Our Top 5 Tips to Stay Safe and Save Money Over the Holidays

As the holidays approach, our calendars are quickly filling with get-togethers and events, in and out of town. Travel is an inevitable part of the holiday season, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are five tips to stay safe, and save money, on the road this year.

Tips to Save Money

The holidays tend to be expensive. There’s the cost of gifts for a seemingly never-ending number of people (kids, family, friends, teachers, delivery people, and more), holiday parties that require baking or secret Santa presents, and the gas spent traveling to and fro. Read on for our suggestions to help pad your wallet this holiday season.

Avoid Peak Travel Dates

If you don’t have far to go, waiting to travel until the actual holiday itself as opposed to the night before can save you a substantial amount of money. Airlines typically offer cut-rate deals on Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Avoiding a Sunday return flight can save you major cash as well.

Do Your Research

Websites like Expedia, Kayak, and Travelocity allow you to compare flights across many different airlines at once. The majority of these sites also include features that allow you to search adjacent days to help you find the best deal possible. Another tip? Check flights at adjacent airports as well — you might be able to find a deal that leaves a bit more money in your holiday gift budget. Also, consider purchasing a package deal, for example, air/car or air/hotel. You’ll save more money than if you had purchased these things separately. Finally, buy flights early. Purchasing them well in advance (months before you need to make the trip) will help you save major cash.

Ship Your Gifts

Gifts take up a lot of space and paying to check a second or third bag at the airport can be expensive. Buy presents early and ship them to your destination ahead of time. Keep an eye out for free shipping deals to really maximize your budget.

Tips to Stay Safe

We all know the chaos of the holidays can wreak havoc on your health, but make sure you consider the safety of your home as well. Here are our best tips for holiday safekeeping!

Protect Your Health

Being in close contact with other travelers during the holiday season can increase your risk of catching a cold or the flu. To lower your chances of getting sick, there are a number of things you can do:

• Get the flu shot as soon as possible
• Wash your hands properly (wet, lather for 20 seconds, rinse) and often
• Stay hydrated: it’ll help your immune system
• Try not to overindulge; generally sticking to your normal diet over the holidays will keep your stomach happy
• Exercise! It helps the body ward off infection, improves your mood, and gives you some quality “me-time” if you find yourself craving a little solitude

Don’t Advertise an Empty Home

Spending time out of town over the holidays might be inevitable, but do your best to avoid advertising an empty house to would-be burglars. For starters, be aware of what you’re sharing on social media. If you have public social media profiles, it might be a good idea to step up your privacy settings — at least until you return home — or avoid posting pictures or status updates from the airport or from the next state over altogether.

Another tip? Ask a neighbor to retrieve your mail each day and keep it until you get home. An overflowing mailbox is a sure sign that nobody’s home.

Happy Holidays from Lindow

The holidays are a joyful time of year — start with the above tips to stay safe and keep your wallet full as you celebrate with family and friends. Need some help? Contact us with any questions. We’re always here to help you find your best coverage.