The National Insurance Crime Bureau released its annual list of cars most likely to be stolen, broken down by nation and region.

Florida is a hot spot for fraud as all residents know when they get their insurance bills that never seem to stop skyrocketing.

If you drive one of these cars, you might even pay more, as your car is also popular with thieves.

Florida Hot Cars:
1. 2006 Ford Pickup (full size)
2. 2000 Honda Civic
3. 2015 Nissan Altima
4. 2014 Toyota Camry
5. 1997 Honda Accord
6. 2014 Toyota Corolla
7. 2015 Chevrolet Pickup (full size)
8. 2015 Chevrolet Impala
9. 2005 Dodge Pickup (full size)
10. 2014 Nissan Maxima

No surprise, the list for Florida includes newer cars than the national list as it’s a state where it’s all about the car you drive.

By IFCAR via Wikimedia Commons

Hot wheels are not just for kids. The term refers to cars that are hot with criminals. The National Insurance Crime Bureau released its annual list of most stolen cars or “Hot Wheels.”

The 2015 most stolen vehicles in the country:

1. 1996 Honda Accord
2. 1998 Honda Civic
3. 2006 Ford Pickup (full size)
4. 2004 Chevrolet Pickup
5. 2014 Toyota Camry
6. 2001 Dodge Pickup
7. 2014 Toyota Corolla
8. 2015 Nissan Altima
9. 2002 Dodge Caravan
10. 2008 Chevrolet Impala

“While older vehicles still dominate our Hot Wheels most stolen list, the number of late model vehicles with anti-theft protection on the list goes to show that technology isn’t foolproof,” said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle. “Criminals are doing their best to defeat anti-theft technology through hacking and other means while, at the same time, manufacturers and others are working to improve security.”

While technology may not protect you, the NICB says other times these cars are an easy target because people leave the keys in the car or the doors unlocked.

No matter what car you drive, make sure you have adequate insurance that will cover you in the event of any loss.

The cars that are targeted vary by region. In Florida, thieves are targeting newer cars. Click here to see the list. Insurance is already high in the sunshine state, and may be even higher if you drive a hot wheel.

This is the weekend to get your children ready to head back to school. If you don’t have a kid, it’s a great time to stock up on clothing or supplies you might need around the house like sticky notes, pens, paper, or computer supplies. The annual sales tax holiday kicks in Friday morning and runs through Sunday (August 5 – 7, 2016) in Missouri, Florida and other states. While you can save on most clothing, school supplies, and computers there are some exceptions.

The rules vary by state. In Missouri, the tax exemption is limited to the following items:

Sales Tax Holiday 101 for Missouri

In Missouri, the following Kansas City area cities are not participating: Chillicothe, Claycomo, Peculiar, Platte Woods, Riverside, and Smithville. While they are not participating, you’ll still save on the state sales tax of around 4.225%.

Items that do not qualify in Missouri include items like batteries, bulletin boards, copiers, digital cameras, furniture, jewelry, and watches to name a few. Sales tax holiday Missouri.

Here’s a breakdown of the Florida sales tax holiday:

Diapers tax free in Florida

The big distinction is that computers and computer related accessories are not included in Florida. Click here for more on the Florida sales tax holiday.

Items not included in Florida include books, computer paper, correction tape and fluid, masking tape, printer paper, staplers, and staples.

On some blogs, parents are complaining about the long back to school lists. While it can be expensive to stock up on all kinds of items from tissues to post-it-notes, the more supplies the class receives the less the teacher will have to pay out of pocket for supplies. While these extensive “classroom” lists may not have been the standard when we were kids, it’s the reality of budget cuts to schools. Teachers are typically still spending hundreds of dollars if not more to get the supplies they need for their classroom.

Sales tax holidays will also take place in the following states: (click on the link for specific details)

August 5-7:

• Alabama
• New Mexico
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Virigina

August 5-6

• Iowa
• Louisiana

August 6-7

• Arkansas 

August 14-20

• Maryland

August 21-27

• Connecticut

As college students head back to class, technology will save them money. There’s no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks. Back in the day, we had no choice. There were few options other than buying used books and selling them back at the end of the year. We battled long lines for books, and hundreds of dollars in expenses. Now, students can’t buy all their books before they ever leave home.

1. Rent books
Many colleges offer to rent books. This is a great way to save money on the price of a new book. You lose out on resale at the end of the semester, but typically you make only a fraction of the cost of the book so renting is a good option.

2. Price comparison shopping
You can also buy the books from numerous retailers so do some price comparison shopping. Bookfinder makes it easy to compare prices. Consider it the Kayak or Expedia of the textbook world. You can save up to 90-percent by searching up to 100,000 sellers. You can search by ISBN, title, or author. Textsurf is another price comparison tool.

I picked a random book from a college course — C# Programming 5th edition (Author: Doyle  ISBN 9781285856872).The bookstore prices:

New $233.50
Used $175.25
Rent New $161.12
Rent Used $102.74

A quick search in an aggregator, and you can find the same book new for $100 cheaper on Amazon. It ranges from $133-150, depending on the retailer. There is a small $3.99 fee for some of the Amazon sellers, but it’s still significantly cheaper than the bookstore’s new, used, and new rental prices.

TextSurf is a little cleaner interface with the search results, but both aggregators produce comparable results.

If you don’t want to purchase the book new, the aggregator sites can even help you save on renting. In this case, the bookstore price is 50% more than prices found online for renting. Just make sure you read the fine print so you know when the book must be returned to avoid penalties, and if you can mark up the book with your highlighter without any additional fees.

3. Price match
Instead of buying one book from one retailer and another book somewhere else, buy them all in one place. Some college bookstores price match. It’s worth asking if they do. Palm Beach State College price matches Booksmart, Barnes & Noble, Chegg, and Amazon. You can even cash in on the savings AFTER you purchase your books from the bookstore. When you find the cheaper price at one of those other stores, you’ll get the difference on a gift card if it’s within 7 days of your original transaction.

4. Free books
Open books are rising in popularity and worth a check back often to see if your book is listed. Click here for 200 free books.

OhioLink is a searchable database of 46 million books that students can use to find free textbooks.  93 colleges and universities across the state offer the books for free to students on a checkout basis. You get the book for a set amount of time, but can renew it. The big catch is that you could lose the book midway through the semester if another student recalls the book. Students I spoke to at John Carroll University told me they’ve used OhioLink with no recall problems.

5. ebooks
If you don’t need a printed book, try learning online with an ebook. This is an electronic version of your book. It’s much cheaper, but there may be limitations to how many pages you can print for free.

6. Sharing
Ask a fried or classmate about sharing the textbook. This may not be the most convenient option, but it’s cheap if you’re on a strict budget.

What’s your go-to method for saving on textbooks? Share your tricks on Facebook.

Here’s a story I did several years ago showing how easy it is to save $90 on just one textbook.

More flight delays for Delta Air Lines today, as the airline tries to regroup from the power outage Monday that took the computer system offline worldwide. This morning, the airline is cancelling nearly 250 more flights so it has time to reset its operation. Around 1,000 flights were cancelled Monday.

“We were able to bring our systems back on-line and resume flights within a few hours yesterday, but we are still operating in a recovery mode,” said Dave Holtz, Senior Vice President – Operations and Customer Center. “We are sorry for what many of our customers have experienced over the past 24 hours, including those who remain at airports and continue waiting for their flights. We are doing everything we can to return our operation to normal reliability, but we do expect additional delays and cancellations.”

While words do little to comfort travelers stuck dealing with this mess, Delta is offering a $200 travel voucher for future travel as compensation for the issues.

If you can postpone your travel, that may be a good idea to avoid the airport headache. A travel waiver is in effect, so you can voluntary postpone travel. Unaccompanied minors can reschedule for free through Wednesday. Your travel can be rescheduled for travel by August 12, 2016.

You can also request a refund if your flight is cancelled or significantly delayed.

To apply for compensation, your flight must be cancelled or delayed more than three hours. If Delta has not contacted you about the refund, fill out a Customer Care form online. Click here to request a $200 Delta refund for travel delays or cancellations.

“We want our customers to know we are thoroughly investigating the matter and that we are truly sorry,” said Gil West, Delta’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

This needs to be a wakeup call to this airline and others that they need to have backup systems. Far too often we see headlines of airline system outages that snarl traffic for days. Computer systems go down. We all experience it. However, there needs to be a backup plan in a day and age when hackers are eager to take down any business. This was a simple power outage. Can you imagine if it was something far worse? Hopefully, airlines begin investing in the infrastructure needed to prevent these computer system failures no matter the cause.

The air is cooling off. You’re thinking of picking apples as the crisp air at night settles in signaling an upcoming shift in seasons. Whenever there’s a transition in the weather, deals are hot. This time of year, they’re even sweeter with a holiday weekend. No work means more sales. Retailers want you to spend your hard earned money on a day meant to celebrate all your labor. From clothing to laptops, get ready to save.

No matter what you’re in the market for, think about a store’s price match policy especially on higher priced items like appliances or technology. Most retailers will match the price you saw somewhere else to get your business. Typically you just need to show the retailer a picture of the cheaper priced item.

Courtesy: Pokemon Go app

Pokemon Go has users on the go. To play the game, you have to get off the couch. The free downloadable game uses your GPS to take you on a tour of real life looking for virtual Pokemon characters. Some of these characters are popping up in unlikely spots.

Kansas City homeowners are reporting suspicious vehicles driving by and when they ask the drivers what they are looking for they are told there are Pokemon characters in their backyard. While that’s very enticing to a neighborhood kid who wants to find the characters in nearby yards, it’s also disturbing. The game is inviting strangers into neighborhoods and maybe even to your home.

In O’Fallon Missouri, just outside St. Louis, police believe armed robbers targeted victims with the Pokemon Go app. The game not only allows you to find virtual characters, you can add a beacon to lure in more players. Police say the armed robbers used the games tools to lure in strangers and then rob them.

For me, this game is also raising questions about our status as a society. We live in an instant gratification world. We are glued to our devices at all times. We text and walk, text and drive, and surf the web and talk. While you have to pay attention to what’s happening online or you’ll be passed by in this fast paced world, sometimes you need to take a break or you’ll miss what’s happening around you.

https://mobile.twitter.com/HolocaustMuseum/status/752947874590232576

The Holocaust Museum is one of the most moving places I’ve ever been. It’s very interactive, so you don’t need a game to make it any more engaging. You play the role of a person and at the end find out if they survived or died. Focus on that person’s life rather than a fake game.

Arlington National Cemetery is also telling users to stop the Pokemon hunts in their national memorials. It’s sad that in this day and age a new generation of young people don’t realize it’s a bit disrespectful to play a video game on sacred grounds.

Is it too much to ask to put down our devices when we walk through Arlington National Cemetery? Have we become too addicted to our phones that we can’t take in the gravity of our surroundings — thousands upon thousands of white grave markers representing all the men and women who gave their life for our freedom.

https://mobile.twitter.com/USNatArchives/status/753188530227146753

On the flip side, The U.S. National Archives is using Pokemon Go as a promotional tool to come visit the Franklin D. Roosevelt Lirbary and Museum. While Roosevelt’s era and today’s world may seem like two starkly different places, the museum’s director doesn’t see it that way. Paul M. Sparrow, writing on the Museum’s Pokemon Go FDR Library,

“The Roosevelts are global icons for freedom and democracy. They embraced new technology in their day, and Franklin particularly loved playing games. When he was a teenager FDR loved to capture birds for his collection on exactly the same spot that this new generation is capturing Pikachu. So while some may see it as disrespectful to play a game while walking on the grounds of the Roosevelt home and museum, I think it is fine. As long as they realize that if it were not for the Roosevelt’s they might not have the freedom to play that game.”

While freedom allows us the ability to do whatever we want within the laws of the land, and I understand the point of the FDR Museum, I think the impact of the Pokemon Go game shines a light on a real problem. Sometimes we need to take a break from our virtual world and take in all that our real world has to offer. Whether it’s a national monument honoring those who gave their life for our freedom or it’s taking a step back to cherish family time, it’s a reminder to find balance with technology.

We live in a digital age. You have to be immersed in technology or you’ll be left behind. My view of the world is different now that I’m a parent. My daughter makes me more aware of how often I’m glued to my devices. She notices and tries to grab them. She doesn’t understand what they offer just yet. To her, it’s just a tether that seems flashy and noisy. It’s a reminder, though, that I need to watch the amount of screen time when I’m around her.

So many parents struggle to find balance with digital devices. It’s easy when you have an infant. She can’t ask for the devices just yet, and isn’t aware of all it can offer. They are great tools for education, and we will use them, but in moderation. Right now, I don’t show her videos unless it’s a special occasion like a long car ride.

As kids get older, the struggle is a daily reality. Children always want to be on the iPad. It’s an important tool, but at the same time usage needs to be limited so kids can also develop strong social skills and observe what’s happening around them and not just on the digital device in front of them.

Let the issues with Pokemon Go be a warning to all of us. Put down your device a few more times a day and cherish all that’s happening around you too.

The calendar just flipped to September, but already retailers are trying to cash in on holiday spending. Walmart released its top toy list, and is launching its holiday layaway program today. Layaway used to be popular in the 80s and 90s. I can remember my family using the program. It’s making a comeback as retailers look for ways to bring budget conscious shoppers in the store. 

With Walmart, you can put an item as low as $10 on layaway. However, your total order must be $50 to use the service. You need to put down $10 or 10% (whichever is greater) as your deposit, and pay off your account by December 12th. 

Toys “R” Us also has a layaway program. It lasts 90 days, and there is a cancellation fee if you cancel your order. There’s a $5 service fee that is waived during promotional periods. It’s likely that fee will be waived for the holidays. Like Walmart, you need to put down 10% of your order. You then have to follow a payment schedule of 40% of the order within 30 days, 70% within 60 and the full order paid within 90 days.

Make sure you read the fine print of every retailer’s program and ask what happens if an item you have on layaway goes on sale. Do you get the discounted price? Most toys are discounted the most in December. It could pay to wait to buy. The risk is that the toy you want will be out of stock, and won’t ship in time for the holidays. If it’s a hot toy, it’s better to buy early to make sure it arrives in time.

If you’re unsure about an item, don’t put it on layaway as there are typically cancellation fees or forfeiture of your deposit. It’s better to determine your budget early, and set aside money each week to save for the holidays. 

This season, expect holiday sales to start early. Stores will launch sales in late October or early November to get a jump start on Black Friday or what I now call Black Thursday shopping. 

It’s a small little tab at the top of the Amazon page that can earn you big savings especially this time of year when you’re looking for different gift ideas without blowing your holiday budget. Every day, the online retail giant lists Amazon deals of the day and lightning deals. It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays. Today, there’s a great way to save for all those creative kids who like to build things.

STEM products (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) are great educational learning toys and they’re up to 50% off today. You can grow butterflies or build a rollercoaster with a K’Nex kit. These are great gifts.

The calendar may only read September, but it’s never to early to start stocking up on holiday gifts or even creative gifts for birthdays throughout the year. Today, toys are a great deal. Tomorrow it will be something else. You can look at this as a way to save money, or as a way to get an even better gift in your budget for the people you care about. If your budget is $30, why not grab a $50 or $60 gift for the same price? Plan ahead to save money or get a bigger gift for the ones you love.

FREE pass for 3 to 5 year olds at Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun.

Once your child hits two or three years old, he or she no longer gets to go places for free. You have to pay to get them on an airplane, into a museum, or an amusement park. The fees can really add up, especially when it comes to family activities and you know your two or three year old is not going to get the same entertainment value as an older child. A two or three year old still can’t go on many rides due to age restrictions, so it stinks when you have to pay full price for them. That is unless you go to Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun in Kansas City. They are launching a fabulous deal for families with young ones.

It’s called the Pre-K pass, and offers FREE admission to children ages 3 to 5 years old for the entire 2017 season (through December 31, 2017) at both the amusement and water park. You can sign up for the pass starting October 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017. If you sign up in October, you’ll get a bonus free day this year.

You will need proof of age like a birth certificate (original only) or a passport. School IDs will not be accepted. You must be 3 to 5 years old when you register to qualify so basically anyone aged 3 to 5 from October through April 30th can get the pass.

You must sign up online before going to the park, and then when you get to the park you will be issued the pass.

This offers families a $99 savings off the cheapest season pass. If you are the adventurous family and like the amusement park, it’s worth it to get the passes even if you have to pay for some of your children. The pass pays for itself after two visits.

It’s a great marketing tool for parents who are on the edge about buying passes. I’ve seen many comments from moms who say this convinced them to buy the pass.

Olive Garden Never Ending #pastapass is back.

The parking lots are full and the lines wrap around the building on a weekend evening. Chain restaurants are popular with many families. I try to avoid them, so perhaps I take note of the long lines more than others. I’m always amazed. Clearly I’m not in the majority on this one, which is why I’m bringing this deal alert to the masses. Olive Garden is serving up an even bigger plate of pasta with even more Never Ending Pasta Passes. This year, an unprecedented 21,000 passes will be sold.

Customers gobbled up 2,000 Never Ending Pasta Passes in less than a minute during last year’s promotional sale. The Italian restaurant known for its buttery and endless breadsticks, also offers seven weeks of its Never Ending Pasta Bowl.

The promotion will last from October 3 through November 20. You’ll get unlimited pasta, sauce, toppings, soup or salad, breadsticks, and soft drinks. Basically eat and drink as much as you can!

You can try to grab one of these passes starting Thursday, September 15, at 2 P.M. ET. For one hour or maybe just one minute again. Up to 21,000 passes will be available. Each one costs $100 and you can only purchase one pass per transaction. So if your whole family wants passes, you better have your fingers ready to click on different computers. Click here to try to be one of the lucky fans.

It’s like the Golden ticket from Willy Wonka. Will you be able to get it?

If you’re not one of the lucky 21,000, there’s no need to worry. You can still feast on pasta during the seven week promotion by paying $9.99. That’s a deal with the pass or without. For the pass to be worth the money, you have to go 10 times. That’s more than once per week during the promotional period. Carb load anyone?

Hurricane Matthew. Courtesy NOAA (http://www.nnvl.noaa.gov/)

In between rushing to the store to stock up on batteries, milk, bottled water, and non-perishable food to prepare for Hurricane Matthew, take five minutes to make sure you’re protected if there’s damage to your home. I’m not talking about putting up hurricane shutters or bringing your furniture inside. The one thing you need to do to prepare for the Hurricane involves only your cell phone. This five-minute step will help you get the most out of an insurance claim if the storm damages your home.

Home inventory

Grab your cell phone and take photos of every room in your home. Take closeup shots of valuable items. This helps make the insurance claim process smoother. There will be no doubt as to the contents of your home.

If you have time, write down and take a photo of the model number for expensive items like your television or computer. That way you can prove to the insurance company the true value of your item as items like TVs can vary dramatically depending on the model.

It’s also a good idea to take photos of your roof. From the ground will help. If you can get a ladder and get up on the roof, even better. That way you have proof of the condition pre-hurricane. With a storm of this magnitude, wind damage is a huge issue along with the obvious flooding concerns.

Backup photos and video

Along with photos, a video can be a helpful tool too.

Make sure the photos are saved to the cloud or another safe place before the storm hits.

You can even use free software from the Insurance Information Institute (III) to make sure you record all the information you need about the items in your home. It’s called, “Know Your Stuff.”  The software prompts you for the make, model, and place of purchase and allows you to include receipts, photos, and appraisals. You should also add the serial numbers.

The information is stored in the III secure database.  Then you can access the information when you need it.

This software is a good tool because it means your information is located in an independent location in case of fire, burglary, or flood. You don’t have to worry about the information being stolen, burned, or ruined.

Preparing for a hurricane is no fun and the to do list is often long. While this may not seem like a priority, it should be. You want to make sure you have the proof you need should the storm severely damage your home. It ultimately will come down to how good your insurance coverage is, but it helps to have a detailed list of items in your home because the insurance company will ask if you file a claim.

Remember, most policies will only cover wind damage or minor water damage. You need to have flood insurance for most water claims. There’s a 30 day wait on flood insurance so it’s too late to purchase this coverage.

Big storms like this grab our attentions. It’s a good time to review your insurance policy, and make sure you have the right coverage to fully protect your investments. It’s likely too late to make changes for this storm, as the insurance companies will put a moratorium on changes at some point soon, but a change now could better protect you next time.

These steps will protect you if something happens during this storm or at another unexpected time.

Beside the obvious items you need to prepare for a hurricane (bottled water, batteries, and non-perishable food), here are five items you not thing about that will also help you make it through the storm.

How are you going to charge all those electronics if the power goes out?

1. Wireless cell phone chargers

This storm will test the patience of residents like none other now that we rely on cell phones, tablets, and computers much more than we did ten years ago during the last big storms to hit Florida. You may not have the option to charge your phone if you don’t have power and don’t have a generator. It’s likely malls and other public places will offer free charging if there is damage, but you can also expect long lines at those charging stations.

You can buy extended batteries or wireless charging stations to help power your phone during and after the storm. Digital Trends lays out some of your options. You can purchase one for $20+. Or just invest in an AC adapter so you can charge your phone in your car.

2. Cash

With big storms the risk of power outages increase. Sometimes the power can remain out for prolonged periods. Grab some cash from your local bank or ATM to have on hand just in case electronic credit card machines don’t work after the storm. That way you can still make purchases that you need.

Make sure your gas tank is not on empty before the Hurricane hits.

3. Gas

You’ll need gas to power generators, and having several gallons on hand can also help you avoid long lines if stations lose power after the storm. Many now have backup systems after issues during the last big storm, but every station won’t be able to run without power.

If gas stations flood, the tanks in the ground can get filled with water contaminating the gas with sediment and other debris. It happened in Boynton Beach, Lantana, and Delray Beach after severe rain hit the area a few years ago. If several stations have flooding problems, supplies will dwindle. When there’s less supply, prices and demand may go up.

It’s also unclear where the storm will hit. If the storm hits one of the ports where gas is stored, it could limit the supply available for gas stations.

4. Propane

While fueling your car will be important, especially if you need your car to charge your electronics, eating is also needed. Without power, more people will be grilling. Get an extra tank of propane just in case you’re grilling a little longer than expected.

Stock up now to avoid shortages later in the week.

5. Photos or video of your belongings

If you have to make an insurance claim, it doesn’t matter what kind of coverage you have. Your insurance company will still ask you for a list of damaged or lost items. While you think you  might know what’s in your home, you will likely forget items and won’t get the maximum benefit you deserve.

Take detailed photos of the items in your home so there is no doubt what’s inside before the storm. If you have a few extra minutes, get closeups including model numbers of expensive items. Also, walk through your home with your video camera set to record. Investing time now, will help you get the most value out of every little thing you’ve invested in over the years.

Read more about tools to help keep track of everything in your home

Hurricane Matthew. Courtesy NOAA (http://www.nnvl.noaa.gov/)

Bonus tip: Move valuables off the ground

While most of our pictures are now on our phones, it’s likely you have boxes of old photos and albums too. Make sure those boxes are off the floor and up on counters or tall furniture so that they are protected if water comes rushing through your home.

Paperwork can also be valuable. Put your social security card, passport, birth certificate and other items that are tough to replace in plastic baggies and move them to a safe place. Replacing these items is a headache, so it’s best to protect them now.

Hopefully all of these storm preps are not needed, but you never can be careful enough. You don’t mess with the power of Mother Nature.

Florida is a popular travel destination, so many people are watching the skies closely that have planned to make the trip south for months. Already, the airlines that fly our friendly skies are warning of turbulent days ahead. That’s why they are issuing travel waivers in preparation for the cancellations that are sure to come in the days ahead as Hurricane Matthew heads toward the mainland United States.

Hurricane Matthew. Courtesy NOAA (http://www.nnvl.noaa.gov/)

While Hurricane Matthew could impact much of the U.S. eastern coast, Florida is first in its path. Airlines are allowing customers to change their flight without penalty. JetBlue is even extending the fee waivers as far north as the Carolinas.

If your travel is flexible, it’s a great idea to change your plans now before it gets hectic. You don’t want to sit at the airport for hours thinking you’re going to fly, only to find out you can’t. However, rebooking is still a bit restrictive on some airlines. You typically get an extra week or so to begin travel or fees will apply although this does vary by airline.

If a category 2 or 3 hurricane hits the U.S., some of the re-booking restrictions we see now may go away. Once flights get cancelled, refunds are issued. So, it could pay to wait if you can’t fly within the next week which is the restriction right now to avoid fees.

Here’s a breakdown of the travel waivers by airline:

Delta

Delta won’t charge you to change your flight, but you may have to pay a difference in fare if you fly after October 12th. If you can’t fly by October 12th, you can get a credit for travel one year from the date the ticket was originally issued. You may have to pay fees if you opt to cancel your trip and ask for a credit.

United

Event	Travel to/from/connecting through	Original travel date(s)	Additional information
Hurricane Matthew	Airports: Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) Jacksonville, FL (JAX) Miami, FL (MIA) Orlando, FL (MCO) West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)	Original travel date(s): October 5 – 7, 2016	Flight changes:The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new flights departing on or before October 12, 2016, as long as travel is rescheduled in the same cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed..

Southwest

Southwest warns travellers that flights may be delayed or cancelled if you are travelling between these Florida cities:Ft. Lauderdale (FLL), West Palm Beach (PBI), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), Ft. Myers (RSW), and Jacksonville (JAX) and also Charleston, South Carolina (CHS) between Tuesday October 4, 2016 and Saturday, October 8, 2016.

However, they say you can only rebook trips right now for travel to and from Montego Bay and Nassau. I expect that to change soon.

You can won’t pay a fee if you rebook your trip and travel for within 14 days of your originally scheduled flight.

If you bought your ticket from a third party, you need to call Customer Service at 1-800-435-9792.

Courtesy American Airlines

American Airlines

American Airlines has a travel waiver in effect for travel to and from the following Florida cities:

• Daytona Beach, Florida (DAB)
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida (FLL)
• Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
• Key West, Florida (EYW)
• Melbourne, Florida (MLB)
• Miami, Florida (MIA)
• Orlando, Florida (MCO)
• West Palm Beach, Florida (PBI)

Right now, you won’t pay a fee if you are travelling October 6-7, 2016 and can reschedule your trip and fly by October 12th.

Look up your flight on American’s website, and look for the “change trip” icon to see if a waiver impacts your flight.

 JetBlue

JetBlue is offering an expansive list of cities included in its waiver of travel change fees. You also won’t be responsible for fare differences if you are traveling Thursday, October 6-Sunday, October 9, 2016 to or from the following cities:

• Charleston, SC (CHS)
• Daytona Beach, FL (DAB)
• Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
• Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
• Orlando, FL (MCO)
• Raleigh/Durham, NC (RDU)
• Savannah/Hilton Head, GA (SAV)
• West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)

You must rebook your flight and travel by Sunday, October 16, 2016 to avoid the fees. If your flight is cancelled, you can get a refund.

 

So you don’t have to go to school or work for the next few days as Hurricane Matthew heads toward Florida. You’ll be locked in your house, shelter, or hotel room you evacuated to with nothing more to do than play board games, listen to the rain and the wind, and hope the next gust doesn’t take out your power. While you hope and hope the lights stay on, it’s likely they’ll go out at some point. Here are some tips to power through Hurricane Matthew with a cell phone full of power.

1. Turn off apps that run in the background

Lots of apps run in the background and zap your battery. Go to your settings and turn off apps that run in the background. With an iPhone, you can do this two ways. You can click on every app, then look to see if it says “Background App Refresh.” Turn that off. Or you can go to settings, general, and background app refresh and turn it off for all apps with the click of one button.

However, if you want some apps like news or weather apps that could update you during the storm to be on, you have to go through them individually.

You should also turn off notifications and location services while you power through the storm. Only keep one or two key apps open and running through the storm to conserve your battery.

2. Turn on low power mode

This temporarily reduces the power your phone uses until you charge it. How will this impact your usage? You may not get updated emails, apps won’t update or run in the background (so this can eliminate step 2), automatic downloads, and some visual effects are also reduced or turned off.

On an iPhone, you can find this in the settings under your battery options.

3. Turn down the brightness

The storm is going to hit at night so it will be dark in your home, but you still want to avoid using your phone as a flashlight. Use a dedicated flashlight for that. Turn off auto brightness and turn down the brightness of your screen. Also, turn on auto lock so your phone turns off after just a few minutes of not using it. That will save some power too. You can find these options under settings and “Display & Brightness.”

4. Charge your phone while the power is on

It may not be much fun to be tethered to the power cord while you’re locked in your home surfing the web, but it will help you big time if the power goes out. You’ll have a phone with 100% power so it will last a lot longer.

If you don’t want to be tethered all the time, and still want a lot of power in your phone when you lose power, put your phone on the charger every hour for a few minutes. That way you always have maximum battery life.

5. Use your laptop as an extra battery

If you keep your laptop plugged in and charged throughout the storm, it can serve as an extra battery pack if the power goes out. Plug in your iPhone and use the laptop’s battery to recharge your phone’s battery.

You can also invest $20 in an AC adapter for your car for a second battery backup device. If you want to plug in several devices in your car, get an inverter.

One last bonus tip — if you haven’t updated to iOS 10, don’t do it now. There are reports of batteries draining faster, and even though you have more time on your hands now to get used to it, wait until after the storm just in case the update doesn’t go as planned.

With 1.5 million people in the path of Hurricane Matthew, and the worst of the storm to impact South Florida overnight while the rest of the country sleeps, many of us will be waking up wondering if friends and family are safe. Facebook is the first place many people will check, which is why the social media giant launched Safety Check again for this natural disaster.

You can let friends know if you’re in the path of this dangerous hurricane, and if you’re safe once it passes. If you haven’t heard from a friend in the path of the storm, you can also ask if they’re alright. Just click on the link above.

Consumers complained about moldy and stinky washing machines for years. Time is now running out to get compensated for the problem. You have until Tuesday, October 11, 2016, to request compensation as part of a class action settlement with Whirlpool, Kenmore, and Maytag front-loading washers. With many class action lawsuits, you don’t need to do anything to qualify for compensation. This is different. You must act to get money back with the moldy washing machine class action lawsuit.

Cash back

If you have one of these moldy and stinky washing machines, you can receive a $50 refund if the problems started within five years of buying a washing machine included in the settlement. If you already received money from Sears or Whirlpool, your refund will be reduced based upon how much you previously received.

If you paid to repair or replace your stinky washer, you could get up to $500. To qualify for this, you need to have proof of repairs or replacement.

Washing machines qualifying for money

The lawsuit covers machines manufactured between 2001 and 2010, and alleges the washers did not adequately self-clean themselves of laundry residue leading to mold and mildew. That caused odor issues and ruined laundry. Whirlpool & Sears Roebuck and Co deny they did anything wrong.

You can get a cash payment, a rebate to help on the purchase of a new washer or dryer, or reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs you paid to deal with the mold or odor problems.

There are many models included in this recall. Click through the slideshow to see if your model washing machine is included.

File a claim

You must file a claim to receive money back. Click here to file a claim in the moldy washing machine settlement. It must be filled out online or postmarked by October 11, 2016.

While most of South Florida was spared the worst from Hurricane Matthew, there is damage in cities like Vero Beach and farther up the coast near Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Even if you were spared damage, here are 5 things to always consider before hiring a contractor for any job.

1. Shop around

Get three estimates even if your insurance company is picking up the majority of the cost. This is not just to compare costs, but to find a qualified contractor. Each one may have different ideas and best practices.

If you are repairing your home after a storm or fire, don’t hire the first company who shows up on your doorstep. It’s ok to talk to a contractor who is already doing work in your neighborhood. However, you still need to do your diligence and seek out bids from other contractors.

Once you find three companies to consider, search for complaints with the Better Business Bureau and other consumer websites. Take them with a grain of salt, as not every consumer complaint is legitimate. Sometimes there are disgruntled customers. However, if you see a troubling pattern of complaints you might want to keep looking.

Ask for references and call them.

2. Make sure the company is licensed

In Florida, you need to be licensed to do most construction, HVAC, repair type work around one’s house that you would experience after a severe storm. Search to make sure the company you are considering has a license. This ensures they have the proper education, worker’s compensation, and liability insurance. Under state law, they are also required to pull permits.

If you have a problem with a licensed contractor, you can report it to the state.

You can also search to see if the state has taken action against your contractor in the past. All complaints are not listed. Only complaints where the state found probably cause. Click here to search for a licensed contractor. When you find their name, click complaint history to see if the company has previous problems.

Finding a licensed contractor in Florida is not always as easy as searching a company name. If you search the company name, and don’t find anything, check the company’s website for the license # associated with them or ask. In Florida, the license is held by an individual known as a qualifier. It’s supposed to be a person who has direct knowledge of the daily activities of that business, but that’s not always the case. Regardless, that qualifier is ultimately responsible for what happens on the job. Most Florida companies post the license number associated with their business on their website or contract.

3. Ask for a copy of the company’s insurance

Before you allow the contractor to do any work at your home, request a copy of their insurance. It’s easier to get a copy before work begins than after an incident. You want to make sure you’re protected if something happens on the job site.

4. Be leery of “Assignment of Benefits” paperwork

Many contractors will tell you they’ll handle the insurance paperwork for you. They do this so they can directly collect the money from the insurance company. Most assignment of benefit agreements are full of fine print that give your contractor a lot of power to negotiate with the insurance company. Read them carefully, and avoid signing one if possible.

Your contractor may tell you that not signing an AOB will slow down the claims and repair process. Don’t fall for the scare tactics. You have rights, and make sure you know the impact of what you are signing.

Be leery of a company that promises this. It’s always best for the homeowner to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to the finances of the project. Only pay for the service performed.

AOB’s are controversial in Florida, and some insurance companies blame them for skyrocketing rates. The insurers say unscrupulous contractors inflate claims with AOBs leading to litigation, and you the homeowner and policy holder are left out of the entire process.

5. Pay as you go & pay suppliers directly

Even though you’ll be holding the money from the insurance company, (remember no AOB’s), the money still might make its way to the mortgage company. They have a lien on your property so they have a financial interest in the repairs. You still need to watch the money closely and make sure your contractor only makes draws as the work progresses.
If you get the full insurance check, do not hand over the full check to your contractor. Pay as you go.

Some contractors may require a down-payment. Try to avoid this if you can, but if you can’t make sure it’s reasonable and no more than 1/3 of the project cost.

With so much destruction, some contractors will see this as a money grab. They’ll collect a lot of money upfront and later on some of it may not trickle down to the suppliers. Guess who loses again? You the homeowner. So to protect yourself, request a list of suppliers and subcontractors if possible, and pay them directly. That way you are sure everyone is paid appropriately and you will prevent subcontractors from filing liens on your property. It’s very easy to file a lien on your property, so you need to protect yourself.

Black. Blue. Red. White. What if the color of your car chipped and flaked off as you drove? Suddenly that color you chose is speckled with silver dots. A Florida woman grew frustrated by the problem dotting her Nissan. The paint flaked off when she washed it and even drove down the road. She reached out to me after she couldn’t get the manufacturer to help her. After I got involved, Nissan responded.

“Our field inspection team looked at the vehicle and determined that the primer is not holding the paint and the metal surfaces need to be prepped and painted,” a Nissan spokesperson wrote.

Nissan repainted a car in Florida to fix the chipping paint.

After my involvement, Nissan repainted her car.

Paint chipping impacts many car manufacturers. While sometimes it’s an issue from the factory as we saw in this case, body shops say many manufacturers don’t fix the problem. They blame the weather. Whether it’s the salt or the sun. Your car paint takes a beating, and it doesn’t have to be that old to have problems.

Lucky for this Nissan driver, her car manufacturer stepped up to fix the problem.

Before you put away your lawn mower for the season, there are steps you should take to avoid a costly headache in the spring.

Lawn mower repair companies are booming with business as consumers walk in befuddled as to why their mower don’t start.  It has to do with what’s in our gas.  Gas now has up to 10% ethanol in it. Perhaps you’ve seen the sticker at the gas pump warning you. It may not mean much to car drivers, but when you use that gas on a small engine that ethanol packs a punch.

Small engines like lawn mowers and chain saws can’t handle the ethanol. The corn-derivative draws moisture, and with time the water droplets clog the lines in your mower and cause rust on your carburetor.  This doesn’t take long to happen.

You should only leave gas in your machines for two months at the longest, and that’s if you use a factory recommended stabilizer. Otherwise, the ethanol in the gas can cause problems.

The repairs are so costly that it may be cheaper to just buy a new mower.

So here’s how to make sure your mower is running next spring:
1. Drain the gas completely before storing it for the season.
2. Buy ethanol free gas like MotoMix
3. Rotate gas every two months during months of use

MotoMix is expensive at around $9 a quart. The manufacturers are trying to come up with new products to deal with this growing problem and new products are continually rolling out on the market.

For now, the two free options (rotating gas and draining it at the end of the season) sound best to me.

This problem is likely only going to get worse. The EPA wants to allow up to 15% ethanol as their studies show many cars can safely use it.  There are many critics of adding that much ethanol to gas, but it’s a sign that this issue is not going away.