Summer is supposed to be a time for long days, warm weather, and time spent with the family. The kids are out of school, and a lot people take time off of work to enjoy the sunshine. It can also be expensive between family vacations to amusement parks and keeping your home cool.

Take a look at these 17 ways you can save money this summer and still have fun.

Are you the type of person who doesn’t want anything generic? Everything has to be personalized and express who you are. Okay, maybe not everything, but the big things. Your home, your wardrobe, and oh yes, you car, too. You’ve spent a lot of money taking care of your car and modifying it until you’re happy with it.

Having insurance for your home and vehicles helps you when the worst happens – theft, a storm, fire. Insurance is the back-up plan. It’s the thing that works after a disaster. Insurance costs, as a result, are based on risk. Higher risk homes, cars, neighborhoods, and people cost more.

The best way to reduce your insurance premiums is to reduce your risk. Taking care of your home and vehicle are just the start. Because bad people exist, and although prevention measures may not be perfect, they help. Additional security for your home and vehicle reduces your risk and your insurance premiums.

Automobile recalls, when they’re big and bad, tend to make news. In 2013, only a few types of vehicles were subject to a Takata airbag recall but more recently, several more were added to the list in a big, public way. When Anton Yelchin, an actor from the most recent Star Trek movies, was killed when his Jeep rolled away and pinned him to a brick post, it sounded like a tragic accident. We now know it may have been due to a problem that triggered a recall by Jeep.

Not all automotive recalls are this tragic or dramatic but they all should be taken seriously. When you receive a recall notice, call your local dealer immediately.

July is National Picnic Month. What better way to celebrate the summer than with a picnic! Charlotte and the surrounding area is filled with beautiful parks and outdoor spaces. Grab the family, pack a picnic, and plan a day together. It’s a great time to enjoy fresh air and good food in a gorgeous setting!

When you buy a North Carolina home insurance policy, you assume that nearly anything that might happen will be covered by your insurance provider. Unfortunately, a standard policy doesn’t cover absolutely every potential danger a home or homeowner may face.

Working for yourself, controlling your financial destiny, and having the freedom to spend time with your family are just some of the reasons that plenty of people, especially moms, own home based businesses. You also believe in the brand, love how it’s changed your life, and want to share that love and joy with the rest of the world.

It’s a worthy endeavor that you should be proud of.

In the middle of a stifling summer nothing sounds better than a cool dip in the pool to make you forget the heat. Swimming in a pool may be a great way to cool off, but with all of the added risks, increased insurance costs, and required maintenance – sometimes having a pool just isn’t worth it. Here are some things that you can do beat the heat without a pool.

It’s summer, and here in Charlotte we’re not strangers to summer storms and lightning. But lately, the storms have been wilder than usual. Houses have been blown apart from lightning strikes. Trees fell on homes and across the road. Cows needed rescuing from barns.

The weather is getting more severe, and lighting strikes are a very real threat. What you were told as a kid about staying safe in bad weather is still true today. Since it’s easy to get complacent and think we’re always safe in our homes or cars, you may need a reminder about what to do when a summer storm arrives. Here are some tips to stay safe from lightning.