“Better safe than sorry” is one of those sayings that gets thrown around all the time, but often enough we simply assume things will just work out. However, every now and then, we go that little extra mile, double checking the stove, getting that better insurance, and it ends up working out.
Someone asked “What’s something you did just to be safe that ended up saving your [butt] later?” and people shared their best stories. So get comfortable as you scroll through, perhaps take some notes, upvote your favorites and be sure to add your own thoughts in the comments below.
#41
I took household insurance. Later a flat in my building burned down and the smoke affected every flat, mine included. I got a nice compensation for this incident.
38points
#42
Bought my first house whilst with my partner. I bought the house on my own and despite thinking we would be together forever (Ha!), I only put the house in my name and opted out of her offer to contribute. Cut to two years later. She leaves me and I get to kindly ask that stranger to leave MY house. Messy and financially difficult breakout dodged.
38points
#43
Hadn't used my inhaler for years.
On a whim, the one time I ended up needing it I just happened to put it in my pocket before leaving the house.
I carry with me just to be safe now.
On a whim, the one time I ended up needing it I just happened to put it in my pocket before leaving the house.
I carry with me just to be safe now.
37points
#44
I agreed to purchase gap insurance (I always thought was a scam) for a used car purchase on finance on top of the usual comprehensive car insurance. Had my car stolen 2 months after purchase. Finance company valued vehicle to be $15k over what comprehensive insurance covered meaning I would have to pay $15k out of my own pocket to repay finance.
Gap insurance covered the $15k, plus stamp duty and rego on a new vehicle purchase. Best $1600 I ever spent.
Gap insurance covered the $15k, plus stamp duty and rego on a new vehicle purchase. Best $1600 I ever spent.
36points
#45
After the 2021 Texas freeze, I decided to pay the $80/year option on my insurance for long term water damage(leaks that last over 14 days). Friends I knew had found their pipes cracking, but not bursting, and the coverage is different. Initially, I did not realize it applied to appliances and AC units as well.
9 months later, I find out condensation had been collecting in my kitchen refrigerators, lower freezer. It created a sheet of ice on the bottom, until it got to the freezer seal, thawed, and was dripping under the refrigerator, got under the tile, and the sub floor of my pier and beam house.
Deductable was $2000, but I was reimbursed for having to take out food for our family over the long period of tear out, inspection, finding lumber during COVID shortage, and repair.
The whole sub floor of the kitchen was preplaced, several cabinets, the counter tops, new tile. I got a $30,000 kitchen remodel for about $800 out of pocket.
9 months later, I find out condensation had been collecting in my kitchen refrigerators, lower freezer. It created a sheet of ice on the bottom, until it got to the freezer seal, thawed, and was dripping under the refrigerator, got under the tile, and the sub floor of my pier and beam house.
Deductable was $2000, but I was reimbursed for having to take out food for our family over the long period of tear out, inspection, finding lumber during COVID shortage, and repair.
The whole sub floor of the kitchen was preplaced, several cabinets, the counter tops, new tile. I got a $30,000 kitchen remodel for about $800 out of pocket.
35points
#46
When I started in the company I work in, I was worked in by a colleague who was a bit paranoid and forced me to check everything after reconnecting a computer.
I still do this, even when he is not in my section anymore and I'm the one guy who doesn't make mistakes, what saved my job when we had layoffs two years ago.
So: I also check things that "should work", because sometimes they don't.
I still do this, even when he is not in my section anymore and I'm the one guy who doesn't make mistakes, what saved my job when we had layoffs two years ago.
So: I also check things that "should work", because sometimes they don't.
31points
#47
Bring a colleague to a meeting called by a new employee. I had a feeling this new worker would lie about me. Even with a witness, they still tried it, so I'm very glad I trusted my instinct.
25points
#48
Was hunting grouse once with 2 of my friends and we decided to separate and meet back in about half an hour so each one of us can take a different trail to hunt. so i decided to take 3 cartridges with me since the limit was 5 grouse a day and i had already bagged 2. my friend sees this and says nah man take more cartridges in case i miss or something. i was trying to be as light as possible but he insisted i take more cartridges.
i ended up listening to him and took my bandelier (belt with cartridge pouches in it).
i got turned around in the woods and realized i walking in circles for about an hour and a half and couldn't find my way out.
i ended up firing the cartridges to signal to my friends that something was up and they followed the noise and found me and got me out. i was so far in the woods it was mind boggling.
TL;DR : got lost in the woods and signaled my position to my friends by using cartridges i wasn't gonna take to begin with.
i ended up listening to him and took my bandelier (belt with cartridge pouches in it).
i got turned around in the woods and realized i walking in circles for about an hour and a half and couldn't find my way out.
i ended up firing the cartridges to signal to my friends that something was up and they followed the noise and found me and got me out. i was so far in the woods it was mind boggling.
TL;DR : got lost in the woods and signaled my position to my friends by using cartridges i wasn't gonna take to begin with.
22points
#49
I missed soccer practice one time because I had to get insurance for my car right after school (lol) and my coach was so p**sed off at me and he even yelled. Next day i was on the way to practice and I got rear ended by a pregnant woman and 4 of my teammates actually witnessed this lol.
20points
#50
Sprung for flight insurance even when I didn't really have the money to be throwing around. I ended up having a pretty bad accident that would have ruined my trip entirely about a month and a half before I was supposed to fly out. Now I always always always get flight insurance because I would have been out a good chunk of cash I didn't really have to begin with if I hadn't gotten the insurance and been able to move my flight to the following year. I'm the type of person who will pass on extended warranties etc but my gut said plane tickets weren't something to gamble on and I'm glad I listened.
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20points
#51
Recently I had my toenail ripped. I was gonna travel in a metro, a heavily crowded one the next day. Since the rip was fresh, i actually put on a very thick layer of cotton dressing so that if anyone steps it won't hurt me. Someone did step the next day in the metro and yeah I pretty much saved my a*s from pain.
19points
#52
All the detailed annoying emails I had sent at work with the tone of “with all due respect”.
18points
#53
Took an Uber 6 hours before the flight in Sao Paulo.
My friends thought I was being overzealous and knew the City more than me (my third visit their first) so left me to take the early Uber while they stayed in the City. The end result was them catching the flight with about 10 seconds to spare.
The hilarious thing is they didn't learn their lesson (that i know more about travelling) the next time we travelled together, and unfortuently because one of them was driving I couldn't get out and away early this time.
My friends thought I was being overzealous and knew the City more than me (my third visit their first) so left me to take the early Uber while they stayed in the City. The end result was them catching the flight with about 10 seconds to spare.
The hilarious thing is they didn't learn their lesson (that i know more about travelling) the next time we travelled together, and unfortuently because one of them was driving I couldn't get out and away early this time.
15points
#54
Maintaining a solid 5.0 GPA in h**h school.
By the time I hit my senior year of h**h school I was working towards my dream career and before I even graduated I already had work in the field. The pay was amazing and I loved doing it. I honestly thought about slacking off in my senior year but decided to keep the status quo. I took both the ACT and SAT as well (34 ACT 1500 SAT) just to keep my options open.
Fast forward a few years and I got into a bad car wreck. This ended my dream career. So I went to college. My scores combined with my straight 5.0 allowed me to get into just about any university I wanted to (with every single one that I applied to offering a full ride scholarship). Because I'd had such good scores and gpa the dean of students signed off on me CLEPing my gen eds (she put it this way when I asked "It saves us a bunch of money because you graduate faster. So yes I'll allow it"). My 4.9 bachelor's GPA let me get into any postgrad program I wanted and I eventually ended up getting my Psy D. Sure the pay isn't quite as good as my dream career was but I'm still set to retire by 40 if I want to.
By the time I hit my senior year of h**h school I was working towards my dream career and before I even graduated I already had work in the field. The pay was amazing and I loved doing it. I honestly thought about slacking off in my senior year but decided to keep the status quo. I took both the ACT and SAT as well (34 ACT 1500 SAT) just to keep my options open.
Fast forward a few years and I got into a bad car wreck. This ended my dream career. So I went to college. My scores combined with my straight 5.0 allowed me to get into just about any university I wanted to (with every single one that I applied to offering a full ride scholarship). Because I'd had such good scores and gpa the dean of students signed off on me CLEPing my gen eds (she put it this way when I asked "It saves us a bunch of money because you graduate faster. So yes I'll allow it"). My 4.9 bachelor's GPA let me get into any postgrad program I wanted and I eventually ended up getting my Psy D. Sure the pay isn't quite as good as my dream career was but I'm still set to retire by 40 if I want to.
13points
#55
Tying a rope from the gearbox to the shaft housing on my outboard.
6 months later the bottom 8mm of rudder hit a rock and smashed into the outboard. Gearbox and newly bent prop stayed connected just long enough to get us out of trouble before disconnecting.
I still have no idea why I decided to fill the hole in the anti ventilator plate with rope instead of epoxy.
6 months later the bottom 8mm of rudder hit a rock and smashed into the outboard. Gearbox and newly bent prop stayed connected just long enough to get us out of trouble before disconnecting.
I still have no idea why I decided to fill the hole in the anti ventilator plate with rope instead of epoxy.
Report
10points
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