No matter how financially secure you are, you can always get taken by surprise. Many people are hit with unexpected bills and struggle to handle them, whether it’s a sudden medical emergency, a busted water tank, or your math isn’t as good as you thought it was, life can be an expensive game. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to protect yourself so you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way.

Get a letter of protection

Hospital bills are the main culprit of unexpected expenses. You should have insurance to cover most of the cost, but insurance claims can be a long process, so you could owe the money for some time before your insurance pays out. That’s where a letter of protection comes in. A letter of protection is a legal document drawn up by your attorney which will state that you do not have to pay the money until your insurance comes through. That’s one little letter which can save you a lot of trouble.

Take up DIY

This seems like an obvious solution, but you can save yourself a lot of household costs if you learn how to do it yourself. Of course, there are plenty of complex jobs which will need a professional touch, but if you keep on top of your household repairs then the damage caused by something like a burst pipe is likely to be a lot less serious. Meanwhile, the small fixes will be easy and painless once you’ve got your kit together.

Insulate

Bills always get more expensive over the Winter, but some years your heating bills can be huge! That’s normally down to poor insulation. If you’re pumping money into heating up a house that can’t hold the temperature then that money is wasted. Get your insulation checked and refitted, it’ll cost a little now, but it’ll save you a lot of money in the long run.

Take care of your ride

Cars are expensive beasts, we’ve all been cruising along when suddenly your car sputters and stops. It’s always a nerve-wracking trip to the mechanic when they’re adding up your bill. The easiest solution is to take care of your car. Read the manual, check all the engine essentials, especially before long journeys, and you’ll find your car running a lot smoother for a lot longer. A little learning can go a long way!

Taking care of your ride doesn’t mean just mechanically, it also means financially. Make sure it’s properly insured with the right coverages and limits needed to adequately protect you in the case of an accident. Keep insurance costs low by regularly comparing auto insurance quotes and working with the insurance companies known to provide the cheapest car insurance rates.

Gift carefully

There’s always an event coming up, whether it’s Christmas, a birthday, or your best buddy announcing their engagement, it’s all going to cost you. You can save yourself a lot of money by buying second-hand, making homemade gifts, or giving a smaller, more sentimental present rather than a lavish gift. If you spend a little extra time trawling second-hand websites, you’d be surprised how many bargains you can find. If you’re careful about it, then you can re-gift too. Just make sure there’s plenty of degrees of separation between the original giver and its new owner.