wet contents im- mediately to prevent mold. Wet carpeting, furniture, bedding and other items holding moisture can de- velop mold within 24 to 48 hours. During the first 48 hours, you can help con- trol mold growth by clean- ing with a phenolic or pine- oil cleaner (non-ammonia detergent, soap or com- mercial cleaner) and dis- infecting with a 10 percent bleach solution (1- cups of bleach in a gallon of wa- ter). Then dry and moni- tor for several days. If any mold develops, throw the item away. Thoroughly dry out the building's interior. Porta- ble dehumidifiers are use- ful, and rental costs may be covered under your flood policy. An air conditioner can also be used to start the drying-out process. FLOOD TIPS Post-flood tips from the National Flood Insurance Program 365S.MainSt. Red Bluff www.lariatbowl.com 527-2720 9:30pm-12:30am FOODANDDRINKSPECIALS Per Person • UNLIMITED BOWLING • Shoe Rental • Music • Lights • Fog • Swag Bag • Champagne $20 VALUE 100JacksonStreet, Red Bluff (530) 529-1220 NEW Membership Specials CallorComeIn for details Peking Chinese Restaurant Dine In, Carry Out & Lounge 860MainStreet 530-527-0523 10%Off yourticketwiththisad. Limit 1 coupon per ticket/table. No other discounts apply. Alcohol, taxes or gratuity are not included. 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