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Have you noticed the premiums for homeowner’s and automobile insurance continue to rise? The cost seemingly has become outrageous! As retirees with a fixed income and no opportunity to make extra on the side, something had to change! When one’s homeowner’s insurance premiums exceed a mortgage payment, one knows something is not right.

Beginning two or three months before the current policy is to expire will save some hassle in the long run. It was disappointing to learn that my current insurance company was unable to quote me a lower premium without significantly changing the coverage. Additionally, I was surprised to learn how long and how much effort it took to change companies. Even though I began early, everything was finalized just before my current policy was to expire.

My process was this. I went online to request quotes. I was surprised by the few responses I received. In my “research” I discovered one needs to be mindful of the sites you are using to request quotes. The safest choice is to go to actual insurance companies’ sites; not a generic “we will find you multiple quotes” sites, which often are scams.

Exploring options with the companies that responded, I was thrilled to learn my premium would be considerably less than what I was currently paying. Bundling homeowner’s with automobile and personal liability insurance saves money, also.

Importantly, I did my homework before making a final decision. The reviews on the new company were very positive, including a high rating with J.D. Powers.

I did learn from this experience, that even though it is not time to renew, one can still change companies. Once your new insurance is finalized and in place, remember to cancel the old. They are required to refund any prepaid yet unused premiums.

I am relieved to have this activity behind me … at least for another year. Staying on top of each and all expenditures helps a retired woman sleep better at night.

Mary Ann and Cynthia

As you begin reading our blogs, you probably wonder why we decided to write them.  When the Covid pandemic locked Americans in their homes, we were in contact with one another checking on each other’s well-being.  Cynthia had recently retired and within months began to care for her elderly mother.  Mary Ann had also recently retired, moved to a different state, and lost her father right in time for Covid.  Neither of our retirements were turning out as we had envisioned.  

Since we were house bound with the pandemic, we decided to contact one another through emails, texts, and ZOOM visits to share a daily creative endeavor. Those contacts grew and grew over the next four years, and we birthed the idea of turning those exchanges into blogs that we would share with others.  

We began writing blogs recording our thoughts and learning how to put them on WordPress. This was all good for the brain! We chose the name Silver Sage Sisters – Silver for being women of a certain age; Sage for wisdom, experience, and knowledge; and Sisters for the bond that women have with each other.  

We had some things to say and wanted to share them with other women.  Women of a certain age will understand our mutual experiences.  We hope that younger women can learn from our hard-earned life lesson and grow from them.  

Our blogs will be about family and friends, finance, some legal issues, retirement, reviews (books, TV, films, products, and services), and general lifestyle ideas that include holidays, travel, hobbies, decorating, and miscellaneous topics.  At times, guest contributors will provide additional content and alternative ideas.

We do not pretend to have all the answers. We are not providing professional advice or consult, rather these blogs are our opinions and our experiences. We don’t proclaim to be experts, just women who have lived long lives. We want to bring you glimmers — a term for joyful and peaceful moments coined by psychotherapist Deb Dana.  The world is full of so much negativity and many challenges. We are hoping, instead, to bring some positivity and good ideas into your lives.  We are simply passing on some of our hard-learned lessons.  Welcome to the Silver Sage Sisters blog!