Are You Prepared For The Worst?

None of us ever think we will be a victim of disaster. But unfortunately it happens - from a fatal car accident to a burglary, there are all kinds of disasters that turn our world upside down. Being prepared for the worst can help to make these disasters less devastating. In some cases, you may even be able to prevent disasters by planning ahead. Below are just some of the different ways in which everyone should prepare for the worst.

Start an emergency savings fund

Many disasters can be expensive. Having some savings set aside for these emergencies can prevent you from having to rely on loans. Start saving up some cash now in a high interest account. Make sure that you only dip into it for emergencies. This could include major disasters or small disasters like car repairs, home repairs and unexpected vet bills.

Take out insurance

Insurance is one of the best financial defence against disasters. Health insurance is one of the most valuable insurance schemes you can have as it can help pay for medical emergencies. Just be wary that some health insurance schemes will not cover certain medical situations and extra schemes like critical illness insurance may be needed in these cases. Other insurance schemes that can be handy to have include life insurance and home insurance. 

Invest in home safety and security

Home safety and security measures can help to reduce the risk of disasters - or, at the very last, make them easier to cope with. Firstly, consider investing in smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and burglar alarms to alert you of disasters. Secondly, make sure that your home is kept in good condition and meets modern standards - updating old electrics could prevent a fire, while making sure windows and doors are all secure could put off burglars. It’s possible to arrange home surveys that can help point out safety and security weaknesses in your home. This could allow you to invest in the right improvements. 

Learn first aid

First aid skills are very useful to have if a loved one ends up in a medical emergency situation. Some of the life-saving skills worth learning include the recovery position, wound care, CPR, the Heimlich maneuver and seizure care. There are many first aid courses that you can take in person or online to help build these skills.

Write a will

You may not have any plans on dying soon, but if the worst happens, what will happen to all of your assets? Will your money and property go to the right people? Without a will, your assets will be handed down according to the laws of intestacy - which could mean that the wrong people end up inheriting your estate. By writing a will, you can ensure that your assets are passed down according to your wishes. A will can be amended at any time, so it’s never too early to start writing a will. Make sure to write a will with the help of a probate lawyer so that you can be certain that your will is legally binding. 

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