Money Management

Colder weather and a busy holiday season can be dangerous for your pets. Learn why now is a good time to get pet insurance. 

We all love our pets, but you definitely can’t call having companion animals “cheap.” Since you’re already paying for food, toys, and more, you might be reluctant to take on one more expense in the form of pet insurance. The good news is that pet insurance is customizable. You can pay more for a wellness add-on that can help defray the cost of routine vet care, like vaccines and checkups, or you can instead opt for a policy that covers accidents and illnesses only.

We’re gearing up for another winter here in the Northern hemisphere, and the dangers this season can bring make right now a crucial time to consider pet insurance. Here’s why.

1. Holiday travel poses a risk

A lot of people travel for the holidays, and if you have a road trip planned this year, you might be bringing your pets along to save on the cost of pet sitting or boarding. Taking your pet to an unfamiliar place can be dangerous — your home is pet-proofed, but what about the family members you’re staying with?

And unfortunately, winter driving can be riskier, thanks to snow, ice, and less-than-ideal road conditions — not to mention a lot of people on the highways. If you happen to get into a car accident along the way, your auto insurance policy might step in to cover some of the costs of veterinary care for an injured pet, but this isn’t a guarantee.

If you have a pet insurance policy, however, you’ll be able to get some of your costs for vet care reimbursed (this is how pet insurance works in most cases; you pay the vet upfront and submit your claim for reimbursement).

2. Houseguests don’t know your pet’s routine

Sometimes the danger can come while you’re at home for the holidays and hosting other people. Someone could inadvertently let your dog or cat outside (pets can be sneaky), where they could be injured or lost.

And your cousin or former college roommate might not realize the range of foods that can be poisonous to pets, like chocolate, garlic, and onions. If they decide to share some holiday leftovers with your furry best friend, you might need to make a trip to the vet.

3. Festive plants and decor can be dangerous

Along with the preponderance of potentially poisonous food that the holidays bring, you also need to worry about your decor and any plants you keep in your home. Your Christmas tree might be the highlight of your living room right now, but it’s also a not-always-completely-stable large plant with electric lights and breakable ornaments.

I have cats, and one of the reasons I don’t have a tree is that I know what an attractive nuisance it would be — and how much time I’d spend wrestling my cats out of it. Eating tinsel or holiday lights could mean a trip to the pet ER for your beloved dog or cat.

Other festive holiday plants can be a problem for pets, too. For example, mistletoe is poisonous to cats, dogs, and horses (and if you have a horse in your house, no judgment here). It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and even disrupt your pet’s breathing and heart rate. Setting up a pet insurance policy sooner rather than later can mean peace of mind when you decorate for the holidays.

4. Cold weather can harm pets

Winter is a sizable part of the year in some places, and dealing with it means the risks to your pets’ health can go on for months. Humans can put on warm winter coats, hats, and boots to take the chill off, but you might not be putting those same accessories on your dog to take him for a walk in the snow. As such, it’s important to make sure your dog is warm and dry after a cold weather walk. His nose, ears, and paw pads are particularly at risk when it gets cold. The chemicals we use to battle ice and snow (such as salt to melt snow and antifreeze to keep your car thawed) can also be dangerous to your pets if they ingest it.

None of this is meant to frighten you as a loving pet owner, but I bet you’re now feeling a lot more informed about the dangers of winter. Take your newfound knowledge and look into a policy from one of the best pet insurance companies.

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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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Police departments are raising concerns over a new Apple feature. Find out what’s going on and what you can do to protect yourself. 

There’s nothing more fun than dueling expert opinions. While police departments across the country have sounded the alarm about a new feature of the Apple iPhone’s newest operating system, Apple is saying, “Nothing to see here, folks.” Here, we’ll tell you where the potential danger lies and the steps you can take to protect your personal finances.

Excitement over NameDrop

Apple users were recently given the option of updating their devices. The latest version of the operating system — iOS 17.1 for the iPhone or watchOS 10.1 for the Apple Watch — came with a feature called NameDrop.

Initially, NameDrop was designed to make it easy for people to exchange information. Let’s say you’re at a networking event and want to exchange contact details with someone you’ve just met. As long as you both have updated Apple devices, you could hold each device within an inch or so of each other to exchange contact details.

The fact that information could be so easily exchanged is what appears to have police departments and cybersecurity experts concerned.

Why the concern?

Police departments have warned parents to disable the NameDrop feature on their children’s updated devices. The concern appears to be related to bad actors who might ask to see a child’s phone and use the opportunity to access that child’s personal information, including their name, address, and phone number.

The other major concern has to do with identity protection. According to cybersecurity experts at McAfee, thieves cannot steal a person’s identity with only a name and address. However, those two pieces of information are like building blocks they can use to build a bigger picture and put your identity at risk.

Naturally, any risk to your identity is a serious matter. Identity thieves are experts at emptying bank accounts, taking out new debt in the victim’s name, and ruining credit scores.

Depending on how much information is on your Apple device, a bad actor may have access to your name, phone number, email address, home address, work address, and even a picture of your face. That’s a fairly good foundation for someone looking to take over your identity.

Why no one needs to panic — although caution is recommended

Despite rumors to the contrary, a person cannot retrieve your contact information simply by walking past you. To share contact information, each party must agree and tap “share” when prompted. Even then, the only information shared would be the details each user added to their contact cards.

Let’s say you want someone to have your contact information but don’t necessarily need theirs. There’s no need to reciprocate. And if you’re ever in the middle of sharing contact information and decide against it, you can cancel the process by pulling your phone or watch away or by locking the screen before the transfer has time to be completed.

An easy-to-disable feature

Once someone downloads the latest operating system version, NameDrop comes as a default setting. However, it’s easy to disable. Here’s how:

Go to “Settings”Tap “General”Select “Airdrop”Toggle off the “Bringing Devices Together” option

Despite the low-level hysteria surrounding NameDrop, it’s good to be aware of another way we can protect ourselves against identity theft. After all, there’s nothing creepier than a total stranger pretending to be you and taking out a personal loan or other debt in your name.

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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.Dana George has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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A tip is a great way to show appreciation, especially as we trudge deeper into the holiday season. Learn how to be generous without leaving yourself broke. 

Tipping has been in the news a lot lately, thanks in large part to the general sense of outrage that’s grown around it. According to Pew Research, a whopping 72% of Americans believe that tipping is now expected in more places and situations than it was just five years ago.

I’m of two minds in this debate. I believe in paying for excellent service, and I want the people who cut my hair, deliver my DoorDash orders, and wait on me in restaurants to be able to pad their savings accounts, pay their bills, and get ahead in life. But like many people, I am a bit annoyed that I’m now asked to tip on an iPad when I walk to the counter to buy a cup of drip coffee that requires no fancy magic by a well-trained barista.

Tipping is a part of American life, and if your default these days is to skip the tip, you do so at your own peril. For example, as reported by The New York Times recently, DoorDash has been testing a screen in its app that warns customers who don’t tip that their orders may take longer to arrive. And this makes sense — why would a delivery driver prioritize dropping off your sushi order if you skipped the tip?

Let’s take a closer look at tipping and discuss how to tip enough (and to the right people) without unduly impacting your personal finances.

What’s a good tip amount for different situations?

The expected tip varies based on the level and type of service you’re receiving. Here are some common examples of when a tip is required, as well as how much to tip. And note that if you visit less-wealthy parts of the world that are tourist hot spots for Americans, tipping is also extremely important (especially in local currency, if possible).

Food service

If you’re eating in a sit-down restaurant, and having your drinks, meal, and dessert brought to you by a server, yes, you absolutely need to tip (I hope I don’t need to say this). In this instance, a tip of 15% to 20% is just fine. The same goes for getting a drink in a bar (but you could opt for a tip of $1-$2 per drink).

For food delivery, aim for 10% to 15% of the bill. And for food delivery apps like DoorDash, 100% of the tip goes to the driver. I often tip higher if the weather is awful, too.

If you’re picking up takeout or getting a simple cup of drip coffee, I’d err on the side of not tipping. If the barista created a fancy frozen drink for you, however, maybe tuck $1 in the tip jar on the counter.

Traveling

Did a hotel porter muscle your bags up to your room for you? Give them $1-$2 per bag hauled. It’s also nice to leave a few dollars per day for hotel housekeeping.

If you use taxis or ride-hailing services, tipping is a great way to show your appreciation (along with that five-star rating). Just like restaurant service, 15%-20% is a good target to aim for.

Valet parking is another service it’s nice to tip for. Give the valet $2-$5 when you get your car back.

Personal services

If you’re getting your hair cut or a manicure, tipping is a wonderful way to show your appreciation for a job well done. Note that the tips might be pooled and split between everyone who helped you (for example, the person who washes your hair as well as the stylist), and tip 15% to 20% of the cost of your treatment.

If you’re getting a massage, make sure you tip the massage therapist too. And yes, 15%-20% is appropriate here as well.

Some professionals don’t work for tips — or the tip is included

If you’re working with a professional who earns a salary (as opposed to hourly pay that may be well below minimum wage, in the case of restaurant staff), you don’t have to tip. It might be a bit awkward if you try tacking a tip onto the fee your accountant charges for filing your tax return, for example. If you appreciate the work they’ve done, you can certainly send a card or perhaps a gift.

Going back to restaurant service, it’s a good idea to review your bill carefully, as in some cases, a tip will be included, and you don’t need to add extra (but you certainly can if you feel the service went above and beyond). This is often the case when you’re dining out with a larger party (such as six or more people), and it makes sense — servers spend a lot more time and energy waiting on big groups of diners, and shouldn’t have to worry that they’ll be undertipped or stiffed altogether.

Use tipping to show how much you appreciate the person

The holiday season is a great time to put more gusto into your tips. If someone makes your life easier by delivering your dinner when it’s snowing, or gives you a fantastic updo for your company’s holiday party, show your appreciation. Giving can even make you happy — according to the American Psychological Association, studies have shown that behaving generously toward others causes greater interaction between the parts of our brains associated with pleasure and processing social information.

So take tipping seriously, and if you’re fortunate enough to be paid well without relying on the generosity of those you help with your work, be grateful.

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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 positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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