And a Happy New Year....

Spalding Insurance Agency would like to wish you a very Happy New Year. To celebrate ringing in the New Year safely please take the time to remember these safety tips for those of us going out and for those of us who are hosting gatherings.


Hosts

- Make sure all guests have a designated driver upon arrival. A great host makes this their top priority.
- Have phone numbers readily available for local cab companies for guests who have not planned ahead.
- Offer non-alcohol drinks as alternatives to your guests. This can include sparkling juice, pop, water, or punch.
- Encourage guests that are leaving the party to stop drinking hours before the party ends, even if they have a designated driver for the evening.
- Always welcome guests a place to sleep in your home. This will encourage those who "only had a few" and feel comfortable with driving an alternative solution.
- Don't be afraid to take the keys from a guest who plans on driving home and is intoxicated.

Remember as a host, you may be held responsible for your guests actions after they leave your home.

Party Goers

Did you drink? If so, do not drive.

- Plan a head and have a designated driver.
- If you don't have a designated driver, call a taxi , use the bus system, or stay where you are until sober. Don't be afraid to ask to stay the night at your host home. A good host will be prepared for overnight guests.

 Happy New Year!

About Spalding Insurance Agency

Spalding Insurance Agency provides exemplary service and access to Michigan's finest insurance companies. We proudly serve the personal and business insurance needs of people in East Lansing, Okemos, Haslett, Lansing, DeWitt, Perry, Detroit, Holt, Mason, Grand Rapids, Laingsburg, Bath, and other great Michigan cities. For a quote on auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance, or life insurance click here. 

Driving Tips for Deer Season

It appears from the photos on Facebook and circling the web that this hunting season has been a success for area hunters. Sadly, this deer season has also had its share of car/deer accidents resulting in injuries and car damage for thousands of motorists throughout mid Michigan.

Having a deer run into your path while on the road is a very scary thing, if you're not prepared on what to do. Being quick to act and knowing some of these preventive techniques will go along ways for the safety of you and your passengers.

Preventative Techniques

- The most important safety tip is to travel at posted speeds or below them. The more conservative you are with your speed, the more time you will have to break for a deer.

- Drive with your lights on for better visibility.

- Scan the side of the roads for eyes shining in your headlights.

- When possible, drive with your high beams on. This is another trick to increase visibility which can help with your reaction time.

- Pay attention to the signs along roads that warn of high deer traffic areas. These signs are there to indicate problem areas for motorists and should not be ignored.

- Wear your seat-belt.

Where are the deer?

- Deer are frequently found in highly wooded areas and mostly on the outskirts of towns. Although it is not uncommon for people to see them within suburban areas.

- Deer travel in large packs. If you see one, you can assume that there are several more nearby.

- From October to January, Deer, are in heat and breeding. The effect of this is that they are highly active and tend to be on the move during prime hours such as dusk and dawn.

What to do when seeing a deer

- The golden rule is to never swerve to avoid a deer in the road. Swerving can cause for you to lose control of your vehicle, resulting in a potential head on collision, driving into a ditch or tree, which can lead to more serious injuries and vehicle damage.

- Slow down when you spot a deer.

If you have the unfortunate luck to actually hit a deer call the proper emergency services that are needed. If no one is injured it is still a good idea to get an official police report of the incident for documentation for the insurance company.

Stay alert and safe travels!

The Results Are In....

With over 50 golfers participating on a gorgeous sunny July day, the results are in for the 2013 Spalding Insurance Golf Classic! With the generosity of our hole sponsors, and those who joined us at Glenbrier Golf Course, $2,251 was donated to the Perry-Morrice-Shaftsburg Emergency Relief Council. 

In just 10 years of tournament play, over $20,000 has been donated to this worthwhile cause, and a big THANK YOU to those who make it possible each year.

Our 2013 Hole Sponsors included:

Unique Touch Housekeeping

The Shirt Smith

Joe’s Body Shop

P.F. Green & Sons

Ridenour’s Auto Repair

Jackie Hurd

Fremont Insurance Company

Bill Leech Repair Service

Michigan Millers Insurance Company

Heb’s Inn

Snyder’s IGA

Elsesser’s Auto Repair

Perry Dental

Garn Restoration

Scepka Builders

Citizens Insurance Company

Chemical Bank

Mid Michigan Glassworks

In addition to the tournament winners, other contests included a 50/50 drawing, Raffles and Closet to the Pin contest, and to our golfers….THANK YOU for spending a part of your day with us. 

The 2014 Spalding Insurance Golf Outing is in the planning stages and  and we look forward to seeing you on the links! 

About Spalding Insurance Agency

Spalding Insurance Agency provides exemplary service and access to Michigan's finest insurance companies. We proudly serve the personal and business insurance needs of people in East Lansing, Okemos, Haslett, Lansing, DeWitt, Perry, Detroit, Holt, Mason, Grand Rapids, Laingsburg, Bath, and other great Michigan cities. For a quote on auto insurance, home insurance, business insurance, or life insurance click here. 

Halloween Safety Tips that Everyone Needs to Read

The Halloween season is upon us. Hopefully your pumpkins are carved and your decorations are up because on Halloween night thousands of children and families will take to the streets for trick or treating. A time honored passage, trick or treating, is a great experience for families and your local town. 

Sarah Hearts/ SarahHearts.com

Chief Kyle Bawks of the City of Perry was kind enough to help provide tips
on how to stay safe this Halloween.

Safety tips for Trick-or-Treaters 

- Planning costumes that are bright and reflective. Having the leader of
your group carry around a flashlight is also important. We want to make surethat we are able to see and be seen at all times. 

- Make sure that your costumes are short enough that you will not have to worry about tripping and falling. Be prepared to wear shoes that fit comfortably. 

- A responsible party should also accompany children around their neighborhoods, this can be a parent, grandparent, or older sibling. 

- Going to houses where the lights are on. Not only is this a safety measure but it will also save you time as homes without lights on our usually not participating in passing out candy.

Safety for drivers during Trick-or-Treating 

- Driving with your lights on, even with well lit streets or during the daylight. 

- Drive slow and remain cautious. The volume of people along with the excitement might cause for pedestrians to forget to look both ways for cars, use crosswalks, and stay on sidewalks. 

- If possible, keep the windows down with the radio volume low. This can help you hear movement or voices outside of your car.

After the trip parents should examine all candy for anything unwrapped, opened or suspicious. Or for a reward for yourself? 

Have a Happy Halloween and remember to remain safe!

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

Progressive Snapshot Auto Insurance Comes to Michigan

As an independent insurance agent providing auto insurance in the East Lansing, Michigan area, it is our honor to introduce Progressive Insurance Snapshot.

Progressive Snapshot is a new technology brought to you by Progressive Insurance. This technology offers you the opportunity to earn additional discounts on your auto insurance based on your driving behavior.

How Does Progressive Snapshot work?

Progressive Snapshot is a small device that you plug into your car to monitor your driving habits. 

Will Progressive Snapshot help me?

The best part about Progressive Snapshot is that it cannot hurt you, or increase your premiums based on the information returned about your driving behavior. The program is meant to help good drivers earn additional car insurance discounts.

You should consider Progressive Snapshot insurance if you:

-Drive less than 15,000 miles a year

-Don't slam your breaks frequently

-Don't drive between the hours of midnight and 4 AM

How does Progressive Snapshot work?

Once you have an insurance policy with Progressive and enrolled into the Snapshot program, Progressive, will send you a small device. You will then plug this small device into your diagnostic port of your vehicle. 

This device will monitor your driving behavior. It will transmit your data directly to Progressive. So after your initial plug-in , you are not responsible for anything else.

After the initial 30 days of the device installed, you can earn a discount that will go into effect for the rest of your policy. You will continue to use the device until your next renewal at which Progressive will contact you to return your device. At this point you will be done with your device and any applicable discounts will be added automatically to your policy.

I am interested in learning more about Progessive Snapshot, where do I go?

As a Certified Snapshot Agency, Spalding Insurance Agency, is able to help you with any questions you might have on this Progressive Insurance program. You can call us at (517)337-3200 or e-mail Ryan@SIA1905.com for more information on how to qualify for the industry's newest car insurance discount. 

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs. We represent Progressive Insurance for all of your car, commercial auto,boat, motorcycle  and recreational insurance needs. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill

It’s the end of your day and you walk into your house, saying hello to the kids. You’ll spend the evening with your family, maybe watching some TV, and finally going through your stack of mail.

In the mail is the dreaded monthly cell phone bill.  Although you love your smart phone and all of its features, much like insurance, you hate seeing that bill. All of the add-on’s, the taxes, etc. really add up, so you go over it for any possible reduction.

In the list of charges is insurance, which may be $6 to $10 a month depending on your carrier. $6 to $10 a month doesn't seem like a lot of money to offer protectio

n on a $700 phone (retail value, not the $200 it'd cost if this was for an upgrade), but what if you’re covering multiple phones?  Now the numbers really start to add up…..you’re paying anywhere from $300 to $480 a year to “insure” them!!

  

How your Homeowners or Renters Insurance can help save you $410 a year.

Assume you have the same family of 4 and you're shelling out $480 a year for coverage on your smart phones.

Here is a little secret on how to reduce this cost, schedule your phones on your homeowners or renters insurance policy.

What does it mean to “schedule” an item on your homeowners/renters insurance policy?

Scheduling an item means you’re listing the item on your policy, and paying the additional cost to insure it.  The value is usually determined through an appraisal or receipt of purchase.

For example, you would schedule your phone not for the promotional price you received as an update but for the price to replace your phone should you not receive promotional pricing.

How would scheduling my cell phones save me $410 a year?

Let’s continue our assumption that you are paying $480 a year under your insurance program with your carrier for four phones and their insurance.

The average rate you can expect to pay on your homeowners/renters insurance policy is $17* a YEAR per phone. With four phones your out of pocket expenses for the YEAR is $70*.

So instead of the current $480 you’re paying your costs are now $70, which is a savings of $410.

By scheduling your smartphones on your policy you can reduce costs on your cell phone plans.

Think about all that you could do with an extra $410 a year.

-Buy tickets to more concerts or sporting events

-Stay an extra day or two on your vacation

-Invest in life insurance or more life insurance

We Can Help!

We can, in all probability, reduce this cost and improve your coverage!    Are you aware of the Deductible under your cell phone carriers plan?   Depending on the type of phone you have, it might be as high as $99.  Our companies are offering better rates, with no deductible, by “scheduling” your phone on your homeowners/renters insurance policy.

*All figures are used to represent the potential savings and cost to schedule your cell phone. This information was taken from current clients accounts. 

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs.We love to save you money in life and on your car, home, and business insurance. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

How Working in a Dentist Office Can Save You Money on Insurance.

Working in a dental office can be quite an experience. Although I personally have no experience working in one, I do have experience with visiting my dentist regularly.

I’d like to commend the men and women who go to work each and everyday working with people and their teeth. Working inside people's mouths was not the career path for me…..I get grossed out easily and would constantly be worried about having a patient bite my finger. A big shout out goes to dental assistants, oral hygienists, and the dentists who put their fingers at risk everyday to make the world's smiles better!

But let’s not forget about the other heroes in the office, the administrators. I know for a fact that working with insurance companies and the general public can be a major struggle. Your job is not easy and it would be unfair of me to let you go unnoticed. Your days are full of multitasking and keeping the ship sailing smoothly.

Outside of my regular visit to my dentist, the only other way I can let the staff know how valuable they are to me is through spreading the word on how they qualify for special INSURANCE DISCOUNTS.

Why do I get a discount for working at a dentist office? 

Each of the 5 companies we represent offer group discounts for members and associates of different groups or organizations. As an employee of a dental office you're entitled to a group discount on your home and auto insurance.

How do I receive this discount?

Not all insurance companies or agencies offer these discounts. Luckily for you, we do and we would love to provide you with it.  All that you have to do is take the first step towards qualifying for your discount and click here. 

Is this the only discount Spalding Insurance Agency has to offer?

No, thru the companies we represent we are able to offer many other discounts! Some other discounts include multi-policy, multi-car, good student and prior carrier discounts.

Why are you telling me about this discount?

Because we appreciate and respect what you do everyday in helping make the worlds smiles brighter.

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs.We love to floss as much as we love to save you money and service your insurance needs.  For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

Why You Can't Miss the 2013 SIA Golf Classic!

For the 9th straight year we are proud to host the Spalding Insurance Agency Golf Classic that benefits the Perry, Morrice, Shaftsburg Area Emergency Relief Fund.

It is our pleasure to host this golf classic and hope that you and your foursome will look to join us on August 24th at Glenbrier Golf Course in Perry, Michigan.

Outside of getting the chance to spend time with your favorite insurance agency staff here are 5 reasons you should clear your schedule for August 24th, 2013 and join us on the course:

1) A great cause. Over the last 9 years we have raised over $25,000 for the local food bank. This wouldn't be possible without participants and hole sponsors. As our tournament continues to grow we look forward to providing an even better experience for our participants and sponsors. 

2) Cash. Think your team has what it takes to win a $250 first place prize? You better go low as past tournaments have had scores as low as 16-under. 

3) An Excuse. A day spent on a golf course is a day that you are not at the office or doing household chores. Use this as an excuse to get out and enjoy yourself for one of the last Saturdays we have in summer. 

4) The competition. How often do you get a chance to get your competitive juices flowing? Here is your chance to get a group of friends together and take on our agency staff. 

5) The Randomness. Not the best golfer but enjoy supporting a good cause and having a great time? Your team will automatically be entered to win $500 just for competing in the tournament.

The Cost and What it Includes

The cost of this years event is $50 a person or $200 for a team. With your entry fee you will receive 18-holes of golf with a cart, a hot dog , your donation to the food bank, and entry into the tournament with a $500 prize to one random team and $250 prize to the first place team.

I can't make it to golf, how else can I help?

If you are unable to make this years event but would still like to help support the outing you can do so by stopping into Spalding Insurance Agency and making a donation to the food bank.

We have hole sponsorship opportunities available for businesses who are interested in advertising their services whilst supporting a great cause. For more information on hole sponsorships, e-mail Jon@SIA1905.com.

See you on the course!

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs.We love to beat our competition on the golf course and in the insurance world. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

Read your insurance application before you sign it...and here's why!

You buy or lease a car, you sign a contract.  Buying a house?   Sign not only a contract to buy it, but also a contract with the bank loaning you the money!!

Did you know that signing an application for insurance is considered to be a “warranty contract”?    The definition is simple…..you are stating that you have read the application in its entirety, and by signing it you are “warranting” that the information is accurate.

           

Why is this important?  If you have read your policy (and only those with insomnia do…) contained in every policy is an important clause called the “Misrepresentation Clause”.   It gives the company the legal right to deny a claim if the information that you have said was true when you signed the application, actually wasn't.  

Things like hiding an aggressive breed of a dog you may own, or even the name of the fire department that services your property being incorrectly listed can trigger this clause.

Insurance Companies base the cost of insurance on the likelihood of losses occurring.  

An aggressive breed of dog sometimes makes an insurance company charge you extra in your premium.   They may even go as far as denying your application if the dog you own is on their list of unacceptable breeds.  If you sign an application that states you don’t have any dogs, or you don’t have a dog that’s considered to be aggressive, and they bite someone, the insurance company can deny your claim!

Look at the primary fire department listed on the application, and verify that it’s correct.  In outlying areas, you may have a township fire department that responds, and not the city that your address reflects.

Although I have yet to see an insurance company deny coverage under the “Misrepresentation Clause”, there is always a first time.  Do you want to be the one to “test the waters”?   Do you want to do business with an agency that willfully jeopardizes your assets by improperly rating your policy?   Remember folks, by signing that application, you’re saying what’s on it is true!  Make sure it is…….

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs.For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

How an Open House Can Become a Nightmare.

One of the most exciting times in any young persons life is when they put on a cap and gown for high school graduation. One could argue that only a first kiss or getting their drivers license might rival this milestone.

Traditionally, parents throw an open house to celebrate the graduates past success and dreams for their future. These events are always an enjoyable experience but come with some risks that you most likely don't come across very often..

Serving Alcohol to a Minor, Criminal Implications

The legal drinking age in the State of Michigan is 21. As much as you may agree or disagree with the law, it is important to remember that if a minor at your event is served alcohol and you're somehow caught by law enforcement you may receive a $1000 fine and up to 60 days in jail. 

You can be held responsible for the actions of a minor if you provide them alcohol. It is considered a felony, should the minor you provide alcohol to die or is responsible for the death of another. This can be punishable up to 10 years in prison and a $6000 fine. 

Serving Alcohol to a Minor, Civil Implications

Providing alcohol to a minor makes you directly responsible for their actions. Even if the minor is 20 years of age, you're still responsible for any damages that occur while they are considered to be under the influence. 

For example, at your child's graduation party you are serving their friends, all under the age of 21. One of the boys in the group, Jeremy, has had too much and is getting angry at Floyd for talking to his girlfriend. Jeremy decides to take a swing at Floyd and knocks Floyd out. Floyd is taken to the hospital and has suffered vision damage for the rest of his life. As the hosts of the party and adults serving Jeremy, you can be legally found responsible for Jeremy's actions and dragged into a civil lawsuit. 

Serving Alcohol to someone 21 or over

With any celebration and party you might have a guest that gets carried away. Please keep in mind that Michigan is a social host liability state. This means is that you can be held liable if a guest injures themselves or someone else as a result of alcohol consumption from your party.

Serve Your Guests Responsibly

If you are going to serve your guests here are some tips:

- Limit your own alcohol intake so that you can better judge your guests sobriety

- Do not serve guests who are visibly intoxicated

- Stop serving alcohol at a certain time, switch to other products such as pop or coffee

- Encourage guests to have a designated driver 

- If you have guests who are intoxicated without a ride, offer to call them a cab or allow for them to stay at your home.

Be Responsible and Enjoy Your Time

Although the graduate loves this time of year and looks forward to their graduation party, there is a lot of stress that goes into planning an open house. As our agency staff knows these parties keep you busy with planning, cooking, and cleaning. So although you're putting on the party, don't forget to enjoy the celebration.

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs. We want to wish all of the 2013 graduates the best of luck in their future endeavors. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

'Merica

Memorial Day is a day to remember the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Nothing says 'Merica like Memorial Day Weekend. It is the unofficial kickoff to the summer season and with summer comes grilling, beaches, bonfires, and boating. With all of these activities we can assume that you will decide to enjoy one of America's other favorite "b" words, beer. Please remember to enjoy all of these activities responsibly this weekend.

The forecast in Michigan is calling for sunshine and perfect weather to be out on a boat. We would like to remind you of some basic boating safety rules.

Boat Safety

1) Make sure you know the weather and water conditions. The internet and television is where you should check first. If you're truly in the great outdoors without access to these luxuries, use common sense by looking at the sky and your surrounding environment.

2) Have a pre-departure checklist so that you can make sure that your equipment is running correctly and that you have emergency equipment handy. Emergency equipment should include but not be limited to life-vests and flashlights.

3) Designate an assistant skipper, think Gilligan, to help you with any issues that might arise. Some issues you might face is out of control guests, needing navigational help, or help locating emergency gear.

4) Make sure as the captain you limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol plays a major role in boating accidents. Enjoying alcohol responsibly will lead to helping keep your guests and others on the lake safe.

5) Have a trip plan and make sure someone on the boat knows what your plan is. A lot can happen on a lake and sometimes it is not all fun and games. Make sure someone who is not on the boat knows your intentions and is able to have an idea of your location should you not return at the time you're supposed to.

Enjoy Your Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend is not only a time to remember those who lost their life while serving but also a time to celebrate. So whether you are celebrating with your friends or family on a lake or a golf course, take the time to enjoy yourself.

Our office will be closed on Monday May 27th, 2013 for the holiday weekend. Please keep in mind that our website has a list of emergency phone numbers for you to use should an emergency arise.

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service you. We hope you enjoy your holiday weekend, we know that we will. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

Severe Spring Weather

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people in Oklahoma who are dealing with the aftermath of the tornadoes. It is a sad day when any community goes through a great loss of life and devastation to their homes and surrounding environment.

With such a tragedy the one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the American spirit and willingness to help out complete strangers. Over the next few days we will here stories of people who will travel from all over this great country of ours to lend a hand to a community in need.

If you would like to donate to help the victims of these storms you can text RedCross to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Get Prepared!

As you know the weather in Michigan, like the mood of an infant, can change in a heartbeat. For instance look at the past couple of days, we have had sunshine and literally minutes later we are in the eye of a severe thunderstorm. Being prepared takes time and planning but here are some quick tips for you to get a plan in place.

Before the Storm

So you don't have a plan in place for your family? Good news for you is there is still time. But before the storm you need to know what to do. Here are ideas of the things you should do before a storm.

1) Build an emergency kit. This kit should include; a flashlight, non-perishable food, water, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, a radio, and a cell phone in case you're trapped by debris.

2) Have an emergency plan. Make sure your family knows where to go in case of severe weather. Include information on where to meet when the storm is over, in case not everyone was together.

During the Storm

1) Use your weather radio to listen to updates about your local weather

2) Avoid contact with cords and electronics plugged into outlets.

3) Avoid contact with plumbing. Try not to wash your hands, shower, do laundry. These fixtures can conduct electricity.

After the Storm

1) Stay off of the roads and allow for emergency crews to clear roads and provide assistance.

2) Try to use your phones for emergencies only, it is important for cellphone lines to be open for people who truly need to contact help.

3)Watch out for debris such as tree limbs, power lines, and other hazardous debris.

4) Help injured or trapped persons. Do not attempt to help those who are seriously injured.

Severe Weather Resources

Before the internet, how were we taught to be prepared? Our local schools who taught us it was important to have fire safety and severe weather plans. The great thing about the internet is there is still a lot of information available and that a plan is important.

For more information and to help prepare a plan, I would recommend using Ready.Gov as a resource in preparing your family for all emergency situations.


Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service your insurance needs. We want to make sure you and your family are prepared for natural disasters. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

Why Now is the Time for Reform.

Enacted in 1973, Michigan’s No Fault Law was, and is today, one of the best in the United States in terms of coverage and claims settlement.   Its Unlimited Lifetime Medical Coverage was the absolute best in the land, a benchmark for other states to follow!  But it has become unaffordable to many, and now is the time fore reform.

You might see in the press others who are against this reform, and their reasoning is simple……it’s become a cash cow to the medical profession. If you’ve been treated in an emergency room, what is the first question they ask?   “Are your injuries a result of an auto accident????”

Studies have shown that you could go into a hospital for falling off your ladder and have your health insurance billed $400 for a CAT Scan. If the CAT Scan is a result of an auto accident, the charge for the exact same procedure is $1,800!    The reason being is simple….there is no mandated set reimbursement schedule for auto related medical treatment!.  It’s an open checkbook, and one we all pay in the form of some of the highest rates in the country.
 

Review your policy, add the premiums together for the Personal Injury Coverage and the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Assessment.   That is the cost you’re paying, per vehicle, for the Unlimited Lifetime Medical Coverage.   In order to be affordable, we have got to align our reimbursement with those others pay.

Even if our benefits are reduced to the proposed levels, we’re still offering 50 times the coverage level of any other state!  If our laws were to be benchmark for insurance coverage in the USA, why hasn’t any other state adopted the Unlimited Lifetime Medical Coverage?

For more information, please visit WWW.NoFaultReform.Com.  Also, please let your legislators know that you’re in favor of the Reform, and ask for their support!

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service you. We want to make your life easier. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

What Guy Fieri Knows About Grilling Safety

The three d's might have been one of the best TV shows over the past decade. Unaware of what the "three d's" is, no worries, it is a slang for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives a show hosted by Guy Fieri, one of America's original bad boys.

So what exactly does Guy Fieri know about grill safety? I am sure that he knows a lot about it but there weren't any direct tips that I could find online. In fact, most of the stuff I found online was under his name was some great recipes that you can try out this summer.

Since Guy wasn't able to provide us with any grilling safety tips we figured we'd share with you some tips from our very own experience.

Grill Safety Tips

1) Location

Do you have a nice deck or patio that you store your grill on? If so, make sure that upon starting your BBQ you move the grill or smoker away from your garage or home. Every year we hear the horror stories of homes catching on fire because the grill wasn't it a safe location.

2) Fire

What is your contingency plan if your grill gets out of control? Having a bucket of water or hose nearby is never a bad idea. For those of you who are using a gas grill, do you know the safest way to cut the fuel supply if the fire gets out of control? In case you didn't know, charcoal and gas grills should only be used in an outdoor area.

3)Food Safety

Growing up, I was always preached to the importance of food safety. This could be something as properly cooking your meat to the right temperature or making sure you wash your hands after touching raw or uncooked meats.

Now I am not saying that I am by any means the safest man on the grill but the one thing I can tell you is that common sense pretty much applies to grilling safety. So next time you light up that BBQ make sure to remember that thousands of injuries and fires occur each year from a grilling related incidence. They are called accidents for a reason.

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with two locations in mid-Michigan to service you. We want to be invited to your next BBQ. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

Auto Insurance Reform (The Facts)

It is a great time to call Michigan home.

Summer is now here and that means that we get the chance to hit the links or the lakes and enjoy the Great Lakes State.

Elsewhere in Michigan there is a battle brewing that directly impacts you, me, and all residents of Michigan. Lansing is currently sitting in the middle of a debate on No-Fault Auto Insurance Reform.

We want you to be informed on the issue. So here are some facts about No-Fault Auto Insurance Reform. Within the next few days we will share our professional opinion on the issue.

Click Here for No-Fault Reform Facts


Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with  two locations in mid-Michigan to service you. We want to make your life easier. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

Reforming Michigan's Auto Insurance

If you pick up a newspaper odds are, you will find something within the first few pages about auto insurance reform for the State of Michigan.

Head to one of these popular newspaper's websites and read the comments that people have posted online about these same articles. Heck, head to your favorite social media platform and I am sure you have family and/or friends who have posted about the discussion going on in Lansing.

Auto insurance reform is a heated debate and the most important thing for everyone in this state, is to be involved and informed.

Tomorrow we will touch base on the facts of reform. Only facts and no opinions. The facts from both sides of the argument. Following our fact based blog we will give you our view on auto insurance reform and why we feel that way.


Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with  two locations in mid-Michigan to service you. We want to make your life easier. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

5 Smartphone Apps to Make Your Life Easier!

Take a trip down memory lane, go back to the late 90's or early 2000's when the cell phone was still in its infancy. Although I wasn't old enough to own a pager, I am sure everyone thought the early cell phone was the greatest invention since egg salad sandwich. Luckily, the cell phone has come a long ways from its early designs and now we are blessed with smartphones. 

Zack Morris, clearly had the greatest cell phone of all time. 

The smartphone is great for so many 

things: Facebook, Twitter, Words With Friends, Angry Birds, and using Google to settle arguments with friends. 

The smartphone also offers apps that can make your life easier. Here is a list of a few apps that we believe will help reduce the stress in your life so you have more time to watch cat videos on YouTube. 

Clear

Do you have a lot to do? Do you like to make lists? If so, this is the perfect app for you. Clear, allows for you to sort thoughts into different groups. So if you have a long to-do list in the afternoon or you're just trying to remind yourself of a brilliant idea you have, this is the perfect app for you.

Instapaper

Picture this: You're sitting in the waiting room at the dentist and you're browsing the internet. You find an article that peaks your interest and just as you begin to read they call you in for your appointment. No need to worry about losing this article with Instapaper, you can easily save this web page for reading at a later time. 

RedLaser

The perfect app for someone who is busy and someone who shops smart. RedLaser is an app that allows for you to scan the bar-code or an item and it will give you the prices of that same exact item at nearby stores. 

Shazam

My wife is known for loving a song but not know who or what the song title is. Luckily for her, I introduced her to Shazam, which is an app that helps you identify a song in as little as a second. It also gives you the opportunity to preview or buy tracks. 

Seamless

The future of ordering take-out is here. Seamless provides you with the opportunity to place your order from over 12,000 different restaurants and delivered to your doorstep. It provides you with ordering memory, so that you can place a duplicate order for the office should you want to order the same thing weeks later. 

In the End

Hopefully you will find all of these apps or even just one of them as a useful tool in your day to day life. The smartphone is a great tool to help make life easier and we believe that all of these apps can help you do just that. 

Spalding Insurance Agency is an independent agency with locations in East Lansing, Michigan and Perry, Michigan. We want to make your life easier. For a quote on your personal or business insurance click here.

The Shopping Cart (Part Four)

It is time for the Grand Finale!!!! This should be the last time I write about shopping carts in a long time. Lets examine what we have learned, so far.

1)Shopping carts are great tools
2)Shopping carts need to be returned to their proper station after use.
3)By not returning your cart, you are driving up car insurance premiums.
4)Shopping carts are dangerous.
5)All of my theories on this subject are based on the butterfly effect.

So based on the butterfly effect, by not returning your shopping carts not only are you a terrible person, you also creating worse customer service. Don't believe me? Here is how:

A busy day at the store means more employees are needed, which is a good thing. More employees typically means better service or shorter check-out lines. But that can't happen if the extra employees are out wrangling shopping carts. So next time you hit up your favorite grocery store and have to wait in a long line and wonder "why are only 10 of the 45 checkout lines open?", odds are it is because their extra staff is out cart shop wrangling. Moral of the story: Return your shopping carts when you are done with them or the world will end.

I hope you have enjoyed this mini-series and learned a lot. Even if you haven't learned anything, I hope you have been entertained. Either way please keep this information in mind next time you're out shopping.

The Shopping Cart (Part Three)

I have recently had an infatuation with the role the shopping cart plays in our lives. It is a pet peeve for me to watch people not return their shopping carts to a proper station when they are done using them. So I swore to my wife a few weeks back that I was going to explain to people the importance of returning your cart to the proper place. So far we have examined two reasons:

1) It is a pet peeve of mine that plays a major role in our life.(Think Butterfly Effect)
2) Not returning your cart can increase everyone's car insurance premiums.

Those aren't the only issues with not returning your cart. Believe it or not a lot of injuries occur because of those carts running free in the wild.

According to The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission about 21,600 people are injured in shopping cart related accidents each year. Now I am not saying this is all due to wild shopping carts but I am sure that a small % of injuries are from them.

Or how about the employee of the store having to chase down a shopping cart in the parking lot. Their possibilities for an injury are endless. Maybe they roll an ankle, pull a hammy, or tear an ACL. Freak accidents like that happen all of the time. All because a lack of responsibility.

A shopping cart is a tool, one that we are blessed with. Imagine life without the cart. But with all tools, it is important that we take care of them. By returning your cart to the proper station you can help people avoid injuries.

July 21st, 2013 will be the first ever "Return Your Shopping Cart Awareness Day". Together we can make a difference!

The Shopping Cart (Part Two)

How important is it to properly return your shopping cart to a station once you are done with it? Extremely important, so important, that I am going to go all R. Kelly on you and write about it over four different parts.

Today we focus on Part Two, how a shopping cart plays a role in your insurance premiums. In case you missed it, click her for Part One, on why returning your shopping cart is a big deal. So how does a shopping cart running rampant in the parking lot play a role in your insurance premiums? Here is a story for you:

Mandy calls her husband Joe on the way home from work and asks if he can stop for some groceries. Being the good guy that he is, Joe, stops into the local store and grabs a cart. After checking out, Joe, loads up his grocery cart with his bags and returns to his car. Since he is in a "hurry" he decides to just leave his cart in the middle of the parking lot, since he must save himself the 35 seconds it would've taken him to do the right thing.

Joe leaves the parking lot and in pulls Mary to a spot a few places down from where Joe left his cart. Mary walks into the store unaware that her car is about to fall victim to Joe's laziness or carelessness. Mary returns to her car and notices a huge scratch along the side of the vehicle. There was a huge gust of wind while Mary was shopping and unfortunately for her, the shopping cart sideswiped her car leaving her in an unfortunate situation, the need to file a claim.

So how is it that this story affects your insurance premiums and not just Mary's? The thing to remember is that insurance companies distribute risk among a large number of people. So anytime a company pays a claim (or doesn't) it can affect rates for everyone insured by that company. Ideally your insurance company never pays claims to anyone, thus reducing their expenses and rates.

Assume that all throughout Michigan, insurance companies pay out tens of millions of dollars in claims for losses involving shopping carts hitting parked cars. This directly results in unnecessary expenses for insurance companies that results in higher premiums for everyone. If we look back on our example, Joe leaving his cart and the resulting claim might directly affect our car insurance premiums.

The next time you're at the grocery store and either in a hurry or too lazy to walk your cart down to the return station, remember that your actions will play a role in your car insurance premiums.

Do you know someone who doesn't return their shopping cart to the return station? Hit the share button and let them know why they should!

P.S. Remember that National Return Your Shopping Cart Awareness Day is July 21st.

The Shopping Cart (Part One)

The shopping cart, a beautiful thing, but that last thing you want to see resting against your car when you return to the parking lot. (Unless you owe someone a lot of money and their goons are leaning against your car when you return)

So it was to my amazement that upon returning to my car and spotting a shopping cart nestled between mine and my fellow shopper to the right, that the cart had not struck either of our vehicles.

For months I have been complaining to my wife about the shopping cart. A great tool but when people neglect its powers it can turn into a nightmare for all. People do not understand how the simple act of returning your shopping cart to a proper return station can do make a big difference by:

1) Reducing Car Insurance Premiums

2) Preventing Injury

3) Reducing the costs of groceries

4) A bunch of other stuff

Don't believe me? Well over the next week I will give you some food for thought on how four of my theories are actually facts. And together we can help reduce costs and prevent injuries by bringing awareness to returning your shopping cart to its rightful home. All of this can be done as we march towards the first ever "National Shopping Cart Awareness Day" tentatively scheduled for Sunday, July 21st.