Businesses are always looking for ways to cut the costs and battle against ever-increasing supplier prices. But it can be difficult to decide where these cost-cutting exercises should come from. You often don’t want to let staff go – particularly with small businesses, and there are some things that have to be considered necessities.
There are ways around this, though. In the modern world, there is the potential for technology to assist in creating and carving avenues to help be the most profitable business you can, it’s all about where you choose to search for such solutions.
HEADS IN THE CLOUD
Unless you’ve been actively doing your best hermit impression over the past couple of years, you’ll know that in the modern age more and more information is being stored in the cloud. While there is still payment required for this sort of service, it will save heaps of cash in the long run as you can do without dedicated servers of your own and rely on an external storage system.
Having files available to your employees for cloud access will make basic running costs simpler, and even move towards a more remote working atmosphere. The cloud can be accessed anywhere, anytime, so this will give employees the opportunity to work from home, instead of coming into the office though. However, all cloud recommendations come with the warning of ensuring that it is secure, with so much sensitive data being stored, it helps to be extra diligent when it comes to keeping that information safe.
RELOCATION, RELOCATION
Moving your data to the cloud means that you will need fewer employees at work on a daily basis. With fewer people in the office, there’s no need to have as much room as before. If possible, it will only do good things for your business balance by choosing to relocate to a smaller office.
Furthermore, finding a less expensive part of town will also assist in saving those pennies. Typically, moving further from downtown areas will allow you to free up rent costs to be focused on more essential areas. However, this sort of adaptation could turn out worse in the long run, as you run the risk of being out of sight and therefore out of mind. Consider your options carefully and don’t make any rash decisions.
OUTSOURCE, DON’T OUTSPEND
One of the quickest options for streamlining your spending is to outsource specific projects to remote companies. Almost every business has done this as a means to speed up the process and save money. Furthermore, working with specialised agencies, such as HR interim services, that can provide the perfect candidates to fill certain roles will give you peace of mind that you can trust them to deliver and step straight into whatever they are required to do.
As with everything though, outsourcing may save you money, but can sometimes have negative effects on your business due to time difference, cultural differences, and miscommunication. Search for the right outsourcing firm for you and remember to touch base as often as possible.
There are so many ways that your business can save money, from large solutions to small and simpler ones. Finding the right methods to suit your business can be the difference between prosperity and month-to-month struggles to stay afloat.
If you dream of spending your weekends on the clear blue waters, enjoying the sunshine and relaxing on a boat, you may be wondering whether the best approach is to buy or rent. There is no right or wrong solution, as there are pros and cons associated with both options. Let’s take a look at each approach in further detail to help you make up your mind…
PROS OF RENTING A BOAT / CONS OF BUYING A BOAT
Let’s start with the most obvious benefit of renting, and this is the flexibility that comes with it. You can try before you buy, so to speak. This will help you to determine whether a boat is right for your lifestyle and if it is something you will get enough use out of. Another evident benefit is the cost. A lot of people find it more manageable to rent a boat, as they will makemanageable payments, as and when they need it. However, when you buy a boat, you obviously need to make a large upfront investment.
There are also additional costs that are associated with owning a boat. This includes maintenance, and you may need to pay forcustom boat docks and, of course, storage too. A lot of people prefer the certainty that comes with renting. You know exactly what you are paying because you won’t need to take care of repairs and such like, meaning no nasty surprises along the way.
PROS OF BUYING A BOAT / CONS OF RENTING A BOAT
The main benefit associated with buying a boat is clearly the fact that you will own it. You will have something to show for your money – something that is yours, and something that you can sell when you no longer need it. Plus, while buying may cost more to begin with, you will often spend a lot more in the long run if you rent a boat. Plus, a lot of people will say that you stand a greater chance ofbreaking down on the water if you rent because the maintenance on a lot of rental fleets is substandard. Of course, this depends on where you hire the boat.
Another con associated with renting that a lot of people overlook is that you are going to have to haul all of your gear to and from the boat with each and every trip you take. This means everything you have aboard needs to go in and out of the car, and be transported to the boat, and then back again every time. If you own the boat, you can load it up with the gear you need and leave it on board for next time.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the pros and cons linked with owning and renting a boat. Of course, it is all about determining what is right for you. Consider the option with the greatest benefits in your eyes, and make sure you can handle the downsides.
The holiday season is a time for friends, family and good food but for some, it also means a big Christmas bonus. Some of that money is inevitably going to go on gifts but what do you do with the rest? That lump sum of money gives you a lot of opportunities and if you just spend it all on stuff for yourself, you’ll regret it in the long run. But when it’s burning a hole in your pocket, it’s difficult to know what to spend it on. Don’t waste it, try some of these ideas instead.
Investing the money is always a sensible choice but if you don’t know that much about the stock market, it’s risky. You can always get a broker but then you’re paying them fees and the whole thing can be a bit too stressful. But if you buy silver or gold with that money and sit on it, you could sell it for a big return in the future. If not, it’s a good financial investment to pass on to your children. The benefit of buying silver or gold is that the market is nowhere near as volatile as stocks. There will be some ups and downs in price but those precious metals are always going to be valuable.
Debts
Most people are sitting on a big pile of debt these days, it’s become the norm for a lot of us but it shouldn’t be. When you’ve got high interest debts from credit cards or loans, you’re just burning money every single month. Clearing them as quickly as possible is the best way to avoid that but most people just can’t afford to pay more than the minimum amount. If you’re in this position, you can use your bonus to pay it all off, or at least clear a big chunk of it. People are wary of doing this because it seems as though the money’s all gone just like that but the thing is, you’ll have more money left over at the end of every month if you aren’t making hefty interest payments.
Save For Retirement
Building a healthy retirement fund should be at the top of your financial checklist. Even if it seems far away, it’ll soon come around and if you haven’t put enough aside you’ll regret it. It’s difficult to save when all of your other expenses are stretching your salary to the limit, but if you put your entire bonus into a high interest savings account, you’ll get a good head start. Having a big chunk in there already encourages you to add to it and you’ll start building interest on it from an early age. Compound interest is one of the best ways to secure your financial future so getting as much in your savings account as early as possible is vital.
These are three great options for spending that Christmas bonus but it’s worth remembering that the holiday season is a time for fun, so don’t be afraid to spend a little bit on yourself. Just don’t go overboard.
The overwhelming opinion, especially in the gaming community, is that mobile gaming is a waste of time; the games are no good and many are so bad that they’re only played by bored housewives and little kids. Basically, its value is totally dismissed, and some pretty unfair assumptions are made about it to the point that mobile gaming rarely gets any coverage at all.
Of course, there ARE lots of bad games available on mobile platforms, but that’s true of PC and console gaming too! However, what is also true, but a great many people aren’t willing to concede, is that there are some pretty good titles available in the mobile apps stores too. Sure, they’re a bit different than PC and console games most of the time, but at the end of the day, a good game is a good game.
Still not convinced? Here are some things that might change your mind:
You Must Accept that Mobile Gaming is Different
Of course, you’re going to dismiss mobile gaming if you hold it to the same standard as your favored method of gaming, whether that be PC or console because they are not the same. Mobile gaming, by its very nature – smaller devices, touchscreen, different hardware- combined with the fact that a wider range of the population have cell phones and tablets than consoles, means that mobile games will be a little different, and yes, many of them will be filler for people to play on for a few minutes when they’re standing in line at the bank or whatever. However, just because there are some low-quality titles out there, doesn’t mean you should dismiss the medium as a whole.
There is Something for Everyone
Contrary to popular opinion, mobile gaming isn’t all about simple side-scrollers and Candy Crush style-time sucks – there are as many different genres of mobile game as there are PC games. Yes, it might take you a while to separate the wheat from the chaff, but isn’t that true of the Steam store or your local video game store too? From MMOs like Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire to great mystery/puzzle-based titles like Layton’s Mystery Journey and the ever popular Minecraft – whatever you’re into there’s a mobile game for you. You just have to be willing to give them a chance.
They’re Extremely Portable
Of course, there are a few consoles, like the recently released Nintendo Switch that allow you to take your gaming on the go, but no device is quite so convenient as your phone or tablet, which you likely carry with you everywhere and can do a whole host of other things like make calls, enable you to work, draw, play etc. all in one tiny little package. If you’re the kind of person who likes to be able to play anywhere and everywhere, you really should give mobile gaming a chance.
In a similar vein, mobile games are good at killing time. Despite as I said above, some people dismissing them all as trash that is created solely to make money and keep people occupied while they stand in line, this is a definite benefit of mobile gaming. Whenever You get bored and away from your PC, you can whip out your phone and play something for a few minutes and play something, and it doesn’t have to be Angry Birds or Candy Crush – no it could be Ragnarok Online, Age of Empires, Minecraft or any number of other interesting titles.
The Medium is Only Going to Improve
With augmented reality, virtual reality, ever improving mobile hardware and the increasing popularity of mobile gaming amongst ordinary people, you can bet your bottom dollar that mobile gaming is only going one way – up.
It Increases Reaction Times
If you are a dedicated PC or console gamer, then you might find in switching it up a bit and playing a fast-paced mobile game, which allows you to use your hands even more in ways you might not be used to will improve your reaction times, so that you can play more effectively on all platforms.
You Have the Device So Why Not Use iI?
Chances are you have at least one mobile device, so why not use it to play a game or two now and again? Even if you think they’re mostly trash, you can play chess, Scrabble, and all kinds of fun games that aren’t too taxing and which will give you a break from the more serious gaming you do.
Selling homes is one of the best ways of generating full-time income throughout the year. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a real estate license to sell homes. As a real estate investor, you can buy and sell homes for profit at will. How can I buy and sell homes without a real estate license? This is the first question that’s typically asked by people who would like leave their full-time job and secure financial independence. In this article, we will take a look at two real estate investing strategies that can help you do real estate deals without a Realtor’s license. Wholesaling There’s a strong possibility that you have seen signs stating, “We buy houses for cash.” These signs are posted by wholesalers. Wholesalers are real estate investors that specialize in searching for distressed properties. Distressed properties fall into the following categories: -The home owner is behind on property taxes -The home owner is facing foreclosure -The home owner lost their job -Etc. As a wholesaler, you get the property owner to sign an agreement that gives you the legal right to buy their home below its market value. In this instance, you will not buy the property. You will sell or assign your contract to another investor for a fee. With wholesaling, you can get into a deal, and out of a deal without any long-term commitment to the property. Wholesaling is an easy way for you to make $2,000 to $5,000 per deal. Please keep in mind that you must leave the lion’s share of the profit to the investor taking over the deal. If you work hard, you can do several wholesale deals per month. Here’s a simple wholesaling formula that can help you excel with this real estate investment strategy: -Market Value of the Home x 70% – Rehab Costs = Your Offer to the Property Owner Rehabbing (Fix and Flip) Rehabbing is one step above wholesaling. This is where you buy a home below its market value, fix it up, and sell it at its market value. You can make $10,000 to $25,000 per deal. It’s more lucrative than wholesaling, but it requires more work. You need a team to be successful with the fix and flip strategy. You need a mortgage broker, a good title company, and a reliable contractor. Let’s look at the role of each team member. Mortgage Broker – You cannot rehab homes without capital. Your mortgage broker will give you direct access to hard-money loans and private money. Title Company – The title company will take care of the paper work and transaction when you find a buyer for the home. Contractor – The contractor’s crew will rehab or fix up the home. You must be patient and prudent while doing a rehab project. It could take three to six months to find a buyer for your home. You can hire a Realtor if you would like to speed up the process. The Realtor will market your home and list it in the MLS. Real estate investing is a sure-fire way of becoming financially independent. Fortunately, you don’t need a license to become a real estate investor. Real estate investing is not a get rich quick scheme. You must work hard if you want to be successful.
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