Month: April 2016

Learn How to Get the Best Deals on Your Summer Vacation

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Planning for your summer vacation doesn’t have to be financially stressful.

Summer vacations mean school is out, and your family vacation has finally come! If you were smart, this trip means you can splurge because you looked for the best deals that were available to you when you booked your trip. If not, it sounds like you’re going to have to dig deep into your pockets for any change that may be lying in there somewhere. Planning a summer vacation doesn’t mean you have to have monetary anxiety. On the contrary. Planning a summer vacation can be easy with the proper, planning, and research. Here are 3 things you can do to get the best deals on your summer vacation.

  1. Time it Right – Hotel rates fluctuate with supply and demand, so it pays to go against the flow of other vacationers. High-peak vacationing happens between the 4th of July to mid-August. So planning on early June or late-August can mean better savings.
  1. Don’t leave empty handed – Before you depart, order the Entertainment Book or such other coupon books. These editions are packed full of discounts and attractions. You’ll likely recoup your investment within the first few days.
  1. Meals don’t have to break the bank – Dining at restaurants for every meal can add up real fast, so make restaurants a singular daily thing. Keep a cooler in your car and plan picnics at least once a day. Make sure to stay at hotels that offer free breakfasts to cut down on costs. And, when you treat yourselves to a restaurant make sure to go during lunch when costs are lower, and to make sure your restaurant offers a lunch special.

If you want to save money, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency for that perfect summer vacation. As California insurance experts, we can help tailor your coverage to meet your exact needs – including your budget. For the best coverage at the best price, call us today!

What You Can Do to Be More Eco-Friendly for Earth Day

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

April 22nd is Earth Day: Learn how you can reduce your carbon footprint.

Earth is a lovely place. It sits at comfy in its orbit at 93 million miles from the sun, water can be liquid, our atmosphere has enough oxygen, and plenty of other things that make Earth great and habitable. Nature, for the most part, is always in perfect balance. So when there’s an external force acting upon nature, disruptions are bound to happen which can have an effect on species as small as plankton all the way up to the food chain to us humans.

For over 100 years, humans have been pumping greenhouse gases into our atmosphere without a care, and for over 30 of those years, scientists have been warning these corporations about the very real effect it’s having on the planet. Only recently have we seen strong efforts to reduce our emissions, and some have hope that if we keep our efforts the point of no return will be kept at bay. Here is what you can do to help our planet remain sustainable for human this Earth Day (and every day).

  1. Walk or Bike

If you’re going to be travelling to the grocery store or somewhere that’s within 5 to 10 miles, ride your bike to that place. Not only will it get your heart-rate going, but it will also keep CO2 emissions down. You won’t be the only one to ride your bike this day, so this effect will be multiplied world wide.

  1. Meatless in the Heat

Believe it or not, cows are actually among the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions as a direct result to our obsession with eating meat; their methane byproduct actually retains more heat than CO2. On Earth Day, make dinner that includes no meat products, and maybe make a permanent switch in your diet to go from eating meat 7 times a week, to only 6 times a week.

  1. Don’t Go With the Flow

If you absolutely need to take a shower in the morning, make sure it’s a short one! Play a song on your phone and try to finish before the song finishes—14 minute LCD Soundsystem songs are not encouraged. Water running uses a lot of precious water and even more fossil fuels to keep it running and to keep it hot.

No matter if you are looking to make your home, vehicle, or business more environmentally friendly, working with the right insurance professionals will help to ensure that you are receiving any discounts you qualify for. To learn more about the different ways your insurance policies are protecting you, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency in California.

Sharing the Road: How to Best Avoid Hitting Animals

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Sharing the road with our furry friends is something that we have to get used to.

Some roads are built right by forests where many deer, elk, and moose have roamed for millions of years. There was an estimated 1.25 million claims reported last year from such collisions, which shows no indication of a decrease—so we’re going to have to learn how to drive with them on the road. Here are some tips on how you can avoid hitting our mammalian friends and keeping your car deer-free.

  • Brighten the road. Using your high-beams could end up saving your car’s life, along with an elk or deer’s. Flicker the lights to spook the deer as they tend to stay fixated on your headlights.
  • Brake if possible. If you see the deer with plenty of time to brake, lightly tap on the brakes and honk your horn to alert drivers behind you and to possibly startle the deer. If there are no cars behind you, and you’re approaching quickly, slam the brakes.
  • Stay alert. Pay attention to “deer crossing” signs. If you see one deer, there are probably more around that area. And be vigilant during mating and hunting seasons. These seasons force animals to wander into the roads more frequently.
  • Avoid swerving. If a collision seems inevitable, it’s important to remember not to swerve. You could swerve onto oncoming traffic, or end up in a ditch.

If you have questions about the California car insurance or your growing number of drivers requires, don’t wait to contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency. We know that you already have enough to worry about with your new teen driver, and are here to making getting him or her covered easy! Protect your family, your vehicles, and your liability by calling us today.

4 Gardening Tips to Beautify Your Garden

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Love to garden, or going to do it for the first time? These tips will help you be faster, cleaner, and more efficient.

Gardening can be fun if you know the proper techniques to see your garden blossom from tiny green leaves sticking out of the ground to full flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables ready to impress everyone on the block. Here are four great gardening tips that are sure to help your garden be the best garden on the block.

Create a non-stick shovel

Picking dirt off shovels is something no wants to do. Spray your shovel with a silicone or Teflon lubricant to make shoveling way easier. A good coating will make any kind of soil slip right off without a hassle.

Heavy pots don’t have to be heavy

Filling half of the pot with packing peanuts will significantly reduce the weight of your big pots. Just remember to put some landscape fabric to keep the soil from sinking to the bottom.

Blemish-free roses

When you plant roses, pruning is a must to keep the roses as open and as beautiful as possible. Pruning increases the amount of light that reaches the roses which will inhibit proper growth. Careful pruning will keep the moisture out, and will prevent black spots and other blemishes from ruining the petals of the flower.

Assist root-bound plants

The problem with potted plants is that the roots will eventually run out of room to grow, so they will begin to form tight circles in the pot. This can prevent water and essential nutrients from reach all parts of the plant—especially the leaves. To fix this, gently guide roots outward using your fingers. If they are especially tough, make cautious vertical cuts in the roots with a knife.

Contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency for all of your California insurance needs. Whether you are looking to insure garden or other parts of your landscape, we will be your one stop shop for everything insurance related! Allow us to provide you with summer insurance in California that allows you to enjoy your fun in the sun without a worry in the world.