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What is This “Holiday Spirit” and Where Can I Get Some?

December 6, 2022 By Forrest Dailey

With the holiday season in full swing, what does it mean to you to be in a “festive” state of mind? And if you aren’t currently in that state, how do you get there?

You may have noticed this year particularly that Christmas music began to play on the radio right after Halloween, if not earlier. Maybe you think that’s a bit much, but if a certain song hits your eardrums at just the right time, just when you need it, it could turn your whole attitude around. Playing holiday music at home can do wonders to get you and yours into the spirit of the season. Christmas caroling with a group is a great way to lift the spirits of others, which tends to bounce back onto you. Same thing goes if you’re on the other side of the door, if carolers come to your home. Open the door. Let ‘em sing! It’s good for you and for them. Music is a great healer. There may be no better way to ingest the medicine of music than to attend a holiday choir concert, which are often free. The sonic quality of the many voices all in harmony and the vibration it brings is enough to lift anyone’s spirits without fully understanding how it is happening.

If none of those options are for you, then perhaps decorating for the holiday you celebrate will do. If home is where the heart is, then surrounding yourself with cheerful visual reminders of the season should fill your waking hours with positivity. Of course, many of us spend a good chunk of said waking hours at our job. If you have your own office, you should have free rein to decorate it to your heart’s content. Within reason. If you don’t, then how about initiating a group effort to decorate your place of business for the holidays? The holiday cheer will spread to those who come through your doors, taking it out into the world with them where surely it will multiply.

Or making and decorating cookies! You may not eat cookies but there is always going to be someone around who will. And what better way to say “I love you” to someone than making them cookies?

If you’ve got kids, maybe you’ve already taken them to see Santa Claus. If you haven’t, remember that this is not just a chance for Santa to tell you what your kid wants from Him for Christmas, but a chance to stand back and observe one of the real joyful and magical moments in your kid’s life. Meeting Santa?! Come on! What could beat that? Take in that moment with your kids.

The wisest of the wise, down the ages, have consistently reported that giving is much more nurturing to us on the deepest level, than is receiving. This applies to giving to our family and friends, and perhaps more so to those beyond our immediate scope – such as charitable giving. Is there a particular cause, organization, or establishment that just warms your heart when you think about what they do in the community or the world at large? Taking the time – and some of your well-earned money – to further such causes can help remind you that you are part of something of great value.

Speaking of family and friends, putting together a list of all of those who mean the most to you, and thinking about why that is, can be a happy reminder of the amount of love and friendship that you have in your life. Sitting down and writing something personalized and unique in a holiday card to each of them helps to reciprocate that feeling.

If not, then certainly family holiday gatherings will. Sure, we don’t all have idyllic family dynamics (does anyone?) but there is never a better time than the holidays to enjoy each other’s company, get caught up with each other’s goings and doings, and truly and sincerely wish each other nothing but goodwill, peace and prosperity….

Or just stay home and watch “Die Hard.”

Okay even if you do not consider “Die Hard” a Christmas movie, there are many others to choose from. I guess. And you know what? Even if you are the type who rolls your eyes at the beginning of a Hallmark Christmas movie, by the end credits, you might have experienced at least a smidge of an attitude adjustment, for the merrier.

Have a safe and happy holiday season, one and all! Enjoy it for all it is, and is meant to be. And of course, we wish you the best of everything in the new year!

– Horihan Insurance

The Scariest Thing About Halloween

October 7, 2022 By Forrest Dailey

It’s hard to believe, but up until now, the only time we’ve posted on this blog about Halloween, it had to do with insurance policies that protect against zombie and vampire bites and alien abduction. Yeah, they actually do exist. I mean those policies, not zombies, vampires and aliens.

Although….
But let’s not start that again.

This year, we’d like to talk to you on a more practical, real-world level. Do you know what the scariest thing about Halloween is? Insufficient insurance coverage. Sincerely.

We talk a lot about having coverage during “the Holidays” (Thanksgiving and Christmas or Hanukkah, and certainly New Year’s Eve). But as disorderly as “the Holidays” can get, all manner of mischief and mishap go down on Halloween too.

First there is fire damage.

Malfunctioning decorations, indoors as well as up on the rooftops are a major Halloween hazard. Halloween candles have always had a little more personality than their Yuletide counterparts. As such, candles, and lighting of various types really have long been an integral element of Halloween décor. Most people these days use electric lights rather than candles, but you know how it is when you are decorating and getting quite festive about it. You over do it. But when you over do it, you push your outlets and your power strips to their limit. This is where electrical fires come in. Don’t do that.

Then there’s vandalism.

There tend to be a lot of break-ins around “the Holidays” with the promise of all of those maybe-expensive gifts under the trees and all. But it is not a time that is infamous for outright vandalism. As for Halloween, though, the term “trick-or-treat” refers to the old tradition of going around and demanding “treats” which, if not readily handed over, would result in a “trick” being played on the withholder of said treats. It is ingrained in the tradition itself. Nowadays, these “tricks” are often carried out without even first asking for the “treat.” Toilet-papering is generally harmless, if annoying to clean up. But eggings are a different story. Raw egg, dried over-night can cause a great deal of damage to vehicle paint, or the siding/roofing of your home. Thankfully we’re living in the age of doorbell cams, so vandals are much less likely to be so bold as on Halloweens gone by. But they are still out there, and not everyone is equipped with the tech to catch them in the act. Perhaps it is time to talk with a trusted neighbor or initiate a neighborhood watch.

Maybe you’re planning a Halloween party.

Parties, any time of year, can open the doors to any number of liability issues on and around your property. Damaged or stolen items, bodily injury, fire, etc. It all comes down to knowing and trusting who you let into your home for an occasion where you’ll likely be distracted by various goings and doings, all while keeping the revelry to a level that is safe for all participants. Keeping fire extinguishers readily at hand and in working order is very important. Because you can’t control everything. And maybe don’t try to. Not everything. It’s a party, after all.

As always, now is a good time to reach out to your local Horihan Insurance agent to be sure your homeowner’s insurance is a sufficient buffer against the rampant hooliganism and all else that may ensue on and around the 31st of October. While you’re at it – what the heck, time flies – make sure you’ve got your plans for “the Holidays” in mind if you want to make any upgrades to your coverage.

In The Months With an R in Them, On Days That End in Y.

September 9, 2022 By Forrest Dailey

There is an age-old rule of thumb that one should only eat oysters during months with an R in their name. So, September through April. As a matter of fact, if you Google “Months with an R in them” almost every result has something to do with the above-mentioned rule of thumb. Seems quite odd. Is that the only thing we associate with the time between September and April?

We at Horihan Insurance say there are a good number of other reasons this oysterful season is significant. For instance:

During this time, millions will start to really look at their health insurance options for the following year. There isn’t always much to discuss because there isn’t always much that changes. But sometimes there is, and like with any other insurance policy, it’s just best to periodically go over it to be sure yours still suits your current needs.

During these R-ful months, you may very well be thinking of the insurance coverage you have on your home to be ready for deep freeze season. Especially if you go away from home for significant chunks of time in the winter, you will want to be sure you have the right coverage while you are away.

For some of us, this time of year is all about the coverage we have on our snowmobiles. When it gets to be that time of year, snowmobilers tend to get a bit excited and overlook the most important thing which is making sure you have the coverage you need. You get out there for the first time and the snow is deep and fluffy, and the sun is glittering off the ice crystals and it’s enough to make anyone get a little carried away. But it’s no excuse not to have proper coverage on your sled.

It’s a time when millions are going away to college and thinking about:

* Their first renter’s insurance. Moving out of your parents’ house is an enormous step in life. Having your own place is a lot to look after, even if you don’t own it. It is a very common misconception that if you don’t own your home, you don’t need insurance on it. But you do. Because it’s not always about the box but what’s in it. You have stuff, don’t you? You need insurance on your stuff!

* Their own auto policy. Just like anything, when you’re out on your own, you may like to deal with your own agent with your own policy. If so, great, but first come in and talk with a Horihan agent to make sure you understand what you’ll need to know about managing that policy going forward.

* Perhaps their own medical insurance coverage. Many are electing to remain on their parents’ health insurance plan until they reach age 26. Some just want to handle it themselves or find something they feel is better for them than what their parents’ plan offers. Same thing. Come talk with a Horihan agent about what managing your own health insurance policy will entail.

What is the best time to reach out to Horihan Insurance about any and all of this? Any day that ends in Y. Okay well maybe not the ones that start with an S. Well, even on those days you can fill out a form on our website to initiate the process of getting a quote. So…

Anyway, once you’ve got the coverage you need, the world is your oyster. Couldn’t resist, not sorry.

A Closer Look At Some of the Common, and the Lesser Talked-About Misconceptions About Insurance

August 19, 2022 By Forrest Dailey

man hand holding magnifier with document

You’ve probably heard it from us before:

Yes, you DO need renter’s insurance. Your landlord’s policy will not replace your stuff.

No, you’re super-valuables are not covered by your general homeowner’s policy.

No, all insurance companies don’t offer the same thing.

No, life insurance is not “too expensive.”

No, the color of your vehicle doesn’t determine how much you pay for auto insurance. Certain colors of vehicles do put you more at risk for accidents during certain hours/weather conditions. And having an accident can cause your rates to go up. The insurance world is full of misconceptions and myths. Here, we’ll take you through a few of the more confounding ones. The ones we haven’t touched upon on this blog or on our Facebook page.

For instance:

· I should always file a claim – Not necessarily. It depends on the degree of the damage. If the increase in your insurance cost after filing will cost you more than it would have to just get it fixed out of pocket. Or if the claim is less than your deductible. Or, perhaps you have an older vehicle and you’re going to be getting a new one sooner than later anyway.

· Staying with one company for years will get me the best rates – Sure, there is something to be said for loyalty. But you don’t always get the best rates for loyalty to one company. And even if you did, why wait for it when you could potentially find something better, today!?

· I’ll save money by having the minimum coverage – Remember “Murphy’s Law” which states if something can go wrong it will, expect the unexpected, all that? Sure, you’ll save money so long as anything you need to file a claim on costs less than the amount of coverage you have. But that’s what’s so crazy about “the unexpected.” It usually comes in larger quantities than you expect, on top of it’s annoying habit of inconvenient timing.

· I will get the stated value of my scheduled items in the event of a loss, theft, damage, etc. – “Scheduled items” are those more valuable items that were mentioned in the opening arguments of this post. You give a “stated value” of an item of, let’s say $150,000. That amount becomes sort of the ceiling amount for reimbursement. You’re more likely to receive the replacement cost value of the item, which is not how much you paid for it but how much it was likely to be worth at the time of the loss.

· I’m self-employed with no employees so I can’t get Workers Comp – You most certainly can, and it has a name. It’s called Sole Proprietor Workers Comp. As a sole proprietor you may not be required to have it, but there are many good reasons why you ought to. Just like any other worker, your income depends on your ability to work after all. How much more so if you’re the one and only person responsible for keeping your business afloat?

Obviously this is not an entirely comprehensive list. There are tons of misconceptions about insurance and any and all of them could really cost you. It behooves you to look into some of the notions you have about insurance. Talk about them with your agent for clarity.

What is This “Holiday Spirit” and Where Can I Get Some?

The Scariest Thing About Halloween

In The Months With an R in Them, On Days That End in Y.

A Closer Look At Some of the Common, and the Lesser Talked-About Misconceptions About Insurance

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