For every person that signed up in December we donated 50c to both the Breast Cancer Foundation and to Movember.

Great News… $100 has been donated to each cause.

'Sione's 2' was again a light hearted funny and entertaining watch which really appealed to my humour.

I was taken back to my teenage years - great to see people laughing at themselves.  Maybe not quite up to the original - but still worth a watch.

'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' however was a different story.  I didn't walk out (as I said to my 16 year old daughter she could do if she was bored) but I was very close about five times.  The ice cream we had was the highlight.

I can honestly say at no time did I get a real handle on the story line; who were the baddies and who were the goodies, or when it would end …… The end couldn't come quick enough.

It was dead boring and I would much rather have stayed at home watching Rafa playing in the 4^th round of the Australian Open… much more drama.

Have you seen any good movies lately?

This video just goes to show how important exercise is for your health - all it takes is 30 minutes a day.

What's your New Year's resolution?

There is something about office Christmas parties... it's these get-togethers that allow you to let your hair down, have a couple (or three) drinks and spend some social time with your work family.  What seems appropriate at the time though, can turn into a "What Did I Do?!" moment the next day.

To avoid the deathly embarrassment (and possible unemployment) following your work function and to ensure you have a great time - keep an eye out for the following:

• Strategic Placement: whether you are having a sit-down lunch, or at a bar leaner, some pre-planning as to where and who you are placing yourself next to is a must!
• Don't be "That Person": you know the one - that one guy that does nothing but moan about the boss, or the woman that gossips incessantly about everyone else.  If people see you as That Person, then you will end up on the wrong side of Strategic Placement (above).
• Partners: if it is a "plus one" deal, ensure that you remain friendly (but not too friendly) to your co-worker's significant others - they can be a tad jealous of the time you spend with their spouse.
• For the Ladies: Chose your outfit carefully- if you are wearing a strapless dress, you will appear to be naked to those sitting across the table from you.  If you feel the need to stand out, try just wearing a different colour.
• Always remember: it is still a WORK function.  While you should certainly feel free to enjoy a couple of drinks - if you think your "friends" (we've all seen the TV ads) will start arriving at any time, then it is time to go home!

Please feel free to share your embarrassing work stories - we would love to hear them!?

We have very recently managed another major claim for one of our clients.

Again, it was a reminder to us why we are in business, what BRAVEday stands for and the role we undertake for our clients when they need us most.

Clare is 45 years old and has been a client of BRAVEday for 5 years, here's what she had to say:

"I can't thank you enough for the persistent work you put in to getting my recent Sovereign medical insurance and AMP trauma claims paid.

After an initial phone call to Tania to discuss my melanoma diagnosis you covered off all the paperwork needed to submit the trauma claim, doggedly followed up with my doctor and specialist to ensure they made their submissions, kept in regular contact with AMP and didn't let up until the funds were sitting in my bank account. Your service really did go above and beyond the call of duty.

You took an enormous amount of stress and frustration away from me so I could concentrate on looking after myself and I'm very grateful for that.

The lump sum I received from AMP has enabled me to get my work-life balance back on track - I've cut back on the hours I work and now have the time and money to pursue my 'someday maybe' projects. Thank you Dean for recommending the trauma policy, it has proved to be very valuable cover to have."

At BRAVEday we realise that once you have your insurance policy in place you probably don't think much more about it until you need to claim.

Claim time for most people is an extremely emotional and stressful time.  There's shock, disbelief and a feeling of helplessness.  We know this, as often we end up in tears ourselves when we are looking after our client's claims.  Sometimes life just seems so unfair, and some people get more than their share of bad luck…

'Claim time' is something that we do well at BRAVEday.  We take over; take care of the paper work and liaise with the insurers so you don't have to - "you've got enough to deal with" is how we look at it.

No matter how long you are on claim for, we will be there.  Helping out in the background any way we can, and doing our best to make claim day a BRAVEday.

Our No. 1 tip for claims - Always ring us as soon as possible and let us know what's going on

We can help with the paperwork, notify the insurers, and most importantly check your policies to make sure that you are claiming all the benefits available to you.  Often your policies will have little extras built in that can make a big difference at claim time.

PS - If something major happens to your health aways let us know - we're on your side and we're here to help.

What is a DINKY? Double Income No Kids Yet.

It got me thinking, I'm 28 years old and at least half of the people my age who I have kept in contact with since leaving school have moved on from being DINKY's to parents.

I thought Generation Y didn't generally have kids until their 30's, yet some people I know are on to their second or third child! Perhaps the trend is shifting back to my parent's generation - married with kids before age 30.

As DINKY's our insurance needs differ from that of our peers. We don't have dependants and don't have any outstanding debt (such as a mortgage) so Life Cover (a lump sum payment in the event that either of us die) isn't a huge priority.

However, that doesn't mean DINKY's like us don't need insurance. Our ability to earn is our greatest asset. This is where Income Cover, Trauma Cover and Total and Permanent Disablement Cover come into play. In a nutshell:

• Income Cover pays a monthly benefit if you are unable to work due illness or accident
• Trauma Cover pays a lump sum in the event of a major medical trauma (such as cancer)
• Total and Permanent Disablement Cover pays a lump sum if you become disabled and are unlikely to ever work again

When kids come into the picture insurance should become a top priority. What would happen if you were no longer able to provide for your family? Whether you currently have insurance or not, when you have a child - it's time for a review.

Often people don't consider insurance until they have their first child, but insurance is for everyone, even if you're a DINKY like me.

When you are young and healthy there is no better time to get insurance because you are less likely to have loadings or exclusions on your policy - meaning more affordable and comprehensive cover.

If you identify as a DINKY and haven't got your insurances sorted, now is the time.

Last year I attended a seminar where sales guru Jack Daley (@Ironmanjack) spoke. I came away, like most of the audience I expect, inspired and full of practical ideas we could execute into our business.  We did make immediate changes to our processes with instant results.

I have just watched this video from Jack Daley which has reinforced a lot of the changes we made as well as inspired us to make a few more.

It is definitely worth putting a few minutes aside and making immediate change - it's worked for us here at BRAVEday!

I definitely wouldn't consider myself a greenie but I would say I am becoming more aware of what ingredients go into household cleaners, into my food and the environment.

With this in mind I found this article extremely interesting and it made me think ' what's in my laundry powder?'

After checking out the ingredients in Eco Store brand and a leading brand powder that I use I found that the most interesting ingredient in the leading brand powder was the vague detail about the ingredients themselves.

What do you think?

PS - I have tested the Eco Store brand and find that it does the job well.  It's now the laundry powder of choice at our place.

Not sure why, it just makes me feel better.  Perhaps that's the genius of going green?

SHOPPING TIPS

• Look for the Environmental Choice label. It's based on science, licensed through the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust. It does not demand the absence of phosphates (up to 1.15g per kilogram is allowed) but is generally the best guide in New Zealand for what's safe for people and the environment.
• Check how many washes per packet - it might change your view about what's cheapest.
• Read the list of ingredients.
• Don't assume marketing words such as "biodegradable" mean harmless.
• Don't assume things that are "natural" can't be toxic.
• Listen to your skin. If products are giving you a rash, stop using them.
• What's good for humans is usually good for the environment.

At BRAVEday we do what we do without thinking of the thanks we'll get... but it always makes a huge difference when we receive an email like this:

"I did not comprehend my surroundings nor recognise my own pyjamas. I was however awed by the stunning arrangement of flowers delivered to my hospital bed. They were an unexpected gift from Tania and Dean.

I was digesting the diagnosis of terminal malignant brain tumour, coping with impaired cognition, and struggling with the traumatic impact this would have on my children.

Over the next few weeks Tania and Dean visited me in hospital, expedited the insurance settlement, referred me to an investment adviser and treated me like a trusted friend.

Words simply fail me. I cannot speak highly enough of Tania and Dean and the insurance products they sell.

The insurance payout has allowed me to invest for my children's future and make choices about my treatment and care. Without this money, my future would be a very different picture."  - Helen Hughes

An insurance payout makes a huge difference, but we've also found its flowers and visits - the "little things" - that can make all the difference.