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Safety needs represent our desire for a predictable, orderly world secure from injustice and uncertainty. While we can't predict what the future holds, we can create peace of mind through personal (home insurance, alarm, safe transportation), medical (insurance), financial (savings) and professional (a good job) security.

Impact on Budget

Safety needs are often intangible, large ticket items, like insurance. Comparison shopping, adjusting coverage levels and taking advantage of tax breaks are just a few tactics that may trim unnecessary costs while still meeting your desired safety needs. As with physiological needs the ability to find more economical options may provide peace of mind the freedom to pursue higher level needs.

Examples

• Insurance rates skyrocketing? Comparison shop, raise the deductible or question the need for ancillary services (roadside assistance, auto rental subsidization, etc).
  
• Paying $40-50/month for home alarm security? Search online for alternative service providers. They charge $10-15/month and offer the exact same service.
  

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Financial/Credit

• Keep six month’s salary as an emergency savings fund to pay for unplanned expenditures.
• Check your credit report 2-3 times a year. Government regulations entitle you to view and print your credit report from each of the three major reporting agencies for free once a year. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com and rotate between agency reports every four months.
• Only buy what you can afford and avoid interest charges by paying off your credit cards each month.
• Avoid late charges by sending bill payments 7-10 business days before their due date.
• Eliminate the cost and inconvenience of mail by using your bank’s bill pay feature.
• Avoid ATM fees by using only your bank’s machines – or – if you must use an out of network machine cut down on the frequency by taking out large dollar amounts each time. For example, a $3 ATM fee on a $20 withdrawal costs you 15%. Take out $100 instead, a 3% fee. 
• Your suggestion: advice@givinggrinch.com

• Lower your auto insurance premium by raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive to $500 or $1000, if you can risk the higher deductible.
• Remove collision and comprehensive insurance on old cars with low resale value if you’re willing to part with your car if accident repairs get close to replacement value.
  
• Cut unwarranted services, like auto rental and roadside services from auto insurance; avoid purchasing life insurance if you have no dependents or life insurance for your kids.
  
• Pay insurance annually (or semi-annually) to eliminate service fees associated with making more periodic, smaller payment amounts (monthly, quarterly).
• Ask your insurance company if they offer a discount if you consolidate your plans with one company (home, auto, life, etc).
  
• Study your employers benefits, many offer insurance (life, disability, etc) up to one year's salary (or longer) for a deeply  reduced fee. Submitted by Sonali in Bangkok!
  
• Your suggestion: advice@givinggrinch.com

• Request periodic job reviews to know how you stand with your employer. Submitted by Shefali in NYC!
• If your company is experiencing trouble, stay ahead of the game by networking, looking for alternative employment opportunities. Submitted by Sonali in Bangkok!
  
• Your suggestion: advice@givinggrinch.com

• Participate in a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), which allow you to set aside pre-tax income for medical and daycare expenses.
• I recently lost our Major Medical insurance when I quit my job. Since then, I have been ordering my prescriptions on-line from different pharmacies in Canada and receive the supplies in the mail. I visited my doctor, who was glad to review my medications and changed most of them over to generic, which are now available from several pharmacies for $4.00 a month or $9.99 for 3 month supply. I am down to only three items I must order on-line from Canada. After all is said and done, I am now paying out less out-of-pocket for my total prescriptions than I was by paying the co-pays on my Major Medical insurance coverage. Check out the Canadian pharmacies, and ask your doctor to review your meds to see if generics are available. Suggested by Carol in Houston!
  
• Your suggestion: advice@givinggrinch.com

• Car pool.
• Public transportation.
• Bike shorter distances. 
• Minimize trips, group your errands.
• Keep your engine tuned and your tires properly inflated saves gas.
• Dive on the highway with your windows up for better fuel economy.
• Replace your car’s air filter as recommended improves gas mileage. Do-it-yourself. It’s easy and the people at AutoZone (or other chain shops) will help if you have questions.
• Your suggestion: advice@givinggrinch.com

• Phone: Check phone bill to remove optional features or services that you may not use – caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, long distance.
• Eliminate your home phone if you don’t have a need for a land line. 
• Comparison shop the price of VOIP phone planes versus traditional land lines.
• Cell Phone: Check cell phone plan to remove optional features or services that you may not use – texting, Internet, ring tones, excess minutes.
• Your suggestion: advice@givinggrinch.com

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