Didn't you ask?

Didn't you ask for advice? Are you sure? I could have sworn you did. Since we're experiencing some miscommunication, I'll just go on and give it anyway. Okay?

How many of you have nice things? You want me to define "nice things"? Well, it could be a nice painting, a big screen television, jewelry, furniture, etc. etc. Get the picture?

How many of you have house or renter's insurance? Please, don't tell me if you don't. Seriously. Take your butt out and get some immediately!!! Lord, it makes my heart beat all funny at the thought of someone not having renter's or house insurance.

When I teach Compass, I cover this topic briefly. Some of the ladies who attend are young and just starting their lives. This is a topic not normally thought about. I ask them could they guess what it would cost to replace everything in their home if it were destroyed? Could you? Think about it for a second. Salt and Pepper shakers don't magically appear. You buy them and forget about it. Dishes and silverware are another. Bedroom furniture. A chair to sit on. Don't even get started on the clothes! It gives them food for thought and I beg them to make sure they have insurance to cover such a thing.

Things happen. I can think of two families right now who's homes burned down and they lost everything. I know one of them didn't have insurance. What devastation that was. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it.

Let's say you got that insurance so Miss Hope feels all better. What now?

You need to know what you have!!! You need documentation, Internets!

In today's technology, the ability to keep tabs on what you have is so very easy. If you have a camera on your cell phone, start taking pictures. Did you know you can send pictures to your email address like you would a text message? You sure can. I do it all the time and save it to my computer. YET, I keep all those pictures in my email box as an extra safety precaution. Computers can crash. You will be able to access your email from anywhere. If you need to? Make an email address just for this. It is just so simple! If you have a regular camera? Pop that SD card in and load them to your computer. Email them to yourself!

I can not lie. Until yesterday, I had not practised what I preached. I had been meaning to take those pictures and get it out of the way. I know! How stupid of me! Living in Hurricane Alley should have made me more diligent with this stuff. It took me about an hour to take pictures with my cell phone and send them to my email. I took pictures of the computers, television, my Tiffany lamp, serial numbers on television and computers. I took pictures of my Cadillac washer and dryer! I'd surely want those bad boys replaced with equal machines. I have a Charleston print that is very special to me, plus the HUGE magnolia picture over my couch. I haven't done my jewelry yet, but that's coming. I felt such a relief when that was done because it's just so important. I am going to be 38 (gasp!) this year. I've had a little time to get a few nice things since I left home at age 19. I don't have a house full, but there are some I'd hate to pay to replace.

You owe it to yourself to do this small thing. Who cares if the house isn't clean or straight? If something happens and you need to prove what you had? That mess showing in the picture might have something else you can count!

Can't you just see my enthusiasm here? There is no excuse for you not to do this.

Mercy, almost forgot! Be sure to take pictures of your gaming systems. We keep our games in a drawer under the television. I opened the drawer and snapped a quick picture to prove we had games. While some insurances will cut a check and be done, some others will want proof of certain things. Why not just be safe about it?

There's my freely offered advice on a big Wednesday morning. It may not be worth much to some and priceless to others.

If you have any other tips/advice concerning this, please add! I love good advice that will help me out in the long run.