Storm season is coming, and with it the fear that a tree will crash through your roof or a pond will rise in your basement. You can't avoid a natural disaster, but you can prepare for it several ways and buy some peace of mind.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Invest in a Stellar Fund |
| Row 1 - Cell 0 | Buy Low-Price Stocks |
| Row 2 - Cell 0 | Save for College |
| Row 3 - Cell 0 | Defend Against Mother Nature |
| Row 4 - Cell 0 | Find a New Career |
| Row 5 - Cell 0 | Get a Tax Credit |
| Row 6 - Cell 0 | Make Money Doing Good |
| Row 7 - Cell 0 | Travel to Hawaii |
| Row 8 - Cell 0 | Employ a Virtual Butler |
| Row 9 - Cell 0 | Savor Wines of the World |
| Row 10 - Cell 0 | Send Your Kids to Camp Cash |
| Row 11 - Cell 0 | What Else $1,000 Can Do |
Buy flood insurance. It's not just for oceanfront and riverside property. If a torrential rainstorm soaks your cellar, your homeowners policy will not cover the damage. The National Flood Insurance Program Web site lets you enter your address to see if your home's location qualifies as a "preferred risk." If it does, for $352 a year you can cover the building for $250,000 and its contents for $100,000.
If your home is deemed a moderately risky property (riskier than "preferred"), you can still cover the structure for $100,000 and its contents for $30,000 at a cost of $669 a year.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Plug home-insurance gaps. Ask your insurance agent if there's something your policy doesn't cover. For example, most homeowners policies do not cover damage caused by a sewage backup. Some insurers may let you buy a sewage-backup rider for $10,000 of coverage for about $50 per year, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Trim threatening trees. It can cost $2,000 to remove timber that's menacing your roof or your neighbor's -- assuming, of course, that your town or neighborhood association allows you to cut down trees. But just having branches trimmed so that they're 6 or 8 feet from the house costs only $300 to $500 and should give you two years of protection.
Timing is important. Arborists are busy after storms, so you may get faster service and a better deal when the weather is quiet.
-- Jeffrey R. Kosnett
-
AI Stocks Lead Nasdaq's 398-Point Nosedive: Stock Market TodayThe major stock market indexes do not yet reflect the bullish tendencies of sector rotation and broadening participation.
-
Top Tech Gifts to Grab at Walmart Before ChristmasBig savings on Apple, Bose, HP, Vizio and more while there's still time to shop.
-
AI Appliances Aren’t Exciting Buyers…YetThe Kiplinger Letter Artificial intelligence is being embedded into all sorts of appliances. Now sellers need to get customers to care about AI-powered laundry.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to save for retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2026 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?insurance When assessing how much life insurance you need, take a systematic approach instead of relying on rules of thumb.
-
When Does Amazon Prime Day End in October? Everything We Know, Plus the Best Deals on Samsonite, Samsung and MoreAmazon Prime The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale ends soon. Here are the key details you need to know, plus some of our favorite deals members can shop before it's over.
-
How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Stepsinsurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
-
Five Ways to Shop for a Low Mortgage RateBecoming a Homeowner Mortgage rates are high this year, but you can still find an affordable loan with these tips.
