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If your homeowners insurance policy covers your pet, it will pay for injuries or damage the pet caused to a person or property not named in the policy. But it won’t cover injuries to your family or home. Many companies deny coverage for dog breeds considered aggressive, regardless of the pedigrees or individual histories. Some companies provide coverage, but with high premiums. Homeowners policies generally exclude exotic pets, such as ferrets and snakes. Standard liability limits might not be enough. Consider a dog liability policy, umbrella policy or excess policy. Tell your insurer about your pet. If you dont, it may deny a claim and/or cancel your policy. Published with permission from RISMedia.
Are you interested in the idea of minimalism, but unsure of where to start? Consider the following… Get your family on board. You’re fighting a losing battle if only one person in your household wants to minimize. Chat with your spouse, kids or roommate about why a minimalistic home space is important. Once everyone is on the same page, go room by room and itemize your belongings. After youve taken stock of everything in your home, start the purging process. Begin by ditching duplicates to get you on the right track. And, most importantly, aim for dual function furniture, like a kitchen island that opens into a dining room table. Published with permission from RISMedia.
Published with permission from RISMedia.
Transform your bathroom into a cozy oasis this winter with these tips. Towel Warmers Capture the feeling of a warm, fluffy towel fresh out of the dryer with wall-mounted towel warming racks. Heated Toilet Seats Todays state-of-the-art commodes are designed with heated seatsone of the most underrated luxuries in the home. Radiant Heat By installing radiant heat beneath the tiles, you can keep your feet warm all winter long. Steam Shower When you feel the cold deep in your bones, the best way to get rid of it is by spending a few minutes in a steam shower and letting the warmth envelope you. Published with permission from RISMedia.
Published with permission from RISMedia.
Carrying cash is becoming less common these days, which can be a nuisance for parents and their children"especially when it comes to paying children their allowance each week. For many parents, cash allowances are becoming a thing of the past as they instead turn to prepaid debit cards that can be managed directly from their phones. In fact, by simply downloading an app onto their phone for the financial company they’re working with, parents can load money onto a debit card that their child can use at stores, gas stations and anywhere else where debit and credit cards are accepted. Parents typically sign up for the account and then link their checking account or debit card to fund the child’s debit card. Along with transferring an allowance, the app can be used to set spending limits, view expenses and automatically match money the child puts into a savings account. Taking this one step further, parents can receive a text message or email when their child makes a purchase"and they can even use the app to disable the card if the child loses it. Parents can allow children to use their debit card anywhere or can limit it to certain stores and websites. Once these settings are in place, the card will be declined if the child tries to buy something at a non-approved store, or if they try to spend more money than is available on the card. If the child has their own cellphone, they can get their own version of the app and check balances or get a parent’s permission to buy a certain item. Better yet, some cards can be used at ATMs. Some financial services allow parents to set chores for the child to complete and then pay the child through the app when the chore has been finished. If you’re looking to take advantage of this growing trend, some of the financial services that currently offer debit cards for children include Greenlight, Current, goHenry, FamZoo and Akimbo. TD Bank, American Express and Capital One also have debit cards for teens; however, some of these financial institutions require that teens have a checking account with the bank. The debit cards usually have monthly fees of $5 or so, and some have annual fees. They usually don’t charge extra for adding money onto the card, though parents should carefully read the fee schedule before enrolling in a program because some charge fees for reloading, as well as other services. Before giving your child a debit card, make sure they understand how it works and how they can check the balance. Use it as a chance to discuss budgeting and saving, and to get them started on a solid financial foot that will hopefully follow them into adulthood. This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice. Published with permission from RISMedia.
The following characteristics will help you design a swoon-worthy farmhouse kitchen. Stone and Wood Natural materials, especially stone and wood, are always at the center of the farmhouse style. Open Shelving Both fashionable and functional, hang pans from a ceiling rack and use a magnetic strip to keep your knives handy. Copper Accents Wherever its implemented, copper adds a metallic touch thats in tune with the rustic ambiance. Reclaimed Materials A farmhouse kitchen should feel like its been lived in. Reclaimed materials give your kitchen a distinguished character that comes with age. Appropriate Appliances Stainless steel is popular in a rustic cooking space, as it works well with the overall aesthetic. Published with permission from RISMedia.
Not using your credit card enough sounds like an odd reason to have a mortgage application denied, but it’s one of the ways that applying for a home loan can be derailed by factors you may not have thought of. Credit card debt can help establish a credit history"a good history if you have a record of paying it off on time. Late payments can hurt a mortgage application and a poor credit history can be worse than having no credit history at all. Without a substantial credit history, however, home lenders may be unlikely to approve a mortgage application. Here are some other things that can lead to a mortgage application rejection: New Credit Opened Recently Opening a new credit card or two a month or so before applying for a mortgage can lower your credit score by five points. That shouldn’t hurt your mortgage application if you have good credit, but if you’re on the cusp of qualifying, it could be enough to have your loan application rejected. Wait until after you’ve moved into your new home before applying for more credit. Unpaid Medical Bill Not paying a medical bill can lead to your doctor’s office or hospital asking a debt collections agency to try to get the money. The debt collector could notify the credit bureaus that you’re overdue, which could put a red flag on a mortgage application. At least try to work with the medical provider to set up a payment plan. This will show a mortgage lender that you’re serious about repaying your debt and are working on it, and could be the start to getting your mortgage application approved. Job Change Getting a new job is a good thing, but changing jobs just before applying for a mortgage can show banks that you don’t have a consistent income history. Lenders want to see at least two solid and consistent years of income history. Changing jobs on your own is normally a good thing but, in this case, you may want to wait until after your home loan is approved and you’ve closed on a house. The lender may give you some leeway, however, if you were laid off and didn’t have any control over your employment. Lying Exaggerating your income on a mortgage application may seem like a minor offense; however, lying about your income or anything else"such as trying to hide debt or a down payment source"is mortgage fraud. That’s reason enough for automatic denial. Published with permission from RISMedia.
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