Renter's Insurance: Do Newlyweds Need It?

Always on the lookout for helpful information for newly married couples, so let's talk renter's insurance. Is it necessary? Okay, you're just married and have decided to rent a great new place to begin your life together. Sure you're thinking of the costs of moving and maybe buying some new furniture, but what about insurance?

Even if you're not a homeowner, you may want to strongly consider renter's insurance. Like most insurance policies, renter's insurance covers your property in the event that it gets damaged in a covered loss, such as theft or a fire. Covered property generally includes clothes, furniture, electronics, your computer, and even a hotel stay if you're displaced while any damage is being repaired at your apartment. All that adds up! Most policies also include liability insurance, which covers you if you're responsible for the injury of another person or if you damage someone else's property, regardless of where the incident occurred.

Doesn't the landlord's insurance cover this stuff? Nope! The landlord's policy covers structural damage of the building, their personal property, and damage due to negligence, not your personal belongings. It likely won't even cover you if you sustain a loss due to flooding; think: water backing up through the drains or sewers. That's right. If you live on the ground level, particularly, you may want to add flood insurance to your policy too. And if you live in areas that are prone to earthquakes or hurricanes, learn more about getting a separate  rider to cover damage from them, because it won't be included on your standard policy.

So how much is this going to cost, you may be wondering? According to the American Automobile Association, the average cost for a $30,000 renter's insurance policy is about $15.00 a month. That may also include up to $100,000 in liability insurance. You're more likely to get a better deal on the insurance if you buy multiple policies (e.g., car insurance and renter's insurance) through the same company too. Not a huge price to pay for the coverage you get and the peace of mind knowing you're covered.

To Prank or Not to Prank on Your Wedding Day

April Fool's Day is here! With that in mind, let's turn the conversation to wedding day pranks. From ranking the first kiss to staged objections, there are many wedding day jokes, classic and not so classic. And regardless of whether or not the bride and groom have a good sense of humor, the question you need to ask is, "will this prank be a good idea or not?"

If you're a bride, groom, relative, or friend thinking about planning a wedding day joke, consider the following points:

1) Is the joke in good taste? You never want to embarrass anyone, be it your family, guests, or especially a future spouse. If there's even a remote chance of humiliation, steer clear of it. You don't want to do anything that could ever spoil a bride and groom's big day.

2) Couples spend thousands of dollars on their wedding. Don't carry out a prank that could potentially ruin this special day. Think, cake or other food getting on the bride's dress or damage to the reception area. It's inconsiderate and will likely cost you to clean it up.

3) The ceremony itself is a spiritual and meaningful experience. If you must pull a prank, wait until afterwards. Also, remember what some people might find humorous, others may not. Keep in mind traditional, cultural, or religious values. If family members do not find a joke amusing, it could create unnecessary drama or hardship for the bride and groom. No one wants to start off their marriage on the wrong foot with either side of the family. Save it for another time.

4) It's a good idea to let the bride or groom in on the secret, just to get their approval. With minimal details, you can see what their reaction might be. If a look of terror crosses their face, you may want to reconsider your decision or save it for the bachelor or bachelorette party or after the honeymoon. But even in those instances, don't do something that might have a lasting effects before the wedding, like using hair dye or markers.

5) After the honeymoon, newlyweds are getting back home and into the swing of married life, they may not want to spend hours unwrapping foil from their furniture or cleaning Jello out of their bathtub.

That's not to say there's no room for fun and games at a wedding. When taking the thoughts and feelings of everyone involved into consideration and if done in good taste, a wedding day prank could be funny and memorable. But it's always a good idea to have a back up plan and the ability to call it off, if the joke doesn't seem to be funny after all.