In a world where you can be anything, always be kind. There a million different ways to make someone smile, but the easiest way is to just simply be kind. When you show someone an act of kindness like, tipping your server generously or even just striking up a friendly conversation, it can change a person’s entire mood.

It is important for us, as people, to recognize that we don’t know what someone else is going through in life or how they are feeling; but we can make their day a little better by simply showing them kindness. That is why we should always be kind to everyone we meet.

Showing kindness is easy and can even put you in a better mood! Here are 10 Random Acts of Kindness that you can do today and every day:

1. Give a Stranger a Compliment
2. Volunteer or Donate to a Fundraiser/Charity
3. Hold the Door or Elevator
4. Pay for Someone Else’s Meal
5. Write a “Thank You” or Encouraging Note
6. Do a Favor Without Asking for Anything in Return
7. Send a Care Package to a Soldier
8. Donate Blood
9. Visit a Nursing Home
10. Bake Cookies for Your Office

Want some more ideas? Click here.

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This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.

What is the smarter choice, buying or leasing a car? It’s a tough question with no wrong or right answer. The truth is this major financial decision ultimately depends on your lifestyle and budget.

Buying

Traditionally, financing the purchase of a vehicle often means your monthly payment may be more than what you could expect to pay by leasing. However, once the car is paid off, it’s yours to keep for as long as you’d like. You’ll no longer have the expense of a monthly car payment, but you should factor in costs related to upkeep, maintenance and repairs.

Leasing

With a lease, you’re essentially paying for the portion of the cost of the vehicle for the duration of the lease term. Often, this can result in a lower monthly payment. At the end of the lease, the vehicle is returned. You then have the option to lease a new vehicle and begin making payments on the new lease. Here are some major differences to consider when you are looking into buying or leasing a car.

Leasing:

• Must Return
• Returned in the Same Condition
• Can Finance to Purchase
• Pay for Excessive Wear & Tear
• Mileage Limitations
• Lease Payments
• Must Completely Finish Lease
• New Car with Newer Technology Every Few Years
• Repairs Usually Covered by Warranty

There is no one-size-fits-all option when it comes to leasing or buying a car. So when it is time to make the important decision there are a few factors that you need to look at.

Cost and Lifestyle

Your lifestyle and what you would like to have in the future are both major factors that play into the decision on leasing or buying. Do lower or higher payments work best with your budget? Would you like to own your car in the end and be able to sell in the future? Or would you rather continue making small payments on different vehicles? Remember both vehicles will also require a down payment along with other fees.

You should also consider the cost of regular auto insurance, that you would need if you purchased a vehicle, compared to gap and collision coverage, you would need when you lease a vehicle. To discuss auto coverage speak to a California Casualty advisor.

Flexibility

Figuring out how flexible you are when it comes to contracts is helpful in determining if you should lease or buy. If you tend to regularly want a new car with the newest technology, leasing may be your best option. However, if owning a vehicle outright is more appealing and you plan on keeping it long after that new car smell has worn off, you might consider buying. Just like cost, all is dependent upon you and your lifestyle.  

Related Articles:

10 Safest Used Cars for Teens

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This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.

School buses are one of the safest vehicles on the road. Students who ride the bus are actually 70x’s more likely to get to school safely than those who get to school by car. That is because school buses are designed with your kids in mind. Every feature of a bus has a safety purpose- from it’s large yellow exterior to its flashing lights and extendable stop signs.

Although school buses are considered the safest form of child transportation, the scary truth is- even in the safest vehicle- accidents can still happen. In fact, school-transportation-related accidents still cause 128 fatalities a year on average. That is why it is still important to educate your children on the importance of school bus safety.  

School Bus Safety Tips For Parents

1. Always wait at the bus stop with young children
2. Teach kids to stand at least 3 giant steps (6 ft) back from the curb, and never run or play around or play while waiting
3. Teach kids to wait for the bus to come to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says it is okay to board
4. Make your child aware of proper bus-riding behavior and the importance of not distracting the driver.
5. Tell your children never to walk behind the bus
6. If your child has to walk in front of the bus, teach them to walk 5 giant steps (10 ft)  in front of the bus, make contact with the bus driver so they can see them, and to look both ways twice before crossing.

 It is also our job, as drivers, to help make school transportation continue to be as safe as it can be.  

School Bus Safety Tips For Drivers

1. Slow down when driving in neighborhoods and school zones
2. Stay alert and watch for children walking on cross streets and waiting at bus stops
3. Learn and obey school bus laws in your state
   • Yellow Flashing Lights= the bus is preparing to stop. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop as well
   • Red Flashing Lights & Stop Arm= the bus has stopped and children are exiting. Drivers should come to a complete stop and not move until the bus has turned off its flashers and withdrawn the stop arm
4. Never tailgate a bus or ignore an extended Stop Arm
5. Make sure all children have exited the bus and are safely away from the road before proceeding

Together we can help continue to keep buses and bus stops safe for our children. For more Safety Tips visit mycalcas.com/resources

For more information on School Bus Safety visit:

https://bit.ly/2Jdj8YO

https://bit.ly/2JdlTsW  

This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.