Eight things to check in your home insurance

Have you checked the coverage of your home insurance? It is worth checking how it reflects some aspects that could lead you to overpay or receive limited compensation in the event of a claim. We offer some recommendations to protect you from unpleasant surprises.

Building cover covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home in the event of a disaster. To differentiate it from the contents, a very graphic formula is to imagine that we can turn our home upside down. Everything that would fall down would be the contents, while what would not fall down would be the building. 

Keep in mind that the value of the building coverage does not represent the purchase price or market value of your home. Nor should it include the value of the land on which the house or building was built. In reality, it is the amount that would be needed to rebuild the home back to the way it was. This value is known as the “reconstruction cost”.

Home insurance also includes a section dedicated to your “contents”, or your things (TV, clothes, computer, bicycle, etc.). The amount that appears in that section is the amount that the insurance will pay you as a maximum if something happens to your things, so it should more or less correspond to their real value.

The clauses of the policy, under scrutiny

Here are some elements that you should take into account so that you don’t overpay and so that the insurance doesn’t underpay you in the event of a claim:

• Avoid duplication. If your building has insurance, check its coverage, as you will be able to exclude from your policy the elements of the building that are already included in the community insurance. Bear in mind that, in the event of a claim, if an element is covered by both the community insurance and your private insurance, you will not be paid twice.
• Make sure the valuation of the building is correct. If the sums insured are much higher than the value of your home, you are paying for protection that you do not need, as, in the event of a claim, the insurance will only pay for reconstruction, nothing else. On the other hand, if the reconstruction value of your home is higher than the insured sums, the insurer will only pay up to the insured sums, leaving you with a shortfall in your recovery. Therefore, you should adjust your policy to be slightly above the value of your home, but without paying for unnecessary cover. As a guideline, bear in mind that the valuation should range from around 800 euros per square metre for normal flats to 1,300 euros for a detached house. 
• Check that the valuation of the contents is adequate. Be aware that insurers impose limits on the individual value of the personal things they cover by default. Normally, your valuables will need additional cover. You need to register them, or your insurance will only reimburse you up to the individual limit you have by default in your policy. We recommend that you take photos (or a video) of all your things. To estimate their value, first, make a list of the valuable items and calculate their cost, and then estimate the figure for less valuable items such as clothes and kitchen utensils and round up their value.
• Keep an eye on how glass cover reflects. Glass cover includes everything from windows to mirrors. You should make sure that windows are included among the building covers, while mirrors are included in the contents. Sometimes insurers use this separation to exclude part of the windows from the coverage, so check if they are all covered. 
• Consider coverage for aesthetic damage and sanitary ware. Toilets, worktops and other items should be protected by these coverages. Some insurers include these elements as part of the contents, which can be detrimental if the insured capital is lower than the real one. In addition, it can lead to bathrooms and kitchens being excluded from specific coverage, such as aesthetic damage if only building damage is covered and bathrooms and kitchens are considered as contents. You should check that the coverage for aesthetic damage covers the necessary repairs to maintain the aesthetic uniformity of your home after an incident, as insurers play a lot with the limitations of this coverage, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. Make sure that your insurance covers sanitary ware as a building and does not have hidden exclusions. Neither does the clauses regarding aesthetic damage, which must cover a minimum capital of 2,000 euros.
• Make sure that the insurance covers the replacement value of the contents. The actual value is the value that most insurers calculate to replace your stolen or damaged items. It is calculated on the basis of what the same item would cost today (the replacement value) minus the loss of value due to age, wear and tear (depreciation). Hence, the importance of the insurance not covering the actual value, but the replacement value, which is the price for which your item (of the same maker and model) could be bought today if it were new. In short, the replacement value is the market price. If your insurance uses the actual value, you will probably want to look for insurance with a similar price but using the replacement value.
• Check that the policy includes legal defence. Without such coverage, your insurance will not offer you the support of a lawyer in the event of a legal dispute. This is one of the first coverages that insurers tend to cut back on in order to offer lower prices.
• Check if the price reflects security features. The fact of installing a security door makes most insurers lower the price of coverage related to burglary. The same applies to security measures such as alarms or grilles. Also, elements such as smoke or water sensors should help you reduce the price of water-related and fire-related coverages. Make sure that these modifiers are included in your insurance if you have them.

We can highlight that it is essential you review the insured capitals and adjust them to the characteristics of your home; check that all the limits are adequate and cover what you expect, and that your insurance includes some modifiers in the price to adjust what you pay each year to the changes you make to your home.

If you want to discover fair insurance for your home and for society, check 11Onze Segurs.

What will the job of the future look like and what skills will we need to succeed? To answer these two questions, the McKinsey Global Institute has conducted extensive research and concluded that we will need to master at least 56 skills to secure a job, higher wages and greater well-being at work.

The institute has classified these 56 skills in the study into four broad blocks: manual and physical skills, which will be of decreasing interest; and high-value technological, social and cognitive skills, which are gaining in importance. The McKinsey Global Institute surveyed more than 18,000 people in 15 countries and aims to get governments and companies to prioritise work teams that meet these requirements.

For starters, the institute points out in the report that, while there will continue to be many skilled jobs, the new technological revolution we are heading towards, which has been accelerated by the pandemic, will increasingly require more dynamic, creative and digital people. It will therefore be essential to add value to the automated and artificially intelligent systems that are taking hold in many companies. It will also be necessary to adapt and train constantly in the digital environment, achieving new skills. For this reason, they believe that governments need to start promoting new educational plans to prepare adults and young people for the new scenario.

Cognitive skills: creativity and adaptability

1. Solving problems in a structured way.
2. Control logical reasoning.
3. Understanding differential features.
4. Knowing how to search for relevant information.
5. Organise a work plan.
6. Prioritise tasks within a given time.
7. Agility of thought.
8. Ease of learning.
9. Good public speaking skills.
10. To get the right questions right.
11. Synthesising messages.
12. Listening skills.
13. Imagination and creativity.
14. Transferring knowledge to different contexts.
15. Adopting different perspectives.
16. Adaptability

Interpersonal skills: empathy and collaboration

1. Modifying the role when necessary.
2. Reaching consensus.
3. Always having an inspiring vision.
4. Organisational awareness.
5. Demonstrate empathy.
6. Inspire trust.
7. Maintain humility.
8. Be sociable.
9. Encourage diversity.
10. Motivate emotional situations.
11. Resolving conflicts.
12. Collaborate.
13. Helping.
14. Empower

Leadership skills: integrity and motivation

1. Understanding the emotions of others.
2. Having self-control.
3. Knowing one’s own strengths.
4. Integrity.
5. Knowing how to motivate oneself.
6. Self-confidence.
7. Taking risky decisions.
8. Leading change and innovation.
9. Energy, passion and optimism.
10. Break the mould.
11. decisiveness
12. Clear direction.
13. Persistence and perseverance.
14. Accepting uncertainty.
15. Striving for emancipation.

Technology skills: cybersecurity and ethics

1. More digital literacy.
2. Expanding digital knowledge.
3. Knowledge of digital collaboration networks.
4. Digital ethics.
5. Learn programming.
6. Know how to analyse data and statistics.
7. Have algorithmic thinking.
8. Be trained in Big Data.
9. Know about cybersecurity.
10. Be up to date in intelligent systems.
11. Know how to translate technology into useful actions.

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The framing effect is a cognitive bias according to which the same information, presented in different ways, can lead us to different conclusions. Lara de Castro, from the Human Resources team at 11Onze, explains how this distortion of perception can affect our day-to-day decisions.

We all like to think that when it comes to making a decision or a choice we follow our criteria with a certain objectivity, but as Lara de Castro explains, “our critical thinking is not as impartial as we think it is, but rather we respond according to how the question is posed to us”.

There are countless examples of how cognitive bias determines people’s decision-making. It is a cognitive framework where people decide on one option or the other depending on whether the options are presented with positive or negative connotations. For example, if you have to undergo surgery, and you have to sign a document to give your consent: if you are told that there is a 90% chance that it will go well, you are more likely to sign the document than if you are told that there is a 10% chance that it will go badly.

Taking advantage of this intrinsic cognitive bias in people based on how the brain makes comparisons between positive vs. negative, loss vs. gain, better vs. worse, etc., makes it easier for “people, governments and companies that dominate communication to do what they want with us”, says de Castro.

De Castro makes a reflection in this sense: “If we focus on the world of finance, this bias is even scarier, because it suggests that the decisions you make in relation to your personal finances are determined by the way the question is posed, and by whom it is posed”. Hence, the importance of financial education, as being informed is the only antidote that has been shown to be effective against marketing techniques that exploit cognitive bias to influence our decision-making.

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Surely you’ve heard the word start-up more than once. But what does it mean? What skills do you need to work at one?

A start-up is an emerging, newly-created company, with high growth potential, linked to new technologies or innovative business models, and with a high rate of return.

To work at one, you need to have a passion for your project, motivation to bring it to fruition, flexibility to dedicate hours to it and do the tasks that must be carried out, and commitment to the company. But if you do what you love, can it be considered work? 

5 key skills to work at a start-up

• Proactivity: these types of companies do not just look for people in search of work, but want professionals that offer them services and believe in the idea. 
• Positive attitude and professionalism. Not only do they look at resumes, but they also value the energy that candidates exude. Attitude will be key.
• Adaptation: people who adapt to everything and are willing to pursue their passion, who are disruptive, too, and don’t settle for everything. 
• Differentiation: they look for passion rather than talent, people who believe in the project, who share the values of the start-up. You have to be different and creative.
• Flexibility: versatile people with autonomy.

Focused on work by goals 

You can already say goodbye to schedules: the traditional office workday has no place in a start-up, and priority is given to the project and delivery times. You have to be careful, because this becomes a double-edged sword: it favours the flexibility of workers’ schedules, but at the same time you can work too many hours if you do not manage this properly. 

In most cases, it will be indifferent whether you prefer to work in the morning, in the afternoon, or on Sunday night: what matters is that the task is delivered when it has to. Everyone needs to be organized in the way that is most productive for them. Generally, specialized people are sought, but, taking into account the work methodology, it is equally important that they are flexible, open-minded, good team workers, good learners, and quickly adaptable to change.

Dismantling myths about start-ups

The flexibility and constant change of start-ups implies, even if it seems the opposite, more organization than in conventional companies. If you have not been selected as a candidate, the best thing you can do is keep in touch, as there may be a place for you in the future. It is also not true that it is limited to young people: they need experienced people and, contrary to popular belief, if the company has good future prospects, salaries are usually competitive.

The selection process is also not usually traditional, as personal and professional characteristics that go beyond the curriculum are valued. The preparation for the interview will be key: find out what they do and how they work, and look for aspects of the project in which you can contribute. And, above all, be different. Any HR person is used to seeing hundreds of resumes a day. Do not miss the opportunity, and take out your best weapons to attract attention. Get away from the conventional. It is a good idea to achieve other skills apart from the current one, to train in other skills such as Excel, HTML, or WordPress. Note that most start-ups revolve around technology, and sooner or later you will have to use them. 

Proactivity and emotional intelligence: the combination of success

Working at a start-up will be an adventure where nothing is permanent. Even your position may change, and you may end up in a different department. Remember the skills above, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Proactivity will be your best ally.

Lastly, you need to have knowledge of emotional intelligence, to manage behaviour, relationships, and decisions. For everything that happens to bring you to fruition, you must reduce negative emotions, know how to manage stress, be more assertive, stay proactive, and bounce back to adversity. Paying close attention to the emotions of oneself and others, especially in difficult times or of a certain intensity, will help us a lot.

What matters in a start-up is the will to improve, to do whatever it takes, and to have the passion to do it.

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Sembla obvi, però, per aprendre a administrar els nostres diners, és primordial, primer, que ens els hàgim guanyat. Aconseguir diversificar els nostres guanys és una estratègia que ens pot blindar enfront d’una possible recessió o d’un imprevist. A 11Onze recopilem tres consells bàsics per fer-ho.

En moments d’incertesa és clau saber respondre a: com estalviar, com fer créixer els estalvis i com controlar les despeses. Difícilment serem experts a trobar respostes per totes tres preguntes alhora, però, si entenem els conceptes que s’amaguen rere cadascuna d’elles, tenim moltes més possibilitats de gestionar els nostres diners adequadament. No només aprendrem a cobrir les necessitats bàsiques, sinó que sabrem gaudir-ne i tindrem molt clar quan hem de prescindir d’aquelles que no ho són tant com ens pensàvem.

Estalvi: almenys un 10% dels ingressos

Sovint es diu que l’estalvi és la base principal de l’èxit financer. Tenir diners estalviats és el que ens dona la capacitat de respondre a situacions imprevistes —bé sigui una incapacitat per malaltia o càrrecs inesperats—, començar un negoci o tornar a estudiar. Però és important no confondre l’estalvi amb la inversió: mentre que el primer ens dona tranquil·litat, fins i tot en moments de crisi econòmica global, la inversió pot fer que els nostres estalvis es multipliquin, però també pot ser una font de maldecaps i la causa que perdem la nostra liquiditat.

Un dilema que ens podem trobar és si liquidar el deute o estalviar. Tot dependrà del tipus d’interès que tingui aquest deute. En casos d’interessos alts, com poden ser els de les targetes de crèdit, és generalment preferible deixar aquest deute a zero abans de plantejar-se l’estalvi. Però, en casos en què l’interès del deute sigui baix, com pot passar amb una hipoteca o, fins i tot, un crèdit personal, és raonable estalviar i alhora liquidar el deute lentament.

Creixement lent, risc baix, i a la inversa

Un compte d’estalvi ha estat la manera més tradicional que creixin els nostres diners, sobretot per a la gent més conservadora i poc aficionada al risc. Però, amb interessos relativament baixos i una inflació que ens visita molt més sovint del que seria desitjable, altres formes d’inversió van guanyant terreny, especialment davant d’una clientela cada dia més erudita en temes financers i amb un poder adquisitiu relativament superior a les generacions precedents.

En aquest punt, l’oferta de productes d’inversió és extensa i variada, amb diferents nivells de risc. Cadascú ha de ser conscient dels seus coneixements financers i, sobretot, de la quantitat de diners que s’està disposat a arriscar i perdre, especialment si l’expectativa de creixement és elevada i a curt termini. Cal tenir en compte que un gestor d’inversió pot ser una molt bona opció a l’hora d’escollir un producte financer que millori la rendibilitat dels nostres estalvis d’una manera substancial.

Despeses: necessitat vs. desig

Evidentment, no estalviarem tot el que guanyem, però hem de distingir entre dos tipus de despeses:

• Despeses de primera necessitat. Aquí hi comptem les despeses en el que és bàsic que necessitem per viure, com poden ser el menjar, l’allotjament, els subministraments d’electricitat, l’aigua, el transport públic, entre d’altres. 
• Desitjos i productes més superflus. Per eliminació, hi incloem tot el que no és estrictament necessari. Hi trobaríem les compres impulsives, articles de luxe, viatges de lleure, etc.

Fer aquesta distinció no implica que no puguem gastar diners en coses que desitgem, però que no necessàriament ens calen. El desig i les accions que no tenen una finalitat merament pràctica són part de la condició humana. Això és un fet. Per tant, també ens hem de permetre aquestes despeses, sempre que ens adherim a un pressupost preestablert, bé sigui setmanal o mensual.

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Have you ever had the feeling that you are wasting time while attending a meeting with your teammates and/or your boss? You are in the meeting, but are you thinking about other things? Can these sensations be avoided by making meetings more efficient? We try to explain how.

According to team building and leadership specialists, one of the essential issues is to be clear about why you are calling a meeting. Sometimes, we have the feeling that we are in that room, simply because you have been told to or because it’s on the calendar, without a defined objective.

Nowadays, and after everything that has happened in the last year, there are also those who distinguish between the organisation of face-to-face meetings and virtual meetings, given that the latter are not always easy to control, either because everyone is talking at the same time or because the attendees’ connections start to fail.

But in any case, the essential guidelines are the same:

1. Before convening a meeting, whether it is face-to-face or virtual, we must be clear about the objective: What do we want to achieve? Is it really necessary?
2. If possible, it should be planned with enough time to inform the interested parties, so that they can prepare for the meeting as well as the convenor, and so that the time is used to the maximum. Similarly, if necessary, it is advisable to provide attendees with the necessary documentation.
3. The invitation should only reach the essential people. There is no point in having 20 people attending if only 5 are really interested and/or affected. For the company, time is money, and it is not productive to have a lot of people as forced spectators.
4. Calculating the duration of the meeting is also important to avoid it taking longer than necessary, and obviously you have to be punctual in order to keep to the timetable. When calculating the duration of the meeting, we must think about setting aside time for requests and questions that can be asked at the end of the meeting.
5. The space where the meeting is held, in the case of face-to-face meetings, must be adequate for the number of people convened, and must have all the technological and analogue tools necessary to clearly set out all the issues to be discussed.
6. Once in the meeting, we have to assign the “role” that each of the attendees has to assume, if the interventions have to be marked. What is clear is that there must be a moderator, who will usually be the convenor, to avoid diluting the objective for which we are meeting.
7. For a correct development, before starting, the moderator must read the agenda in order to be clear about the issues to be discussed or resolved, and make clear the reason for the meeting. From this point onwards, he or she must ensure that the time allocated to each of the topics and speakers is respected, so that the established timetable is adhered to and everyone can make their points.
8. Once all the scheduled interventions have been completed, it is time for Q&A, in order to polish the topics dealt with, resolve any doubts that may have arisen, and decide whether any new contributions should be made before ending the session.
9. In the closing session, it is important to define the conclusions drawn, as well as the solutions to the problems that have arisen during the meeting, and the deadlines for carrying out the actions to be undertaken.
10. Finally, it is important to draw up a summary or a record of the minutes that includes everything that has been presented, interventions, conclusions, and even details the decisions that have been taken and the actions that must be carried out from now on.

The achievement of all these premises should guarantee effective and efficient internal meetings, meetings with suppliers and meetings with clients, so that we do not end up with a feeling of wasted time. It is especially important to make the most of time in order to achieve productivity and efficiency objectives that generate the economic benefits necessary for the survival of an organisation, thus guaranteeing the professional and personal stability of all those involved.

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La pujada generalitzada de preus està complicant les finances de moltes llars. Cada vegada és més difícil quadrar els comptes per a arribar a final de mes i encara més dedicar una part dels nostres ingressos a l’estalvi. Davant aquesta situació, recollim onze consells per a millorar l’economia familiar.

1. Aplicar la fòrmula del 50/30/20. Es tracta d’intentar distribuir els nostres ingressos de forma que el 50 % es dediqui a les despeses (llum, aigua, lloguer, hipoteca, telèfon, menjar, estudis…), el 30 % al nostre oci (les nostres sortides en esmorzars o dinars fora de casa, vacances, regals…) i el 20% restant a l’estalvi.
2. Retallar subscripcions innecessàries. A quantes plataformes digitals estem subscrits? Les fem servir totes? Cal que les continuem pagant? I aquella subscripció a aquella revista que mai acabem llegint? Totes les subscripcions automàtiques s’han de revisar per valorar si són necessàries. Avui en dia existeixen diferents plataformes amb contingut en línia que són legals i gratuïtes, només cal fer una ullada per Internet per trobar-les. I recordem que les biblioteques també són una gran font de llibres i contingut audiovisual.
3. Revisar els nostres contractes de llum, gas i telèfon. Cal revisar amb molta cura els contractes que tenim amb les diferents companyies de serveis. És una de les partides on més diners se’ns en van sense adonar-nos al cap de l’any. No podem prescindir d’aquestes despeses, però sí reduir-les.
4. Fer més àpats a casa. Reduir les vegades que sortim a menjar fora de casa o que comprem menjar per emportar-nos pot arribar a ser una molt bona font d’estalvi. No cal deixar d’anar als restaurants, però sí reduir la quantitat d’àpats que fem fora de casa, i més si som una casa de família nombrosa.
5. Reutilitzar. Quan una cosa se’ns faci malbé, mirem si podem reparar-la i allargar-ne la vida abans de llençar-la a les escombraries. També és una bona eina d’estalvi comprar roba de segona mà, llibres, mobles i fins i tot electrodomèstics.
6. No comprar impulsivament. Una de les raons principals per les quals no fem un bon ús dels nostres diners són les compres compulsives. A partir d’ara, quan vulguem una cosa, donem-nos un marge de temps per saber si de veritat la necessitem. Ens sorprendrà comprovar que podem prescindir de gran part de les coses que volem comprar a cop de targeta.
7. Comparar preus. Quantes vegades ens ha passat que comprem un telèfon mòbil, per dir un exemple, i l’endemà veiem una oferta del mateix producte en una altra botiga? Això ens passa per no comparar. Hem d’aprendre a comparar tot el que comprem, fins i tot el menjar.
8. Fer servir menys el cotxe. Tot i que molta gent no pot prescindir del transport privat, sí que en podem reduir l’ús. Mirem d’utilitzar el transport públic o compartir cotxe si és possible. I fem ús també de la bicicleta, i sobretot, de les nostres cames, que caminar és sa i gratuït.
9. Escollir una bona entitat financera. Són necessàries totes les nostres targetes de crèdit? Quines comissions ens cobra la nostra entitat financera? Revisem si aquesta entitat financera ens ajuda a tenir una bona economia personal, o si, per contra, cal que fem un canvi. Actualment, hi ha moltes entitats financeres amb eines que ajuden a controlar les teves despeses i que alhora et donen un cop de mà per estalviar: escollim una bona entitat financera pel nostre futur.
10. Adaptar-nos a la nostra butxaca. Si ingressem una certa quantitat de diners, no fem més del que la nostra economia es pot permetre. No cal “estirar més el braç que la màniga”, com diem els catalans. Fem un ús responsable dels nostres diners segons els nostres guanys.
11. Ser previsors. Hem d’analitzar l’evolució de les nostres despeses en els últims mesos per comprovar en què se’ns va els diners i on podem retallar. Davant l’actual situació inflacionària, en alguns casos serà necessari aplicar una “economia de guerra” segons com estimem que evolucionaran els nostres ingressos i despeses.
12. Ja fa dies que sabem que els diners no fan la felicita. Però podem aportar estabilitat a la nostra economia personal per evitar-nos disgustos. A més, en aquests temps d’incerteses econòmiques, val la pena recordar la frase que ens va deixar el filòsof Sèneca: “No és pobre qui té poc, sinó qui molt desitja”.

Si vols descobrir la millor opció per protegir els teus estalvis, entra a Preciosos 11Onze. T’ajudarem a comprar al millor preu el valor refugi per excel·lència: l’or físic.

We have heard many times that management salaries are above what is reasonable and fair. That, in fact, the differences between the highest and lowest paid in a company cannot be infinite. And in fact they should be very finite and limited. It is unreasonable to think that in a company there has to be someone who has infinitely more responsibility than the rest of the workers. But if we look at reality, we see that we accept the opposite. And is that a good thing?

If we look at companies that have gone bankrupt mainly because of the irresponsible actions of a few, we see that in general they cannot be made to pay back what they have taken, or repair what they have damaged. In some cases certain liabilities can be criminally prosecuted, but these are minimal, as excessive greed or greed does not appear to be a criminal offence in the criminal code. In fact, being greedy (but calling it ambitious), is behaviour that is quite generally encouraged in companies.

But it is not always the case that the negligent manager is driven by greed when he or she engages in behaviour that can lead to disaster. And often these behaviours and decisions of people in charge of high-risk situations cannot be detected in time to avoid undesirable consequences. We could find recent cases, such as those where the economic future of people with retirement savings is at risk (bank failures) or, even more important, those cases where human lives could be lost (for example the recent case of the train accident that we have in mind these days).

More control, fewer problems?

We wonder how it can be that such essential matters are sometimes left in the hands of a single person, and that the negligence of a single person (due to excessive greed or possible carelessness) can be the sole cause of an unavoidable misfortune. These cases make us think about how the situation could be resolved in order to avoid such dire consequences. Could controls be put in place that would make it possible to avoid these consequences? And what should these controls be? But more importantly, does it make sense that certain decisions, actions, and behaviours are in the hands of a few managers? Is this the most effective way to exercise control in order to avoid what is not wanted at all?

It seems clear that in a system where those who have responsibility are rewarded too generously, and made responsible and infallible, it is not good for anyone. In the long term, not even for the manager himself, although in the short term it may seem so. It creates a false aspirational, pyramid-like motivation, where everyone wants to get to the top. But when they get there, they must be infallible: zero defects and no chance of failure. In case he has no bad faith, it can end very badly, if the consequences of his action or omission are disastrous.

And despite acting in bad faith, if he measures the consequences of the action well, and they are not punishable, he can wipe out the welfare of many people and go unpunished. And incorporating formal controls is not feasible, since creating controls that can foresee everything is not possible. So how can we do it? It seems that one way would be to foster a culture of co-responsibility. We can all be greedy, but if we all have to reach a goal together, and we have to support each other, the temptations are lessened. In the same way, human errors are compensated for, because it is possible for one person to be negligent or overconfident, but for all of us to be so at the same time, it seems more complicated. The pressure is reduced, checking on each other makes us more cautious, and also, and very importantly, we have to share the credit when things go well. This helps us to realise that one person alone will not get as far as a well-knit team.

Sharing to tap people’s potential

Organisations work best when people give their best and do so motivate beyond the salary they receive or the status they get at work. And they do their work without following the fine print of their employment contract, and therefore have an involvement that goes beyond their contractual obligations.

In times of difficulty, companies can succeed if workers have internal motivations that make them go beyond their obligations, providing that quality that cannot be measured, but which is key to creating a work climate that facilitates collaboration and where work can bring satisfaction to everyone. It seems utopian to say this, but it is clear to many employers that their companies work when people are valued in the workplace and can fulfil themselves professionally. And therefore, they actively encourage this atmosphere of trust where employees are willing to contribute that extra that is neither financially remunerated nor specified in an employment contract.

Solidarity has a spontaneous and voluntary nature. Encouraging it should be based on the recognition that the worker does it because he/she wants to, and that it has merit precisely because he/she does it that way. What is spontaneous on the part of the worker can be recognised. But it must be by recognising its spontaneous nature, never through an incentive associated with the fulfilment of an objective. This must be kept in mind so as not to lose that special quality that requires genuine recognition, without forcing it to be there.

11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!

Here we present 10 recommendations for you to enjoy your holiday and save on bookings and many other things.

This year, many people are expected to go on holidays in July, but will we have money for our much-desired holiday? I am sure we are all thinking about summer and, therefore, on the holiday; many of you already have in your mind the place where you want to travel, but you are waiting for new recommendations on whether we will finally be able to take a plane and enjoy a well-earned disconnection.

Holidays are necessary to reset ourselves, to enjoy our beloved ones’ presence, which is very necessary, and to recharge the batteries to get back to work with a clear head. It is also a time when we try not to pay so much attention to expenses: we usually eat too much, we buy things we know we will not find in our city, and we go to that hotel that we desired so much. That is why we are telling you some tips for saving on holidays, so that the return in September is more tolerable and free of headaches.

1. Start saving a year earlier if you can. The first recommended step is to create an estimated budget of the amount you want to invest in your next destination so that you can create a savings plan a year earlier. The most comfortable method is opening a savings account or wallet at your bank and making a recurring automatic monthly transfer; this way, before you start your holiday, you will have the saved amount you need to avoid unforeseen expenses. 
   
2. Book in advance. The online world provides us with a huge price variety. Besides, if you can have the dates for your confirmed holiday at the start of the year, you can save a lot of money, you will get better prices on your plane or train ticket, etc. The earlier you book it, the better! And the same thing will happen with the hotel; we even recommend that you book a table in that restaurant you’ve been following on Instagram using applications that offer very interesting discounts, even 50%. It is important that you check cancellation costs on your bookings, in case it is necessary. 
   
3. Take advantage of breakfast. Everyone knows breakfast is the most significant meal of the day, and it is necessary for large walks. Make use of breakfast if it’s included in your hotel nights; get ready and eat like a king; take advantage and grab a fruit for mid-morning, in case you get hungry before lunch. 
   
4. Schedule sites. If you love making a presentation of your next trip and sharing it with the rest of your travelling companions, you’re lucky, because this is another way to save money. If you list the sites you want to visit, you have the option to visit their website and make the reservation. You can find promotions and, if you are several people, you can benefit from group discounts. In addition, if you purchase the ticket in advance, you may even avoid long queues. 
   
5. Currency exchange. Even though currency prices cannot be controlled, before exchanging currency, check with your trusted bank a few weeks before your trip, to know if it is better to wait till the day before the departure. In many cases, the recommendation will be to do so at the airport, as exchange houses try to offer the best prices. One important thing: if you want to make credit card purchases during your trip, exchange an amount, even if it’s small, in case any unforeseen event arises (train ticket, tips, etc.). 
   
6. Use cards moderately. As we mentioned before, when you’re on holiday, the last thing you want to think about is how much you’re spending, but we almost always exceed ourselves… Try to implement the recommendations that we have made so far and try to avoid the use of credit cards as much as possible if it is not planned in your priorities. At that moment, it will be an impulsive purchase, but later, it will become a significant amount of spent money. 
   
7. Road trip. If your holiday option is to take the car and go to some nearby villages, use GPS, which always recommends the best route to avoid making unnecessary miles and thus save on petrol. Visiting destinations near home is a highly recommended option; we often forget the wonderful places we have neared our city that we can visit without taking a plane. 
   
8. Avoid restaurants for tourists. Plan your time well and, when you visit some particular place, if it is in a tourist area, avoid rush hours for lunch or dinner: normally, restaurants in these areas are of poor quality and high cost. It is preferable to walk four steps and look for alternative places that are frequented by locals, to ask the hotel receptionist, the taxi driver, and, of course, to look at the options Internet searchers provide. 
   
9. Hire free tours. Find them in the centre of big cities or ask that friend who travels a lot, who has certainly used them. They’re tour guides that take you around the city and tell you a lot of very interesting things without a specific fee. If you like it, it’s optional to leave a tip. 
   
10. Finance your holiday. If it has been a difficult year, and you cannot follow some of the advice that we have mentioned, such as planning in advance, do not give up to a few well-earned days of rest, find your closest travel agency, and finance that trip you are so excited about; you can also consult your bank and extend your credit card so that you can cope with your expenses or borrow a small loan that you will return comfortably month by month.

Summer is here. Use these recommendations and start daydreaming. And remember, split the amount established for your pleasure throughout your holidays and do not spend more than expected.

11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!

Are you required to take home insurance in order to get a mortgage? The answer is yes. But that does not mean you must take it out with the bank that has granted you the mortgage. And if you have done so, you have the right to change it to any insurance company that offers you better conditions. We explain how to do it.

Traditionally, banks have taken advantage of the granting of a mortgage to force you to take out other products, especially home and life insurance, in most cases with uncompetitive conditions. Fortunately, the mortgage law of 2019 makes it clear that, although the financial entity can demand the contracting of home insurance, the client has the right to contract it with the company that offers the best conditions. And they can even change insurer if they wish to do so.

The only condition for changing is to wait for the annual expiry of the policy contracted with the bank. By giving formal notice two months before the expiry of the policy, the customer can indicate to the bank his or her decision not to renew the home insurance contract when it expires.

In addition, the user must present the bank with a copy of the new policy, which must include the assignment of rights corresponding to the capital that is still subject to mortgage. This is a formality that the new insurance company can help you to do correctly.

Linked interests

A thorny issue when changing insurance is usually the linking of the mortgage interest rate with the insurance contract with the bank. In fact, it is likely that the mortgage clauses contemplate a rise in the interest rate if the insurance is not taken out with the bank.

In this case, it is necessary to be careful not to lose out financially and to calculate how much we gain and how much we lose with the change. There can be a slight financial loss in the first years of the mortgage, when the part of the instalment corresponding to interest is very high and that of capital amortisation is very low. However, as the years go by, the impact of the interest rate becomes minimal because almost everything we pay is capital, so this coercive clause is no longer an impediment to changing the home insurance to another insurer.

Using a mortgage calculator, it is possible to find out the exact date when it is in our interest to change to another insurance company to get better conditions and price. The savings can be significant, more often than we thought so.

If you want to discover fair insurance for your home and for society, check 11Onze Segurs.