This month we will be going over several good ideas that are not broad enough to warrant their own newsletter. Some relate to emergencies and some don’t, but they can definitely make your life smoother.
It is always a good idea to keep a valid passport.
Maybe a business trip will come up suddenly, and already having a passport will save you from have to pay the expensive expediting fees ($60.00 to start, plus extra if you want to send and receive via overnight delivery). Even an expedited passport application takes two weeks. However, consider the case of the parents of an exchange student who went missing in South America in 2005. Although she was later found, her parents were anxious to fly down. They were able to receive assistance from their senator in getting passports expedited, getting them overnight, but how much better is it to just be able to hop on the plane?
If you have a sibling in the military, parents on a mission, or friends in the Peace Corps, it is always a good idea to keep your passport valid. Then, if you suddenly get an opportunity for cheap tickets to Barcelona, you are ready.
NOTE: Passport cards can only be used for travel by ship and car to neighboring countries. Stick with passport books so you are able to travel by plane and go more places.
It is always a good idea to double-check information before sending e-mail forwards.
When the message says “Send this to everyone you know”, whether it is…
· the picture of a missing teen and you’ve got to help find her
· a call to arms over House Democrats giving social security benefits to illegal aliens
· a warning that Madalyn Murry O’ Hair is trying to get the FCC to ban all religious broadcasting
· an apology for accidentally sending you a virus, and you should delete your jdbgmgr.exe file immediately
…or whatever, it is probably a lie. This doesn’t mean that the senders are trying to deceive you—
they were just fooled—but you do not have to be a fool with them.
There are many web sites where you can do additional research. If the message is specifically about viruses, it may be best to check a site like those run by MacAfee or Symantec. However, when the virus is being mentioned in an e-mail forward, chances are good that you can find out all about it at www.snopes.com along with the topics of all other forwards. They do a good job of listing sources, so if you do not wish to simply trust the site, you can do additional research.
NOTE: While it may be a public service to send the refutation to everyone who received the message, it is probably kinder to reply to the sender only.
2nd NOTE: E-mail chain letters (with promises of good luck if you forward and bad luck if you don’t) can be safely discarded without any additional research.
It is always a good idea to back up your computer files.
House fires or floods, theft, severe virus infestations, mechanical failure, and human error can all lead to data loss. On our family PC, that would mean the loss of several years’ worth of journals, genealogical records, recipes, current projects, and all of the photos from our last vacation.
There are several ways of backing up data, including automated services that periodically check all changes to files, keeping an updated backup file on a remote network. Zipping up a file and e-mailing it to yourself can save your files on your ISP server, but check to see how large a file can be stored, and for how long. You can also use a USB drive to periodically pull files, but it can contract a virus if plugged into an infected computer. Many people will store backups on a separate drive or partition, but this will not be helpful in the case of physical damage to the computer or virus infestations.
Your backup should include personal data files that you have created, like letters, photos, and possibly music. You may also want to backup installation files for purchased software. Even if available storage prohibits this, consider creating a document where you record the license files for downloadable software to facilitate program recovery.
It tends to be a good idea to start young.
An IRA or 401K started in your early twenties can earn much more than one started when you are thirty-five. A savings account started early, even with small amounts, grows over time. It is easy to put off thinking about the future when you are young and single, but the time you spend procrastinating represents opportunity lost. Also, depending on options, they can provide significant current savings on taxes.
Even if you are planning ahead, knowing that you are going to retire in forty years, without any current dependents you may not think about insurance. However, from high school graduation to just after college graduation is a great time to buy insurance. Insurance companies will assume that you are going to live for a long time, and you can get really low premiums.
Whole insurance will be the best investment, and can eventually be borrowed against at low interest. Term insurance will be cheaper, but will expire. You can find term policies with return of premium written in, but this will raise the cost. Do not rule out term insurance automatically, as getting a low-cost term policy now can guarantee your insurability for later when you can afford a better policy. Do avoid companies based in Florida or Texas, as regulations are looser there.
It is always a good idea to have saved a down payment before buying a house.
It may not always be a good idea to buy a house. Although a mortgage payment is an investment, while rent is just a living expense, and property almost always increases in value, there is maintenance involved, and if you are not sure how long you will be in the area, it may be best to wait. However, if you are going to buy, and can pay down at least twenty percent of the price, then mortgage insurance is not mandatory and you may be eligible for a lower interest rate. Even if you are far from ready to buy a house, it is not too early to start saving for a down payment.
If you have children, pets, investments, or property, it is always a good idea to have a will.
Having clearly stated your wishes beforehand can prevent confusion and ill feelings later in the event of unexpected death. Regarding children and pets, it is also advisable to make sure that you have spoken with the people who will be assuming care in advance, and that they would be ready to take on that responsibility. Emergency preparedness is largely about planning for things that you do not want to happen, and how to make them better if they do happen. That means having to face all of the possibilities.
Finally, it is always a good idea to have a 3-month to 1-year supply of food storage, a 3-day to 2-week supply of water storage, a 72-hour kit, and an emergency plan, including plans for communication with other family or household members, and to practice all the principles of provident living.
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