I remember the first day I passed my driver's test. I felt like I was on cloud nine…invincible. I instantly thought about all of the places I was going to go by myself. No more asking my parents or friends for a ride - my ticket to being independent had finally come, and I was ready to take on the road like a pro! Handing the paperwork to the clerk at the Secretary of State was empowering. "This is it," I thought to myself. "You are about to get your official driver's license!" I made sure I looked my best for my photo (I even made them take the picture twice) and they said I would receive a hard copy of my license in the mail in 2 to 3 weeks.

Walking out that door with the authorization to drive on my own, I couldn't stop smiling, I felt like a true adult. However, I was far from it. The truth is, I was only 16-years-old and had no idea the weight of responsibility that was on my shoulders now. I'll admit for the first few months I was driving alone, I was a little scared. I would have to constantly keep rubbing my palms on my clothes because they would get sweaty and slippery on the wheel. If I got beeped at, I took it very personally and thought about what I could have done better. I made sure to make as little mistakes as possible – I didn't want any of the other experienced drivers thinking I was a beginner at this! Eventually, it got better with practice and I became more comfortable with going on highway ramps, switching lanes and driving in urban areas.

If you have a teen that just passed their driver's test or are currently in driver's education, remember that this moment is an important, life-changing accomplishment for them. Even though you won't be physically by their side when they're behind the wheel, you can still offer them your support and driving wisdom beforehand. I know, it's easier said than done. Looking back, I didn't exactly listen to everything my parents told me when I was 16, but I must have retained something since I'm a pretty safe driver now!

Sadly, according to the CDC, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. It's scary and the last thing you want to imagine, so it's important to make sure they're truly prepared for driving.
Thankfully, you can guide your teen to ensure their driving experience is as safe as possible with these helpful tips:

• Follow the speed limit. I know, it's an obvious one. But when you go too fast, you have less time to stop or react. Speeding is one of the leading causes of teenage accidents. Another obvious and important reminder – always wear your seatbelt! According to the CDC, wearing a seat belt can lower the risk of death in car accidents by nearly 50%.
• Make sure your seat is adjusted properly to your height. This is very important because if you can't see through your rear view mirror, it can affect your driving. A good way to tell if the mirror is in the right spot is if you can see the headlights of the car behind you. Also, make sure to adjust your door mirrors on the drivers and passenger side.
• Keep that windshield clean. Keeping your car clean isn't just about style. In the morning and evening, light reflecting off a dirty windshield can temporarily blind you while you're driving.
• Always check your blind spot. This is something I can't stress enough! Thoughtlessly changing lanes can lead to a dangerous situation, especially with smaller vehicles like motorcycles.
• Use your turn signals. Whether you're turning or changing lanes, you need to give the car behind you enough time to react.
• Be cautious for aggressive drivers. If you do encounter an angry driver, back off and give them space on the road. The best thing is to stay calm to avoid getting into an accident with this person, or another driver on the road.
• Don't use cruise control in the rain or snow. Using this feature during heavy rain, snow or ice can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
• Keep your hands on the wheel, and off your cell phone! Texting and driving has become the number one distraction for teens and adults. A text isn't worth anyone's life, and each time you take your eyes off the road, you put yourself and others at risk. Another reason to keep your eyes on your phone – you will get a ticket! According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 47 states have banned text messaging for drivers. If you get caught, you may get slapped with a big fine, and get points on your driving record. A good way to avoid this is to keep your phone in a place that you can't reach while you're driving.

​For the first few weeks, it might be a good idea to have your teen start off with small trips that are less than five miles away. It will help build confidence, and allow them to get more comfortable with driving alone. If you're still nervous, there are other options you can look into, such as a GPS tracking device or smart phone apps that will monitor location and driving speeds. Plus, larger automakers have actually installed systems in their new models that allow parents to set limits on speed and drive time, so keep an eye out for those.

Good luck and safe driving!

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Source: https://blog.foremost.com/helpful-tips-for-new-drivers.asp

It's no secret that apartment hunting can be stressful. It can be hard to find the perfect one that meets your checklist, and that's within your budget. If you are looking to rent, here’s a couple things to focus on:

1. Find out how to pay rent, and how late fees are calculated. Most properties nowadays have an electronic payment option, and will charge a small fee for doing so. In that case, it may make sense to write a handwritten check your landlord.
2. Will the maintenance workers enter your apartment without notice? Because you don't own the apartment, some landlords have very loose rules on whether their employees have to tell you when they're stopping by. Make sure your landlord will give you a heads up before someone enters your apartment.
3. What is their guest policy? Having a friend from out-of-town stay over for a few nights is fine, but some landlords have policies against anyone staying longer than two weeks.
4. Find out if you can sublet the apartment, or what the penalty is for breaking your lease. Life's full of surprises, and you may run into a situation where you need to move ASAP. Some apartments are strictly against subletting, and it could be a serious breach of your contract. If you leave on bad terms, this could mean you just lost a future rental reference.
5. Can you make changes to the apartment? Adding some fresh paint and putting your own personal touch on the apartment could end up costing you at some complexes.
6. What utilities are included in the rent? This could make or break your decision on your 'dream' apartment. Renters are usually left to pay electric, gas, internet and cable – but it's different at every complex.
7. Does the landlord require you to obtain renters insurance? Your landlord should tell you before you sign the lease whether they require you to have this. Renters insurance is important to have even if the landlord doesn't require it.
8. What is the parking situation? This is another big one. Find out if it's included in your rent or not. If parking isn't provided, what are the alternatives?

Finally, don't be overwhelmed. Enjoy the apartment hunting adventure and do your research before signing. You can check out more questions to ask during the leasing process here. From everyone here at Foremost, have a safe and stress-free renting experience!

Source: https://blog.foremost.com/things-to-consider-before-renting-an-apartment.asp

sane as preparations are made to start the next chapter of life. If you're also planning on a move, don't you fret! Follow along beginning to end as we create a tolerable moving experience for ourselves.
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This four-part series will prepare you for the move, teach you effective and time-saving hacks for packing, help you organize the moving-out process, and get you ready to move into your new home. Let's start off by checking these items off our list.

• Change over utilities you will be responsible for in your new abode as soon as possible.
• Acquire packing supplies so you can begin to stow away the items you may not need directly before or after the move. This includes sturdy moving boxes of different sizes, packing tape, labels, permanent marker, and bubble wrap. If you're not interested in forking over a ton of money for the boxes, check out your local retailers – they might be able to give you a deal on their used shipment boxes. Remember to stop by our blog again next week so you don't struggle bus through the rest of the packing process.
• Notify important parties like banks, credit card companies, insurance providers, and magazine and newspaper services of your impending move so you don't end up without any money, insurance, or entertainment. We offer customers a stress-free way to navigate updating your insurance policy through the online form or just call the agency, let us know you're moving, and we'll take care of the rest.
• Set up mail forwarding with your post office. Hopefully, most of the mail will be relocated to your new place, but consider contacting a close neighbor to look out for those stragglers after you've moved.
• Sort and purge the different rooms in your house and decide what you'd like to keep and what you're willing to get rid of. While going through this process, also consider whether any items will require special packaging or extra insurance coverage – that piano isn't gonna go as easily as your place-mats might.
• Organize school records for any children if you're planning a move out of your current school district. Visit the schools and arrange for your children's records to be transferred to their new school district.
• Take measurements of your new home so you know if that piece of furniture will fit through the door or in your living room.
• Highly consider requesting time off from work so you can be fully involved on moving day. Having the option to supervise the move, whether it be movers or family-friends, is very important and keeps everyone accountable for what goes on.
• Empty, clean, and defrost the freezer at least 24 hours in advance if you plan on taking your refrigerator with you. This will give your fridge the time to get rid of that moisture and prevent a waterfall when people try to move it. Check out these tips if you don't know what you're doing.

Good luck, and make sure to check out our other blogs we've made to help you save a ton of time and effort in packing up your home.