Your bags are packed, hotel is booked and your flight leaves soon. But are you and your family ready for what you can encounter during your travel. Here are 9 tips you should consider when traveling with kids.

1. Make sure you have a working car seat for your infant or small child. You should follow recommended safety guidelines & laws for proper size car seat for the age and weight of your child.
2. You should never travel with an infant or small children that are not properly secured in their car seat or booster seat.
3. Never leave an infant or small children in the car alone. This should apply at all times not just during the winter or summer.
4. Also pack an emergency kit or container in your car. You never know when a delay due to traffic will stranded you on the side of the road. The kit should contain snacks and the container should be used for bathroom breaks.
5. When you travel you should always have carry a device for contacting emergency services if needed such as a cellular phone or on star.
6. You should never leave unsafe items in your car for the safety of your children. Such items include medicines, firearms, small choking hazards or strangling hazards. You should consider investing in a lock box to keep these unsafe items out of reach.
7. If your child needs certain medicines or equipment you should plan according and be prepared for a medical emergency.
8. Consider investing in child alarms when traveling to prevent leaving children in a car alone or worst at the gas station.
9. Always travel with extra clothing, snacks & water at all times and don’t forget to have a standard first aid kit on hand.

A garage is not just a place to park a vehicle. Many people use their garage as storage. Here are 8 tips to keep your garage safe.

1. All chemicals and gasoline should be stored in a proper place away from open flame and drained from all equipment when not in use.
2. Store all tools and sharp equipment properly to prevent injury.
3. Safety controls on equipment is there for a reason use it. Inspect equipment for proper function and any loose parts.
4. Store your ladders properly and away from children.
5. Clean spills immediately or use flooring material in garage that is non-skid material.
6. Items such as batteries, small items, cords, hose should be stored away from children.
7. Add a garage to your alarm monitoring system. Use a lock on your garage opener to prevent opening from outside from other remotes. Consider a garage door opener cover to keep small children from opening.
8. Use vehicle safety in the garage: keep all valuables or harmful products out of the car for child safety such as medicines, firearms, choking hazards or the like; keep your car locked when in the garage to keep children out of your car; keep keys stored in a safe place to keep away from children or older adults if needed; have extra keys to your car and home hidden in the garage or give to a family or friend in the event of an emergency.

If you have a yard then you will want to read these 10 tips on making your yard safe.

1. Keep your yard clean of all tall grass, leaves or other debris to prevent unwanted pests or animals in your yard.

2. Inspect your yard for injury hazards or fall hazards such as holes in your yard or sharp objects.

3. Inspect fences, gates, decks or other structures for safety. Repair wood and paint these items as needed. Use safety devices on railings, decks or stairs for children and older adults.

4. Use a pest control company to keep unwanted pests out of your yard.

5. Use bug repel lotion to protect your skin or use a spray in your yard to keep bugs away when outdoors.

6. Install fencing 4 foot or more around any water structure for safety. Use a locking gate for safety of children. Inspect for repairs always. Install an alarm on the water areas to prevent children from injury.

7. Never use yard equipment near children or adults that are not protected. Always alert your family or another person that you will be working with equipment or in the yard if you are alone in the event of a medical emergency occurs.

8. Use eye protection when using yard equipment.

9. Never leave standing water that will attract unwanted pests and could be a drowning hazard for children.

10. Use sunscreen or proper clothing to protect skin and eyes from weather damage. Use gloves for hand protecting when gardening or using equipment.

1. Check and clean all gutters and downspouts for proper operation. Paint if needed or replace any rusted parts.
2. Test operation of hot water tank.
3. Check roof for any repairs such as shingles, flashing, chimney and gutters.
4. Look at your vents and louvers for free moving air.
5. Close shut off valves to outside faucets and waterlines and be sure to drain.
6. Clean your gas heater- shut off first then clean the exhaust vent, shutter openings and burner.
7. Refill water softener with salts.
8. Install moisture barrier in your basement or crawl spaces and inspect for any signs of water damage or mold.
9. Inspect your attic fan make sure to hire a professional before using it for the summer or hotter time of the year. Clean in attic and around fan.
10. Check your interior and exterior wood for signs of termite damage or hire a termite company to check.
11. Check all doors and windows for gaps, cracks or other damage and seal.
12. Check your foundation for cracks and settling signs.
13. Spring is a great time to check for water damage.
14. Spring cleaning is a great way to find damages you don’t normally see.

Now a days it is more common for people to work at home. With the developments in technology and communications working from home seems normal considering you can perform the same duties at home or the office. Consider these 5 tips for getting the most out of your opportunity to work from home.

1. Create a work space: If you expect to plop down with your laptop in front of the TV you will fail. You need to set up a work space at home so you can focus and be productive while at home. If you don’t have an entire room set up a corner as a work area. No matter if your using a room or a corner set up your work space like your office work space. This will allow you to transition from being home to being at work.
2. Tax Deductions: Working from home can produce some money-saving tax deductions that you could be eligible for. If you work exclusively from home you could deduct ‘work related expenses”. For example a portion of your rent or mortgage, a portion of utilities, insurance and office supplies can provide a tax deduction. Check out the IRS website for more details or speak with your tax advisor.
3. Set up a schedule: Those who are successful working from home are those who are self-disciplined. In order to get your work done you need to set up a schedule, take a shower get dressed get in the mind set like your going to work. This will motivate you to get into a routine for getting your work done. Make sure you set deadlines.
4. Insurance Benefits: Working entirely from home saves on commuting every day. Make sure to contact your insurance agent to update your auto policy to designate your auto from primarily to pleasure. You can also reduce your mileage with many discounts offer for driving less miles.
5. Connect: Stay in connected with co-workers of your boss. Some of those working from home get the “Cabin fever” effect. But connecting with others outside your home will keep you in the loop and not feeling lonely.

Three cars are stolen every minute in the United States, while millions more are broken into, resulting in damage and the theft of valuable or precious items like cellphones, radios and just about anything the thief can sell. The result: loss, inconvenience and, sometimes, heartbreak.

While it’s virtually impossible to make a car impenetrable, you can substantially cut the risk of becoming a theft victim. Here are our 10 tips to deter thieves.

1.  Always lock doors and close windows (other than leaving an air gap for pets) no matter how short a time you’re away from the vehicle. Even lock it on your driveway and in your garage.
2. Never leave keys in the ignition or the engine running once you get out – even if you’re parked right by and using an ATM.
3. Never leave anything, including low-value items and especially cash (even just a few coins) visible. Take them with you or lock them in the glove box or trunk, but be cautious – a thief might be watching. Better yet – don’t put valuables in your car unless you need them.
4. When parking, especially at night, select a spot that is busy, in clear view and, at night, well lit. Look for nearby security cameras.
5. Don’t have anything on your key ring that identifies your vehicle or your home address. Use a cellphone number or email address if you want a finder to contact you if the keys are lost.
6. Your car should be alarmed, and the alarm should always be armed when you’re not in it. Most modern car alarms have multiple settings for different purposes – so read the instruction book!
7. If you have a conventional radio (that is, one that is store-bought rather than built-in by the auto manufacturer), remove the knobs and even put some black insulating tape over parts of it. It won’t look nice – but that’s the whole idea!
8. Don’t use hidden key boxes under the vehicle or in the wheel arches. Thieves know where to look.
9. Consider having your Vehicle Identification Number etched on your windows and other car parts. That makes them hard to sell and the vehicle more difficult to disguise – thus less attractive to a thief.
10. In high risk areas, consider additional security, like steering wheel clamps or vehicle tracking equipment (though this can be expensive). One day, in the not-too-distance future, we’ll probably have wireless webcams on our dashboards – roll on that day!

Whether of not you have children you should make your home safe for children. You never know when you will be asked to baby sit. Here is a list of 10 Child Safety Tips to make your home safe.

1. Emergency items: Post child emergency information sheet with Poison Control Center hotline posted on fridge and near phones you also should include Physicians and parents contact numbers and medical conditions including allergies and precautions. Register child with Amber Alert or a child ID company that is registered with local & federal authorities. Keep a first aid kit and emergency steps for any medical emergency, have practiced, posted and kept in safe place.Remove any choking, strangling and suffocation hazards: Anything that fits through regular size toilet roll.

2. Remove or store out of reach cords, wires or rope like material longer than 4 inches. Remove any type material that may suffocate such as plastic trash bags, balloons, shower curtains, plastic packaging material. Remove bins, boxes, or any container that has a lid with a lock and no ventilation… Entrapment risk for children.

3. Use water safety to prevent drowning or electrical shock. Never leave child unsupervised in bath/shower or to play in or around water. Use safety alarms around pools or other water hazards. Never leave standing water in any container. Use safety lock covers on toilets.

4. Be fire and burn safe in all areas: Go to each room and check for hazards.

• Security system installed and monitored
• smoke alarms carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers in proper location. Flashlights available in several areas and extra batteries
• Safety covers/guards on all fire hazards or burn hazards
• Create a escape plan
• Water burns prevented by using safety covers over faucets, Anti scalding devices on faucets and keeping water temperature turned down on hot water heater
• Safety covers over appliance control knobs to prevent burns.

5. Keep all poisons or potential poisons out of reach such as cleaning products, bath products, and medicine. Store high and locked. Use child safety caps/lids on medicines, vitamins and other chemicals to keep children from opening.

6. Avoid sharp injuries: You may remove, store high, securely cover, or lock away sharp items or sharp furniture and breakables. Check for these in common areas such as kitchen and bath.

7. Take steps to prevent head injuries or other blunt injuries to body parts.

• Secure all furniture and art or items to wall.
• Remove heavy objects from high surfaces that are not secure.
• Have child wear helmets while riding manual or powered toys.

8. Cover electrical outlets with child proof devices that are within reach; use safety recommended grounded outlets in high water areas such as bathroom, kitchen, laundry and garage and outdoor areas such as deck or porch with proper cover.

9. Place child safety devices keeping children out of the following areas:

• Gates at doorways or at stairs (Top and Bottom)
• Netting or covering material over rails at balconies, porches, decks or stairs
• Knob/latch covers or child safety locks on door or windows or any small opening. Check small openings in your home interior or exterior that your child is able to crawl into such as a dryer or other appliance, fireplace, air duct or laundry chute.
• Locks on cabinets and drawers to keep child out.

10. Firearm safety: Locked, high, ammunition stored separately.

March is the month when our green thumbs start to itch, and we make plans for the gardening season ahead. Often our plans turn out to be too ambitious and we look back to Fall at the things we wished we’d done, as well as the mistakes we made planting the wrong things for the type of soil we have, or watering too much – or too little. Fortunately, mobile devices increasingly come to our rescue with apps that can tell you everything, from knowing which bugs are plant-friendly to helping plan your landscape. Here are 5 apps to consider.

1. The Amateur Garden: The first thing to know is that lots of regular gardening books are now available in digital and eBook versions, which makes them more convenient to search and carry around the yard. We particularly like this one because it’s based on the author’s own real-world experience – and it’s available for the BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7 devices, for $0.99.
2. Bugs in the Garden: With great photos and useful information, this app will help you get to know which insects are there to help and hinder your effort. It was prepared with the organic gardener in mind and is available on Android and Apple iOS devices for $0.99.
3. Vegetable Garden Guide: This is one of the most popular apps for vegetable growing enthusiasts, designed as a reference for experienced gardeners and a learning tool for beginners. At $1.99 it’s a little pricey for an app, but it’s good. Get it for iOS or Android (where it’s called Vegetable Gardening App.)
4. Permaculture: There aren’t many decent free garden apps around but if you’re into permaculture – self-sustaining systems – this is one of them. It tells you how to get started and brings permaculture news from around the world (iOS and Android).
5. Locavore: Finally, if you’d rather buy someone else’s produce than grow it yourself, Locavore is a great app that enables you to locate farms and details of local produce. It’ll tell you what’s in season and map who’s selling it, as well as providing recipes for local in-season foods. For now, it’s only on Android and iOS, but the great thing is that it’s free!

You found the perfect location. Then you spent time and money remodeling that location. Now your about to open your doors. Are you and your assets protected. Here are 10 types of insurance you need to have in place to protect you and your restaurant.

1. Property Insurance: This type of insurance may not cover natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods. However, it does protect your property in case of fire and other tragic events. Make sure to review your policy to make sure you are covered. Contact a Kaplansky Insurance agent today for an accurate review of your policy.
2. General Liability: If someone slips and falls in your establishment this coverage will protect you. This coverage also protects against people getting sick from your food whether it is your fault or not.
3. Liquor Liability: Massachusetts requires you to carry this type of insurance. It will help protect you if a customer has too much to drink and drives and gets into an accident.
4. Automobile Liability: This coverage only applies if you have a company vehicle. Make sure to check your general liability because sometimes it covers you.
5. Workers Compensation: Most states require that all employers carry some type of workers compensation.
6. Unemployment Insurance: This is for your employees who no longer work at your business.
7. Life Insurance: Life insurance is always important especially when having a restaurant. Think about your mortgage and the financing that when into starting your restaurant. Someone will have to burden the debt should a tragedy happen.
8. Loss of Business: Should you lose sales through a specific cause a loss of business policy can recoup such a loss.
9. Food Contamination Insurance: Like many restaurants in Boston who recently lost power some of these restaurants lost all of their contents. If they had this policy in place it would help to replace the lost goods.
10. Specific Peril Insurance: This is meant for certain disasters that your other policies don’t cover. For example events like earthquakes, floods and power outages to name a few.

To get a better understanding of your restaurant insurance contact one of our experienced professionals today. Now is the time to protect your business not when your standing knee deep in water while the beef floats by.

Your financial planning needs to include one important part “Insurance“. But one of the most tricky parts about financial planning is understanding your insurance options. At Kaplansky Insurance you can speak with an experienced professional who will address all your concerns. However call Flo, the Gecko or mayham and you could be dealing with insurance professionals that have a bad reputation of giving the wrong advice to make a quota. Here are 14 tips you need to consider when looking at life insurance.

1. Understanding your Needs: You are the only one who knows your financial situation the best. You should avoid letting some strange sales person tell you what type of protection you will need. What you need to do is add up all your debt, funeral costs, and at least six months to a year of income. By taking stock of your financial situation you will know what type of protection you will need. Make sure you pick the policy that is right for you and your family.
2. Term Insurance vs. Permanent Insurance: There is a major difference between term insurance and permanent insurance. A good insurance professional will explain the difference to you. With knowing your financial plan you can discuss which policy is better suited for your protection. You should always buy what you currently need should life change you can always add to the policy.
3. Independent Brokers: Speaking with an independent broker gives you an upper hand. Most independent brokers work with a number of insurance companies. They will be able to give you the best protection and price for your needs. Working directly with an insurance company they will only give you a quote for what they have to offer. Which may not be in line with your needs.
4. Never Trust a One-meeting Recommendation: Should the broker your speaking with recommend a certain policy after your first meeting you should find another agent. There is no way the broker was able to analyze your situation and found the best options after a 30 minute meeting.
5. Ask The Broker How They Get Paid: Does the broker get paid through commission, fee only or fee-plus-commission. If the broker is paid commission make sure you look at all options. Your broker could have a conflict of interest and direct you towards certain products for a higher payout for them. How a broker gets paid is not a bad thing but check all options to make sure your protected.
6. Insurance is For Protection, Not Investing: If you choose term insurance know that it only provides protection and does not have a savings component. On the other hand whole life insurance has a savings component. But the cost is much higher. Many feel that your better off with a term policy then use the money you saved to invest.
7. Tough Questions: Before meeting with your broker create a list of tough questions to ask. Without knowing the answers to your questions you will not know your product inside and out.
8. Know It All Advisor: If you find yourself in front of a broker who is answering all your questions without referring to anything, or pretends they know it all, they most likely know nothing. Policies are complicated enough and even experienced brokers do not know 100 percent of their product.
9. Compare Similar Products: When price shopping you need to compare apples to apples.
10. Never Replace Old Whole-Life: Years ago you signed up for a whole life insurance policy. It now has been five years and your looking to replace it. Well don’t do it. You could lose all your premiums and you may have to pay new fees. If life has changed and you need more protection just add more insurance.
11. Expensive Riders: Should you buy expensive riders or not: If you do not fully understand a rider do not add it. Many feel there is no benefit to adding riders.
12. Homework: Just like in school you need to do your homework. This is an important decision and you should know what policy fits your needs and budget. Do not sign the contract until you understand it fully.
13. 30-Day Look: Most policies you have 30 days to look over it and understand it. Should you not be satisfied during this time you can cancel the policy and get your premium back.
14. Keeping it Simple: Insurance planning should not be that complicated. Do not fall for all the bells and whistles the company may try to sell you.

To speak with a Life Insurance professional contact Don at 617-738-5400 or to email him click here.