Can Married Couples Have Separate Auto Insurance?

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When two people marry they usually combine their finances just as they have combined their lives. When renting or purchasing a home it's customary to put both names on the mortgage or rental agreement. You pay your bills out of a joint checking account for electric and other household bills. What about auto insurance policies; do you combine two separate policies into one? 

It is true that having multiple cars on one policy does benefit you with discounts. Even with great discounts, there are reasons to have separate policies. When shopping for insurance quotes online, you will be able to compare rates for car insurance from many different providers.

When an auto insurance policy is written there is always a principle driver listed. Secondary drivers can be listed on the policy but are charged a lower rate because they do not drive the car very much. 

If one driver in the family has a bad driving record with accidents, tickets or other violations; or has bad credit it would be cheaper to keep them off the policy and see that they have their own separate policy. In this case avoiding a combined policy would keep the rate lower but check with your insurance company for actual insurance rates.

Having an expensive car and listing it as only having one driver would save money. Have only one spouse be the specified driver of the vehicle because adding a spouse would just increase the cost of insurance.

When one spouse has bad credit it can drive the cost of car insurance up. Insurance companies check your credit report when you apply for car insurance. They have the right  to see your report because if you are late with bills or in default, it reflects on your ability to pay. Also think you are a higher risk for them because your credit is bad. If it is bad you will be paying more in insurance premiums.

It's best to check with your state insurance regulation because it may be mandated that both spouses must be on the same policy.

Tax Free Weekends for 2012 Arriving in August

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Tax free weekends are back. If your shopping for the kids or just yourself it is time to save a little money. Below is the complete list of tax free weekends coming up. You can pick up some items like clothes, school supplies, even computers. So start making your shopping list.

TAX FREE WEEKENDS 2012 LIST:

Alabama Tax Free Weekend: August 3-5th for certain school supplies, computers, clothing and shoes.
Arkansas Tax Free Weekend: August 4-5th for school supplies, art materials, school materials for teachers, clothing and shoes.
Connecticut Tax Free Weekend: August 19-25th for clothing and shoes under $300 and layaway items that fit requirements, but are paid in full after the 25th.
Florida Tax Free Weekend: August 3-5th for school supplies up to $15 and clothing up to $75 (individual items, not total of purchase).
Georgia Tax Free Weekend: August 10-11th for clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $20 and computers up to $1,000.
Iowa Tax Free Weekend: August 3-4th for clothing up to $100.
Louisiana Tax Free Weekend: August 3-4th for the first $2,500 of property purchases. Also, September 7-9th for ammunition, firearms and hunting supplies.
Maryland Tax Free Weekend: August 12-18th for clothing and shoes up to $100.
Mississippi Tax Free Weekend: July 27-28th for clothing and shoes up to $100.
Missouri Tax Free Weekend: August 3-5th for clothing up to $100, computers up to $3,500 and school supplies up to $50.
New Mexico Tax Free Weekend: August 3-5th for clothing up to $100, computers up to $1,000 and school supplies up to $15.
North Carolina Tax Free Weekend: August 5-7th for clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $100, instructional materials up to $100, computers up to $3,500, other computer accessories up to $200 and sports equipment up to $50. Also, from November 2-4 for all EnergyStar products.
Oklahoma Tax Free Weekend: August 3-5th for clothing up to $100.
South Carolina Tax Free Weekend: August 3-5th for clothing, school supplies, computers, linens and bathroom essentials, such as rugs and shower curtains. Also, from November 23-24th for firearms.
Tennessee Tax Free Weekend: August 3-5th for clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $100 and computers up to $1,500.
Texas Tax Free Weekend: August 17-19th for clothing up to $100 and school supplies up to $100.
Virginia Tax Free Weekend: August 3-5th for clothing up to $100 and school supplies up to $100. Also, from October 5-8th for EnergyStar products up to $2,500.

Money Saving Tip: You can save money all year long if you use discount websites like EBATES where you can receive a $5 bonus just for signing up. Or a free $10 gift card from Target or Home Depot.  Combine that with your cash back debit/credit card and you could be saving a tidy sum of money. Sign up today at Ebates

Online College Degrees Becoming More Accepted By Employers

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Even though the growth of online education has exploded, students are still worried if their online degrees will be accepted by potential employers like traditional university degrees are. According to many hiring managers, online education is continually gaining more respect as it establishes itself in academia and the workplace. 

A recent article by Bloomberg Business Week says in the past many employers were not familiar with online degrees. This accounted for their lack of knowledge and skepticism. Today, this opinion is fading because many mainline universitys are offering MBA's, Master of Public Administration Courses, and other Master's degrees online. 

A recent study by the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration shows that hiring mangers are becoming more accepting of web based degrees. The need for employees to have a MBA, required for their employment, is not being satisfied by the regular university system. Their findings show that the time commitment required when attending a traditional university can not be integrated into an employees life. The time constraints of a full time job and the many duties that a family and home life require put an employees time at a premium. 

What is changing the opinion of many hiring managers is present employees, who have gone through online degree programs. It is becoming apparent that the training they have received has made a them valuable members of the team. The managers also responded that their opinion of a potential employee with an online degree five years ago would of put that persons resume to the bottom of the pile.

One of the managers major concerns are that when you take courses online you do not have a way to use your social interaction skills that are necessary in a business environment. Sitting in front of a computer in your pajamas doing your course work can not be transferred to a dynamic office environment. Hiring managers have this opinion and it's something the employee has to think about when being interviewed.

Not all companies see the benefits of taking entire degree courses online. They do give much credence to already working employees adding additional degrees like an MBA or a public administration degree to an employees credentials through online learning. There still is a prejudice against online colleges. The advancement of online degrees has made it's way into the systems of many state colleges. Every year you see the technology of delivering complete degrees through online programs becoming better.

The online student has to keep in mind the views hiring managers have. When taking your course work it is imperative that you work toward receiving the highest possible grades and while your attending your online school you should continue to work so as to have even more job experience when finally going for an interview after you receive your online degree.

The Basics of Home Finances Elude Most Americans

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In today's America, more than one-third of households can barely manage to pay their bills. They are only getting by paycheck to paycheck. The Consumer Federation of America's research reveals Americans are less well off than they were 10 years ago. 

According to the survey of 1,508 US households, 30 percent of families are living paycheck to pay check. They aren't complaining because they feel they are financially comfortable. The have all the things they need to live. The problem is that when an emergency arises, their world is thrown off balance. Without savings or credit they are at a disadvantage to financially solve an emergency cash need.

The lack of income combined with a high cost of living has led many people to take out debt for financial needs but because of the lack of income they are unable to pay these loans back. The result is bad credit or no credit at all. Their only solution is to secure personal loans with no credit check.

There are companies that will give a personal loan for poor credit. These loans can nowadays be done online and with great speed. The funds can be deposited into your bank account in a short period of time.

Because of the convenience and the ability of borrowing with bad credit, the fees for these loans are high. On the websites of these loan companies the rates, fees and late fees are clearly listed. The loan company eLoanPersonal clearly displays the exact amount of fees payable for the amount of money you borrow. There are no surprises. This transparency is refreshing.

When entering into any type of debt arrangement be sure you know all the facts, fees and schedules to pay your loan back. The borrower needs to take responsibility for paying back the loan and should take seriously the risks involved with any loan agreement. Using personal loans on a continual basis is irresponsible and sets you up for a unnecessary cycle of debt.

5 Trips to Take the Grandkids On

Cinderella Castle by day (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Its summertime and the grandkids are out of school and heading your way for a week or so. Want to do something extra special with them this summer? Take them on a trip that they will never forget, here are 5 trip ideas to help you:

Disney: Who doesn’t want to go to Disneyland or Disneyworld? Whether you choose the west coast or the east coast, there is fun to be had for both kids and adults. Disney is a magical place where your grandkids can run wild and use their imaginations. The best time to take them is between about 4 years old to 12 years old. There are always great specials and deals for families, especially in the off season.

Beach: Summer vacations are always best spent next to the ocean, playing in the sand. You can rent little houses or hotel rooms near a beach for a weekend getaway. Avoid big party beaches and aim for family friendly beaches. They tend to be the smaller beaches outside of the big ‘party’ beaches. Find a nice beach to build sandcastle and collect seashells on. And don’t forget the sunscreen and watch the tide!

Camping: There are plenty of camping sites across the United Sates that offer great camping sites. Go big and head to Yellowstone or go local. This is a great time to show your grandchildren things in nature and get them away from video games and television. Whether you want to head to a lake or the mountains, your options are unlimited. Camp by a fire or in a cabin, whatever you do bring the bug spray and the mores.

Washington DC: A very educational and beautiful city to teach your older grandchildren about the history of the United States. There are many things outside of political monuments to visit like huge art museums and the zoo.

Historical cities: If big road trips out of the budget this summer, travel to the closest city for historical landmarks. Major cities like Ft. Worth, Texas, Boston, Massachusetts and San Diego California are just a few examples of affordable cities with rich history and plenty of attractions to visit. Cities like this have a great visitor bureau website to help you plan your next trip!

Call the grandkids, pack the bags and hit the road for a fun summer trip with quality time spent with your family. Pick a location based on their age and enjoyment level for the whole family and go! Have fun and safe travels!

About the Author:

This guest post is contributed by Debra Johnson, blogger and editor of full time nanny.
She welcomes your comments at her email Id: - jdebra84 @ gmail.com.

Car Insurance Shopping Online Saves You Time And Money

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These days many more people are using the Internet to research large purchases. With so many car insurance companies competing for our insurance dollars, competition has driven down the costs and it is of great benefit for consumers. The Internet has made it easy to find car insurance quotes online.

A recent poll by the American Automobile Association (AAA) has found that, sixty-two percent of people shopping for auto insurance, start their search on the Internet. Most car insurance shoppers go to at least two online insurers websites prior to arriving at a decision.

Before doing some online shopping take time to do some research.

1. Collect all your important documents together. Your going to need your drivers license. If you had any accidents, have that information ready. Also have your address and social security number ready. You will need the year, make, model, license plate, mileage, and VIN (vehicle identification number) from your car.

2. Use your computer to search for "discount insurance quotes." When you see your search results first check out aany companies you are already familiar with. Also find insurers that will show quotes from many car insurance companies. Some companies represent a lot of different insurance companies. They can compare reates for you and deliver the cheapsest one to you.

3. Choose the kind of coverage you need. It depends on the state you reside in what our options are for what required insurance you need to have. The website will know and walk you through the specifics of your states car insurance requirements.

4. Input all necesary information and get your free quote. There are too many insurance companies that offer free quotes, stay away from websites that require a deposit, credit card number, or any kind of fee.

5. Compare the rates and coverage along with the costs. When you feel comfortable about your selection you can pay with a credit card. You will be able to print out a temporary insurance I.D. car and later a formal one will be mailed to you.