West Coast Weather Affects Lifestyle

By Doug

Jun

14

The weather on the west coast is much warmer than other parts of the country, which comes with advantages as well as disadvantages.

The warm weather affects people’s mindsets, lifestyles and their attitude. Many people enjoy the warmer weather as it allows them to be more active and to be outdoors more often. The warmth also puts people in a better mood as there is typically more sunshine during the day. The people who are more active are generally healthier and tend to have higher levels of self esteem.

The heat changes the way people eat, exercise, and the clothing that they wear. The warm weather generally leads to a smaller appetite and typically when it is hot people do not want to eat heavy foods. Most west coast dwellers tend to eat leaner meats, more fresh vegetables, and fruit. Grilling is also very common on the west coast as it is a healthier way to cook compared to frying. When the weather is warm, people want to be outside and they go to the park to play or go for walk rather than watching television. The exercise level is higher because the weather is more pleasant on the west coast.

While the heat has many advantages, it also has its disadvantages. During the middle of the summer when it is blazing hot outside, houses and cars heat up and can lead to discomfort and dehydration. Air conditioning bills can become very pricey in the summer and a great way to keep a house cool is to install blinds. Blinds will block out the sunlight which heats up the room and will prevent furniture from fading. Installing new blinds does not have to be expensive either, many blind companies offer deals, for example, Next Day Blinds has coupon deals which can be accessed online.

A great way to keep a car cool is to buy windshield shades and to put them up when leaving the car in the sun. Also it is a good idea to carry around a refillable water bottle, like a Camelbak, so as not to get dehydrated during the day.

The west coast is a beautiful place to live and has many advantages. Although it does have some disadvantages they are not difficult to adapt to.

Take A Road Trip to Disneyland

By Doug

Jun

10

Road trips are a great way to see new places, bond with people and make the most out of a vacation. Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim, California are opening new attractions and they are sure to be spectacular. Disneyland is a perfect excuse to take a road trip, so grab your USA map and your California map and hop in the car.

Disneyland and California Adventure are each opening a new ride or attraction and with state of the art technology, these are sure worth seeing.

Disneyland is one of the most visited places in the United States; known as the “happiest place on Earth”, why wouldn’t you want to stop by for some fun. One of the great sections of Disneyland is Tomorrowland, which offers all types of rides and attractions based on the future and science fiction. One of the most popular rides in Tomorrowland is Star Tours, which takes you through the world of Star Wars on a three dimensional movie tour in a “ship” which moves with the movie. Until now, the ride was a bit dated and the technology was lacking. Recently the ride has undergone a total revamp and offers the best 3-D experience, which makes you feel as though you really are flying through the stars and visiting other planets.

California Adventure is opening a little mermaid themed ride. After 20 years, the undersea princess is finally getting her own ride. With brand new animatronics and cutting edge technology, this ride will bring in tons of Disney princess fans. The ride has multiple rooms, which you navigate in a moving clam seat, filled with Ariel and her friends.

Both Disneyland and California Adventure offer fantastic experiences and these new attractions are definitely beneficial additions to the parks. So if you haven’t been to Disneyland in a while and want a chance to see some of the United States on the way, grab your keys and take a road trip to beautiful Anaheim, California.

5 Tips for Saving Money on Your Car Insurance

By Doug

Jun

4

In today’s economy, it’s good to know that there are car insurance companies that offer special incentives that help save you money. A simple Internet search will give you an idea of what to look for and where to find the best insurance packages.  Thanks to car insurance comparison engines you can get a pretty good idea of the different rates that different providers will give.  The last time I purchased car insurance there were very large spreads between providers, so much so that I was upset at my previous provider for charging me so much money.  Lesson is, do your due diligence before deciding on a car insurance provider.

The following 5 steps will help your search:

1. Pay in Full
While this may seem like a big expense upfront, in the long run it will help save you money. With installment payments there will be an added cost above the usual interest rate that accrues with monthly payments. Many companies also add to the incentive of paying in full by giving you a discount for upfront premium payments.  If you have the money, it’s worth paying it all upfront.

2. Good Credit Scores and Other Incentives
Whether you choose to pay your entire premium upfront or in installments, there are many insurance companies that provide incentive discounts for those with good credit. The theory behind this is that a good credit score policy holder is less likely to file a claim. Other discounts are generally provided for students and senior citizens as well. Make sure you ask what discounts are available for your different situations and compare each company on these merits.

3. Premiums May Be Affected By the Vehicle Model
Many insurance companies base their pricing on the year, make, and model of your vehicle. While they generally keep the specifics of their rating system a secret it’s always important to add the car description when comparing policy costs due to the type of car you are insuring.  Logic here is that certain cars will have more/less maintenance needs which could result in losses for the insurance companies.

4. Make Sure you Won’t Be a Victim of Diminished Value
One of the most overlooked examples of loss of insurance value in a new policy is the result of a previous accident. Make sure you ask about any diminished value clause that may bring down the value of your policy. Remember that there is no regulated system for evaluating your vehicle. If you settle on a company that does have a diminished value clause then ask about “Gap Coverage,” which will give you added value to your policy.

5. Ask About a First Accident Forgiveness Plan
This is offered to alleviate a raise in insurance costs should you be involved in an accident that isn’t your fault. It is for first time accidents only.
Make sure you do your research for the best deals and incentives possible and above all check the positive ratings of any auto insurance company before proceeding.

 

Matthew Howell is a contributing writer for Kanteix.ca.