Buy the insurance you need. Carefully review your insurance needs with your financial adviser. Car, medical and home insurance are probably obvious. But do you have disability insurance in case you lose income due to an illness or injury? Many financial planners recommend clients buy long-term care insurance no later than their late 50s or early 60s to cover the high cost of potential long-term care. Do you have liability coverage beyond standard auto and home insurance in the event you are sued?

Watch out for gaps. People with multiple properties in multiple states, for example, often use multiple insurance agents for their property and casualty coverage, and can easily end up with expensive duplicated coverage – or worse, no coverage at all for some property because it was overlooked or because a policy expired. You may need “riders” or “floaters” to provide extra coverage for such things as jewelry or antiques whose value is limited under the standard policy.

And don’t buy what you don’t need. You’ll probably need life insurance, but not necessarily. Life insurance generally is for people whose death will have a significant financial impact on others – a spouse, children, dependent parents, heirs who might face a hefty estate tax bill. You may not need it if you are young and single. And as you age, you may need coverage for only a limited time or for a smaller amount.

You also probably don’t need to spend pounds on insurance for flights, pets, specific diseases, loans and car rentals. Buy the right amount of insurance. While people sometimes buy too much of a particular insurance, more often they are underinsured. A good example where this is common is life insurance. People frequently base their decision on premium costs, not what death benefits they need. The better approach is to first calculate how much money you will need to replace future lost income necessary for your dependents. Then look at insurance options. Some people might be able to afford to buy adequate death benefits through a whole life policy, which has an investment component.

Shop around. Costs vary significantly among carriers, so carefully compare for like coverage and features. But don’t buy on price alone. You’ll want to have a carrier that’s financially sound so that it’s there if you need the benefits. Consider multiple policies with a single carrier. You often can get a better deal buying multiple policies through a single carrier, such as car, home, and liability. But not all carriers are strong in all lines. They might be good for property and casualty but not life and health, so be sure any savings are worth it. Help yourself. Staying healthy, putting smoke alarms and security systems in your house, and having a good driving record can keep premiums down.

Europe is the second largest continent in the world. This is a diversified continent because of its cultural diversification. An established fact about the continent which came out in the year 2004 is that Europe is visited by the 59% of the total people visiting across the world.

If you’re planning a trip to a popular ski resort in Europe with friends or family, why not travel together in a minibus.

It can be better value for money if everyone chips in to hire a minibus rather than paying individually for air fares or train tickets. Costs like minibus insurance, fuel and ferry fares can be shared and it will add up to a lot less for each person than most other forms of travel. Not only this, it’s also great fun. Driving through Europe with friends and family becomes a real adventure. Unlike travelling by air or rail, you’ll be able to really experience the countries you pass through. And it will become a holiday in itself even before the skiing starts!

Don’t get confused between minibuses and people carriers. A minibus is defined as a vehicle that can carry at least seven seated passengers, but not more than sixteen. If the vehicle has more than sixteen seats then you’re driving a bus!

If you’re travelling with friends and family there are obviously no fare paying passengers. Remember to tell your minibus insurance provider this as the journey will be classed as private and non-commercial. This makes a difference when your premium is calculated.

There are a number of essential documents, as well as the minibus insurance certificate, that the driver must carry when driving from the UK to a European destination. If you’re travelling only within the European Union member states and the ASOR European Union signatory states, which includes Turkey, Norway and Switzerland, you’ll need a “waybill” that acts as a “control document”.

A Green Card, while not necessarily essential for the trip, will serve in the EU as recognised proof of your valid minibus insurance. It will also make any claims that may arise much easier to deal with. Remember that every country has its own local driving laws that you should be aware of. Your minibus insurance will depend on all local laws being observed.

For international journeys originating in the UK, the minibus insurance will depend on the driver complying with EU drivers’ hours whether or not the driver is being paid. This means that a properly calibrated tachograph needs to be fitted to the minibus. Insurance claims are not likely to be honoured if the proper drivers’ hours are not closely observed.

It is important to carry all the documentation required for the journey. The “waybill” has already been mentioned. If the minibus is owned by a member of the group and not hired, then an Own Account Certificate (OAC) is required. The vehicle registration document should also be carried along with a European accident form. Remember that the minibus will need to have a prominent GB sticker displayed.