Save Gas and Save Money With These Tips

Posted on by agentinsure

It doesn’t matter what time of year it is. Everyone loves to save money on gas. Unfortunately, simply finding the gas station with the cheapest price is not always enough. Gas prices fluctuate so much that it is best to incorporate some gas saving ideas into your daily routine. Follow these tips to get started.

  1. Drive safely. Driving with extra caution can really help you save money on gas. By quickly accelerating and braking harder, you are using more gas than you need to. In fact, these actions can lower your fuel efficiency by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city. Take some time while driving and save some money on your gas. 
  2. Remove any excess weight. The more items you have in your vehicle, the more gas it will take to get it from point A to point B. If you have a lot of stuff in your trunk, take an afternoon to remove some of the items that you do not need in there. Your wallet will thank you when you go farther on a tank of gas. 
  3. Get a newer model car. The newer cars have more efficiency. In fact, every year, the fuel efficiency gets better than before. You do not need to have a new car every year but if you have an older car, you may want to consider an upgrade. This is especially true if your vehicle is over 10 years old. 

Saving money on gas is great but you also need to have good auto insurance. Contact Southwest Insurance Center serving Austin, TX to take a look at your current policy or find you a new one. Save on gas with these tips and save on insurance by finding a better option. 

How to Protect Yourself While House Sitting

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If you are a professional house sitter, then you know the rewards that accompany your job. You get the benefit of living in a nice home while the owners are away. An added benefit is the fact that you temporarily live for free. There aren’t too many professions that give you the ability to live in prestigious homes for free on a regular basis.

Although house sitting is nice, there are some dangers that come along with the profession. At Southwest Insurance Center, we want you to be safe while you are working hard at your job. Before your next assignment, keep the following safety tips in mind.

Always know what to do during a weather-related disaster. You should know where the first aid kits and flashlights are, just in case you need to use them.

Know where the fire extinguishers are in the home. Fires are one of the many threats to you while you are house sitting. When you take the time to learn where the extinguishers are, you reduce the chance of fires getting out of your control and threatening you and the home.

Learn how to use the intrusion system effectively. Most alarm systems include the ability to press a button and reach emergency services. If you know this, and you know how to use the system, then you could potentially save your life during an intrusion.

Know some defensive moves for your protection. There may be a time when you have to protect yourself from an intruder. If you know a few defensive moves, you could prevent an intruder from overtaking you.

At Southwest Insurance Central, our goal is to ensure you are safe, including when you are driving. You can visit our website to learn more about our auto insurance products.

What are the best ways to give back after the holidays?

Posted on by agentinsure

Whether you live in Buda, TX or anywhere else in the country, sharing the love and joy during the holiday season is a beautiful thing. It is also an important time to look back over the year and appreciate everything you have, as there are many others who are not as fortunate. During the holiday season you can help out at soup kitchens, clothing drives and donation centers often are overflowing with locals wanting to do their part and give back to the community. At Southwest Insurance Center, we do the same. There are some fantastic ways for you to still give back after the holidays. 

Some Extra Cans of Groceries

When you go to the grocery store, pick up an extra can of vegetables, beans, tuna fish or really anything else that has a very long shelf life or is not perishable. After a month or so, you’ll have several bags full of canned food you spent under $1 at a time. Take it to your local food pantry or soup kitchen. These locations often struggle to stay full after the holidays due to the drop off in donations. You can help stop this. Talk to your local food banks to see what is on their need list. 

Nursing Homes

Many residents of nursing homes live far away from their children or grandchildren and don’t often have the means of visiting outside of the facility. Spending an hour or two here a week is often enough to brighten the spirits of residents. Whether it is reading a book with someone struggling with their vision or simply calling out numbers during bingo, a few hours is enough to brighten their week. 

Make it a Family Affair

Whatever you decide to do, make it a family affair. Young children who learn the importance of giving back are more likely to do it themselves. 

Contact an agent with Southwest Insurance Center about your insurance needs today.