You know summertime is officially here when garage sales start. As you clean out your garages, closets, car trunks and so on, think of it as a great opportunity to also do a home inventory.

What’s a home inventory? It’s a complete list of all your possessions which can come in handy for insurance claims after a major loss, theft, fire or disaster. One handy way is to grab a video camera and film each room, one-by-one.

Here are additional great tips on how to get started (give it a try)!

• When videotaping your home for a home inventory, “consumers should take video inside each room of their home and stand in the middle, turning in a circle to get everything,” says Stephen Hadhazi, publisher of DocuDamage.com.
  
• “Take close up shots above door ways and windows on the inside of the home, also take good video of the brick veneer around exterior windows. What you are doing is documenting that it wasn’t damaged prior to the storm.
• “Taking the short amount of time to video tape these things (with the time/date stamp turned on) will potentially help get tens of thousands of dollars per home paid additional to what the person would have received had they not documented the fact that the home was not damaged prior to the storm.”
• More: Easy Guide to Home Inventory

Tired of high gas prices? Save that money and give bike commuting a try!

Many metropolitan areas and transit systems are offering discounts and free rides to cyclists this week. Tomorrow is the official Bike to Work Day - click here to see what fun events are going on in your area.

Also, we just posted some new tips from cyclists and bike experts on how to enjoy your first bike commute. Here’s a sample:

1. Take It Easy. Don’t get caught up on trying to have the correct equipment, like the best bike or fancy carriers and crates for your bike. Start out with a backpack to carry things. Make sure that you’re enjoying your bicycling and your commuting before you go wholeheartedly into it. There are great community bike shops that have used bike equipment for sale, we’ve heard a lot of great things about Craigslist or even just ask your coworkers.
– Chris Cameron, Commuting Instructor, Cascade Bicycling Club, Seattle WA

2. Protect Your Melon! A helmet is a must, as should be protective eye wear (sunglasses or clear glasses). I’ve been hit in the lenses on more than one occasion by rocks kicked up by cars. And the glasses will also protect your eyes when you ride through a patch of bugs or hit a bee. Gloves are good to protect your hands if you fall - or to keep you warm if its cold.
– Torin R., West Hills, CA

3. Do a “practice run.” Ride in on the weekend to make sure that you know the bike route. Carry the gear that you expect to need for work. Make sure you know where you are going to park your bike, change clothing if necessary and store gear during the work day. A practice run helps you overcome some of the hurdles in a non-stressful way.
– Doug Shidell, avid cyclist and publisher of Bikeverywhere.com.

• Biking To Work
• On the Road: Top 6 Biking Tips

Our brand-new pets section is up and live! We’ve got plenty of great tips from pet owners and experts but we could always use more - email us your stories and tips!

Top Three Tips

1. Know Your Pet. Familiarize yourself fully with the type of dog or cat breed you are interested in. Check to see if your lifestyle fits with the breed’s characteristics. Check to see if the breed you are interested in purchasing is prone to certain types of genetic diseases or chronic medical conditions.
– Barbara R. Gores, DVM, Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson

2. Have patience. People have expectations that the pet will be perfectly well behaved and not need training. There is a period of adjustment that will take time.
– Leslie Rocky, Colorado Animal Rescue Center

3. Visiting the vet. Vets are limited in time, just like a doctor’s appointment. The more efficient you can be, the more you’ll get for your pet. Make a list of questions ahead of time and write everything down.
– Dr. Louise Murray, Dir. of Medicine at ASPCA and author of Vet Confidential

Want more? Have a read through these top articles:

• Choosing a Pet
• Get Fluffy Disaster Ready
• Choosing a Groomer and Trainer
• Choosing a Vet
• Pet Medical Insurance

By Mark E., our newest blogger, WhatHappensNow staff member and traveler extraordinaire. Welcome Mark!

Are you an “illegal” traveler? Of course you’re not (I can hear you saying no). Well, before you answer no (again), chances are you could be and not even know it.

On a recent trip back from the Virgin Islands, my travel plan was to have a brief layover in Miami before heading home to Minneapolis. However, I was told at the check-in counter that my return booking was “illegal”. “What?” I said. “But I’ve booked online through a travel site.” I had all my flight confirmations, ID and passport organized and right there as proof. I had just helped a little old lady across the street. I had petted a stray dog. So now I’m “illegal” - what gives?

Ok, ok, while the term “illegal” might be a little strong, it was the term that the check-in counter used – and I did indeed violated an airline policy. I had booked my trip through a travel website and the 40 minutes of time allowed for layover in Miami was insufficient per the airline’s 1 hour standard for layovers.

What can this mean for you?  Basically, that all bets are off and the airlines responsibility of getting you home per schedule is lifted. What could happen if you don’t book a longer layover:

-         worst case scenario: they don’t let you on the plane

-         your luggage won’t route correctly and may be delayed

-         you won’t make your connection time and may have a longer layover (which the airline may or may not pay for if overnight)

While you may not be aware your online booking company is violating layover times, there are some smart things you can do in advance to be prepared and help the airline booking people help you:

1)      When booking your next flight, pay attention to your layover times. If traveling internationally and booking a connection, shoot for a layover that lasts at least 1-2 hours. Why so much time? When returning home to the U.S. you’ll need to grab your luggage and clear customs, even if you’re a U.S. citizen. And that takes time.

2)      Learn the airlines’ policies

3)      Be as cooperative and helpful to the ticketing staff - that includes being prepared
to help them help you

As it turns out – I did get on the plane to leave the Virgin Islands (a little bittersweet there…).  However, I had to spend the night in Miami on my dime and my luggage arrived at my home destination two days after I had got back.

Lesson learned?  Be prepared, because petting the stray dog isn’t gonna get you any points.  Help the old lady though. It’s just a nice thing to do.

Congratulations!! Thousands of high school seniors, college seniors and grad students across the country are gearing up for graduation.

Graduation is a clear sign of transitions and changes ahead. Know a soon-to-be graduate? Here are a few articles and hints that might help them through the next stages of life:

High School Seniors

• Choosing a College: The Final Decision
• Roommates 101
• Surviving the First Month at College

College Graduates

• On Your Own: Home Owner’s/Renter’s Insurance 101
• Moving Out: Tips on Clearing Out Your Apartment or Dorm
• Your First Apartment: Know Your Renter’s Rights

Have a great tip for grads? Post it in the Comments below!

By Steven W., our newest guest blogger and busy father of two

DTAp, MMR, Heb, Hib…

An endless alphabetical parade of immunizations awaits your new baby, for many years to come. Here are some tips for making the first 18 months of shots easier, a time when many new parents may not know what to expect.

1) Make the appointment for a Tuesday, if possible.

Often times a baby will have a normal reaction to immunizations. Rashes, slight fevers, and mild swelling 2 or 3 days after the immunization are all common reactions. However, the new parent may become overly worried by these reactions and want to talk to or see the pediatrician. If the baby gets the shot late in the week, the reactions may not appear until the weekend, and then seeing a doctor can be difficult. It’s best to get the immunizations early in the week, avoiding Mondays which are usually the busiest day at the doctor’s office.

2) Do your homework

Read up on common reactions to the specific immunizations beforehand, and discuss them with your pediatrician at the time of the shots. You will be better prepared to know which reactions are normal, and which are cause for concern.

3) Discuss OTC medications with your pediatrician

Children’s Tylenol or other medication can be useful for controlling mild fever and mild aches/pains after immunizations. Discuss what type of over-the-counter medication you can give your baby, and what dosage, with your pediatrician at the time of the shots.

4) Take it easy before and after the shots

Don’t plan a busy playdate the day before immunizations or a trip out of town the weekend after. Your baby may be extra tired and fussy after getting the shots.

5) Keep track of the immunizations

Don’t give all of the responsibility to the busy doctor’s office. Know what immunizations your child should be getting and when. Your doctor may follow a slightly different schedule, tailored for your child. Recommended immunizations evolve over the years too. Make sure you discuss all immunizations with your pediatrician, and that your child doesn’t miss any.

Thanks Steven for such great tips! Have questions or topic ideas for Steven? Post them in the Comments section below!

It’s Friday!

Here’s a new video we recorded with Greg Sherrill from Heartland Corporate Security. He shares his top tips on how to keep your car safe and deter break-ins:

Click on the video to view.

Headed away for the weekend? Don’t forget to turn off the iron or take out the trash before you go!Top 5 tips from your fellow travelers:

1. Arrange to have a friend, family member or trusted neighbor check on your house, take care of pets, water your house plants, take out the trash, get the mail and newspaper.

2. Reconfirm all your reservations (hotel, rental car, airline, taxi, etc.).
3. Check the weather for your destination(s). Take out or add extra items to your luggage, if necessary (think umbrellas, shorts, sweatshirts, jackets). Worried about driving through certain weather hazards?

• Read our articles Winter Driving and Driving in the Rain for quick driving tips.
• You can also check out real-time traffic conditions and road closures.

4. Driving? Do a quick car maintenance check before heading out on the road – check your oil and gas levels; check headlights, turn signals, brake lights, inside lights; test your brakes, horn, windshield wipers, etc.

5. Set timers, turn off appliances and be sure to double-check windows and doors to make sure they’re shut and locked tight.

Have fun!

In honor of National Older Americans Month, Dan Tomlinson, Director of Tax at Roni Deutch Tax Center, has written up these top tax tips for seniors:

Social Security

Nearly all older Americans receive Social Security payments. A few items to consider with regards to taxes and Social Security:

1. If Social Security is your only source of income, then you should have no tax due.

• Keep in mind, however, if you have other forms of income like a pension you may have to include some of your Social Security income on your tax return. The formulas are somewhat complex, but if one-half of your Social Security plus your other income is over a base amount ($25,000 for single filers, $32,000 for married filers) then the payments start to become taxable.
• Up to 85% of SS payments are taxable if you fall under the above formula.

Retirement Funds and Pensions

Pensions, Retirement Plans, and IRAs come in many forms. You should always contact the plan administrator and/or tax professional if you have any questions regarding these payments.

1. Pension payments are generally fully taxable.

• A portion of the payments can be non-taxable if you had contributed after-tax dollars into the plan. The plan administrator will usually make this calculation for you or provide you with the amount of total contributions to assist you the calculation.
• Generally, this “cost recovery” lasts for 210 to 360 payments based on your age when first received.
• Talk to your tax professional in the year before your retirement to see if this applies to you.

2. IRAs:

• Traditional IRA distributions must begin by April 1st of the year following the tax during which the taxpayer reaches age 70 ½. Failure to do so may result in a 50% excise tax of the required distribution.
• Care should be taken with Roth IRAs. For example, converting from a traditional to a Roth IRA may not be a good move since this conversion requires all taxes be paid in the year of the change. The Roth IRA will accumulate earnings that will later be tax free, but these earnings may not exceed the earlier taxes paid.
• The IRA plan administrator will usually contact you in plenty of time to plan for these distributions.
• Be sure to bring any 1099s or any other information you believe is pertinent regarding your retirement payments to your tax professional.

Medical Care

Medical, nursing home, and in-home care expenses add up very quickly. When you prepare your tax return have a list of all of these expenses ready. Some tips to assist you with adding these expenses on your tax return:

• Most pharmacies will provide you with a list of all prescriptions purchased during the year which you may be able to deduct on your return.
• Keep a separate file for each type of expense. For example, one file for doctor visit co-pays, another for medical equipment (canes, walkers, hearing aids), and another for dental visits.
• Nursing home expenses are deductible, but if they are fully paid by insurance or Medicare then they are not included on your tax return.
• “Medical mileage” is deductible. Going to see the doctor incurs a 19 cents per mile deduction.

Thanks to Dan Tomlinson for these great tips! Want more tax or senior living tips? Click on the links below:

• Taxes After a Car Accident
• Top Tax Safety Tips
• Get Prepared: Senior Living

We’re here in Minneapolis watching a gorgeous day slowly change into a stormy one.

So how do you know when it’s time to make a severe weather plan or move to a safe room? Here are some tips from meteorologists and storm chasers:

1. Know the official signs:

• A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are more likely to occur.
• A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING is issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm. Also listen for Tornado Watch or Warning and Flash Flood Watch or Warning.
• Listen for tornado sirens — remember you may not be able to hear them or they might not be sounded in time.
• Turn on your weather radio or tune into your local TV stations for updates.

2. Watch for changing weather conditions, especially for tornadoes. The sky may turn very dark (like night) or have a dark green tinge. Blowing debris or the sound of an approaching tornado may alert you; people who have lived through it say that an approaching tornado sounds like a freight train.

3. While a thunderstorm might seem common (especially this time of year), remember that all thunderstorms are dangerous. Head indoors as soon as you see lightning or hear that first clap of thunder.

4. Head to a safe place. If severe weather is imminent or a tornado is on its way, head to an interior room with no windows. Bring flashlights, your weather radio, food and water.

5. Want more? Get ready for emergencies with our get ready month series we published last year here on the blog.

Have a severe weather tip or story? Share in the Comments section below!