Welcome to The Simple Nickle!

Clueless about your money? Do you want financial security, but don't know where to start?

The Simple Nickle is a free web-based program to help you easily understand and control your finances in less than 15 minutes a day! We'll guide you step-by-step; it's as easy as checking your email! We'll also give you easy-to-understand financial education starting with the most basic aspects.

The Simple Nickle: Phase 4

Phase 4: Insurance


  1. Gather all your insurance papers into one place.

    Alright, this step is easy and fun...but it does require a little 'oomph!' It's that time again when we go around the house and gather up all the insurance papers we have scattered about. This includes informational books and pamphlets, statements, or anything else that could possibly tell you anything about your insurance. It only takes a few minutes!

    1. Get up from the computer.
    2. Check your purse, that spot on the counter or table where you mail collects(or for the semi-organized, your mail basket), the drawer where you stash your junk, the desk, the old, unorganized filing cabinet, or where ever they might be.
    3. Get them all together and put them by the computer.
    4. You're done!
  2. Divide and Discover.

    We are going to get a lot done today in just 15 minutes! We'll be organized, informed, and ready to tackle our insurance! Set your timer, and go!

    1. DIVIDE: Divide the pile of insurance papers that are stashed right by your computer into their respective piles: life insurance, car insurance, home/renter's insurance, health insurance, etc.
    2. DISCOVER: Begin reading what information you have in the life insurance pile. If you don't have life insurance, go online here and watch a short video full of useful info. After the video is over, go
    here, start with sections 1 and 3, and read until your 15 minutes are up.
  3. Learn some more about life insurance.

    We already starting learning about the glamorous topic of life insurance(ha!). Even though it's not super exciting, it is essential. Today we are going to continue to learn a little more about the subject until we feel ready to make some decisions. We will repeat this step each day until we are done reading the few selections below. Now don't whine. You're smart! You can do it!

    1. Set your timer for 15 minutes...that's all we're going to do today!
    2. Pick up reading where you left off yesterday, either from your insurance papers or online
    here, reading sections 1 and 3. When you finish those, go online here and read this great overview of LIFE INSURANCE BASICS. Then read about TYPES OF LIFE INSURANCE here. And last, read about BUYING AND SAVING MONEY here. Write down notes for yourself as you go along.
    3. You're done!
  4. Date and Calculate.

    Now we have a much better understanding of life insurance and why we need it. Today we are going to figure out just what we need with a neat, quick and easy little online tool: a life insurance needs calculator. We are also going to set a date with our spouse to get on the same page with all this life insurance stuff.

    1. CALCULATE: Get online and go to the calculator here.
    2. Follow the steps to figure out your needs, and take a note of the final numbers to put with your life insurance papers.
    3. DATE: Email, call or talk with your spouse and set up a 15 minute 'insurance date' for tomorrow evening at 9pm(you can make it anytime that is convenient for both of you...and remember, it will only take 15 minutes!).
    4. Write a note to yourself so you don't forget.
    5. You're done!
  5. Date and Discuss.

    You've set a time for your 'insurance date' where you'll meet with your spouse and talk about your life insurance needs. You're organized, so this date will only take 15 minutes! We'll even help you know what to cover. Feel free to provide candle light, romantic music, and dessert.
    1. Meet with your life insurance papers and notes in hand.
    2. Discuss the following:
    What do we already have?
    What do we need?
    What changes do we want or need to make?
    3. Write down what you decided to change, if you changed anything at all. Tell your spouse that tomorrow you will begin shopping around for those changes.
    4. You're done!
  6. Shop around for insurance.

    Now that we know what we need, we're going to go get it! One of the great blessings of the Internet is that we can easily and quickly shop for and compare insurance options. Hooray! We like things that are quick and easy.

    1. Get online.
    2. Shop for life insurance by going to an insurance comparison website. We like
    www.accuquote.com.
    3. Select 'free online quote,' 'get a quote,' or where ever on the site that you can get a life insurance quote.
    4. Follow the directions to get a quote, and write down the best option on a post-it note.
    5. You're done!
  7. Buy life insurance.

    Today we are going to spend our 15 minutes buying the life insurance we chose. With this step down, you can feel so much more secure about your money and your future.

    1. Get online and go to the website of the company you chose to be insured with.
    2. Either call a representative, or buy the insurance you want through their website.
    3. You're done!
  8. Learn about car insurance.

    Today we are going to return to our pile of insurance papers and tackle car insurance. This is going to be much easier than what we've already done with our life insurance, so take a deep breath and relax! Even though it's not super exciting, it is essential. Today we are going to continue to learn a little more about the subject until we feel ready to make some decisions. We will repeat this step each day until we are done reading the few selections below. Now don't whine. You're smart! You can do it!

    1. Set your timer for 15 minutes...that's all we're going to do today!
    2. Begin reading the car insurance papers you already have until you understand them. For more information, go online and read
    here, 'What is auto insurance?' and the next part, 'What is covered by a basic auto policy?'. Then read here, 'How can I save money?' and here, 'How much auto insurance do you really need?', Write down notes for yourself as you go along.
    3. You're done!
  9. Date and Calculate.

    Now we have a much better understanding of car insurance and why we need it. Today we are going to review our policy, and refer to what we read online, 'How much auto insurance do you really need?' to figure out where we stand, and if we need to make any changes. We are also going to set a date with our spouse to get on the same page with all this car insurance stuff.

    1. CALCULATE: Refer to your current auto insurance papers to see what coverage you have.
    2. Refer to the online article
    here and see if you want to make any changes. Make a note of the final numbers.
    3. DATE: Email, call or talk with your spouse and set up a 15 minute 'insurance date' for tomorrow evening at 9pm(you can make it anytime that is convenient for both of you...and remember, it will only take 15 minutes!).
    4. Write a note to yourself so you don't forget.
    5. You're done!
  10. Date and Discuss.

    You've set a time for your 'insurance date' where you'll meet with your spouse and talk about your life insurance needs. You're organized, so this date will only take 15 minutes! We'll even help you know what to cover. Feel free to provide candle light, romantic music, and dessert.
    1. Meet with your car insurance papers and notes in hand.
    2. Discuss the following:
    What do we already have?
    What do we need?
    What changes do we want or need to make?
    3. Write down what you decided to change, if you changed anything at all. Tell your spouse that tomorrow you will begin shopping around for those changes.
    4. You're done!
  11. Shop around for car insurance.

    Now that we know what we need, we're going to go get it! One of the great blessings of the Internet is that we can easily and quickly shop for and compare insurance options. Hooray! We like things that are quick and easy. Do just 15 minutes of shopping a day; if it takes longer than 15 minutes, just come back tomorrow. NOTE: We're not going to buy our car insurance just yet. We'll wait until we check on our home owner's/renter's insurance as well. Sometimes when you buy them from the same company, you get a discount! And we love discounts!!

    1. Get online.
    2. Shop for car insurance by going to at least 3 car insurance websites. Here are a few we like to choose from:
    geico.com
    esurance.com
    amica.com
    allstate.com
    OR look up a company located near you and call them.
    3. Select 'free online quote,' 'get a quote,' 'compare rates' or where ever on the site that you can get a car insurance quote.
    4. Follow the directions to get a quote, and write down the best option on a post-it note.
    5. You're done!
  12. Learn about home owner's/renter's insurance.

    Today we are going to return to our pile of insurance papers and tackle home owner's/renter's insurance. This is going to be as easy as what we've done with our car insurance, so take a deep breath and relax! Even though it's not super exciting, it is essential.

    Today we are going to continue to learn a little more about the subject until we feel ready to make some decisions. We will repeat this step each day until we are done reading the few selections below. Now don't whine. You're smart! You can do it!

    1. Set your timer for 15 minutes...that's all we're going to do today!
    2. Begin reading the home owner's/renter's insurance papers you already have until you understand them. For more information, go online and read
    here, 'Top things to know' about home owner's insurance. Then, read here, 'Value your home properly,' and then here, 'Getting the proper coverage.' If you rent, read here, 'Can I get insurance if I rent my home?' Write down notes for yourself as you go along.
    3. You're done!
  13. Date and Calculate.

    Now we have a much better understanding of home insurance and why we need it. Today we are going to review our policy, and refer to what we read online, 'Getting the proper coverage,' to figure out where we stand, and if we need to make any changes. We are also going to set a date with our spouse to get on the same page with all this home insurance stuff.

    1. CALCULATE: Refer to your current home owner's/renter's insurance papers to see what coverage you have.
    2. Refer to the online article
    here and see if you want to make any changes. Make a note of the final numbers.
    3. DATE: Email, call or talk with your spouse and set up a 15 minute 'insurance date' for tomorrow evening at 9pm(you can make it anytime that is convenient for both of you...and remember, it will only take 15 minutes!).
    4. Write a note to yourself so you don't forget.
    5. You're done!
  14. Date and Discuss.

    You've set a time for your 'insurance date' where you'll meet with your spouse and talk about your home insurance needs. You're organized, so this date will only take 15 minutes! We'll even help you know what to cover. Feel free to provide candle light, romantic music, and dessert.

    1. Meet with your home insurance papers and notes in hand.
    2. Discuss the following:
    What do we already have?
    What do we need?
    What changes do we want or need to make?
    3. Write down what you decided to change, if you changed anything at all. Tell your spouse that tomorrow you will begin shopping around for those changes.
    4. You're done!
  15. Shop around for home insurance.

    Now that we know what we need, we're going to go get it! One of the great blessings of the Internet is that we can easily and quickly shop for and compare insurance options. Hooray! We like things that are quick and easy. Do just 15 minutes of shopping a day; if it takes longer than 15 minutes, just come back tomorrow.

    1. Get online.
    2. Shop for home owner's/renter's insurance by going to at least 3 home owner's/renter's insurance websites. Start with the company you have chosen for your car insurance. Here are a few we like to choose from:
    geico.com
    esurance.com
    amica.com
    allstate.com
    statefarm.com
    OR look up a company located near you and call them.
    3. Select 'free online quote,' 'get a quote,' 'home owner's insurance,' 'renter's insurance' or where ever on the site that you can get a home owner's/renter's insurance quote.
    4. Follow the directions to get a quote, and write down the best option on a post-it note.
    5. You're done!
  16. Buy car insurance and home owner's/renter's insurance.

    Today we are going to spend our 15 minutes buying the car insurance, and maybe also the home owner's/renter's insurance, we chose. With this step down, you can feel so much more secure about your money and your future. If you get the best rates by buying your car insurance and home owner's/renter's insurance from the same company, buy them both at the same time. If you get the best rates buying from separate companies, buy only the car insurance today, and the home owner's/renter's tomorrow.

    1. Get online and go to the website of the company you chose to be insured with.
    2. Either call a representative, or buy the insurance you want through their website.
    3. You're done!
  17. Buy home insurance.

    Today we are going to spend our 15 minutes buying the home owner's/renter's insurance we chose, if we haven't purchased it already. With this step down, you can feel so much more secure about your money and your future.

    1. Get online and go to the website of the company you chose to be insured with.
    2. Either call a representative, or buy the insurance you want through their website.
    3. You're done!
  18. Work our your health insurance.

    This is one subject that we don't feel like we can advise on due to the unique aspects and nuances of each person's health situation. However, that doesn't make it any less important! Health insurance is an important part of financial security. More than protecting your health, health insurance protects your money. Using the steps we have used for our other forms of insurance, take matters into your own hands and work out your health insurance. Your finances will thank you!

<-Back: Phase 3: Saving Money

Next->Phase 5: Investing

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