How to Protect Your Family For the Future Right Now

When you’re a parent, it goes without saying you do everything within your power to keep your family safe and well. We’re always looking for ways to improve our lives and make things more comfortable for the ones we love. Planning for as many eventualities as possible, we work hard to maintain our family's wellbeing.

 

credit: Stuart Richards

The last few years have seen a rise in catastrophic weather conditions all over the world. These freak weather outbursts are often attributed to the effects of global warming, but we just can’t be sure. Whatever is causing these wild storms, hurricanes and earthquakes, it’s something we now all have to guard against. Your home is at risk from adverse weather. Even if you think there’s little risk of you being affected, there’s still a potential danger to you and your family. Weatherproof your home. Make sure you have an emergency kit of candles, torches and blankets should you lose power.

Working is essential for earning an income, self-esteem and setting an example for your children. Jobs are needed to maintain a regular paycheck! What would happen if your company folded suddenly? What if you were made redundant? It does happen, no matter how secure you think your job may be.  It can happen to anyone when they least expect it. So what would you do? Have you a reserve of funds just in case? If not, it’s time to start saving. You may not be able to put much away, after all, money is tight for just about everyone just now. However aside, much cash you can put it soon adds up. A small contingency fund is better than nothing at all. There are savings accounts that pay higher rates of interest if you withdraw if you leave them alone. Check out HSBC’s Serious Saver Account which pays up to 2.10% pa interest a year, depending on how often you dip into your rainy-day fund.

You go to they gym; you look after yourself. You’re not going to get sick! Sadly, ill health can hit any of us at any time. It’s not always something we like to think about. But as responsible adults, we have to try and think about everything that could potentially affect our families. From a burst appendix to a terminal disease, fate can deal us a cruel hand. How would you cope with the loss of income? Would you be able to afford transport to appointments, hospital visits, or even manage to pay the rent? The simplest way to cover yourself for potential problems caused by ill health is to take out a medical insurance plan. Critical illness cover may not be included in many standard health cover plans, so it pays to check your existing policy if you have one. If you’re not covered, there are different plans to suit your individual needs. A good place to start is NobleOak's Trauma Insurance Policy. It includes protection for most people's general needs.

Fires and Floods

When you have a fire or flood (that’s not weather related), it can be devastating. Something as every day as a burst pipe could flood your home, or a faulty electrical appliance could cause a fire. It’s something we never think will happen to us, but that’s a mindset we have to get out of. What would you do if this happened to you? It pays to have necessary safety routines in place. Work out routes to escape if you did have a house fire. Teach your children about fire safety and what to do in a fire. Practice a fire drill.

Have electrical appliances tested yearly and visually inspect them regularly to make sure they are safe. Switch electrical goods off when you aren’t using them. Inspect your plumbing regularly. Make sure pipes are well insulated against cold weather and make sure they don’t freeze in winter. You also need to make sure you have buildings and content insurance. This is a legal requirement if you have a mortgage. Moneybuddy has a useful guide to Mortgage Insurance where you can find out more.

We all hope for a happy and healthy future. By taking steps to help deal with any potential problems, you’ll be able to have peace of mind.

The last few years have seen a rise in catastrophic weather conditions all over the world. These freak weather outbursts are often attributed to the effects of global warming, but we just can’t be sure. Whatever is causing these wild storms, hurricanes and earthquakes, it’s something we now all have to guard against. Your home is at risk from adverse weather. Even if you think there’s little risk of you being affected, there’s still a potential danger to you and your family. Weatherproof your home. Make sure you have an emergency kit of candles, torches and blankets should you lose power.Working is essential for earning an income, self-esteem and setting an example for your children. Jobs are needed to maintain a regular paycheck! What would happen if your company folded suddenly? What if you were made redundant? It does happen, no matter how secure you think your job may be.  It can happen to anyone when they least expect it. So what would you do? Have you a reserve of funds just in case? If not, it’s time to start saving. You may not be able to put much away, after all, money is tight for just about everyone just now. However aside, much cash you can put it soon adds up. A small contingency fund is better than nothing at all. There are savings accounts that pay higher rates of interest if you withdraw if you leave them alone. Check out HSBC’s Serious Saver Account which pays up to 2.10% pa interest a year, depending on how often you dip into your rainy-day fund.