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Archive for the ‘Renters Insurance’ Category

The educational budget, also called the student budget, holds about the same level of importance as the EFC. Think about all the things that you will need financially during the school year. Colleges take the sum of those things, and lump them together as your educational budget. Schools take your student budget, and subtract your EFC to determine the amount of financial aid you will be awarded. So, its obviously something you should be very familiar with.

Now, you’ve probably already guessed that a student budget has to include your tuition and room and board. But, did you know that there is a number calculated for those students who are not living on campus? The amount will differ based on your living situation. For example, are you living on your own, or do you intend to live with your parents while you go to school? Or, do you plan to live on campus?

There are four main sections which comprise the student budget. The first is tuition. Then comes living expenses, transportation, and finally personal expenses. One piece that could be included under the subtitle of tuition is the cost of your books and fees. Its impossible to predict the exact amount your books will cost. After all, you might be the one taking Biochemistry while someone else is taking a course in composition. Your books will most likely be more expensive. So, to make things even, an average cost of books is added into the student budget. Do not worry, you’ll probably be the one taking creative writing next year, while your friend is struggling through statistics! Other fees could include your student body card, the yearbook, or your application fee.

We’ve briefly discussed room and board, or living expenses, but here are a few more examples. How about your home or renters Insurance, your phone bill, the internet bill, and your utilities? An educational budget has to take all of these things into consideration. After all, you do have to survive outside of your classes, and its very possible that your classes could prevent you from working a full, or part-time job.

Transportation should be self-explanatory, but if its not, let me briefly touch on its importance. The amount of transportation is certainly going to differ if you are a student who lives on-campus. But what if you are not? Will you be taking the bus, or driving your car? And, if you are driving your car, how will you pay for gas, car insurance, and car maintenance? For those students who have traveled long distances, there is the concern about flights home at different times throughout the year. These are all issues which would fall under the category of transportation.

Finally, we have the personal section. You may think we’ve covered everything, but for both the on-campus and off-campus student, there are other things to consider. Under personal, we would be looking at your recreation time, your Health Insurance, childcare if applicable, Life Insurance, laundry, and clothing.

John Nowly
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/your-educational-budget-and-federal-loans-94441.html

While each rental company will have its own contract, there are some standards that cover the basic areas of every car rental agreement. If the contract has anything different in it, the company is obligated to point this out to you, though it is still a good idea to look through any paperwork before signing it.

A car rental agreement is basically a contract between the lender of the car and the renter who will be using it. These usually favor the lender, but if you pay attention to the extras, you’ll be able to keep things pretty fair.

Standard Requirements from the Renter

Every car rental contract will require the presentation of a valid driver’s license. This is standard. Only drivers whose names are actually on the rental agreement can drive the vehicle . . . if someone else is driving and has an accident, you`ll be liable for everything, even if you purchased insurance.

Age is another issue. While you can drive at 16, you can’t rent a car at this age. Most states require drivers to be 21 or older before they can legally sign a contract and rent a vehicle. This does vary somewhat, though and if you are traveling outside the country, you will want to find out what the standard age is.

Contract Sections Dealing with Potential Problems

There is always the risk that a vehicle will get dinged or even destroyed while in the renter’s hands. For this reason, there is usually an optional insurance that you can purchase at the same time as you rent. Many people actually have this covered under their usual Auto Insurance, so check this first, before buying extra Insurance.

Any tickets, speeding, parking or otherwise, that are incurred during the lease of the vehicle will need to be paid by the renter. Any damage is usually fined, so it pays to take a walk around the vehicle and point out any damages that are already in existence. Be sure these are marked and signed on the contract so you have proof that they didn’t occur while you were driving.

There should also be well laid out consequences for things like returning the vehicle late or with an empty gas tank. Returning the car to a different location than where you rented it is something that often comes with a fee, as well. Be sure to read this part carefully, since you can save quite a bit of money by paying attention and making sure that you bring the vehicle back in the proper condition.

Possible Restrictions of Use

Every contract will tell you how you can use the vehicle that you are renting. Most won’t allow you to cross a border or go off-roading. Some areas will have very specific rules, while others will depend on the type of vehicle that you are renting. Some companies will allow you to use only up to a certain number of kilometers or miles within the time period specified. If you go over this limit, you`ll end up paying premium prices. This makes it cheaper to stay in the area.

It’s important to always read through the rental car contract before you sign it, just in case there are any surprises. You won’t have any defense if you just don`t read it. Most rental forms are fairly short, so you don’t need to waste too much time checking it and learning about what your responsibilities are. This also prepares you for the possibility of problems, since you will already know how these are commonly dealt with. Car rentals are a great convenience and it helps to understand the contract.

A. Nutt
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/what-to-expect-in-a-car-rental-contract-664728.html

These Seven Secrets of Self Storage will help you save money, get the best deal possible, and will help you make a great decision, no matter where you rent self storage.

Secret #1:
Some facilities make it a practice to move you in at a low rate only to raise the rent a few months later. Before you decide to rent, ask the manager how often they raise their rates. If the answer sounds good to you, ask them to put it in writing. If they are not willing to do this, you may be better off looking somewhere else.

Secret #2:
This is a good one. No matter how much or little it rains in your area, if at all possible, visit the Storage Facility the day after a rain storm and ask to see the actual unit you would be renting. Once inside, check for any puddles on the floor or water marks on the walls. Many times water stains will remain on the walls for months after the last rain. Since storage facilities are not responsible for water damage to your goods, this Secret could save you a lot of money in the long run.

Secret #3:
Will you need to access your storage space frequently? Answer this question first and it will help you rent the unit size that is not too small and not too big, either saving you much frustration or a good deal of money.

If you plan to access your unit frequently, rent a unit ONE SIZE LARGER than the Site Manager recommends. By doing this, you’ll have some elbow room to make narrow hallways in and around your boxes and furniture. This way, you’ll be able to reach the back, the middle and the sides of your unit with ease. (Your blood pressure probably dropped a few points just thinking about it!)

If you plan to “store and run” and won’t be needing access often, select the unit size recommended, or even one size smaller. With proper box stacking and item arrangement (standing a sofa on end, for example), leaving no extra room as you pack and stack, you’ll be able to save money month after month by renting a smaller unit size.

WARNING: We must offer this word of warning. Experience has proven that if you do rent a smaller unit and find that you need to retrieve something quickly, “Murphy’s Law” dictates that the item you seek will be located in the back and bottom of the storage unit. Plan your packing carefully to save frustration later!!!

Secret #4:
Most facilities still charge a deposit (which may be refundable months or years later when you move out, if either of you remember), or even worse, some places charge ‘Administration Fees’ just to fill out some paperwork and punch your name into the computer. These fees can easily add up to over $30 dollars.

Ridiculous! And to make it worse, many times you do not find this out until you are ready to sign up, your rental truck full of possessions waiting in the parking lot.

Be sure to ask over the phone before you visit if there are any ‘hidden charges’ in additional to the rental rate you are quoted.

Secret #5:
If you don’t have access to a moving truck, you will probably have to rent one. Some facilities offer rental trucks along with storage units. Since it is they who are renting you the vehicle, it never hurts to ask for a kick-back on the rental of the truck.

If they really want your business bad enough, they might consider waiving the deposit, giving you a credit for free miles or at best even a complimentary truck with no charge at all. The business of self storage can be very competitive at times. So remember, it never hurts to ask.

Secret #6:
As I mentioned in Secret #2, storage facilities are not responsible for the contents of your unit. It is always a good idea to insure the goods you’re intending to store. Storage insurance is almost always available to you when you first sign up to rent.

Some times the facility collects the premium from you directly. When they do this, they usually have a financial interest in doing so. Before the manager at the front desk tries to sell you insurance paid on the spot, check with your own insurance agent because many times your home owner’s or renter’s Insurance policy will cover you for no extra cost.

Secret #7:
The 7th and final Secret: If for any reason you decide not to take out insurance, here are a few ways to prevent the possible loss of items due to theft.

When packing your storage unit, place valuable items such as electronics, tools, unloaded guns, etc. near the back of the unit, out of sight and difficult to reach quickly. When your door is open, be alert other people trying to get a good look inside your unit. They won’t be tempted by what they don’t see.

If you see somebody lurking around your unit, report them to the site manager immediately. These are just a few of many tips to help you store smarter, safer and less expensively.

BONUS Secret #8:
Well, I couldn’t resist. I had to throw in a “freebee” Secret just for good measure. Ok, now that you are ready to shop around, I can’t stress this enough.

You MUST visit the storage facilities and not just call.

When you visit, get to know the managers and MAKE SURE THEY LIVE ONSITE! If the managers don’t live onsite, move on to the next facility. Experience has proven that when the facility has live-in managers, much less “bad stuff” happens. It only makes sense. Onsite managers are keeping an eye on your stuff 24/7.

While at the facility, have the managers give you a tour of the facility. Take a good look around and make your own judgment based on the appearance of each facility you visit and the conditions of the units the managers show you. You must feel comfortable with the Storage Managers, and you must feel confident in the site’s ability to protect your interests.

Well, there they are, the Seven (well, actually Self Storage Secrets You MUST KNOW Before Renting From ANYONE!

Please remember, no matter who you decide to store with, I hope these Self Storage Secrets help you make a more informed decision when renting a self storage unit. Thanks for reading and I wish you the best Storage Success!

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/the-7-self-storage-secrets-you-must-know-before-renting-from-anyone-112522.html