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Don't forget to insure your digital gear

You have car insurance and homeowner's or renter's insurance. But what about your digital gear? Your homeowner's or rental policy offers some protection. But is it enough?

Don't wait for the unthinkable to happen to find out. Talk to your insurance agent today. You probably have a lot invested in digital goods.

Before you talk to your agent, make a complete list of your gear. It helps if you know exactly what you need covered.

Go through your house room by room. You'll be less likely to miss smaller gadgets. Include the value of the gear on your list.

To help organize your list, use software. You can use a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel. Better yet, download a free inventory program at KnowYourStuff.org. You can also use it to do a complete inventory of all items in your home.

Next, prepare a list of questions to ask your agent. Here are some things to include:

What events are covered?

The contents of your house are covered under certain circumstances. However, other events won't be covered. Most policies don't cover flood. You may need a second policy.

Ask if an item is covered if you lose it. Also, ask if you're covered if something is stolen outside the home. If you travel overseas, check that your gear is still covered outside the country.

What kind of coverage are you getting?

Some people don't think about the type of coverage they're getting. Your policy may provide for the actual cash value of items. Other policies offer replacement value.

Replacement value is the better option. You'll receive the amount you would pay to buy a comparable item new.

In contrast, actual cash value takes depreciation into account. You'll get the value of your item - minus the amount of depreciation. And few things depreciate as fast as digital gear.

What are the limits and deductible?

Your policy will cap the amount you can claim for personal belongings. For example, your limit may be $25,000 in the event of a disaster.

Additionally, a per-item limit will be imposed. High-end items may not be protected for their full value. For example, you may only receive $1,000 for a television that costs $2,500.

Equally important is the deductible. A high deductible may negate the benefits for less expensive items.

Are digital downloads protected?

Don't expect your insurer to cover your personal data. You're responsible for protecting data on your computer.

However, some insurers are beginning to take digital downloads into consideration. The movies and music you buy may be covered. But you should ask about these items specifically.

You should ask what kind of proof you need of the purchases. If a receipt is required, forward receipts to an online e-mail account.

Can I buy extra coverage?

Chances are, you'll find your insurance is lacking in certain areas. In that case, you may buy additional insurance for personal property. This is usually attached to your main policy.

There are companies that insure digital gear specifically. But don't shell out for this if your gear is already covered.

And beware of insuring your phone through your cellular provider. Many insure phones for a monthly charge. There may also be a deductible. And, you may receive a different, refurbished model as a replacement. So the insurance may only be valuable if you have an expensive phone.

Your insurance company will probably require proof of purchase before fulfilling a claim. So store copies of your receipts online.

And use your camera to take pictures of anything you have insured.

Kim Komando

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You can learn to be happier

Depression now afflicts 10 to 12 percent of American adults, and that number has been growing steadily, according to organizations such as the National Institute for Mental Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Depression is a serious illness that causes mental anguish and physical pain, both of which wreak havoc on overall health and well-being. But there's exciting new research regarding free will and the "science" of happiness.

While it may have a genetic component, happiness can be learned, a research team headed by University of Pennsylvania professor Martin Seligman, an expert in the field of positive psychology, has determined.

Seligman's landmark study, published in American Psychologist (2005), demonstrated that simple tasks, such as writing in a "gratitude" journal or thanking an important person in your life, can have powerful mood-enhancing effects.

Other researchers, such as Sonja Lyubomirsky from the University of California, Riverside, have determined that certain behaviors, like acts of kindness and forgiveness, taking care of your body (exercising, eating right and getting enough sleep), having religious faith and smiling or laughing all can contribute to a more satisfying life.

Contrary to popular belief, research suggests that once our basic financial needs are met, additional income and wealth don't increase life satisfaction in the long haul (Diener, E., & Biswas-Diener, R., "Will money increase subjective well being?" Social Indicators Research, 2002). Even lottery winners revert to pre-payoff happiness levels after the initial excitement of winning has passed.
What's more, other desirables such as intelligence, youth, education and more sunshine don't make us happier (although personally, I'd have to disagree with that last one!).

Now, in no way am I pulling a Tom Cruise by suggesting that depressed folks should suck it up, not seek treatment and think happy thoughts. What I am suggesting is that, based on scientific research, a large slice of our life satisfaction is in our hands.

We can choose to take actions to help us feel happier, whether that means seeking professional help, beginning an exercise program or partaking of some of the mood-enhancing actions identified in Seligman's study. The bottom line is that happiness is an attitude, a choice and a skill that needs honing.

Time magazine.

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Stress busters: 10 little things to try!

Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health indicate that many of us experience a growing sense of stress during the fall months. In some cases, this is related to the opening of school and all that this entails, such as shopping for clothes and readjusting schedules. For others, it is the anticipation of the coming winter months as we say goodbye to the laid-back days of summer. But the concept of "stress management" can itself become stressful when one considers intimidating therapies such as "autogenic training," "biofeedback" or "transcendental meditation." However, stress management can sometimes be achieved by making minor adjustments rather than radical makeovers! Here are 10 such suggestions that are easy to try:

1. Go to bed just 15 minutes earlier at night. You will feel noticeably refreshed in the morning and more energetic in taking on the day and its challenges.
2. Nourish your friendship circle. Reconnect with an old friend.
3. Learn to say no. Resist the urge to accede to someone's request for your time or assistance if you're already multi-tasking. This does not make you a selfish person.
4. When faced with stressful situations, reflect on similar situations that you have successfully withstood in the past. You survived those and you'll survive these!
5. Learn to appreciate your family and co-workers. All too often, we tend to take their positive traits for granted and focus instead on traits we wish we could change, alter or redirect.
6. Don't procrastinate. When we postpone burdensome tasks, they continue to loom on the horizon and drag us down.
7. Avoid perfectionism. The discovery of fuzz balls under the bed doesn't mean that you must embark on a cleaning crusade.
8. Focus on improving yourself in some small way. According to Leslie Bonci, a dietician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, "four fewer bites of food per day can translate into a weigh loss of ten pounds per year."
9. Limit interaction with "negative" acquaintances who chronically reinforce feelings of hopelessness, anger and despair.
10. Catch yourself when tempted to "catastrophize;" i.e., when your mind fixates on some remotely threatening situation and anticipates an horrendous outcome.

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