#1 Most Expensive: Detroit, Mich.
Average Annual Premium: $5,941
- This is due to its urban setting, high crime rate, high unemployment rate and no-fault insurance system.

#2 Most Expensive: Philadelphia, Pa.
Average Annual Premium: $4,076
- This is due to its urban setting, high traffic density and a lot of uninsured drivers.

#3 Most Expensive: New Orleans, La.
Average Annual Premium: $3,599
- This is due to its state’s court system.

#4 Most Expensive: Miami, Fla.
Average Annual Premium: $3,388
- This is due to its higher rate of auto theft, its population and its no-fault insurance system.

#5 Most Expensive: Newark, N.J.
Average Annual Premium: $2,867
- This is due to the state’s defense costs.

And now for the cities with the least expensive auto insurance premiums:

#1 Least Expensive: Roanoke, Va.
Average Annual Premium: $937

#2 Least Expensive: Green Bay, Wis.
Average Annual Premium: $999

#3 Least Expensive: Wapakoneta, Ohio
Average Annual Premium: $1,008

#4 Least Expensive: Portland, Maine
Average Annual Premium: $1,053

#5 Least Expensive: Boise, Idaho
Average Annual Premium: $1,065

Although pricy in some of the above cities, Massachusetts Auto Insurance is required to operate a vehicle on the road. You should talk to your MA insurance agent about required coverage for your automobile. Annual premiums can vary based on amount of coverage your car has for things such as comprehensive, collision, liability and medical. Based on your driving habits and your current vehicle, your Massachusetts insurance agent can quote you for various amounts of coverage. Agents at Encharter Insurance are here to save you time and money based on their experience in the industry. And for those of you planning on leaving Massachusetts for one of the cities which has the highest annual premiums, better start saving now!! : )

Photo: trinitalalocita

When’s the last time you reviewed your insurance policy? Did you know that life changes like a new computer or piece of fine jewelry can affect whether or not you are properly insured? Don’t blindly renew your insurance without talking to your Massachusetts Homeowner’s Insurance agent.  They can answer questions you may have about any deductibles you may qualify for due to home improvements, the purchase of a new burglar alarm system, or more efficient heating, electrical, or plumbing systems.

They can also talk to you about increasing your coverage to make sure you are adequately insured for home expansion, remodeling, and major purchases such as a hot tub or an engagement ring you may have received from that special someone.

Your MA Home Insurance can also be affected by marriage, divorce, or your adult children moving in or out of your home. Your life is probably always changing but it’s important to remember than any major lifestyle changes may affect your MA homeowner’s insurance too. Don’t risk underinsurance and talk to your local Encharter Insurance agent to make sure your policy is still right for you.

Photo Credit: erangi2

• Master bath
• Walk-in closet
• Gourmet kitchen
• Hardwood floors
• Outdoor decks
• Home theatres

As you start looking for your roommate-less home, fully equipped with the above criteria to improve your dating life, make sure you also consider a Massachusetts Homeowner’s Insurance policy that will fit your budget! Local MA insurance agents at Encharter Insurance are always available to help you find ways to save a little bit more on your insurance policy needs. Ask them about discounts for your policy, or find out about bundling! After all, you’ll need that extra cash to really furnish your own place, on your own!

Photo: 877quiksel

If you really want to wow her there are some great items at all of the popular jewelry stores, but vintage or handmade jewelry can also a make for a great gift. The Etsy website is a marketplace of a wide assortment of things. One of those things being, it is a great place to find unique pieces for her, whether it be something vintage or handmade. After all, every woman loves to have something no one else will own!

Whether it is an antique or brand new, a great piece of jewelry can last a lifetime for that special someone. With a piece of jewelry she will cherish, you don’t want her to be devastated if something should happen to it or she should lose it. Make your Valentine’s Day gift even better this year, by insuring it with MA jewelry insurance. Insuring jewelry can make losing it, or having it stolen it a little less devastating and a lot less stressful.  Anyone at our Encharter Insurance locations would be happy to help you insure your special piece for that special someone. Jewelry Insurance is designed to protect one piece and our MA insurance agents would be happy to help protect your piece whether it is an everyday item, a family heirloom, or a favorite watch.

Photo Credit: Luxury Launches

Health/Body Hacks:

• If you’re losing your hair, talk to your doctor (yes, make sure you still go through your doctor) about prescribing you Proscar (5mg of Finasteride). Insurance covers this because it has a medical purpose (prostate health). Now you’ll be paying about $10 per prescription instead of the $189 that Propecia (for hair loss) costs. Cut it up into quarters and you’ll have a 4 month supply for about $15 dollars.
• Did you know that you can change your circadian rhythm by changing your eating schedule? Do not eat during the 12 to 16 hour period before you want to be awake. Your internal clock will be reset as though it is the beginning of the day when you do eat again. This will become your new “morning” to your body.
• There has been a lot of talk about coconut water lately. (It seems to be in the hands of every celebrity.) In addition to being a popular drink, it can be used in emergencies as an IV fluid. Make sure you seek medical attention still, however!
• If you need to make a call to 911, speed up the police dispatch by stating your location first.
• To cure brain freeze, press your tongue against the roof of your mouth (this also makes the urge to sneeze go away.)
• If you’re about to sneeze but it does not seem to be happening, look up at a light.
• Do you have issue with acne? Try sleeping with a towel over your pillow at night. This is almost a universal cure, or at least substantially reduces acne.
• If you wake up in the middle of the night, no one likes bumping around in the dark until your eyes adjust. If you are entering the light, cover one eye with your hand and leave it there until you return to the dark. The covered eye will still be able to see in the dark while the other eye adjusts. (Fun fact: this is apparently why some pirates wore eye patches – so that when they came up from below deck, they could see in the dark. I always just assumed they all lost an eye!)
• If steam is not helping your sinus congestion, thrust your tongue against the roof of your mouth and press between your eyebrows. Repeat these steps. This helps rock your vomer bone back and forth to loosen up the congestion and allow for the sinus to drain.

Try them out! Have any of them worked for you personally?? While you’re working on making life a little better one step at a time, have you talked to your Massachusetts insurance agent about your MA insurance policies? Five to ten minutes now could save you hundreds of dollars by the end of the year. Whose life wouldn’t get better from that?! Agents at Encharter Insurance love saving their clients money. Why not offer them the opportunity to brighten up your day – and your year? Enjoy!

Just in case you missed them: Ways to Make Life a Little Better and More Ways to Make Life a Little Better

Photo: babywork.co.uk

Work/Productivity Hack

• Keep motivated – if you have a big task that needs to get done, tell a whole bunch of people about it so you’ll be obligated to follow through.

Free Stuff Hacks

• Because cell phone chargers are the most common item left behind, check out a local hotel and tell them you think you lost your charger. Many hotels have bins filled with lost chargers.
• If you’re within the time frame where you get penalized for cancelling your hotel reservation, reschedule the booking for a date in the future. Then call back and try to get a different representative. From there, cancel your reservation free of charge! (Personally, I haven’t tried this. But what have you got to lose at that point?!)
• To get free Wi-Fi at airports, add “?.jpg” at the end of the URL that you type into the browser. Many airports with Wi-Fi do not redirect images.

Miscellaneous Hacks

• If you’re just out of range, place the gate remote under your chin pointing upward. Your skull acts like a parabolic reflector to push the energy forward to give you extra distance for your remote’s range.
• Measure the size of your hand to your fingertips. Memorize it. Now when you need an approximate measurement, you can judge it by its comparison to your hand.
• If you’re annoyed with the customer behind you in line, you can reset the credit card machine by holding down all 4 corner buttons to reboot it. (Let’s be courteous and not use this one!)
• To go straight to your floor in the elevator even if there are other buttons pressed, press your desired floor number and the door close button at the same time.
• If your lock is frozen, use hand sanitizer on it. The alcohol content breaks down the ice.

Massachusetts insurance isn’t thought of as a hot commodity, but it is something that everyone needs. Why not save some money on your MA insurance policies by talking to your local agent? Encharter Insurance gets opportunities for discounts through bundling, automatic withdrawals, and more! Wouldn’t it be great to save money on your Massachusetts Home Insurance and your MA Umbrella Insurance just by getting them through the same provider? Try it out while you’re in the process of making life a little better!

Photo: themoneyconspiracy.com

Domestic Hacks

• Reverse your hangers when you pull out an item of clothing. At the end of the year, clothes on hangers that haven’t been reversed can be given away!
• Get out of the house on time by making your playlist in the morning for the amount of time you have before you have to leave.
• Unlock a chain lock from the outside by attaching a rubber band to the chain lock and then to the inside door handle.
• Open a banana the right way by flipping the banana over and pinching the stem. (Yes, this is the way that monkeys do it!)
• Remember to bring important things with you by putting your car keys on them (or on top of your shoes) the night before.
• Use aluminum foil correctly – those tabs on the ends of the box keep the roll from popping out. Cling wrap works the same way.
• Get an ice cold drink in 3 minute flat by placing the drink in a pot and cover it with ice. Add 2 cups of salt and fill it with water. Give it 3 minutes!

School/Education Hacks (Ahh, to be back in college again…)

• Find sources for your thesis (or other long paper) by finding one solid source and looking through the bibliography for other references.
• To get more time to write your paper, rename a jpg, mp3 or another media file and rename it to your paper. Since the “paper” will look “corrupt,” you may get an extra day or two! (Probably shouldn’t become a habit though!!)

Here’s another tip to make life a little better: save more money on your Massachusetts insurance! Did you know that if you bundle two or more policies, you can save money? Encharter Insurance agents are always looking out for ways to save you money. Talk to your MA insurance agent about how you can save money on your MA Home Insurance and MA Auto Insurance. And don’t forget to start utilizing some of the tips above to make life a little better!

Watch out next week for more life hacks. : )

Photo: blog.couponnetwork.com

For everyone else out there planning for the future, the housing market is still in a buyer’s market stage! Not to mention home mortgage rates are still low. But if you make a huge investment like purchasing (or building) your own home, you should also look into your options for protecting it. Massachusetts Homeowner’s Insurance becomes very worth the money you have to invest on the premium when something happens to your home. Your MA Home Insurance does more than protect the structure of your home. Talk to your Massachusetts insurance agent about finding a policy that’s right for you at this point in your life. If you’ve already made the investment, and already have a MA Home Insurance policy, your MA insurance agent can help make adjustments as necessary to fit your lifestyle. Who knows, you may be eligible for some additional discounts! Your home is a crucial part of your life. It deserves protection.

Video: youtube.com

• Keep the tires inflated properly. Check regularly for alignment and balance.
• A well-tuned engine burns less gas. Make sure you’re up to date on routine maintenance.
• Get junk out of your car. The more your car weighs, the more gas you use.
• Buy the lowest grade of gasoline that is appropriate for your car.
• Pay cash at stations that charge extra for credit cards.
• Don’t top off the gas tank.
• Don’t make fast starts or sudden stops.
• Lighten up on the accelerator.
• Avoid long warm-ups. Just give it a minute or so on those cold days.
• Combine errands into one trip and plan the most effective route.
• Do not rest your left foot on the brake.
• Tighten up your gas cap to avoid evaporation.
• Buy a fuel-efficient car.
• Be smart about air conditioning (although us New Englanders don’t have to worry about that right now!)
• Remove snow tires when the good weather comes around.

In order to save additional money, talk to your Massachusetts insurance agent about your Massachusetts Auto Insurance. You may have too much coverage for what you need (or maybe not enough to be safe!) At Encharter Insurance, if you have another policy with the agency, you could save even more money by bundling! In today’s economy, every little bit you can save adds up. Avoid paying too much at the gas station, while paying monthly bills, and in other car maintenance.

Photo: thesmarterwallet.com

• Holly Madison (Hugh Hefner’s former girlfriend) has a $1 million policy on her breasts.
• Jeff Beck (guitar legend of the Yardbirds) has a $1 million policy on each of his fingers.
• Troy Polamalu (safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers) has a $1 million policy on his hair.
• Heidi Klum (Victoria Secret model and host of Project Runway) has a $2.2 million policy on her legs.
• Keith Richards (lead guitarist of the Rolling Stones) has a $1.6 million policy on his hands.
• America Ferrera (actress best known for her role in Ugly Betty) has a $10 million policy on her smile.
• Bruce Springsteen (rock ‘n’ roll legend) has a $6 million policy on his voice.
• Dolly Parton (country singer) has a $600,000 policy on her breasts.
• Egon Ronay (author and food critic) has a $400,000 policy on his taste buds.

Although you may not go to these extremes, you may want to know what you should be protecting. Massachusetts insurance agents at Encharter Insurance can help you decide which policies are right for you. You may find out that you need additional coverage for some of your valuable items, or that your assets are not properly protected. Your body’s protection is in your own hands, but your MA insurance can take care of the rest.

Photo: lordsinsurance.wordpress.com