| According to reports five million Brits are planning to | | | | barriers to doors and windows, stocking up on |
| cut their insurance cover over the next 12 months in a | | | | sandbags and moving electrical sockets higher up |
| bid to save money. Home insurance is the policy most | | | | walls could all dramatically reduce your flood risk and |
| likely to be cut - however, there are ways to save | | | | earn rewards from insurers. |
| without reducing your cover levels. | | | | Elsewhere, look at increasing the security of your |
| The research by insurer LV= shows that 2.2 million | | | | home. Though fitting devices such as burglar alarms, |
| adults in the UK are planning to reduce or cancel their | | | | five-mortise locks and time-switch lights involve an initial |
| home insurance policies with the most popular element | | | | outlay, they could quickly pay for themselves with the |
| to cut being flood insurance despite the fact that flood | | | | money you save on home insurance - just consult |
| claims have risen over the last three years and | | | | your insurer about its discounts before you take any |
| payouts now average £17,000 every time. | | | | action. |
| Downsizing policies could prove to be a mistake if you | | | | If you're a smoker, savings on home insurance can be |
| find it is necessary to make a claim - and so | | | | a great motivation to quit. Due to the fire risk |
| homeowners are encouraged to look at other ways | | | | associated with cigarettes, most homeowners will pay |
| to save. | | | | significantly more for insurance if they are smokers. |
| For example, if you live in a flood-risk area you should | | | | Fitting a fire extinguisher and smoke alarms in your |
| contact your insurer and ask if it offers discounts for | | | | home could also help you save. |
| fitting flood defences. Measures such as fitting flood | | | | |