Would Sir like some leather protector with his shoes?

You get to checkout and the only thing on your mind is to get out of the shop as quickly as possible without being fleeced for some useless add on product which deep down you know you will never use. Hands up those who have been taken in by the sales patter only to be reminded every time you clean your shoes that you have been taken for a succour as you look at that "100% Water Repellent" aerosol can and wonder why it has never been used. "Up Sales" are part of the selling process from buying shoes to buying your groceries - ever wondered why every checkout has sweets at it?

There are however some "Up Sales" that do add value and a failure to understand the benefits can ultimately have dramatic consequences. Protection when taking out a mortgage and the preparation of a will are two such relevant examples that I can think of right off the bat.

Protection and will preparation are both types of insurance that you would be well advised to understand and what the consequences can be of a failure to act. I have seen first hand the impact that a failure to put in place a will can have on the surviving family members. Many do not realise that if a husband and wife own more than one property and they do not have wills then the surviving spouse will not inherit the second property. The consequences can be as stark as that!

Insurance is something that a great many of us do not see as a benefit - yes a necessary evil but not something I am readily going to go out and buy. It feels sometimes like a forced sale. There is no immediate return, no growth, no profit. It is all about mindset and the first step in changing that mindset is to think about why you would want to take out protection. The answer to that question will either convince you or it will not.

And that is my thought for the day...............................