Newsletter - Martinez & Associates Insurance Services

In a search for happiness, many people look for it in other people and not within ourselves. Many people feel that things like money, a better job, better relationships..etc will make them happy. In reality, to find true contentment you must look inside yourself and learn to be your own best friend. That means you have to trust, love, and care for yourself just as you do the people you consider to be close to you. Following are steps that you can incorporate into your life that will help you to feel more empowered and happy about yourself!

• Begin to lift yourself up, not put yourself down. If you don’t like something about yourself, work to change it. If you can’t change it, simply accept it. Don’t beat up on yourself with negative self-talk. You’re not likely to change for the better when you fill yourself with negative thoughts.

 

• Give yourself positive rewards. When you do something that you are proud of give yourself a small reward. Try not to wait for others to praise you because you may grow resentful if the praise doesn’t come. Pat your own back, it is a great feeling that can stay with you for a long time.

 

• Forgive yourself. I doubt that you would keep scolding a child over and over for making a mistake so don’t do that to yourself. Give yourself the gift of forgiveness when you make a mistake. After that, work to figure out what lesson you can learn, and use it to make better choices the next time around.

 

• Enjoy your successes. Most people can remember all of the details of depressing, painful or even embarrassing events that happened many years ago. What if you did the same thing with all of your wins? Try to remember all of the triumphs and accomplishments that you’ve made and keep that memory with you and think about it at least once a week. Consider writing them down too.

 

• Always remember to celebrate your wonderful qualities! You will soon discover that the more you love yourself, the more you will be able to give love to others – and the more others will be able to love you!

 
Thanks for choosing Martinez & Associates Insurance Services.- We know you have many choices when purchasing insurance and we want to thank you for choosing us as your insurance agency. As a professional insurance agency, we pride ourselves on maintaining long-term relationships. Please keep us in mind when your family and friends are looking for a referral!

Today’s technology has made setting up security precautions such as security cameras a cinch! You no longer need to be a millionaire to set up one. You could even install one yourself! Security cameras provide a means for its owner to watch over his or her property from the safety and convenience of any area he chooses. This type of system is a great deterrent to thievery and unwanted entry. Most organizations that have sensitive items or are off limits to the general public employ these cameras to help keep their places safe.
 
Purchasing and implementing such a system may save your business from the terrors of illegal entry. Investment in such could save you a whole lot of trouble.
 
Before purchasing a system, you will want to consider the following factors.
 
Study your needs. The type of security measures installed will depend on your specific security needs. For example how large is the area you would like covered? How many cameras will it take to monitor this area? You must make sure the security camera system you will purchase can accommodate enough slots for expansion.
 
Do you need audio too? Some camera systems have audio recording equipment as well so you can not only see what happens but hear it as well. This is important in cases when you would like everything documented. However, this may be costly. Many establishments only require video records of their security.
 
Also, you must ascertain whether you need to have your security cameras record in color or black and white. Color cameras are, of course, more sophisticated and show a clearer picture. However, they tend to be pricey. Color cameras might also not work in low-light situations.
 
Consider the location of the cameras. Will the site be hard to set up? In that case, you may want to consider wireless security camera systems. However, these cameras must be in a place that is conducive to high-quality broadcast. There must be no interference. They can, be moved around the area. They are a bit more flexible than their fixed-wire cousins.
 
Will the camera system be for outdoor purposes? Cameras that monitor outdoor locations need special weatherproof housings and may not be recommended for extreme temperatures and various elements. Also, those that may be vandalized must be protected against such.
 
Also, you must take into consideration the lighting for an area. If your camera cannot record a scene due to bad lighting, you will end up with muddy images that won’t help in your surveillance activities. Choose a security camera that has excellent sensitivity to light. Also, try to illuminate such areas with external lighting.
 
You must consider where the power sources will be located. Make sure they are well protected from the elements and tampering.
 
Consider the available methods for recording the images. You may use a variety of backup media. And with the advent of computer storage media, even the use of hard disks, compact discs, and DVDs can prove to be an inexpensive way to store your data.

Thanks for choosing Martinez & Associates Insurance Services - We know you have many choices when purchasing insurance and we want to thank you for choosing us as your insurance agency. As a professional insurance agency, we pride ourselves on maintaining long-term relationships. Please keep us in mind when your family and friends are looking for a referral!

 

It’s easy to spend a fortune every year creating a beautiful yard. These five tips can help save you money in both this and future gardening seasons.

 

1. Plan your vegetable garden according to what your neighbors are planting so you can share your vegetables when they’re ready for eating. Often I’ve had too many of one kind of vegetables I couldn’t give away because my friends were ripe at the same time.

 

2. Select perennials rather than annuals for your flowerbeds. As they multiply each year, cut them back and exchange with your friends, so you both have lovely gardens and save money at the same time.

 

3. Compost your kitchen scraps, as well as your coffee grounds. The result is much better than any potting soil you can ever buy from a nursery or hardware store. The price is right, and this is recycling!

 

4. Instead of using mulch, try pebbles or small rocks in your garden as a ground cover. This will save you lots of cash since you won’t need to buy mulch in the spring and fall of every year.

 

5. Spend more money now by purchasing better quality gardening tools, and you will save in the long run. They will last for years, saving you dollars because you don’t need to replace them every planting season. It’s easy to spend a fortune every year creating a beautiful yard. These five tips can help save you money in both this and future gardening seasons.

 

Also, you might want to consider a little spring cleaning to your insurance policies. Start by reviewing your homeowner policy to make sure you have enough insurance to rebuild your home. If you have made any major improvements to your home such as adding a new room, updating a kitchen or bathroom, you risk being under-insured if you don’t adjust your homeowners coverage.

 

All of us at Martinez & Associates Insurance Services would like to thank you for your continued business! Please feel free to contact us anytime for a quote or just to review your current policies.

Nothing beats a good cup of coffee, right? Well we thought it was time to share our secrets on how to brew that perfect cup. Here are simple steps that you can take to produce the perfect cup of coffee every time.

Start with quality. One of the most critical aspects of coffee drinking is the grade of the coffee that you start off with. If you have a favorite flavor, then purchase whole beans in that flavor. If you can do this, it will allow you to get the freshest coffee accessible.

Grind away. Purchase a quality coffee grinder. Some of the best grinders available today are easy to use and easy to clean up. By grinding your own coffee beans, you’ll be able to only grind what you need, meaning that you will have complete freshness in your coffee.

Store It Right. It is very fundamental to store your coffee tightly. Air oxidizes the coffee and can make it to get bitter quickly. Metal canisters can also enable a metal taste to get into the coffee, making it taste bad.

The Maker. The coffee maker that you use is also critical. No matter what style that you go with, you can get a good cup of coffee out of it if you take the essential steps to keeping it fresh.  For example, you should insure that the coffee maker is kept clean after each use. In fact, you’ll need to make sure that you detail clean it, with the assistance of vinegar, every so often as well. Your preferences will ultimately determine which style of coffee maker you will use. Make sure that it uses a permanent filter in it.

The Water. Even the water that you use is central to the quality of the coffee you will get from it. It is essential that you use water that is free from chlorine and minerals.

Often, using bottled water rather than tap water will augment the quality of the coffee. Also, keep the water nice and hot. A good temperature for the water is about 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Supply The Right Amount. It is also central for you to use the right quantity of coffee beans and coffee grounds in the maker. Too many and you will have a very strong cup of coffee and too few will make it to be too weak. Follow the directions provided by the coffee producer for the best cup of coffee.

Lastly and probably the most vital aspect of getting a great cup of gourmet coffee is to make sure to enjoy your coffee when it is hot and fresh. Most restaurants are told to keep coffee for less than thirty minutes, but at home, the best coffee is the coffee that hasn’t sat for more than twenty minutes.

All of us at Martinez & Associates Insurance Services would like to thank you for your continued business and the opportunity to serve you! 

Now that 2018 is here, it may be time to consider reviewing your personal insurance program. Most people don’t take time to review exposures, options, or their current economic condition before making their insurance purchase. Taking stock of your personal finances is important in order for you to plan for your future. Here are a few tips to help you get started. Of course we always recommend you call our office for more information.

• Maintain good credit - Regularly check your credit score, since a low score may impact your premium.
• Review your auto limits – If you have limits of less than $100,000, that won't even cover the medical bills in a serious accident. The minimum liability coverage that anyone with any assets or income to protect should be carrying is $500,000 to $1 million or more.
• Maintain a home inventory – Having an accurate account of your personal property can provide for greater recovery in the event of a loss.
• Bundle your insurance – Combine your auto, home and umbrella policies with one insurer to receive greater discounts.
• Set the right deductible - A higher deductible reduces your premium, but you have to pay more out of pocket in the event of an accident. If you have a good driving record and haven’t had an accident, you may want to gamble and opt for a higher premium. The reward for this risk could be up to a 40% savings.
• Consider Identity Theft – Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S.
• Buy from a financially strong company – Your insurance is only as good as the company who stands behind the policy. The insurance company should have an “A+” rating or higher.
• Be prepared to make adjustments as your lifestyle and needs change.

Get an Early Start On the Tax Season

• Maximize any tax investment savings. Contribute as much to your 401k as possible.
• If you have a Health Savings Account, check to see if you have any money left and get it spent on qualified expenses.
• Review your 2016 tax returns to determine if you need to make any withholding adjustments.
• Get an appointment set with your insurance agent to review all your personal insurance needs. As your life changes so do your insurance needs.
• Get all your financial records organized and ready for filing. Gather receipts, proof of charitable contributions, and other tax forms into one place. 
• If you have a tax preparer, set an appointment now. This is a good way to give you a deadline to complete all your necessary paperwork.
• Determine any last minute charitable contributions, and make them before the year’s end.