Is Texting While Driving More Dangerous Than Drinking and Driving?

You're driving on the highway and your phone lights up. You have a text from your friend. What do you do? Your first reaction is to see what it says. A ton of people, mostly young adults and teens, aren't thinking of the consequences and dangers involved when texting while driving. It doesn't really sink in until something happens to you or a close family or friend.

A solution that could help the problem is to get a car with Bluetooth capability, or buy one at a store. Best Buy has the kind that you can put on your car visor that works real well for $80. Click here to check it out.

Not only is Bluetooth convenient and cool, it’s also a major safety feature as well. Texting while driving increases the risk of a crash much more than previous studies have shown with motorists taking their eyes off the road longer than they do when talking or listening on their cell phones.

The Obama administration reported that nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to driver distraction with cell phones and texting. Driver distraction was involved in 16% of all fatal crashes in 2009. Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks.

According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction. The distraction occurred within three seconds before the vehicle crash!

On any given day last year, more than 800,000 vehicles were driven by someone using a handheld cell phone during the day. The greatest proportion of distracted drivers were those age 20 and under. Twenty four states have already passed laws to make texting illegal while driving.

Think next time before you text in the car, it may save your life or someone elses!

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Property Insurance Can Cover Halloween Tricks

Halloween can be a blast for youngsters, although some find fun in more than just trick-or-treating.

Homeowners may wonder what happens if Halloween hellions cause damage to their home. Property insurance should cover costs associated with vandalism. The same goes for the comprehensive coverage offered through auto insurance.


However, consumers will want to assess whether getting the repairs fixed through a property insurance policy is really worth it. If damages are less than the deductible, filing a claim may not be worth it.

What could be an advantage, however, is if law enforcement authorities catch a vandal in the act. Doing so means a consumer's insurance provider could try to pin the costs on the perpetrator.


As with any kind of property damage that warrants involving a home insurance company, policyholders will want to report the mishap as soon as possible. Taking photos could also help the claims process move along quicker.

Preventing vandalism may be the best way to avoid trouble in the first place. Homeowners should make sure their property is well-lit, which should discourage people from targeting it.

Tips for Renting in a Tough Market with Low Vacancy Rates

At the end of 2009, the apartment-vacancy rate soared to a 30-year high to approximately 8 percent. For many Americans, this meant the beginning of a renter’s market. Instead of fighting for scarce apartments and dealing with “ruthless” landlords, many renters were receiving major incentives to sign their leases.


However, as the economy continues to improve, economic experts are forecasting a decline in apartment vacancy rates resulting in higher rent. While this may seem like bad news for bargain real-estate renters, don’t give up on your search for a reasonably priced apartment just yet. If you’re ready for an upgrade from your immediate post-college apartment or you’re just ready to move out of you parent’s house, now is still the perfect time to start looking for an apartment.

With the proper research and a little patience, you can still find an affordable, high-quality apartment. Here are five tips for securing the apartment of your dreams:


1. Consider a roommate
While you may have given up roommates after you graduated college, having a roommate can also have its perks. Aside from having a friendly face in the apartment when you’re lonely, having a roommate can also save you a ton of money. Aside from splitting the utilities, two bedroom apartments are often cheaper per square feet than a one-bedroom or studio apartment.


2. Set your budget and stick with it
While the granite countertops and marble floors may be tempting, the extra money on rent each month for the upgrade will add up quickly. Once you’ve calculated how much you can afford, stick with your budget and be sure to resist any temptations of an upgrade for “just a little more per month.” While there is no magic equation to calculate the maximum amount you can afford each month, a good way to set a rental budget is to take your monthly income (after taxes) and deduct your mandatory monthly expenses (loan payments, food, utilities, etc) and then deduct the amount you’d like to save each month (401(k), emergency savings, etc.). The amount you have left over is the maximum amount you should spend on rent each month.

3. Use online resources and go mobile
Resources like Craigslist, MyNewPlace and HousingMaps are great sites to find apartment listings on the internet for free. With Craigslist, you can subscribe to search-based RSS feeds that are delivered to your phone. Once you’ve entered all your search criteria, go to the bottom of the page, copy the link from the “RSS” text and add it to your feed reader. When setting up Craigslist feeds, the more keywords you track, the more listings you will find. So create feeds for neighborhood names (including nicknames) and street names. But remember, once you see a listing you’re interested in, the quicker you call, the better your chances.


4. Hit the streets
While the internet and Craigslist can bring hundreds of apartment listings directly to you, sometimes hitting the streets to find available apartments can be extremely effective. If you are interested in living in a particular neighborhood or area, consider walking around the area and keeping your eyes open for “For Rent” signs. Chances are you’ll find one or two places that you haven’t seen listed online.


5. Don’t sign on the spot
Although you should always schedule a visit quickly as soon as you see a listing you’re interested in, you should never feel obligated to sign a lease on the spot. Be sure to read the contract and understand all the policies and fees associated with your agreement – especially the penalty for early termination. Make sure you pay attention to any red flags that may pop up during your search like abnormally cheap rent or a landlord that seems like she/she is hiding something.