Saving money on the insurance you need is easy. Follow these simple guidelines to get the protection you need for less.

Auto Insurance

• Shop around: Be sure that the quotes you're comparing are for the same coverage.
• Request higher deductibles for comprehensive and collision. If you raise your deductible, be sure you are willing to pay the extra out-of-pocket cash in the event of a loss.
• Ask about discounts . [Multiple Vehicles, Non-Smoker, Air Bags, Alarms, ABS, Safe Driver, Home and Auto with one company, Good Student, Student Away at School, Driver Training]
• Maintain a good driving record and credit history .
• Check insurance prices before buying a new vehicle.

Homeowners Insurance

• Shop around: Make sure each insurer is offering the same coverage.
• Look for discounts: [ Home and Auto with one company, deadbolt exterior locks on all your doors, security system, new home, non-smoker discount, sprinkler systems]
• Raise your deductible: Increasing your deductible from $250 to $500 will lower your premium, sometimes by as much as ten percent. Higher deductibles produce greater savings. If you raise your deductible, be sure you are willing to pay the extra out-of-pocket cash in the event of a loss.
• Install smoke alarms and keep fire extinguishers handy.

Life Insurance

• Shop around: Make sure each insurer is offering the same coverage for the same period of time.
• Consider Term Insurance rather than cash value insurance.
• If you smoke, Quit Smoking. Premiums for smokers are considerably higher.
• Round Up. Life insurance is priced per thousand dollars of coverage and the price per thousand often decreases for higher amounts of coverage. Therefore, it could be less expensive to purchase $250,000 of coverage than to purchase $225,000. Ask about those per thousand break points before you buy.
• If you have a Medical Condition:    If you have health problems, your premiums will always be higher than healthy non-smokers. Yet, there are some companies that are more receptive to certain conditions than others and those companies may charge lower premiums for your condition. Make it a point to ask about each insurance company's willingness to underwrite your condition.
• Forget the Riders:   Riders may add some value to your policy but they can also add expense. If you are trying to find a way to afford the protection you need, it may be advisable to forget the riders.
• Avoid Monthly Fees:   Those convenient monthly payments often come at a price. You may save money by paying annually. Do the math before you decide.
• Group Life: Often, group life insurance through your employer is less expensive than an individual policy. Although there are some drawbacks to group life, such as the possibility of loosing it if you leave your employer, it often makes sense to purchase as much protection as possible from your group plan before you purchase an individual policy.