Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve probably seen a few Smart cars puttering around your town’s roads and highways.

In fact, it seems more and more of these tiny cars drive side by side with the rest of us every day.

So what’s the big draw that has people trading in their cars of all sizes for these miniature, itsy-bitsy versions?

And how safe are they, anyway?

Only about eight feet long and a mere 1,800 pounds, the Smart car is known and loved for it’s affordability, fuel economy, maneuverability, safety features and—its real forte—the fun factor.

Just because it’s small doesn’t mean it isn’t safe, says Smart car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. Well known for putting safety first, the automaker swears by the vehicle, which has earned one of the top spots in safety tests among small automobiles.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) president Adrian Lund agrees, saying, “Among the smallest cars, the engineers of the Smart did their homework and designed a high level of safety into a very small package.”

Ask anyone who owns one, and they’re likely to tell you Smarts are a bit under-powered, but worth their weight in gold otherwise.

If you’re looking for a cost-effective ride that’s as smart as its name, do yourself a favor and check out the Smart car. This little car’s got a lot going for it!

In these days of high gas prices and needle-pegging pollution levels, many people are downsizing from larger to smaller cars to help save money on fuel and reduce emissions.

Now, the government’s new  ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program might help. If you’ve been listening to the news lately, you’ve probably heard about the rewards this program offers drivers willing to trade in their old gas-guzzlers, including rebates of between $3,500 and $4,500 on newer, more fuel-efficient cars.

To qualify, customers trade in older models that get 18 miles per gallon or less, are fewer than 25 years old, are currently registered and in running condition, and cost less than $45,000. In exchange, they may purchase any foreign or domestic car using those money-saving incentives—as long as the vehicle chosen gets at least 22 miles to the gallon.

Though the program didn’t officially start until this week, many dealerships nationwide began promoting it last week, reports ABC news. For those ready to finally let go of their older vehicles in favor of something greener and new, this program offers a step in the right direction.

But before you head to the dealer’s lot to take a look at your new-car options, remember: think safety first! It’s important to make the right decision regarding the vehicle you choose, because once you drive off the lot in that shiny new car, your life—and your insurance rates—might just depend on it.

Each year, the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performs crash tests and determines accident survivability based on individual car ratings. If you’re looking to trade in your large truck or older sedan for a smaller, more fuel-efficient car, we recommend you find out which small cars rank safest and best.

It’ll help you go prepared and knowledgeable—and you’ll save on your auto insurance, too.

We’ve all slid behind the wheel of a car after a long day, totally wrung out and with no business driving.

Haven given our all to job and family, it’s easy to space out or even nod off with what they used to call ‘highway hypnosis.’ (Basically, that means becoming hypnotized by the never-changing road ahead and falling into a dreamlike, hypnotized state with your eyes open.)

What do most of us do when we’re driving drowsy and trying to stay awake? Blow the AC on our face, turn up the volume on the radio and anything else we can think of to stimulate our senses and keep our eyes open.

But that’s not enough. A recent study by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that fatigued driving causes up to 100,000 passenger vehicle crashes, kills at least 1,500, and injures 71,000 people every year.

That means too many of us are getting behind the wheel in an unrested state and conning ourselves into thinking we can drive safely anyway. That puts lives at risk, increases the chance of having an accident when we nod off—and raises insurance rates as a result.

So how can you know when you’re too tired to drive?

According to a recent article on Edmunds.com,  it’s time to take a break when you:

• Feel sleepy
• Yawn repeatedly
• Drive for more than two hours or travel more than 100-120 miles
• Can’t remember driving for a period of time
• Have wandering or disconnected thoughts
• Begin lane-weaving, tailgating or missing traffic signs
• Nearly have an accident

What does drowsy driving look like? Sometimes exhausted drivers blink slowly and aren’t aware their eyes are closed for so long. Others drift off and wake up when their head begins to bob up and down.

Whatever drowsy driving looks like for you, it’s dangerous to everyone around you. So don’t hit the road without sufficient sleep and think you can fake it.  Read our article on drowsy driving for more information—and prepare ahead for a safe road trip!

More Resources:

A Wake-Up Call for Drowsy Drivers

Asleep at the Wheel

OK, so that’s a little cheesy. But depending on where you live in the U.S., it may seem the Big Bad Wolf is trying hard to blow your house down this year—making affordable home insurance difficult to find.

According to a news bulletin from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, better known as NOAA, an increase in water temperatures and other strange weather trends currently being experienced by certain parts of the country is caused by what’s known as El Nino.

As you’ll read in this news article on our site,  El Nino triggers uncharacteristic storms and other weather patterns, leading to more home insurance claims and, often, higher homeowners insurance rates in affected areas.

Recently, Forbes.com released a list of the top 10 most expensive states to insure a home. We recommend you check it out here on our site, regardless where you live. If you’re in one of the states with the highest home insurance rates, it will tell you what you can expect to pay for homeowners protection and why.

Of course, shopping your insurance at InsureMe.com can help you get the best deals—and ensure that local insurance companies give you their lowest quotes and compete for your business. Here at InsureMe, we’re all about saving you money.

Scientists say El Nino could continue affecting weather conditions in the U.S. for up to a year to come. So protect the investment you have in your home with the right homeowners insurance, while doing everything possible to keep the Big Bad Wolf at bay. Your home is just too valuable not to.

If you’re looking for a great way to sound off to your insurance company, ask insurance questions or get help filing a claim, try searching for your insurer on Twitter.

Realizing the potential social media holds for business, many insurers have begun communicating with customers on Twitter, the popular site that allows users to “tweet” about anything: random facts, informative articles, vital data or any other information users and friends might find relevant.

A much faster and more efficient way to communicate online these days, Twitter is gaining in popularity among Internet users, along with other social networking sites like Facebook. And insurance companies are jumping at the chance to use the venue to network with customers.

According to Nielsen Online, a leading company that measures Web site traffic, consumers are now spending 83 percent more time participating in online social networks than they did a year ago.

That presents business opportunities most insurers can’t pass up.

Using Twitter, your insurance company can connect with you in real time, answer your questions, and communicate the latest, most up-to-date insurance news. This helps you stay informed and even anonymous, if you wish, while getting the help you need.

If you haven’t joined the popular crowd on Twitter, we recommend you sign up today and connect with your insurer online. It could make getting the help you need with your insurance policies much easier!

The decision to get breast implants is a very personal one.

Other than women who need augmentation work due to cancer, most who opt for implants do so for purely cosmetic reasons: to improve their physical prowess, feel better about themselves, or be more appealing to a partner (or the opposite sex in general).

But undergoing any kind of surgery can be risky. So when it comes to doing so unnecessarily, as with breast implantation for cosmetic reasons, your health insurance company won’t cover the expense involved.

Instead, you’ll have to do so out of pocket yourself—to the tune of $4,000 to $7,000 on average, according to WebMD.

A large percentage of women who undergo implantation need further surgery later to repair leaks, adjust positioning or replace implants that get damaged. Some need MRIs to check for ruptures.

Again, these are expenses each woman must cover herself, due to the health risk posed by such procedures.

For those considering breast implantation, there are other insurance-related issues to consider, too. For instance, even if you pay for the surgery and any later complications yourself, your insurance company may decide to drop you, come renewal time, because the implants may lead to further health conditions it may be required to cover.

If you switch insurance companies, your new insurer may consider your implants a preexisting condition, and limit your coverage or raise your premium as a result.

So what do you think? Are breast implants worth it?

In our book, that’s a decision every woman should make for herself. But before proceeding, it’s wise to talk to your doctor, get all the facts, and prepare financially for the expense you’ll incur, both now and in the future. That way, you make the decision that’s right for you.

For more information on breast implants and insurance, see our article titled “Fake Breasts, Real Insurance.” It will help you get prepared, know what to expect and make the best decision possible.