A: It astonishes me at times that people seem to take more care over the selection of a DVD player or a mobile phone than they do when it comes to choosing vital protection in terms of insurance.

Whereas they would rarely try to cut corners and go for a cheap brand of electrical equipment, they are often prepared to take risks when it comes to the choice of policies that provide essential cover.

There are many pitfalls associated with such a philosophy, which is especially so here in Spain where verbal assurances about the extent of the cover are not always confirmed in writing within the actual policy.

Unfortunately, all too often people who decide to go down this cost-cutting route find out the hard way when things go wrong for them and the insurance cover they have taken out isn't what they were led to believe.

It is crucial not to confuse what may be described as a ‘competitive price' for insurance with a ‘cheap price' because it is almost a universal truth that a cheap price option is a product which has limited features.

As a recognised independent industry expert, I have developed a one-stop insurance service offering the very best products and solutions available in the current marketplace which is a direct result of my experiences of living and working in Spain since the beginning of the 1990s.

With the backing of leading Spanish companies Liberty Seguros and ASSSA, Jennifer Cunningham and Associates are a team of professional consultants who can sort out all your insurance, financial and legal requirements, tailoring them to suit your individual needs and, of course, your budget.

Our customers feel more comfortable meeting staff face to face because this is the type of service they have grown up with, rather than the faceless nature of booking policies online or contacting a call-centre.

They receive all the assistance they need to obtain the best possible insurance product and our consultants are there for them in the event of them needing further help, such as when they need to make a claim.

We have heard recently that nearly one in four Britons have cancelled home insurance policies during the recession and that many more are sacrificing life insurance policies to save on monthly outgoings.

While we all appreciate that people are finding it tough to manage their finances in the current economic climate, the price to pay in terms of heartache and despair is far, far greater if you are not properly covered and something goes wrong which leaves you in need of assistance.

My advice is talk to the experts before making decisions that could have a long-lasting impact upon your lives. Trying to save a little bit of money now by cutting corners may well cost you dearly in the long run.