I renewed my home contents insurance last week. I have lived in this flat for about 20 years now, and I claimed twice for having my bicycle(s) stolen from my doorstep and once for accidentally dropping my laptop on the floor. That's it. I must have paid ten times more for the insurance premium over the years than for replacing these items myself.
All my furniture is from IKEA. There's no expensive jewellery. Why do I still bother myself with this recurring payments? I've no idea... I also have car insurance, which I have hardly ever touched, either. The only insurance which came in handy is health insurance as I had cancer a few years ago.
The idea behind insurance is for a group of people who are happy to help and protect each other against some potential threats to themselves and their belongings or against some other undesirable situations. It's rather a sweet idea, isn't it? They aren't even sure if these situations or events happen. Most likely they won't happen.
Then what about the insurance that covers something that is sure to happen to everyone, like old age and death? Pension and life insurance do exactly that. (I don't understand why people insure themselves against something that would happen beyond a shadow of a doubt.) I have recently learnt two new words from a professional in this field - mortality risk and longevity risk. I don't know if these words are commonly used, but I certainly didn't know them myself. You see, people who die too early are a risk to life insurance companies and people who live too long are a risk to pension companies. You can't win...
It's interesting that people who sign up these types of insurance become risks themselves to these companies. This is why, I think, life insurance and pension are a complete rip-off. Conversely, these companies become problems to these people, as well, in that the companies don't provide any solutions, i.e. they don't replace your life or age like they do your bikes and laptops, even if you are paying the premiums religiously. E-mail me if you can prove that I'm wrong. In the meantime, let us all discipline ourselves to save. That would definitely provide solutions.
This recipe is very very simple and really moreish :)
Ingredients (for a few dozen or so biscuits):
120g cold butter, cut into 2cm cubes
120g plain flour
50g Parmesan cheese, grated
Preheat the oven to 180C.
Put all the ingredients with some salt and black pepper in a largish bowl. Mix everything with your finger tips until they start looking like wet breadcrumbs.
Then start kneading the dough to make it into a ball. Add a teaspoon of water if the dough is too dry. Roll the dough in to a log of about 4-5cm in diameter. Wrap it in a piece of cling film and keep it in the fridge for about half an hour.
Slice the cold dough into 5mm discs and lay them out on a baking sheet. Sprinkle some sesame seeds, if you like, and bake in the oven for about 10 minutes.
They stay fresh in an airtight container for a few days.