The Christmas tree conundrum: real or fake?

The kind of tree that adorns a person’s home during the holidays can provoke debate as much as Coke vs. Pepsi or Chevy vs. Ford.

When it comes to Christmas trees, do you choose live or artificial? Do you cut your own at Addison-Oaks Christmas Tree Farm, or do you prefer the convenience of a tree bought at Home Depot that won’t shed its needles, doesn’t need water and already has lights? 

Both live and artificial trees have their advantages and disadvantages, and we here at Macomb Insurance Mart certainly aren’t going to try to convince you that one is “right.” But in the spirit of giving, we thought we’d provide some information to help you make the best decision for you and your family.

Artificial trees

According to the North Carolina Consumers Council, artificial trees pose fewer safety concerns than live trees, but that’s not to say they don’t have risks of their own. Even fake trees can catch fire when sockets are overloaded with Christmas lights, and it only takes seconds for any tree to become completely engulfed in flames. And yes, flame-resistant artificial trees will eventually succumb to a fire.

When using a pre-lit tree, always follow instructions, and place the tree in an open area where a fire won’t quickly spread to furniture or other things in close proximity.

The benefits of artificial trees, of course, are well-known. They’re convenient and often less messy than real trees. You can re-use them year after year, saving money and saving the environment. And there’s no need to spend time searching for the perfect tree, since it’s usually easy to adjust the “branches” to your liking.

Live trees

OK, so you want the real deal. That’s great! But you’re going to have to take a little more care than you would with an artificial tree. First of all, pick a tree that’s in good shape. If needles come off easily when you give it a shake or a quick pull on a branch, find another one.

When you get it home, cut off the bottom two inches of its trunk, and fill the tree stand with water regularly. This is the best way to prevent a fire. Remember not to overload it with lights and decorations. And the longer you keep your tree up, the drier— and the more dangerous – it will become.

Dispose of your tree properly as well. Don’t burn it or put it in your fireplace, as a burning Christmas tree can be harder to control than other types of fires.

If you’re a fan of real trees, you probably don’t need us to tell you the benefits. Just take in that smell and enjoy the season!

No matter what tree you choose, the important thing is to keep safety in mind as well. If you do that, your holiday enjoyment will be real, even if your tree isn’t!

Contact Us!

At Macomb Insurance Mart, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at 586-263-0700 or send us a note at support@macombinsurancemart.com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!

*Content provided by Safeco Insurance

One of the moments we have been waiting for in Michigan is getting money back into our pockets from paying so much premium in car insurance, especially in the last decade. Mandatory fees, associated with an auto insurance policy in Michigan, include those from the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA). The fee started at $3 per vehicle in 1978, but the MCCA has required us to pay quite a bit in fees per vehicle over the past decade with increasing costs over time. The assessments per vehicle over the years are as follows:

2011 = $145

2012 = $175

2013 = $186

2014 = $186

2015 = $150

2016 = $160

2017 = $170

2018 = $192

2019 = $220

2020 = $100 (Michigan Auto Insurance Reform began)

2021 = $86

On December 6, 2021 Director Anita Fox with the Department of Insurance and Financial Services released a notice stating the MCCA will be returning approximately $3 billion of excess surplus funds to its member insurance companies (MCCA letter to Director Fox). Insurance companies will then refund policyholders that had a policy  in effect on 10/31/21 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The amount refunded to these policy holders will be $400 for every car that was subject to the MCCA fee at this time. The amount for historical vehicles is 20% or $80 of the refund per car. The MCCA is anticipating to distribute this surplus to its member insurance companies, at the earliest March 9, 2022. Insurance companies will have no longer than 60 days after receiving the funds to issue out the refund checks to individual qualifying policy holders. Each insurance company will have more information available as they identify a specific timeframe and the steps to issue these refund checks.  

Giving During the Holidays Without Getting Taken

Every year during the holidays, people in Southeast Michigan look for ways to give gifts, not just to family and friends but to those less fortunate. It’s the spirit of the season.

Unfortunately, some of the charities out there don’t help people as fully as they claim – or possibly not at all. As if that weren’t enough, bogus organizations take advantage of people’s goodwill by stealing credit card and bank account information, along with identities, from people who think they’re donating to a legitimate cause.

It doesn’t mean you can’t be generous this holiday season. It just means a little extra caution is in order. Here are four tips for making smart and safe holiday donations:

1.       Verify the charity is legitimate.
Sure, the name sounds official and you think your friend mentioned what good work they do. Or does the charity simply have a name similar to another well-known organization? Before you donate, do a little digging.
Enter the charity’s name at Better Business Bureau, Charity Navigator or GuideStar, and, if you feel comfortable after reading about the organization, go ahead and donate. If not, look for another charity that supports the same cause. A good rule of thumb is to look for organizations with 501(c)(3) status.

2.       Steer clear of pop-up charities.
A pop-up charity is anything but charitable. These groups spring into action at opportune times, namely when people are feeling generous, such as during the holidays or following a disaster. The so-called charity is actually a scam designed to steal money, credit card numbers, bank account information and identities from unsuspecting donors. If, during your research, you come across an organization that seemingly appeared out of the blue, do not share any of your personal information with it.

3.       Be careful with digital donations.
Now that you’ve researched the charity, how do you plan to donate? If it’s online, be sure to type in the website address correctly. Fraudsters put up realistic-looking sites using a URL similar to a well-known charity’s to trick people into donating. But, they’re not donating at all. They’re lining the pockets of thieves.
Once you know you’re on the correct site, check that it’s secure before submitting any credit card information. Simply look for “https” instead of “http” at the beginning of the URL.
Likewise, that email you received from a prominent charity may be a fake. Instead of clicking on a link in an email to donate, go directly to your Web browser and type in the address yourself.

4.       Avoid phone and door-to-door solicitors.
If people call or knock on your door out of the blue asking for a contribution to this or that organization, ask them for the charity’s website or mailing address instead of donating right then and there. Even if it’s a charity you’ve heard of, the operation may be a scam. It’s always safer for you to initiate the donation by visiting the charity’s website or mailing in a check. Plus, fundraising over the phone requires a middleman – that agent calling you – who must be paid, reducing the amount of your donation that goes to the charity.

It feels good to be in a giving mood during the holidays. With a little legwork to look into the legitimacy and practices of the charity, your donation will help others feel good too.

Contact Us!

At Macomb Insurance Mart, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at 586-263-0700 or send us a note at support@macombinsurancemart.com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!

*Content provided by Safeco Insurance

A little extra caution can go a long way while driving at night

Summer has ended, and while fall and winter have their own pleasures — including shopping, sledding, snowball fights & holiday lights — longer nights mean increased danger on the roads.

You might think you drive just as well at night, but consider this: Even though nighttime driving accounts for just 23% of vehicle miles traveled, more than 50% of fatalities for vehicle occupants 16 and older occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to the National Safety Commission (NSC).

Because we’re big advocates for safety at Macomb Insurance Mart, we thought it would be helpful to take a look at why night driving is more dangerous, and what you can do to decrease that danger.

What’s dangerous about night driving?

1.     Decreased vision. We won’t go into all the biological details, but different parts of the eye (such as iris, pupil and retina) work differently at night. Your peripheral vision is actually slightly improved, but it’s more difficult to focus on objects ahead of you. And traveling between well-lit areas and darker roads creates issues as well.

2.     Driving too fast for your headlights. Depending on vehicle speed and headlight setting, many people “over-drive” their headlights. That means, by the time they see something on the road, it’s too late to stop in time to avoid it.

3.     Impaired judgment. Whether due to drowsiness or the use of alcohol or drugs, it appears that drivers at night often don’t use good judgment. According to the NSC, 66% of fatalities at night involve vehicle occupants who weren’t wearing seat belts. 

So what do you do?

Sometimes, there’s no way around driving at night. So here are some tips to help you make a safe trip — whether you’re just running to the store, or you’re headed all the way to Frankenmuth or maybe even farther to Traverse City

1.     Make sure your vehicle’s lights are in good working condition. And not just headlights, but turn signals, taillights, etc.

2.     Avoid speeding. Leave a bigger cushion between you and other cars than you would during daylight hours. Leave yourself more time for the trip.

3.     Be more aware of your surroundings. You shouldn’t be using your phone, messing around with the radio or trying to find something on the floor while you’re on the road anyway — and distractions are even more deadly at night.

Of course, if you’re not comfortable driving at night, the best thing is to avoid it altogether if possible. There’s nothing wrong with asking for a ride from a trusted safe driver or waiting for the sun to come out!

At Macomb Insurance Mart, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at 586-263-0700 or send us a note at support@macombinsurancemart.com. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!

Content provided by Safeco Insurance

5 Dos and Don’ts for Black Friday

Okay, admit it. Have you ever let things get just a little out of control on Black Friday? Maybe you lost your patience in the parking lot. Or, perhaps you were less cordial than usual with store employees.

Hey, it’s a stressful day, and we here at Macomb Insurance Mart understand, but we do want you to be safe out there when the crowds begin to swell and the shopping frenzy sets in. So, here are five tips we gathered that should help you make safety a priority on the biggest shopping day of the year in Clinton Twp, MI.

1.       Don’t park in a dark, secluded sport or directly next to large vans or trucks. Before heading into the store, do make a mental or written note of where you parked. Snapping some photos on your smartphone might help, too.

2.       Do stay aware of your surroundings. Some shoppers get aggressive trying to get in the door of a store or fighting over an item. Others take advantage of distracted shoppers by stealing their packages, purse or other items.

3.       Do carry only one credit card, if it’s practical, and wait until being asked to take out your credit card or checkbook. And, don’t overspend – it’s just not safe for your financial stability. Set a spending limit before you leave home.

4.       Don’t forget that you need a plan for regrouping in case someone gets separated or lost. Keeping your mobile phones charged will help.

5.       Do approach your car with keys in hand – get them out while still in the store, if possible. Scan the area around and under your car before stashing your loot in the trunk (not the back seat). Then check your back seat before getting in the car.

When you’re taking steps to stay safe on Black Friday, you may just find yourself more relaxed and able to enjoy the day. If not, just remember, deep breaths!

Happy shopping everyone!

Call us for a free insurance quote to save money this holiday season!