
Source: blog.apartmentsearch.com
Source: blog.apartmentsearch.com
Source: blog.apartmentsearch.com
We are a month and a half into quarantine and date nights in many households have devolved into, âWhat have we not seen on Netflix yet?â While we are all ready to get back out and about, there are plenty of fun date night at home options to help you enjoy and appreciate your partner. This post is partially inspired by the fact that we are celebrating our wedding anniversary tonight and I was already doing so research on what to do this weekend. I figured if I was already doing the work, I might as well share the wealth with you all! Â
Check out a few of our best date night in ideas
Name that Tune
This really is a fun activity that we typically do on road trips, but it works just as well for date night. Play each other your favorite songs from different eras or events in life. Â
What song was popular when you went to your first school dance? Did you ever learn a choreographed dance to a song? What was it? What was your first favorite country/hip hop/punk song? Did you ever dedicate a song to someone on the radio? Make a mixtape? First breakup/heartbreak song you listened to 100 times?
Music is such an integral part of our memories. It is sure to bring out some great stories from your partner that you have never heard before and some great stories from your past that you may have completely forgotten about. All you really need is a Spotify account, your beverage of choice!
Wine Tasting
This is an amusing challenge for the nose and tastebuds. Taste three (or five–no judgment here) wines and figure out which is which based solely on the tasting notesâ¦.you know the âhints of pencil lead and cranberry.â This can be made romantic with dim lights and some candles or you can make this more upbeat with some fun background playlists.
Optional additions to make the night more festive: Cheeses, nuts, olives, crackers, honey
Minute to Win It
Impress each other with feats of strength and balance. This is an evening bound to be full of laughter. Check out this video for inspiration! Challenges include…
Sweets for Sweethearts
Bake together…even if neither of you is an expert in the kitchen, learning something new together is good for relationships!
Here are some recipes that have videos to go along with them
For easy cooking try these 3 Ingredient Desserts
For all those ripe bananas on your counter
For when you can only be trusted with the microwave
20 Questions
It sounds silly, but this really can be a learning experience. If youâve been together you may think you know all the answers…but remember peopleâs tastes and preferences change. Do you really know that sweet tarts are still his favorite candy? Or is Paris still her number one destination? The answers could surprise you!
Double DateÂ
Yes! This is actually possible via Netflix Party.  Pick a movie ahead of time, grab the popcorn and candy and chat with your favorite duo. Â
Take a trip down memory lane
Look at each otherâs pictures from your favorite vacation together. Youâll be surprised to see the vacation through their eyes and their memories. You can relive the best times together and appreciate it in a whole new way. Bring in even more sensory memories by adding a favorite food or drink you discovered during that trip.
Or Take a Virtual Trip
Ever wonder what Venice is like during lockdown?
Join Travel Curious on their next tour with your Venetian born guide, Luca, who will take you on a live virtual walking tour of Venice and will end up in the Venetian mask-maker artisan shop.Â
Join for free on their Instagram Live feed on May 15 2020 at 15:00pm BST / 10:00am EST
https://www.instagram.com/travelcurioustours/?hl=en
Read What to Do this Weekend: Date Night In Ideas on Apartminty.
Source: blog.apartminty.com
Source: blog.apartmentsearch.com
Source: blog.apartmentsearch.com
For many people, car insurance is a major expense category in the household budget. And because itâs against the law to drive without car insurance, itâs not a budget item that can be eliminated unless youâre willing to go car-free. That doesnât mean, though, that youâre stuck paying sky-high rates. Hereâs how to get cheap car insurance.
Learn about personal loan rates.
How Insurance Companies Set Car Insurance Rates
Like health insurance, car insurance comes with both premiums and deductibles. The premiums are what you pay the insurance company every month to maintain your coverage. The deductible is what youâll pay when you start making claims, up to a certain annual cap of, say, $1,000.
Itâs worth noting that most people who say they want cheap car insurance mean that they want car insurance with low monthly premiums. But, as with health insurance, thereâs a risk to having a policy with low premiums and a high deductible. In the event of a serious accident, youâll have to meet that deductible. So, one way to get lower premiums is to opt for a higher deductible, but this is only a safe strategy if you have enough liquidity to cover your deductible in the event of an accident.
When car insurance companies set insurance premium rates they take several factors into account. These include applicantsâ age, gender and driving history, as well as the type of car the applicant drives and the driverâs state of residence. While you canât change your age, there are other steps you can take to get favorable rates from car insurance companies.
Types of Coverage
Insurance companies charge more for comprehensive car insurance than they do for basic coverage. In most states youâre required to have liability insurance to cover any damage you do to another car or driver. The extent of that coverage requirement varies by state. In most states, youâre not required to have insurance to cover damage to your own car, or injuries you might suffer in an accident.
If you choose to add insurance coverage for yourself, you can opt for comprehensive coverage or collision coverage. Collision coverage, as the name indicates, covers damage from an accident with another car or an object, and in the event that your car flips. Comprehensive coverage covers things like theft, vandalism and natural disasters, too.
So, while youâll almost definitely need to buy liability coverage to cover other driversâ damages, you might not need to buy physical damage coverage for your own vehicle. It will depend on the terms of your lease if youâre leasing a car, and on your own assessment of the risks you face.
If youâre buying a valuable new car, youâll probably want comprehensive coverage. If youâre paying cash for an older, used vehicle, you can probably get away with a more basic level of coverage. Whatever insurance option you choose for yourself, be sure to comply with state laws relating to liability insurance for any damage you might do to another driver. Once you have a car insurance policy, carry proof of insurance with you in your vehicle at all times.
How to Get Cheap Car Insurance Rates
In the long term, one of the best ways to get cheap car insurance is to be a safe, responsible driver. The worst drivers have high rates because the insurance company needs financial compensation for the high likelihood that it will have to pay out in the event these drivers get in an accident. If you have a spotless driving record, keep it up. If you have some accidents or tickets in your past, they shouldnât drive your rates up forever. If itâs been a few years since your last incident, you can try calling your insurance company and asking for a lower rate, using your recent, safe driving record as a bargaining chip.
Another way to get cheap car insurance is to use the same insurance company for more than one type of insurance and get a discount for your loyalty. For example, you can contact the insurance company that provides your homeowners insurance, life insurance or motorcycle insurance and ask if the company can give you a good deal on car insurance. If you have more than one car, you can bundle the insurance coverage on both vehicles.
Your credit score will also affect your car insurance rates, just like it affects the rates youâre offered when shopping for a mortgage. If your credit has improved since you last bought car insurance, you may be able to negotiate your way to cheaper car insurance. And if you pay your car insurance premiums and bills on time and in full, youâll build up goodwill with your insurer and might qualify for promotional rates.
If you donât drive very much during the year, you might get cheaper car insurance from a usage-based plan than you would from regular car insurance. Track your mileage before you start shopping for car insurance and see if your low mileage makes you eligible for a better deal.
If youâre under 25, youâll pay higher premiums, all things being equal. Thatâs because insurance companies judge young drivers to be riskier drivers. You can get lower rates by joining your parentsâ plan, or by using your good grades to get a discount on rates, if your insurance company offers that option. Once you reach your mid-20s thereâs no reason to keep paying the high rates that insurance companies levy on young drivers. You can ask your insurance company to lower your rate, or shop around for insurance from another provider.
Finally, the type of car you drive can affect your car insurance rates. Big, powerful and flashy cars are more likely to trigger high car insurance rates because the insurance company assumes youâll be more likely to speed in that kind of vehicle, and that the vehicle will be a target for theft. Vehicles with high repair costs (such as foreign-made cars) may be more expensive to cover, too. In some states, having a used car will mean lower rates because rates are affected by your carâs replacement value. But in other states, rates are based on vehiclesâ safety features, so having an older car wonât necessarily help you get cheap car insurance. If your car has special safety and/or anti-theft features, you may qualify for cheaper car insurance on that basis.
Bottom Line
If you donât have a vehicle or youâre thinking about getting a new (or used) car, it may be worth doing some research to find out which kinds of cars will get you the lowest car insurance rates. And if youâre paying a lot for car insurance now, you may be able to get cheaper coverage by negotiating your premiums or switching providers.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/andresr, ©iStock.com/ipopba, ©iStock.com/kate_sept2004
The post How to Get Cheap Car Insurance appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
Source: smartasset.com
Source: blog.apartmentsearch.com
Guest Post
By now, almost everyone in the country is under some kind of shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders from government agencies due to the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities stress that this is the main way to try to flatten the curve of new infections.
OK, so what can you do while cooped up in your apartment. The options arenât quite unlimited, but they are numerous. Take advantage of the space you have and undertake any activity that will be good for your mental or physical well-being. Hereâs a look at some of the most popular:
1. Do a jigsaw puzzle
This has become quite popular around the country, with people finishing a jigsaw puzzle and then posting a picture of it on social media. The more pieces, the better, say, 1,000 or more. How long youâll be able to do this to remain occupied depends on how many puzzles you have on hand, or how many times youâre willing to do the same puzzle over again.
If you donât have jigsaw puzzles, maybe you have a Rubikâs Cube or a book of crossword puzzles. You can also find crossword puzzles online and in your daily newspaper, if you still subscribe.
2. Exercise!
If you have a set of weights in your apartment, use them. Or maybe youâre a packrat and still have exercise routines on VHS tapes or DVDs. If not, there are plenty of routines you can find for free online.Â
If you can leave your apartment, go for a walk or a jog, as long as you observe the social distancing rules that are now the new normal. If you donât want to go outside, walk up and down a stairwell or walk up and down your hallway. Again, give others their personal space.
Short of that, you can go old-school and do crunches, sit-ups and push-ups on your floor. You can also do isometric exercises using a rolled-up bath towel. For a refresher on the techniques, check out these workouts you can do in your apartment and then get to work.Â
Whatever you chose, mix it up and keep it fresh as you stay in shape.Â
3. Binge-watch
OK, the first two suggestions will put your mind and body to work. At some point youâll feel like being a couch potato, so why not catch up on a series youâve been meaning to watch on Netflix, Disney Plus or one of the many streaming services available? Youâve never had a better excuse than now.Â
âTiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madnessâ has become all the rage on Netflix. It was released in mid-March and has given people something to do in the age of coronavirus. It is a true-crime documentary television series about the life of former zoo operator Joseph Maldonado-Passage.
If thatâs not your thing, there are favorites such as âNarcos: Mexicoâ and âStranger Thingsâ on Netflix. If youâve already seen them, whatâs the harm in starting over? On Disney Plus you can watch âThe Mandalorian,â âStar Wars: The Clone Warsâ and âThe Simpsons.â
4. Spring cleaning
Itâs spring, and you have a lot of unexpected time on your hands. Nowâs a great time to get in some spring cleaning of your apartment. Cut through the clutter and organize your closet and dresser. Most importantly, regularly clean and disinfect important areas such as kitchen surfaces and appliances that are used often. You should also keep your bathroom clean.Â
5. Other stuff
There are plenty of other things you can be doing, such as catching up on your reading, playing a musical instrument, writing emails to friends and family and getting plenty of rest.
Read Things To Do While You’re Stuck In Your Apartment on Apartminty.
Source: blog.apartminty.com
Source: blog.apartmentsearch.com
Source: blog.apartmentsearch.com