Childcare Providers and the Fight Against the Recession

You do not have to be a parent to notice that one of the most important jobs in society is that of a childcare provider. Early years learning is vital for any society as the values are children are taught in their early years very often dictate how they act and perform later in life. It is for this reason why the news that many children providers have been hit with redundancies, reductions in sessions and increased operating costs are areas for concern.

On the subject of increased operating costs, one of the largest expenses that many children providers have, after staffing costs, is the cost of getting protection and peace of mind for their premises, children and staff in the form of nursery insurance or other childcare insurance. The good news for many nurseries and kindergartens is that savings could now be made on their nursery business insurance premiums due to a host of new nursery insurance brokers and companies offering policies to the childcare sector.

The result of these new entrants into the nursery insurance sector is that kindergartens and nursery schools can now shop around for alternative nursery insurance quotes safe in the knowledge that the cover they have always received can be matched and in many cases improved upon but for reductions in premiums.

At a time where every penny or nickel counts, having the chance to save hundreds or even thousands of pounds or dollars on a childcare providers business insurance premiums could go some way to helping them through the difficult times.

Saving money on a nurseries insurance is just one way that childcare providers could look to reduce their expenditure. Others include contacting other service providers with the view to trying to negotiate improved terms on other arrangements they have. Whilst this may not be possible in all cases, businesses of all types are struggling and they would much rather try and keep an existing customer happy than lose them completely.

Nurseries and childcare providers who spend a proportion of their budget on marketing to attract new children and staff can also look to reduce their marketing spend by trying different ways to promote their vacancies or childcare facilities. An advertisement in a trade magazine or local newspapers could be scaled down in favour of asking existing staff and parents for referrals and recommendations. And relationships could be formed with the local media for free publicity in the local paper or on the local television channel in return for newsworthy material relating on your nursery. A local celebrity attending an open day to promote your facility could certainly be of interest to the media and this type of free publicity could well result in exposure and interest for little or not cost.

The fact is 2008 has been a struggle for the childcare industry and whilst there is hope the second half of 2009 will start to see an improvement, nurseries, pre schools and other childcare providers should do all they can to make it through these difficult times. Saving money on nursery insurance and getting free publicity are just a couple of ways to do this so be prudent with your budget and hopefully 2009 and beyond will include happy days for you, your staff, your nursery and your children.

This article was written by Mark Burdett of NCi Nursery. Mark has over 17 years Marketing experience in the Financial Services industry and has worked on campaigns for companies including Norwich Union, Kia and Zurich.

Now based in Newcastle upon Tyne Mark works for one of the UK's Leading Nursery Insurance Brokers - NCi Nursery.

For all your Nursery Insurance needs, call NCi Nursery now on 0800 046 1446 or visit http://www.ncinursery.co.uk.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_R_Burdett

Affordable Burial Insurance For Senior Citizens and Elderly

Burial policies, also known as final expense insurance, are small life insurance policies that are meant to pay for funeral costs and other final expenses. These types of policies are gaining popularity with seniors who find themselves without life insurance because their term insurance has ended, or because prior life insurance policies have lapsed. Many seniors think that there are no affordable options for them to leave money to their families to pay final expenses. A burial insurance policy is the best way for senior citizens to get affordable life insurance.

Some features of burial policies:

• Permanent insurance with level premiums that will never increase.
• Qualifying ages between 50 and 85
• No medical exam required and many health issues are ok
• Issued quickly and death benefits are paid quickly

What If I Have Major Health Issues?

Most burial policies are easy to qualify for, even if you have some minor health issues. The application usually consists of a health questionnaire and the life insurance company will typically check to make sure there is nothing in your health history that you did not disclose. But what if you have more serious health conditions? There are policies that are known as guaranteed issue final expense policies, and nobody is turned down. The premiums are higher, but for those who feel that they have no other option, these policies can provide peace of mind that their final expenses won't be a burden on their families.

Which Company Has the Most Affordable Rates?

There are many companies that offer affordable burial policies for seniors and the elderly. Since each company has different underwriting requirements, you should speak with a licensed agent to determine which company has the lowest rates for you. A licensed agent who works with multiple final expense companies will get a little bit more information about your health history to determine which company will give you the best rates.

For a free burial policy quote, please visit us at QuotesForTermLife.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvia_Hoffman

Survival Insurance Policy

Let's face it, you can have life insurance, you can have car insurance and you can have homeowners insurance but none of these policies will help you a bit during a time of crisis. You may think that you are covered for just about any contingency that can happen but my friend you are so very wrong.

You have totally forgotten the most important insurance that you can perhaps have. That is your survival insurance. When situations develop you can only rely upon yourself and no one else. The government will be much to busy to be concerned with you and I. They will simply be overwhelmed. If you think I am exaggerating thing back to the crisis situation that occurred in New Orleans when hurricane Katrina struck.

It would be nice if we could easily sidestep the issues that we do not care for and step cautiously behind the curtain only to emerge shortly and once again see things are as we would like them to be. Unfortunately that is not the case. The world is what we see and we have to learn to do the best we can in it. We can not rely upon the old adage that it will not happen to me or it won't happen here. Many families have been completely wiped out by the breadwinner thinking along these same lines.

I am sure that you would deliberately not feed you children nor would you subject them to unnecessary cold or other uncomfortable conditions. But think for a moment what you are doing to your family when you fail to be prepared. We must be prepared for any sort of emergency or disaster.

With our world in such turmoil it is to our best interests to stock up on extra food and supplies. Don't wait until the last moment and then rush to the store to stock your pantry. This won't work and you will only endanger yourself and your family. It is your responsibility to care and prepare for your family so why not start at home. It is up to you to take personal responsibility to provide for your family. Several items that people should prepare with include:

Valuable metals such as gold or silver which in an emergency could be used for bartering. Keep in mind that these precious metals will only be worth anything at the beginning of the crisis. As things get worse food will quickly take their place as a valuable commodity. Have a large portion of your cash readily available in an emergency. Banks during a crisis situation will not give you your money.

Have at least a 3 month supply of food and water. A years worth of these items would be better and should be your goal. These necessities should include bottled water. If you happen to have a private well you should still keep some purification tablets available.

Keep a healthy supply of batteries readily at hand. I personally prefer to recharge my batteries. I have a recharger plus I can connect it to the inverter in the BOV when on the road. In my emergency kit I have several different types of lights as well as an abundance of batteries. I have included a crank radio as well as a crank light just in case. I keep matches in my emergency kit as well as lighters. Incidentally if you decide to keep lighters in an emergency kit make sure that you stock up on lighter fluid or butane.

I would be foolish to go to all this trouble without maintaining some sort of weapons and ammo. My spare clothing is a normal compliment of sock, underwear, etc. I keep two BOB - One for winter and one for summer.

Additional items include things like 2 way radios, watches with cigarette lighters built in, a tent, an elaborate first aid kits, a generator, various fishing rods and tackle, Maps, as well as propane stoves.

I would like to think that I am ready for any emergency however from experience I am well aware that when it comes down to the wire I probably am missing something important.

Copyright @ 2009 Joseph Parish

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Parish

Fix Your Insurance Score - 10 Tips

Ever heard of an insurance score? Most people haven't. Let me explain what it is and give you some ideas on how to improve this number.

Naturally it has to do with tickets and accidents and unlike the DMV (tickets fall off every year), some companies go back as far as ten years, some seven or five, even as short as three. An insurance score includes: payment history, bankruptcy, foreclosures and collection activity, length of credit history, amount of outstanding debt in relation to credit limits, types of credit in use, and number of new applications for credit.

Your insurance score also has a relation to your credit. The argument being that insurance is a form of credit as the consumer pays a monthly premium and can end up with multiple large bills after proven liable.

Something you do today can follow you for the next five years (or longer) as many of us already know.

With insurance scoring it only goes to show, an individual, as well as the industry, can benefit from everyone driving slower and having compassion for fellow commuters.

Lower premiums are an option but the consumer has to take the initial steps. Remember, insurance companies are pooling risks. That's me, you, and the neighbor: if the rating class we're in has substantial losses we're all in for a rate increase.

Lets slow down a little and pay a more attention to driving instead of the phone or make up or whatever it might be. You could find yourself with a lower premium as a result.

TEN TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR INSURANCE SCORE:

1. PAY YOUR BILLS ON TIME.
Paying your bills on time improves your score.
2. MANAGE YOUR OUTSTANDING BALANCES.
As a rule of thumb, maintain account balances at least 75% below your available credit.
3. AVOID EXCESSIVE INQUIRIES TO YOUR CREDIT REPORT
Too many inquiries may negatively impact your score.
4. LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDIT ACCOUNTS.
Your access to excessive unused credit could result in too much debt.
5. REVIEW YOUR CREDIT REPORT REGULARLY.
Know what is on your credit report and take necessary steps to dispute any inaccuracies.
6. AVOID "QUICK" CREDIT FIXES.
Good credit is built over time.
7. MANAGE YOUR DEBT CONSOLIDATION.
Consider how to effectively pay down your debt without generating more credit activity.
8. LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF NEW DEBT YOU TAKE ON.
Too many new loans or credit accounts opened in a short amount of time can negatively affect your credit rating.
9. ESTABLISH CREDIT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LONG TRACK RECORD.
A longer credit history has a positive impact on your score.
10. WORK WITH YOUR CREDITORS.
Resolve outstanding balances before they are turned over to a debt collector.

Carson E. Koziol http://www.insurancegoose.com I am a licensed insurance agency owner in Nevada Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carson_Koziol

Brain Tips

Have you been searching for just the right brain tips, the ones that get you a raise, or fame and fortune?

A magic potion or a magic wand, or like the super villins of cartoon land, the machine which makes your skull twice as large?

Unfortunately, I have not discovered any brain tips like that either, but I have learned that the brain can be worked with, exercised, even trained, fed, and rested, to be the brain which provides the maximum level of neurons firing in tight synchrony, the kind of brain which grows new neurons, and new synapsess and dendrites because that brain receives novel challenge regularly. That is a brain tip that I can use.

The key brain tips involve awareness of recent discoveries about our brains which indicate that our brain grows new neurons (neurogenesis). Those neurons can become part of already existing circuits if we can challenge them with novel learning experiences within a certain window of opportunity.

According to what I am reading now, if the neurons are not challenged within that window, they are pruned, because the brain is an energy efficient organ, and keeps the operating system already in place nourished.

The good news is we can provide the challenge for those new neurons with novel learning experiences. Novel is the very important word.

What novel learning involves is learning a new skill, not more of the same skill. In other words, as a counselor, I cannot read another counseling text, and expect to cement those new neurons into an existing circuit. I need to learn how to play chess, play an instrument, or study a foreign language, or I need to use one of the new computer based brain fitness programs to exercise my existing circuits.

That is the kind of novel challenge which is key to neurogenesis.

Here is another brain tip. Our brains are incredibly plastic, and just love to adopt themselves to new activities.

In fact, the brain is a data seeking organ, and wants to perceive and learn, constantly.

It will respond to learning new skills by growing new dendrites on existing neurons and new synapses on existing dendrites, forming many new connections, which are the key to your super brain. The more neurons involved in a perception process, the more likely it is that our perceptions will be accurate, and the decisions we make in regard to those perceptions will most likely be effective in our lives.

So providing my brain what it needs in regards to neurogenesis and neuroplasticity are the two most important brain tips for today.

About The Author

Michael S. Logan is a brain fitness expert, counselor, a student of Chi Gong, and a licensed one on one HeartMath provider. I enjoy the spiritual, the mythological, and psychological, and I am a late life father to Shane, 10, and Hannah Marie, 4, whose brains are so amazing.