Mental Disturbance

I was watching the Superbowl the other day with the ol’ Y chromosome.  I’m not a sports fan, but the commercials can be funny and the halftime show is usually pretty good (BROOOOOOOOOSE!). For the most part, I just sit on the other end of the sofa and read a good book, though.

The commercials were not so great this year.  Where is Terry Tate, Office Linebacker, when you need him?

Anyway, as I was periodically watching, I noticed that there were commercials from some companies whose items I use regularly.  And I also remember that Super Bowl ad revenue was reported to be the highest ever, something like $260 billion.

This number is so huge, I don’t even know what it means.  I just know it’s a lot.

This one particularly disturbed me.  An Allstate commercial.  This happens to be my insurance company. And it’s not exactly the cheapest deal in town, either.

This is why it makes me mad.  We have to have insurance - it’s the law.  So that means we are FORCED to buy it.  I would anyway, but still.  True, I don’t have to buy it from Allstate, but I feel like if it comes down to it, I don’t want my financial future in the hands of Friendly Bob’s Corner Insurance Shoppee.

So, it turns out that part of all that money I’m paying to Allstate is going towards some of the most expensive advertising available.  Yuk! I want my money back, that commercial wasn’t worth it! No wonder premiums are so high!

Insurance companies always seem to make a big fuss when they have to pay out claims (Hurricane Katrina, anyone?).  What usually happens if you need to file a claim? They may refuse it, they may drop you, almost certainly your premiums will rise.  Actually, Allstate has a program wherein FOR AN EXTRA FEE they will guarantee to not raise your premiums for one at-fault incident.  Yet they have no qualms about handing over MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of OUR money for this nonsense!

Honestly!  Is someone watching the Superbowl actually going to say to themselves: “Whoa! Put the nachos down!  I’m switching to Allstate because they advertise during the Superbowl!”  I would think the effect would be quite the opposite, actually.

The fingers are twitchin’.  The brain is roiling. I feel another Open Letter coming on.

“Dear Allstate.  I recently saw your ad on Superbowl XLIII.  This leads me to believe that my premiums are too high, if you can afford to pay for ads in the most expensive advertising vehicle in the history of the world.  As a confirmed Frugal, this goes against my most deeply held principles of Frugalness.  Please convince me that I do not need to begin shopping around for a new insurance company.  Sincerely, Frugal Lady, Full-line Customer Since 2005″

That ought to do it.