Everyone knows that home insurance is a good idea – well, we’re told it is and plenty of people see the sense in having cover that pays out should their home and possessions be destroyed in a fire, for example. However far less people realise that home insurance comprises of two elements – buildings and contents. What’s the difference?
Our way of explaining it is to imagine you’re a giant; you pick up a house, pull the roof off, and tip the house upside down. Anything that falls out is covered by contents insurance – typically, electronics, pictures, kitchenware, sofas, etc. Everything else – walls, roof, carpets, bath, and so on, is covered by buildings insurance.
So if, for example, you were to discover you had rising damp in your home and it was going to cost several thousand pounds to repair, you could claim against your buildings insurance policy. ‘Could’ being the important word here. If the insurance company were to discover that the damp had been there for several years and you had just never bothered to do anything about it until now, there is a very good chance they would not pay up. The same could happen if part of your roof was blown away in a storm and the insurance company found out that several tiles has been missing or damaged beforehand.
This is because part of the terms and conditions in many buildings insurance policies is you must keep the building in good repair. This means if your roof becomes damaged through age or wear and tear it should be repaired as soon as possible. The same if you discover damp, or anything else wrong. If you were paying to fix something wouldn’t you prefer to spend £200 on a small job rather than waiting for it to become a serious problem and spending £2000? It’s the same for an insurance company, only they make it part of a legal agreement.
The other main thing buildings insurance covers is the rebuild cost of your home – if your home was completely demolished and had to be rebuilt from scratch, what would it cost? This is NOT the same as how much you bought it for, it tends to be a lot less, and many people scratch their heads over this question on the insurance forms.
If you had a survey done of your home when you first bought it there should be a rebuild cost listed there. If your survey was done a few years ago you may need to factor in inflation for the rebuild cost. Your insurer may be able to help. Otherwise you could try a rebuild cost calculator, such as the one provided by the Building Cost Information Service and Association of British Insurers.
It is always worth checking the terms and conditions of an insurance policy carefully to see what is, and what isn’t, covered, especially if there are special conditions you think should be covered. For example, if you live by a river you may want to ensure you have cover for flood damage. An insurance company may be happy to quote you for flood cover but because of the increased risk you can be sure that they will charge you a higher premium, and they may even impose a limit on the pay-out and extra conditions upon you as part of the agreement (such as having sandbags available at all times and not covering damage to carpets). If in doubt, speak to someone from the insurance company.
The bustling metropolis of Mumbai is the largest city in India and one of the most important cultural centres in the country, easily accessible via flights to India, or even direct routes to Mumbai itself. Its cosmopolitan and eclectic character reveals itself in everything from Bollywood films to classical art and architecture.
Art lovers will have plenty to do while visiting Mumbai, as this city is home to some of the most famous museums and art galleries in India. Most of the museums are concentrated in the South Mumbai area of the city. If you are interested in the art and cultural history of Mumbai, you can find a wealth of information and intriguing displays at any one of these institutions.
Here are a few of the best art galleries and museums to visit while exploring this fascinating and multi-faceted city:
The Bombay Natural History Museum
All creatures great and small are on display at this excellent museum showcasing the variety of flora and fauna of the area. You can see excellent and rare specimens of everything from butterflies to reptiles to birds, which have been donated by nature lovers from all over the world for over a century. The museum is put together by the Bombay Natural History Society, which is the largest Non Governmental Organization dedicated to nature conversation on the Indian Subcontinent.
Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
This museum is the oldest in Mumbai, as it was built in 1872. It was previously known as the Victoria and Albert Museum and it is the best place to go to find archaeological relics, vintage photographs, and ancient maps that illustrate the story of Mumbai’s history. The museum has some especially interesting exhibits on the Industry and Agriculture of the area.
Jahangir Art Museum
This world renowned museum is a temple for art worshippers and it showcases many excellent artworks from young artists and old masters. It is considered one of the most prestigious art museums of Mumbai, and can be found near the Elphistone College and Kala Ghoda. It’s a great place to see some of the colourful and bold artwork of the Indian art scene.
Nehru Planetarium
This cylindrical building is home to a cultural centre, library, art gallery, and restaurant as well as an excellent astronomical centre. This is a great place to take your children is they are interested in the mysteries of outer space, and the exhibits and displays are also intriguing for adults as well. The building also features the Discovery of India Exposition which tells the story of India through the ages through audio-visual effects and three dimensional replicas of major architectural and artistic works.
These are just a few of the excellent museums that you can visit during your trip to Mumbai. Enjoy uncovering the art and culture of this exciting city!
Want to save some money this year? Avoid buying these seasonal items which are more expensive when the weather is cold outside.
Sometimes when it comes to saving money it’s not where you buy that’s important, it’s when you buy. Prices on certain items will rise and fall throughout the years as the retailers circulate their stock and demand increases. During each season, some items will become cheaper and others will get more expensive.
If you can avoid buying these items during the winter months and wait until the weather warms up and the temperature drops, you will save yourself a lot of money.
Summer Fruits and Vegetables
Depending on which region you live in, the seasonal local vegetables will differ. However, vegetables and fruit which are typically grown in the summer months will be much more expensive in the winter. They will also be poorer quality and less fresh-tasting, since they will have to be important from a different country with a warmer climate. Do a bit of research to find out which types of fruits and vegetables are in season in your area during any given time of year, and experiment with a few different winter veggies which will be less outrageously priced. Avoid paying for expensive fresh strawberries, peaches, corn, and raspberries until they start to get cheaper again.
Clothing for Spring and Summer
If you think that the middle of winter is a good time to start shopping for your warm weather wardrobe, you might end up spending too much. Items will be at full price at this point in the season, because the spring lines of clothing will just be coming out and the demand is high. So when’s the best time to get discounts on summer clothing? It’s actually around October and November, when the summer is ending. This is when retailers will be unloading all of their summer stock and having huge sales to get rid of it as the seasons change. You can buy your flirty sundresses, shorts, and tee-shirts in the autumn for fantastic prices, keep them in your closet over the chilly months, and debut them in the spring!
Computers
Although you might be able to get a good deal after Christmas on computers, the winter season is not the best time of the year to buy yourself a new laptop. One of the best months for computer shopping is August, because back-to-school sales will offer great prices. Another interesting time of year is April, because this is when the Japanese fiscal year begins. New models of electronics will come out, and last year’s models will likely be discounted.
Gym Membership
The beginning of January is the busiest time of the year for gyms, because many people have made a New Year’s Resolution to get into shape. Wait until June when sign-ups for gym memberships begin to enter a lull and gyms will be offering cut-rate promotions to entice new members.
Paying attention to the rising and falling demand and price for items can help you save a lot of money on your purchases throughout the year.
