Money Management

The best car insurance ads can make you laugh and think. Learn how Mayhem from Allstate shows the value of comprehensive coverage. [[{“value”:”

Car insurance is serious business, but some of the best car insurance companies use comedy to make their TV ads more memorable — and hopefully more effective. Whether it’s Jake from State Farm or the Geico Gecko, car insurers are trying to stay top-of-mind by tickling your funny bone. One of the most surprisingly funny auto insurance ad mascots of recent years is Mayhem from Allstate, played by actor Dean Winters.

Allstate’s Mayhem is a creative spin on the usual insurance ad spokesperson. Instead of a friendly, reassuring, smiling face, Mayhem is a dastardly prankster. Mayhem is a little eerie and confrontational, like the character is meant to make you a little uncomfortable. He’s a slightly risky choice for an ad mascot, but it works. Mayhem spotlights the risks of everyday life that can cost you big money in case of a car crash or other misfortunes.

Let’s look at a few reasons why Mayhem from Allstate is such a powerful car insurance ad mascot, and how the creative messaging of Allstate’s ads might help you get a better deal on car insurance.

Mayhem from Allstate: The cartoon villain of car insurance

At the start of every ad, Mayhem introduces himself, taking on the role of some new kind of destruction that’s about to happen to your vehicle or home, like “I’m a social media-addicted teen” or “I’m a parking gate that’s all out of whack,” or “I’m a hungry bear that just came out of hibernation.” Over the course of the ad, Mayhem proceeds to cause distracted driving, crash into parked cars at a football game, break car windows to rampage through a backseat cooler, and otherwise cause the mayhem that’s in his name.

Mayhem doesn’t represent Allstate — he represents all the damage and financial devastation that Allstate insurance can protect you from! And while many other car insurance companies emphasize how you can get discounts, Mayhem makes an appeal to the value of paying a little extra for comprehensive insurance coverage. At the end of each ad, Mayhem has a warning: “If you’ve got cut-rate car insurance, you could end up paying for this yourself.”

Why the best car insurance is worth the money

Mayhem from Allstate is a clever, creative ad mascot, and his message is surprisingly subtle but effective: Sometimes, you shouldn’t go with the cheapest car insurance. If you cut back too far on your coverage, you might end up paying for extra costs that you can’t afford from your emergency savings.

The Ascent’s review of Allstate car insurance found that this company doesn’t have the lowest-priced car insurance; its premiums tended to be higher than most competitors. But Allstate offers insurance in all 50 states through its national network of insurance agents. If you don’t want to buy your car insurance online or from an insurtech app, and want the option of in-person support and local customer service, Allstate could be worth paying a higher premium.

But don’t assume that Allstate is always expensive. Your car insurance rates will depend on where you live, your age, what car you drive, and other factors. Allstate offers a few ways to get car insurance discounts, with a pay-per-mile insurance plan called Milewise®, and a telematics insurance tool called Drivewise® that rewards you for safer driving. You can also save money on Allstate insurance by bundling policies. Allstate made our list of best homeowners insurance companies, with generous discounts of up to 25% for bundling home and auto.

Here are a few of my favorite Mayhem ads from Allstate.

Mayhem Competitive PickUp: Sibling rivalry gone too far

“I’m your over-competitive brother,” Mayhem says as he squares up for an excessively intense game of one-on-one basketball in the driveway. With lots of hard fouls and trash talk, cruelly reminding his brother of past romantic failures, Mayhem baits his brother into an angry slam dunk that rips the siding off the garage — causing a big challenge for the homeowners insurance.

Beauty Blogger: Another risk of social media

“I’m an aspiring beauty blogger,” Mayhem says, preparing for a “mermaid hair how-to.” But then he leaves his red-hot hair straightener resting on a towel, causing a fire. He leaves the burning bedroom with a warning: “If you’ve got the wrong home insurance, paying for this is gonna leave a mark.”

Mayhem Bear: Post-hibernation snacks can be costly

“I’m a bear,” Mayhem says, strutting toward a parked SUV in the woods. “While you’re hitting the trail, I’m hitting your cooler,” he says, breaking into the car, rifling around for snacks, smashing a window, and leaving a mess. “Your cut-rate car insurance might not pay for all this,” the “bear” warns.

Bottom line

Mayhem from Allstate made our list of best car insurance ad mascots because he’s a clever, sometimes unnerving-in-a-good-way comic villain. Not every insurance company would use such an edgy, attention-grabbing character. But every ad shows some funny new destruction, and Mayhem’s warning rings true: The best insurance is sometimes worth paying for, even if it’s not the cheapest premium. If you want comprehensive coverage with support from local agents, Allstate can help.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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It takes an above-average salary for Americans to feel financially independent. Check out the exact numbers and how to increase your own income. [[{“value”:”

Two-thirds (67%) of Americans want to be financially independent, which most commonly means not needing to rely on family or friends for financial assistance, according to a study by Empower. But what does it take to get there? The average American says they’d need an annual salary upwards of $94,000.

That’s doable, although it isn’t easy. The median income was $74,580 in 2022. It would take a raise of over 25% to go from that to $94,000. If you’re trying to improve your finances and become financially independent, here’s how you can make it happen.

How to make more money

Whether or not you feel financially independent, increasing your income is typically a good move. After all, if your income stays the same, it gradually loses value because of inflation. By earning more (and investing in stocks), you can stay ahead of inflation.

There are a few ways you can earn more:

Get a raise or promotion at your current job. Talk to your manager about what kind of performance it would take to get a raise. Ideally, this is something you should do once a year so your salary is consistently increasing. Be on the lookout for opportunities to get a promotion as well. Many companies have internal job boards. If yours does, check this regularly to stay on top of what’s available.Find a new job. If you want to maximize your earning potential, it pays to go job hunting regularly. Keep your resume up to date, and review job listings at least once a month.Launch a side hustle. If you have free time, a side hustle is an easy way to increase your earnings. The right side hustle depends on your skills and interests, but popular options include driving for rideshare services, deliveries, and pet sitting.

What if you’re a freelancer? Here are the methods I recommend that have worked for me:

Look for better, higher-paying clients. This is often the most effective way to boost your freelance earnings.Improve your efficiency. Find ways to make the most of your time and get more work done, and you’ll be able to earn more.Find your area of expertise. You can generally charge more as an expert in a specific niche than as a jack of all trades.

Improving your earning potential

How much you make is largely dependent on the value you bring to your employer or clients. The highest-paid professions require advanced, specialized skills. For example, cardiologists, surgeons, and professional athletes all land in the top-10 highest average incomes. Professions that require minimal training typically don’t pay much.

This doesn’t mean you need to enroll in medical school or set your sights on the NBA. But it’s important to have something you specialize in and that can’t be learned by anyone in a few hours of training.

If you’re feeling stuck at your current salary, your best bet may be to focus on developing profitable skills you can leverage to earn more. There are plenty of skills that can boost your income, and you can learn many of them for free online. Examples include:

Graphic designVideo productionWriting/copywritingProject managementWeb development

There’s more to financial success than just your income

Everyone defines financial independence differently. The most common definition is no longer needing money from friends and family. From that perspective, as long as you’re paying all your bills, you’re financially independent.

But most people want more than just being able to get by. After all, you can be financially independent while living paycheck to paycheck. You just won’t have much security or be able to prepare for the future.

That’s why it’s important to set aside money for your savings and investments. A good goal is to save 10% and invest another 10% of your income. For example, if you make $80,000 a year, save $8,000 and invest another $8,000. Those amounts are just suggestions, and you can adjust them as needed to work with your income and expenses.

While your income matters, there’s more to being financially secure and independent. An income of $94,000 or more won’t solve everything if you don’t manage money well. And it’s also certainly possible to be financially independent if your salary isn’t that high. Do your best to maximize your earnings, but also make sure to save and invest, no matter how much you earn.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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