ARE YOUR THRIFT STORE DONATIONS BEING THROWN AWAY?
Are you thinking about donating your kids’ old clothes or that slow cooker you haven’t used in months? Though donating your unwanted items is a great thing to do, amid the pandemic, many people have not considered the future of secondhand shopping and charity-based thrift stores like Goodwill. In 2018, Goodwill funded nearly $5.3 billion in charitable services, like educational assistance, job training, and work placements. But now, Goodwill and similar organizations are facing a unique problem: They’re receiving too many donations. To prevent your items from ending up in a landfill, consider the following before you donate. Under the circumstances, this situation is understandable. Thanks to nationwide stay- at-home orders, many took advantage of their newfound spare time to spring-clean
and subsequently donate unwanted items to charity. However, with the confusion about how long the COVID-19 virus can live on clothing, secondhand shoppers have been staying home, worried about the health risks of buying used goods. Famously, thrift stores still keep unsold goods out of landfills. Up to 75% of Goodwill’s merchandise, for example, isn’t sold in their stores. Instead, it’s sent to discount outlets and then into global markets. However, Mexican traders, who account for 30% of business at thrift stores close to the U.S. southern border, and Kenya, the world’s largest buyer of unsold secondhand clothes, have stopped buying during the economic shutdown.
thrift stores’ front doors, not realizing that without enough space to house
the excess donations, many of these thrift stores will have to pay disposal fees, costing the business potential revenue and sending your items into local landfills. However, Goodwill still wants your donations! You just might have to hold on to your items for a little bit. Check to see if your local thrift stores are open for donations. Many recommend waiting until the influx slows down, but others have expanded their inventory storage and are ready to keep up. Just make sure to follow their guidelines on acceptable items because any broken or worn items only add to their costs. Happy donating!
Meanwhile, some good-intentioned Americans are leaving their goods outside
DON’T MAKE THESE 2 MISTAKES WHEN SHOPPING FOR AUTO INSURANCE
This is a guest piece by Chad Coe of The Insurance Garage, which has a great reputation for excellent customer service and can provide quotes from multiple insurance companies in California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Chad is one of our recommended agents if you are looking for information on car insurance. 2 BIG MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN SHOPPING FOR AUTO INSURANCE People waste hundreds of dollars a year on their car insurance premiums — even more if they buy the wrong kind of insurance and get in an accident. Here are two common mistakes people make while shopping for insurance: 1. Selecting Insurance Through the Internet and Getting Socked With Higher Prices Later Online insurers know you don’t know how your driving record affects your premium. When you search the internet for insurance, you normally receive a quote
that doesn’t include adjustments for what shows up on your background report. Your online quote will often be good for 15–30 days but is subject to change. Consumers often accept — and are locked into — a quote that changes after the insurance company runs a record check. Insurance companies also expect the car owner will not make the effort to go through the rate comparison process again and will keep the higher insurance. If you go through an agent who checks your record before comparing quotes with multiple car insurance companies, you get real quotes from different insurance companies that avoid the “switch and replace” tactics of many online insurers. 2. Buying the Minimum Mandated State Coverages Most people think, “If I buy less, it should cost less.” But in the new world of algorithm insurance quoting, underwriters often charge more for minimum insurance because they believe you’re only shopping
price instead of long-term cost and value and are, therefore, not as “responsible.” It often costs more money for state minimum liability coverages, which are usually $25,000 or $50,000 for bodily injury and $20,000 for property damage . To add insult to injury, that amount of coverage might not be enough. If you hit a shiny, new car, minimum coverages are often exceeded, exposing you to personal suits. Insurance companies will also try to put you on a six-month policy that allows them to reevaluate your driving record and increase your premium frequently. If you have a good rate, lock it in for 12 months. Do you still have questions? I can review your situation to determine the best coverage for you to ensure you and your assets are better secured from risk. Then, I can check with multiple companies to make sure you get the best value for the rates you’ll pay. Chad can be reached at 541-979-8750.
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