Things not to forget before heading off on holiday

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by: Sarah Maple
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Word Count: 573
Date: Sun, 30 May 2010 Time: 10:40 AM
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Heading off on holiday? Hurrah! We hope you have a mega-amazing time. But before you go, we've got a handful of handy tips which may well ensure peace of mind in your absence, and may well even save you a bit of cash. Bonanza!

Home security:
It's now possible to get a Fake TV in order to emulate the flickering glow of a regular TV. The idea is to deter potential burglars by giving the impression that you're at home, as most will not target occupied houses. A Fake TV costs £24.99, and uses a fraction of the energy of an actual TV. Another precaution to take is ensuring that you're not updating Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites with holiday details. If your home is going to be unoccupied, then broadcasting this online is ill-advised for pretty obvious reasons.

In fact, the Association of British Insurers have warned of the risks of posting too much information after Legal and General claimed that 38 per cent of users of such sites reveal their holiday plans online, and a third would include details of weekend breaks.

Confused.com recently issued the following eminently sensible tips for social media users:

1. Don't post your home address or any other personal information (e.g. your home phone number) on a site such as Facebook. And if you already have -get rid!

2. Avoid ‘befriending' or following people you don't know on social networks, and adjust your privacy settings to ensure that others can't see your profile if you don't know them.

3. Switch off location-based services on Twitter and Facebook - unless you absolutely need to use them.
Follow this link to compare home insurance policies.

Reduce energy consumption:
For those lucky enough to be going away for longer than your average holiday - maybe even a few months - it makes sense to be on an energy tariff with no standing charge. After all, there's no point paying for what you're not using. Compare energy tariffs here to make sure you're on the plan that best suits your needs.
If you're going to have lights connected to a timer to give the impression that you're in, you may as well make sure the bulbs are energy saving. Plus, it really should go without saying, but don't leave electrical equipment on standby! A TV, for example, can still sap up to 85 per cent of the power that it does whilst in use.
In addition, you can safely turn down the temperature of your fridge by a few degrees, as it will store the cold better through not being regularly opened. Plus you could extinguish any pilot lights before you go. Little things admittedly, but they all add up.

…and, of course, travel insurance.

It's a good idea not to leave travel insurance until the last minute. Some people organise it a week before they leave, some when they're rushing for the plane… But it's worth considering taking out insurance immediately after making your holiday bookings. For example, if you have an accident or fall ill shortly before you're due to travel, then - if you're uninsured - you may not be able to recoup some purchases if you don't go. Especially non-refundable things, such as flight tickets.

About the Author

Sarah Maple writes for Confused.com who offer everything from travel insurance to car insurance to savings accounts.