Bruce Bennett's Farmers Blog

      Most of the time, charities don’t get the love and respect they deserve for all the hard work they do for making the community better. Even if only 15 people read my blog, I still feel I should give these guys a shoutout for everything they have done for Bergen County families.      Family Promise, based out of Ridgewood, NJ, is the only organization in Bergen County that provides shelter and support to working families who become homeless. Over the years they have provided shelter for thousands of children and adults by setting the families up in apartments while they learn how to become self-sufficient. Family Promise of Bergen County (FPBC) teaches these families management skills and how to live on their own and be independent again.       Established in 1986, FPBC (formerly known as Interreligious Fellowship for the Homeless) has served thousands of homeless, hungry and needy people...

I was always curious what the history behind St. Patty’s Day was. I knew it was a day people wore green, got drunk and celebrated the Irish heritage, even if they weren’t Irish but I never knew what the meaning behind the celebration was. So I looked it up, did some Wikipedia research and found out the true meaning of St. Patrick’s Day. Continue reading if you are interested.   At age 16, Patrick was kidnapped and was forced to work as a sheppard. During this time, he “found God” who told him to escape and become a priest. When he returned home to Ireland, he brought the religion of Christianity with him. The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day started in the early 17th century. The holiday was  one of the few days of the year where it wasn’t frowned upon by the Catholic church to eat big meals and drink alcohol, which encouraged today’s tradition of drinking more than a lot of alcohol. This celebration takes place on March 17th yearly...

Everyone has the standard home and auto insurance and it’s obvious why you need them. But why would someone need life, health, umbrella and other insurances like that? I’ll tell you why right here: Life Life insurance may be costly but has a lot of benefits. It pays for final expenses such as funeral and cremation costs. It can cover mortgage balance. If you have a family and pass away suddenly, life insurance can help replace some of your income to support the family. Having life insurance also allows you to leave your belongings with a family member or friend. Health If you are someone who likes daily check ups with doctors, dentists, etc. then health insurance is definitely for you. Even if you are one of those stubborn people who goes once every six years just because your wife is nagging you about it, there are still benefits to having health insurance. It covers trips to the emergency room, care before your baby is born, prescription pills or drugs, lab tests, menta...

When it comes to insurance, bundling is having multiple discounts with one insurer. I know I preach that it’s great to shop around but once you are satisfied with one policy, there are a lot of good reasons to stay with the same company for other policies. These are some of the great benefits of bundling: You save money Almost all insurance companies (including mine) offer a discount to customers who have two or more policies with them, whether its home, auto, life, umbrella, RV, etc. This is because agents want to be your go-to guy (or girl) for all your needs. How much money can you save by bundling? Well that depends on what state you live in and which company you are switching to  and from. People in New Jersey typically save about 12% by bundling. You save on your deductible Let’s just say lightning strikes the tree in your backyard causing damage to your car and home. Instead of paying two deductibles to different companies pay one deductible that will cover b...

Did you know that every 13 seconds a home intrusion is committed, and only 17% of homes have the proper home security systems. You may live in a very safe neighbor but there is no downside to being too prepared. Here are some tips to help you protect your home.   Hide Spare Keys This is a pretty simple tip that most people ignore. I would recommend not having spare keys outside your house at all but if you’re the type of person who constantly forgets their house keys, don’t leave the spare ones under the doormat or in the mailbox; find a spot in your garage or your backyard where no one would think to look. Change Locks If you misplace your keys make sure you change the locks. You don’t know who has them now so you’re best off changing them to be safe. Also change the locks if you move into a new house. You don’t know who previously owned the house so don’t trust them. Porch Lights Get motion sensored lights for your porch. This makes pote...

Any fellas out there who haven’t figured out a Valentine’s date/gift yet? Even if you’re too shy to admit it, there are probably more than a few out there. Here are some of my favorite last minute date ideas! Karaoke Hit the bar, get a couple of drinks in you and take the stage with your lady and sing a couple romantic songs with her. Drag your friend and his woman along and make it a double date. Maybe have a contest between them and show your girl who the better man is. Some good song suggestions: “Summer Nights”, “Don’t go breaking my heart”, “Endless Love”, “Time of my Life”. 2) Ice Skating Ice skating is a great way to get close, especially if one of you can’t skate. This force you to hold hand and stay near each other; a great way to talk about things you haven’t discussed in a while. Go to the city; Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center for maximum romance but if you don’t have the time there are many local ice skating rinks, including one in the Palisades Mall not t...

Most insurance agents sell the standard home, auto, life, business, maybe motorcycle and RV; but there are some strange insurance policies out there that you wouldn’t believe are true. Here is my top-ten list counting down: 10) “Change of Heart” Insurance This insurance covers a wedding cancellation. So if the bride or groom gets cold feet before the wedding (at most 365 days) the families will receive their money back. This must be an awkward policy to sign with your fiance. It’s like asking for a prenup. 9) Multiple Birth Insurance If you buy this policy at the time of pregnancy, you will receive a check if you are receiving more than one child. This one could actually come in handy, however the odds of twins are very low; less than 2%. 8) Bed Bug Insurance Homeowners and renters insurance does not cover the extermination of bed bugs, which could cost you up to $2,500. This may be a good investment if you are terrified of these little critters. ...