Maybe North Carolina doesn’t have to worry about blizzards like Minnesota or North Dakota does, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get cold around here. Through the winter, heaters are churning, jackets are out, and chimneys are smoking in an effort to keep everyone warm.

As a result, energy costs can go up in the winter, right when you could really use a break on your expenses. Check out these tips on how to use less energy while trying to stay warm this winter and lower your costs as a result.

For most rideshare drivers, especially those who work with Uber and Lyft, finding affordable personal auto insurance that covers you when you’re working has been nearly impossible. Most insurance companies didn’t offer anything to fit your needs or if they did, it was too expensive.

Here at Charlotte Insurance, we’re happy to announce we can now offer personal auto insurance to cover you when you’re waiting on a fare, while you’ve got a ride, and when you’re using your vehicle for personal use.

It’s that time of year again. Time to plan for the future, see if you accomplished your goals from last year, and set new ones for the coming year.

Most of us focus on fitness, jobs, income, relationships, and other parts of our life. One thing that is forgotten, but you should review from the past year and plan for the next one, is your insurance. An annual insurance review takes a look at the changes in your life from the previous year and will make sure you don’t have a gap in coverage – and that you’re getting all the discounts you qualify for.

Here are some of the things to go over with your insurance agent for your annual insurance review.

Happy Holidays to all

You got into the freelance life for a few reasons. You wanted more control over your life, control over the work you do, and freedom to come and go as you please while following your passion. Of course, you also wanted to control your income, too.

How much control do you think you’ll have if a former client who’s upset with you sues you for a bad job or lost information?

You had your eye on a beautiful old home in the most historic part of town for years. From the outside, it clearly needs some love and attention, but you’re willing to put the time and effort in. You’ve talked to a real estate agent, drawn up plans to restore it, and know that it’s the perfect home for you.

Older homes have a certain charm from bygone eras that some people can’t resist. A lot of hard work is often involved to get these homes liveable and safe for a family. Even the historic homes that look great from the outside can be riddled with issues that require time and money to repair.

That’s why it’s important to understand what you’re getting when you buy an older home and how it will affect your insurance.

At some point in life, it happens to all of us. Our expenses rise but our income doesn’t keep up. The only solution is to look at your bills, wondering what you can cut out to save a few dollars.

If it’s been awhile since you had to file an auto insurance claim, it probably seems like the perfect place to cut. Instead of cutting coverage – a common but bad solution – you have other options. One of the easiest ways to reduce your Charlotte auto insurance costs, without sacrificing your coverage, is to increase your deductible.

The holidays were good to you this year. You gave gifts that made your friends and family genuinely happy, and you received beautiful treasures from the ones you love.

Your spouse went above and beyond, spending a lot of money on a special item. You love it and can’t wait to show it off and use it. It’s the gift of a lifetime.

Whether it’s an antique, an expensive piece of jewelry, or the latest in surround-sound equipment for your home, you’re going to want to protect your new and very valuable gift. There’s a good chance you don’t have enough insurance to replace it if it the worst happens.

It happens to all of us when we rent a car. We’re signing on the dotted line and the person behind the counter offers extra insurance coverage – and then details all the ways we could be out thousands of dollars if we don’t accept it.

Some of us say no and spend the rest of the trip hoping nothing bad happens. Others take all the coverage offered, sometimes doubling the cost to rent a car. Which is the right answer?