Before you run screaming from your computer monitor saying, “I’m reading this blog to SAVE money, not so I can give it to some bank or insurance company!” take a moment. Yes, if nothing happens then you’ve saved a few bucks a month on a policy—but if something does happen, then you could be out a whole lot more.

When I moved into my apartment two years ago I was dead set on getting content insurance because in addition to being a blogorrific individual, I’m a musician and we musicians like to buy and collect lots of gear. We also tend to be a bit lazy when it comes to anything financial, so, a year passes and I forget about getting the insurance—until my month-old Macbook Pro is stolen from my freshly-robbed apartment. Oh, ironically the guitars were beautifully intact. According to the cops, a laptop is easy to pawn and when it’s gone, there’s a three-percent chance you’ll ever see it again. Check it here: THREE PERCENT.

So I’m out a brand new Mac—value: $3000 (which I need for my JOB!) but my company is kind enough to lend me a replacement to do my work. The only catch is that I have to give it back at the end of my employment—cue sad music and pathetic whimpering. On the phone with the bank’s insurance agent the next day I find out that for about thirty bucks a month I can get thirty-thousand dollars worth of coverage on anything stolen. Had I made that phone call just a day or two earlier, I wouldn’t have this dent in my forehead from where I banged it against the wall after I hung up with the agent. Insurance unfortunately doesn’t cover self-inflicted head-dents.

So, yes, I could tell you to collect those soap shavings into a ball or to put your pennies into a jar, but I thought I’d get all dramatic and show you how a little dent in your wallet can save you from an even bigger dent—in places other than your forehead. The great thing is that if you want less coverage, say, only for your laptop, camcorder (or that sweet plasma TV mom and dad got you for your birthday), you can customize your policy to fit the amount of coverage you need. Like I said, I collect lots of stuff, and now I have peace of mind… minus some forehead flesh.