Long before I started Monkey Off Your Back, I often ran across great articles or books that I found helpful in my own life and that I wanted to share with friends and family. At the time, there was no Internet, email, facebook, twitter, or the like, so I would cut, collect and periodically send out my latest findings via snail mail. These days all we have to do is press a few buttons and, voila, we can exchange the latest and greatest information with the world at large.

So, that’s the gist of this blog. Each week I’ll post something I’ve gleamed from a website, book, magazine or other source (sometimes my best sources are my clients) and share it with you. Getting the monkeys off our back will be the common thread. Use what’s helpful and discard the rest. Just don’t stick it in the junk drawer!

6 Things to do Tonight to Protect Your Tomorrows

#1
Memorize your Social Security Number and the Social Security Number of your spouse and any minor children.

#2
Take pictures & make a list of everything you own.

Open every drawer and closet because you will forget what you have. Also take pictures in attic, garage. Take pictures of trees, fences and exteriors of car and home. Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you:

a.) Purchase enough insurance to replace the things you own.
b.) Get your insurance claims settled faster.
c.) Substantiate losses for your income tax return.

You can always simply make a list in a notebook and save receipts and photos in a file. The Insurance Information Institute has a FREE “Home Inventory … Know Your Stuff” software program that you can download to make this process of taking a home inventory as easy and complete as possible. To download the Insurance Information Institute Home Inventory software program click here.

#3
Check on the terms of your debit card.

Make sure you have a debit card that allows you, even if you are in a territory outside of the United States, to access your money.

Also have the following items in case of emergency:

• an emergency credit card that you do not use that allows you to take out cash advances
• $200-300 emergency cash
• traveler’s checks
• extra checks

#4
Gather important documents and make copies to send to friend/relative out of area.

• Wills
• Trusts
• Advanced Directive & Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (If you don’t have this essential document please click here.)
• Birth Certificates (Can’t find your birth certificate, click here to order a copy).
• Adoption Certificates
• Death Certificates (Can’t find your loved one’s death certificate, click here to order a copy).
• Military Records (Can’t find your military records, click here to order a copy).
• Divorce Decree (Can’t find your divorce decree, click here to order a copy).
• Marriage Certificate (Can’t find your marriage certificate, click here to order a copy).
• Social Security Cards (Can’t find your card, click here to order a replacement card).
• Driver’s Licenses
• Green Card or Citizenship papers (Can’t find your document or card, click here to order a replacement card).
• Insurance Policies & Cards (life, health, home, auto, long term care, medicare)
• Medical Records
• Copies of prescriptions
• Credit Cards (copy both the front & back of each card)
• Bank Statements
• Passports (Can’t find your passport, click here to order a replacement or renew).
• Emergency Contact List

#5
Spare set of keys for home, cars, boats, recreational vehicles, and safe deposit boxes.

#6
Put everything into a waterproof/fireproof box.

From www.suzeorman.com