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JJ Montanaro
Courtesy of USAA
Money/Finance
www.usaa.com
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME GUIDE
Shutter Up
Before hurricane season begins June 1, consider installing window and door shutters for protection against flying debris and water.
- If you already have shutters, use them.
- If you plan to get professionally installed shutters that meet building code-approved standards, order them now because supplies dwindle if a hurricane heads your way.
- If you plan to use plywood, prepare and label the panels ahead of time, and install permanent stainless steel anchors around the window.
Warning: Make sure plywood shutters are properly attached to your house. During high winds, plywood can rip off and become a flying object that can cause serious damage to your property-and anything nearby.
Is Your Foundation Protected?
1. Make sure your sprinklers are set correctly so that you are watering your lawn, not your foundation.
2. To avoid future cracks, do not plant trees within 12 feet of your foundation. Shrubs should be no closer than 4 feet. Consult your local garden center if you're unsure of the proper distance.
3. Since accumulated moisture can cause rotting, mulch should be no closer than 7 inches from the top of your foundation to protect your siding.
Monthly Reminder
To eliminate debris that could damage your home in severe weather, remove dead plants, shrubbery and limbs from around your house. Regular landscape maintenance can save you hours of yard work and thousands of dollars in repairs caused by fallen trees and branches.
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USAA or its affiliates do not provide tax advice. Taxpayers should seek advice based upon their own particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
This material is for informational purposes. Consider your own financial circumstances carefully before making a decision and consult with your tax, legal or estate planning professional.
USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its insurance, banking, investment and other companies. Banks Member FDIC. Investments provided by USAA Investment Management Company and USAA Financial Advisors Inc., both registered broker dealers. USAA Financial Planning Services is a service mark of USAA that refers to the financial planning services and financial advice provided by USAA Financial Planning Services Insurance Agency, Inc. (known as USAA Financial Insurance Company in California, Lic. #0E36312), a registered investment adviser and insurance agency and its wholly owned subsidiary. USAA Federal Savings Bank is a an Equal Housing Lender.
Archives: Money/Finance-USAA
By Tracey Salvatierra-Murray, USAA
By JJ Montanaro (USAA), posted May 2010
CRUISE TIPS: THE SEASON TO SAIL
By Tracey Salvatierra-Murray, USAA
With summer only 11 weeks away, military families might want to consider saying “bon voyage” to the annual road trip.
Almost 10.6 million people took a cruise last year. With all-inclusive cruises starting at less than $60 per day per person, cruising can be a cost-effective vacation. In addition, some cruise lines and travel companies offer special perks to military members, making cruise travel even more appealing.
But before you sail away, consider these five tips when looking for your ideal cruise package:
Go Online: Some travel companies now allow you to search online among multiple cruise lines, ships, and sail dates to find the perfect cruise for your budget, schedule, and interests.
Look in Your Own Backyard: Since many military installations are situated near cruise lines’ home port cities like Pensacola, Fla., San Diego, Galveston, Texas, and Honolulu, check out which cruise departures that are within driving distance to maximize your vacation time and minimize costs.
Guarantee the Best Price: Choose a travel company that offers a low-price guarantee, matching or beating the price of a similar cruise package that you may find after booking. Also ask if you qualify for any bonus discounts based on your military status.
Ask for Perks: Get the most for your money by choosing cruise packages that offer perks to military members, such as free shipboard credits, spa credits, and even welcome gifts such as bottles of wine.
Protect Yourself: Consider protecting your vacation from a last-minute cancellation due to weather or illness with travel insurance. If you’re subject to deployment or leave revocation, be sure your travel insurance provider covers these events.
Before embarking on a cruise vacation, be your own Magellan and explore all the options available to make sure your next family vacation is one to remember.
Tracey Salvatierra-Murray is a Certified Travel Consultant with USAA, a diversified financial services organization serving the military community with insurance, banking, investments, and discounted products and services.
Questions about finding, planning, and booking your cruise vacation? Just call USAA Cruise Travel for help with choosing an ideal cruise vacation package. Or visit www.usaa.com, and click on "Shopping and Discounts" for more information on cruise packages that meet your budget.
If you can afford a vacation, you can afford a cruise! In fact, a cruise might be more cost-effective. As you plan your next trip, print and fill in the chart below to compare cruise costs to a typical land-based vacation.
Provided courtesy of the Cruise Line International Association.
Your 2010 Money Guide
MAY
Get ready to move.
- Summer is a popular season for moving. If you're buying a house, figure out how much you can afford to spend, then put yourself in a position to negotiate by getting pre-qualified for a mortgage.
- Check out MoversAdvantage®5. We'll help you through every step of the relocation process, from selling your current home to buying a new one using a USAA-preferred agent. Plus, you can receive up to $3,100 when you use the service.
Start an emergency fund.
- You should have a stash of cash big enough to cover three to six months of your regular expenses.
- Use a conservative account that you can access easily, like a savings account.
Re-think your insurance deductibles.
- Take a look at your auto, property and health insurance deductibles. Consider increasing them to an amount you could cover on your own, which could lower your premiums significantly.
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Car Rental Advice: 11 Tips for Renting a Car
What you need to know to lower your risks — and costs
Renting a car can be a bit like gambling: You're betting the rental agency will have the car you want at a rate you want to pay. As with gambling, you can give the edge to the house, or you can swing the odds in your favor. Here are some tips and tricks to get the most out of your next rental.
Plan ahead.
Walk-up rentals leave you with limited selection and few rate deals. Book through the rental company's website or from reliable travel sites. Make sure that the site discloses all fees, surcharges and taxes upfront, as these can increase the base rental rate between 10% and 40%, according to the travel advice site bnm.com.
Confirm your confirmation.
If you're reserving a specific type of vehicle, such as a minivan, sport utility vehicle or a convertible, confirm the reservation days in advance leading to your pickup date. If the car needs to come from one of the rental company's other locations, or if it is inadvertently rented to another customer, your diligence keeps you front-of-mind with busy agents.
Ask for more.
Rental rates are based on local availability, supply and demand, which can fluctuate daily. When you're at the rental agency counter, ask if there are any additional promotions or special deals in effect. You may get a lower promotional rate or a free upgrade. Jason R. Rich, author of Buy or Lease a Car Without Being Taken for a Ride, says the free upgrade is usually an easy win. "If they have lots of cars available, you'll probably get one."
Go into town.
If you can't reserve a car in advance, take public transit to one of the rental company's other locations. Rental rates tend to be lower away from the airport. But the smaller locations may have limited selection and may not be open evenings or weekends.
Look for discounts.
USAA members save up to 20% with Avis, Hertz and Budget — and can get other special discounts on top of those savings. Rich notes that many large businesses also negotiate discounted car rental rates as an employee perk.
Make it right.
What if the rental company doesn't have the car you reserved? The agent may suggest that you wait until a car in that size class is available. This is the time to negotiate. First, let the agent know that you won't wait and stress that you had a confirmed reservation. "Demand an upgrade," says Rich, "or ask the manager to get the car you need from another location or from another company."
Additional drivers.
Want to add a second driver? Nearly all rental companies require that drivers be at least 25 years old with a valid driver's license and a major credit or debit card. For those companies that rent to the under 25 crowd, expect a surcharge of about $25 a day. That isn't the case if you rent through USAA: Avis, Budget and Hertz waive the additional fee for drivers between the age of 21 and 25 at all corporate and participating franchisee locations. Some rental companies allow a spouse, a co-worker or employee as a second driver at no additional charge and no additional documentation. Don't try to sneak around this one: Letting someone else drive your rental can void your insurance protection, putting you on the hook for damages.
Extra, extra.
Add-ons are now critical revenue generators for the car rental industry, and can increase your bill by 20% or more. From prepaid refueling and excess mileage fees to GPS units, entertainment systems, satellite radio and Wi-Fi, there are lots of up-sell opportunities at the rental counter, so choose carefully.
Fill the tank.
See "prepaid refueling" above. This convenience — letting the rental company fill your gas tank when you return the car — can come at a cost. The price-per-gallon rate may look attractive, but you may be agreeing to pay the cost to fill the whole tank, even if you return it half-full. The prepaid option may be best if you plan to drive a lot, for example, more than one tank of gas. Do note that some car rental companies will automatically charge a nominal fuel fee if you drive a short distance. A typical fee is $13.99 for 75 miles or fewer, which can be a good value for a car that averages 20 mph with gas at a national average of $4 per gallon. It also saves you from looking for a gas station in an unfamiliar neighborhood or refueling in the heat or cold.
Get your rewards.
Make sure your loyalty program (e.g., frequent flyer) membership number is included with your reservation, as many car rental companies award bonus air or hotel points.
Return on time.
The grace period for returns varies from 30 to 120 minutes beyond your contracted return time; break it, and you'll pay a late-return fee. "If you can't make it on time," says Rich, "call the 800 number on the contract — not the local rental agency — and request an extra day or half-day at the same rate."
