re: Everybody wants to sell me insurance...

Insurance is needed for life changing events:

1. Life insurance: if you die you want your family to have their financial needs met. The amount depends on lifestyle and personal chioce

2. Disability insurance: if you cannot work, you need income.

3. Auto insurance: it's the law and accidents can be very expensive

4. homeowner's/renter's insurance: if you have a mortgage it is required. If you rent a place, you need it to cover your poseessions in the event of fire or other disasters

5. health insurance: if you get real sick, you need it.

These are the big ones. In general, I don't insure small stuff like vacations, appliances, TVs, etc, but everybody gets to choose.