Do you have home insurance?

[ssd]

I've had this all my life since I bought my first flat, but the last few months have been difficult financially and I didn't renew it in December, for the first time ever. Then of course ds had a party and our good laptop got stood on and is totally wrecked. Sods bloody law. So now we have no insurance and no laptop. I can't afford both but which one should I buy? Does everyone have home and building insurance? I think I've claimed maybe twice in 15 years, is it worth it?
I just don't know what to do, any advice would be much appreciated.

I don't think a laptop would be covered my insurance.

Do you own your flat? If so then you need to get buildings insurance urgently.

Do you mean building insurance or contents?

If you are in a flat then if it isn't freehold the buildings may be insured via the service charge - check first. Buildings insurance is a condition of most mortgages - prioritise that over contents insurance if you really can't afford both.

If you lost everything in a fire could you afford to replace it? If not, insure it.

Do you mean contents insurance?

I have both and its £15.00 per month.The issue for me isn't about burglary its about if there was a fire and it burned to the ground. Fires seem to happen a lot. I think just shop around on the comparison sites and get it.
I'd get a cheap laptop and cheap home insurance.

You mean contents insurance don't you?
Yes we have it and never wouldn't. We had to claim for a brand new laptop, we have accidental damage cover too. It's just not worth the risk imo because unexpected things do happen, my parents house flooded and without insurance the bill would have run into tens of thousands to make the place habitable again and that would've wiped out their savings. We don't have that amount in savings.

Yes, always. We own so buildings is a mortgage requirement. Contents only isn't expensive but won't cover stepping on a laptop generally unless you get very high cover

If you can't afford to replace everything in a fire, then YES you do need contents insurance.

My contents only was less than £100 for the year with in excess of £50k cover. Buildings non-negotiable as part of service charge.

When I rented furnished flats and had few Worldly possessions of my own I didn't bother with contents cover.

Yes we had a robbery almost 3 years ago and if we didn't have insurance we wouldn't have been able to replace the TVs, consoles, ipads, jewellery, door as soon as we did. The policy hasn't gone up at all after the claim and it was for a fair amount.

Daughter also knocked laptop over and broke it, they replaced that too. I'll never not have insurance after the robbery experience.

God yes i wouldn't be without either.
For all it costs per month i dont know why you wouldnt

Did you buy your laptop recently on your credit card? Only some cards eg Mastercard give you additional cover to replace items that get damaged or stolen within so many days of purchase (90 days if Mastercard).
So you could be covered, worth checking your card's T&C vs when you bought the laptop.

yes, of course.

I'll show you some of my "burst pipe" photos later.

here we are

I also had a claim once that replaced my blood-drenched suit and other damage.

Yes absolutely you should have it. We were burgled and I had most of my jewellery stolen - insurance provided me with £3K to replace it.

Ours was a relatively minor incident. Just think - if you had a fire, could you afford to replace all your clothes, all your furniture, all your kitchen appliances, all your curtains and carpets?

Definitely make it a priority over the laptop

Gosh yes, I pay £140 for buildings and contents with accidental damage, for a very comprehensive package with bank of Scotland, why wouldn't you.
If it's a flat then buildings insurance should be covered by your service charge.

As I said I've aways had insurance, for about 30 years, this is the first time we've not had it, only because I haven't arranged it yet.
Thanks for all your answers

And finances. Of course

Yes always.

Only claimed once - i lost the diamond from my engagement ring.

it isn't that expensive and is definitely worth it - you never know what could happen.

yes. always.
get insurance right now and safe up for a new laptop.

I have only made one claim on my household insurance ...for £200k. How would you cope if you last all of your possessions?

Never claimed and I’ve had it for thirty years but it’s. it worth the risk.

if you can't afford a 'measly' 500£ (I know it's not measly to you) for a new laptop, you can't affort not to have home/contents insurance.

*its NOT worth the risk not having it.