It can be a trap that we all fall into. We shop around for the best prices on a particular insurance policy and when we find the absolute dirt cheap price, we snatch up that particular policy. Everything appears to be fine, until we have to collect on that policy and then we realize why it was so affordable to begin with. Insurance companies are notorious for not paying out on policies, just ask any devastated homeowner after Hurricane Katrina. But there are a few things you can do to protect yourself. The first thing is to make a complete catalogue of everything that you own that you would claim if there was a disaster. If you don’t have a digital camera that can take full color pictures, borrow one from a friend. You also need to get the most valuable items in your home appraised, or if they are recently bought, make sure you still have the original receipts in a safe, fireproof box. You’ll need all of that paperwork and more to make the claim on what got damaged or stolen. Another big tip is to make sure that whatever calamity befell you is covered on your insurance. Salespeople are often misleading when they explain what your policy covers. Remember, if it isn’t in black and white on your policy, it isn’t covered. Some policies cover f