Totally agree about reassessing regularly—it's easy to set it and forget it, but circumstances change. I do something similar, but I also factor in the age and value of my car. When my car was newer, I kept a lower deductible because repairs were pricier and I wanted that extra cushion. Now that it's older and not worth as much, I've bumped up the deductible quite a bit. Figured if something major happens, I'd probably just replace it anyway.
Also, I've noticed some insurers offer decent discounts if you bundle home and auto or even if you just ask about loyalty discounts. It's worth checking into every couple years...saved me a good chunk last time around. But yeah, definitely a balancing act between saving money and sleeping easy at night.
I get your point, but honestly, I think people sometimes overthink the deductible game. When I first started driving, I went super low because I was paranoid about accidents. Ended up paying way more in premiums than any repair would've cost me. Now, I just pick a deductible that's high enough to keep my monthly payments reasonable but not so high I'd dread having to pay it. Bundling is legit though—saved a good bit myself last renewal. Just gotta keep an eye on your coverage limits too...cheap isn't always better.
"cheap isn't always better."
Totally agree with this. Have you considered how your emergency savings might factor into choosing a deductible? If you've got enough set aside, going higher can make sense...but if not, lower might save headaches later. Curious how others balance this?
Totally get where you're coming from on the emergency savings angle. A few years back, I opted for a higher deductible because the monthly payments looked so much nicer. Then, of course, life happened—my son backed into our neighbor's mailbox (classic teenage moment), and suddenly that deductible felt huge. I had savings set aside, luckily, but it still stung having to dip into it unexpectedly.
"if not, lower might save headaches later."
That's exactly what crossed my mind afterward. Now I'm torn every renewal: lower deductible and higher monthly payments or vice versa? Lately, I've been leaning towards a middle-of-the-road option—feels like a decent compromise—but still second-guessing myself every time renewal season rolls around. Anyone else find themselves constantly reevaluating based on recent experiences?
- Totally relate to your dilemma here, been there myself.
- Middle-of-the-road deductibles seem smart—balances monthly affordability and reduces shock when accidents happen.
- I've found reassessing every renewal is actually good practice; life circumstances change, and it's wise to adjust accordingly.
- Sounds like you're already making thoughtful choices...trust your instincts, they're usually spot-on.
