How To Maintain Your Office Building

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’re running a business that involves an office setting, one of your considerations should be maintaining your office building. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Maintain Your Office Building.

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As a business owner, one of the most important things that you can do for both yourself and your employees is to maintain your office building. Even if you only rent the space and you don’t own the space outright, you need to make sure that it’s safe, comfortable, and a worthy environment in which to work. Would you want to see a broken, rundown office with no outdoor space to go to? Of course, you wouldn’t! A poorly maintained commercial building doesn’t offer much in the way of confidence about your business. This is especially true if you own the building itself. You want to be able to invest your time and efforts in your business, but you can only do that if you feel comfortable in the first place. You can’t expect your employees to feel comfortable if you don’t, either!

We are not just going to talk about how to maintain the actual office building in this article. We are going to talk about how you can maintain the grounds, too. Companies like McConnell and Associates are there to help you when it comes to ground surfacing and the ground work outside, and if you are looking to create an outdoor eating area or an outdoor social space, this is one of the best things that you could do for the morale of your employees. You want to make sure that they feel comfortable in every area of the office. Below, we’ve got some of the best tips that you need to maintain your office building and the surrounding area so customers, clients, employees and yourself want to be there.

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● Don’t wait around on office repairs. If you care about maintenance in your office building, then you should care about making sure that property damage is not a long-term thing. Even the smallest damaged area in your building can cause a range of problems, and your employees will never feel at ease inside a building that looks unsafe. Clients would also judge you on face value, and if you want to make a good impression, fix it up now.
● Keep an eye out for leaks. One of the best ways to maintain your office building is to ensure that there are no leaks in your plumbing. If you notice any leaking going on, you have to get it fixed as soon as you notice it. If everybody who works with you is trying to look out for these kinds of things, there are lots of issues that could be nipped in the bud before they become too big. Sure, you would call a plumber to come and actually fix things for you, but you should make sure that you are on top of these issues that happen as they occur.
● Hire the right people. When it comes to office maintenance, you don’t have to do it yourself. It is perfectly reasonable to outsource the maintenance and cleaning and care of your office. The building on the inside needs security, a janitor to maintain the flooring, a cleaner to maintain all the fixtures and fittings – there are many people that make up the team that will help you to maintain your office building. On the outside, you’ll need the right contractors and plumbers, electricians and carpenters on speed dial to come and make any changes or repairs as they are needed. Proper building maintenance ensures that your building doesn’t feel old and rundown too quickly. Let’s not forget this will be quite a lot of footfall traffic in and out of the building, so you want to make sure that the building looks great.
● Keep on top of upgrades. An office building that was bought 10 years ago, will need some upgrades to keep it looking as good as it did at the start. A dollar earned is a dollar saved or so they say, but it doesn’t hold true when it comes to property maintenance. You don’t want to cut too many corners here – your property relies on you to keep it going. Any foundation issues, cracks in the plaster of the walls, cracks in the car park outside because the ground has been used so much by different cars – all of these need to be looked into. Keep on top of the upgrades, and you create a comfortable working environment for all.

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● Make sure that you hire a good security team. A big part of maintaining your office building is going to be keeping it secure. From the security you’re going to need at the perimeter, to the security that you need at the front desk, you need to make sure that the access points to the building are secure. If you have a lot of employees, or clients going in and out of the building, it makes sense to have the right measures in place to keep intruders or people without an appointment away. It may feel like you’re going overboard from time to time, but knowing who is going in and out of the building is a safety issue. What if you have guests in the building and the fire alarm goes off? What if there are clients coming up the stairs, but there has been a security breach inside? Safety is important, and maintaining your office building is much easier when you know you have eyes on the ground while you’re busy running your business.
● Perform regular HVAC and boiler maintenance. Whether you have a boiler, an air conditioning system, a heating system or integrated elevators of your building, all of these things need to be maintained to keep your office building working well. It stands to reason that when you have a lot of people in the building you need that elevator working, and you need to make sure that people are at the right temperature. When you perform regular maintenance on these items, you can ensure optimal working conditions at all times. Nobody wants to work somewhere where the management of the building doesn’t care about comfort and safety. Not only will you make sure that there are no issues with your elevators or your HVAC, you’re not going to have to worry about your employees being disgruntled at the way you’re handling things.
● Get some good reviews on cleaners. Maintaining your office building includes the internal cleaning of the building. This means that you need to hear about the cleaning companies local to you and about their reputations. The people occupying the building don’t extend just to your employees. You have visitors and clients coming in and out, too. People leave rubbish behind and that’s unavoidable but it does mean that you need to address this every single day. The only appropriate and correct solution for this is to hire a good cleaning company who will be able to maintain a clean working environment for your building and given that we’ve just come through a pandemic – and are still going through it – you want to know that the building itself is somewhere clean and hygienic for people to work. An uncluttered and organized office space is somewhere that people will want to spend time, and while you can definitely offer a hybrid working environment, a good cleaning company will help.

Maintaining your office building helps you to maintain your reputation as a provider and business that cares about employees. Have a little pride – make sure that your workspace reflects your brand values!

Does Your Storefront Need Updating?

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’re running a brick and mortar store, you always need to be conscious if your store’s appearance. The following contributed post is entitled, Does Your Storefront Need Updating?

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Storefronts need to be regularly maintained and updated to keep them looking attractive. Fail to update your storefront and you could find that you lose customers. Below are just some of the signs that your storefront needs updating.

Non-inclusive entrance

Can wheelchair users or people with mobility issues easily use your entrance? If not, this could be the first thing to consider rectifying. An inclusive entrance should not have stairs unless there is also a ramp or a lift. The door should also not be too heavy to push open (alternatively you could place a button that allows people to open the door or call for assistance).

Cheap/damaged signage

Your signage needs to be high quality and kept in good condition. Consider how old your sign is and whether it needs to be updated. Some old signs may just need cleaning or repainting to rejuvenate them. Others may benefit from being completely replaced. Explore different types of signage including plastic signage and illuminated signage to find the best option for your store.

Faded paintwork

Exterior paint can start to peel and fade after time. This could result in your store looking worn and tired. Consider hiring an exterior painter to add a new coat of paint so that your storefront looks brand new again. You could even consider taking the opportunity to change your storefront’s color – a change in color is certain to make people notice your store.

Poor lighting

Exterior lighting can help to make your store look more attractive early in the morning or in the evening (especially in the winter months when daylight hours are shorter). It can also be a useful security feature – burglars are less likely to target a store that is illuminated at night as they’re more likely to be seen while doing it. Consider comparing different forms of exterior lighting. If you don’t want to pay for permanent lighting, consider motion sensing lighting.

An uninviting window display

Your window display needs to grab people’s attention. If it doesn’t, you could lose out on customers (particularly during busy shopping periods such as the leadup to xmas when people are looking for inspiration). There are a few different ways in which you can create an inviting window display. First, consider what are your most eye-catching products. These could be your most popular products or your most unusual ones. Second, make sure to advertise your best deals with large window signage. Incredible discounts and prices can help to lure customers in. Thirdly, make sure that you’re constantly changing things up every season. After a few months, people will get used to seeing the same window display, so make sure to regularly change it in order to hold people’s attention.

Top Tips To Improve Patient Satisfaction At Your Clinic

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“Running a healthcare business can present many challenges and is more complicated to manage than a regular business venture.”

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Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A healthcare clinic is in itself a business. In this instance patients are customers and you must figure out how to make and keep them happy. The following contributed post is entitled, Top Tips To Improve Patient Satisfaction At Your Clinic.

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Running a healthcare business can present many challenges and is more complicated to manage than a regular business venture. While a positive customer experience is crucial for every business, it is even more vital when you run a healthcare setting. This means that everything you put into your clinic has to be done with intention. Before purchasing ANYTHING, it’s important to get feedback. For example, you wouldn’t bring in new light therapy options without reading Platinum Therapy Lights reviews, right? To ensure that your patients continue coming back to your clinic for their treatment, you need to provide an exceptional level of care, high standards of treatment and make their experience as seamless as possible. Achieving each of these aims requires a multi-faceted approach. Read on to discover tips that could help you improve the patient experience at your healthcare clinic.

Create a Welcoming Environment

Healthcare settings can trigger anxiety in many people, and for some, their fear can be so extreme that they refuse to seek treatment. Clinical settings can cause anxiety even in patients that do not have an intense fear of hospitals, so being aware of this is crucial to provide the best possible patient experience. Creating a relaxing, welcoming environment for your patients is a great way to put them at ease the moment they walk through the entrance of the building. This calming atmosphere can be achieved by using soft, natural lighting instead of harsh artificial lights and decorating in a calming color scheme. These may seem like small, superficial changes, but they can have a significant, positive impact on your patients.

Utilize Technology

Technology plays an increasingly crucial role in today’s healthcare, so making the best use of it in your clinic provides you with the opportunity to be at the forefront of this emerging area. One of the main benefits of healthcare technology is its ability to transform the patient experience. One of the most popular developments in healthcare is telemedicine. This technology makes it much easier for clinics to deliver high-quality healthcare conveniently and efficiently to patients. For patients, telehealth enables them to speak to a healthcare professional more quickly and access the treatment they need faster. Telehealth is especially useful for patients with limited mobility or other conditions that may make it difficult for them to attend the clinic in person. For medical staff, telemedicine enables them to share results and information with other healthcare professionals in real-time regardless of physical distance. Sharing information quickly helps improve the patient experience further, leading to a faster diagnosis and fewer delays in treatment.

Continually Train Employees

Continually training your employees is crucial to provide your patients with the best possible experience every time they visit your clinic. Communication between your clinic and your patients provides a vital role in providing a positive patient experience. To achieve patient satisfaction, your patients need to feel they are treated with respect and dignity by your team. So, striving to achieve the best standards of care from the moment your patients schedule an appointment and right through their journey of care with your clinic is vital. Ensuring every team member, from front desk staff to medical professionals, delivers a consistently high level of patient satisfaction is critical.

The Need For Speed In Your Business Transactions

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“With consumer attention spans now believed to be at an all-time low of eight seconds, marketers face more challenges in both gaining and retaining interest than ever before.”

Buffer

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When you’re running a business, you want to your transaction speeds to be both efficient and fast. The following contributed post is entitled, The Need For Speed In Your Business Transactions.

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With consumer attention spans now believed to be at an all-time low of eight seconds, marketers face more challenges in both gaining and retaining interest than ever before. This has facilitated major company focuses on everything from website load times to the speed of customer service. However, one area that doesn’t receive half as much attention is the need for increasingly fast payment processing.

Admittedly, while they might not appear in many how-to guides, fast transactions aren’t an altogether new business focus. In fact, a focus on speeding up the payment process at both ends is a driving force for various new and emerging technologies and is playing a major role in the impact of blockchain on businesses, and even the introduction of recent updates like same-day ACH. That said, with many companies continuing to overlook the benefits on offer, faster transaction times are too often falling under the radar, leaving consumers frustrate and keeping businesses from feeling a range of benefits, the most pressing of which we’ll discuss here.

#1 – Simplified consumer journeys

Complications in everything from payment methods to completion processes are a driving cause of shopping cart abandonment, and complex payment processing times can also cost significant custom. This is especially true as more companies invest in immediate solutions, and can lead to both lost custom, and time frames that provide far too much scope for changed minds. Competitively-led, real-time payment methods close that gap for doubt with immediately processed payments, or at least payments that can clear in less than the standard 3-5 working days. This can significantly increase both a company’s chances at successful sales, and the trust created through increased satisfaction/results that consumers can immediately rely on.

#2 – Always-available payments

While most companies can now at least accept payments at any time of day or night, the need to wait for bank opening hours or the processing of invoicing during office hours can still limit 24/7 availability. This is inevitably frustrating for consumers who expect in-the-moment results and is something that institution-free transaction methods like blockchains can altogether eliminate. Instead, even late-night or early-morning shoppers will be able to get online, make a payment, and rest easy that their money will go straight out of their account. This ensures service as they need it, and financial management that largely takes care of itself.

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#3 – Increasing company understanding of cash flow

From a company-first perspective, faster transactions also provide real-time accounts that never have to make space for pending transactions which can too easily be forgotten. Instead, faster payments ensure up-to-date account balances at all times, making it easier to protect your financial future with the most accurate possible profit reports, as well as enabling the scheduling of payments that you can meet far more quickly than you would if you were continually waiting around for outstanding fees. For many growing companies, this means working with providers like Evolve Bank fintech, who can deliver the banking APIs and systems you need to process transactions instantly and provide accurate, real-time financial data.

There’s a need for speed in everything you do across your business right now, and you can rest assured that payments will increasingly fall within that expectation.

Better Ways To Secure Your Business

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One of the key aspects of your business is its security. You always want to think of ways to secure it. The following contributed post is entitled, Better Ways To Secure Your Business.

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There are many business risks your company can face. Whether it’s struggling to balance a budget or attract customers, there is always something you must do to keep things running smoothly. Another common business risk is security and safety. Without proper measures, your business exposes itself to hacks and breaches, as well as theft or even hazards that could impact your customers and employees. So, how do you secure your business to make sure none of these issues hinder your growth?

Protect Your Data

As almost everything is done online in the modern world, protecting your company and customer data is essential. The best-prepared businesses will have robust cybersecurity measures to ward off third-party threads and minimize the risk of a breach.

However, even the best cybersecurity is not always enough. Companies should also provide employee training to teach them how to recognize phishing scams that could put their information at risk. Establishing policies that encourage employees to change their passwords regularly (even if this is autogenerated) will also enhance your company’s cybersecurity.

Reinforce The Office

If you still rely on an office, it must be reinforced, safe, and secure for anyone who spends time there. Many businesses still require a dedicated workplace to store files, or simply because employees cannot complete their tasks from home.

Safety elements are essential for keeping your business secure and protecting everyone in the building. Regular check and maintenance for elevators is a must, while commercial roofing contractors can also repair or upgrade your roof to prevent issues such as water or storm damage from impacting the workday.

Identify Risk Areas

Your business should also identify common risk areas that could impact your business. These risk factors can include everything from everyday office hazards, such as cables or wet floors. But, you should also consider dangers like aggressive customers or even aggressive employees.

Background checks can minimize the risk of hiring people who do not fit your company culture and put others at risk. In retail settings, you should also think about theft, especially during busy periods where your security team is stretched too thin. Understanding the primary risk areas will allow you to take proactive steps to prevent them from impacting your business.

Establish ID Cards

If your business deals with sensitive information, you must make sure that only authorized individuals can gain access to the property. Many companies use appointments to determine whether someone should be on the premises, but you can take this a step further, too.

An ID card system will only allow those with the relevant credentials to enter the building or at least sensitive areas of the building. As sensitive information is stored in administrative areas, supplying ID cards will ensure that others cannot gain access. Should anyone leave your organization, make sure you collect their ID card upon leaving to prevent them from returning.

Secured

A secure business will thrive in a variety of situations. As long as you remember to put protective measures in place across the board, you can make the progress you have always wanted for your company, whether establishing yourself or looking for growth opportunities.

The Power Of Obsessing Over Your Brand

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A major part of your business is its branding. Your branding can be the difference between your business flourishing or languishing. The following contributed post is entitled, The Power Of Obsessing Over Your Brand.

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The most successful people in the world are almost always the most obsessive. They don’t think about the money or the fame or their own superstardom. Instead, they just fixate on the task in front of them, whatever it is.

Take Kobe Bryant, for instance. He spent countless hours practicing in private, trying to improve his skills. It took years of dedication and commitment to the cause but, eventually, he got the hang of it.

The same is true of Elon Musk. The man hasn’t taken a break in more than two decades and, instead, is totally committed to what he does and loves.

Being obsessive about your branding isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it could be the very thing that saves you from going the way of 90 percent of businesses and failing within the first ten years.

Here’s why obsession matters:

It Gives You Courage

When you’re obsessed with something, courage comes quite naturally. It’s not that you don’t feel fear: that’s always there. Instead, it’s more that you can see the value in what you are doing and all the fear you experience is worth it.

It Encourages Innovation

Steve Jobs, James Dyson and Richard Branson all spent countless hours toying with concepts and creating brand ideas. In fact, issues to do with work and building a better world rarely left their minds.

The reason for this was obsession. They were able to innovate and come up with new things because they couldn’t take their minds off what they were doing. For them, it was imperative that they succeed in their quest and build a better world for themselves and everyone else.

It Harnesses Your Energy

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Trying to build a world-class business isn’t possible if you feel apathetic about it. You might be able to maintain a facade for a couple of weeks, but eventually your lack of interest will spread to other team members and the company will fail.

When you are obsessed, though, you begin to generate your own energy. All of a sudden, people want to work alongside you and everyone tries to get the job done. There’s a general belief that you can overcome any challenges that get in your way.

It Compels You To Get Help

When you’re obsessed over your brand, your ego is the last thing on your mind. Instead, all you care about is whether your baby succeeds. When you’re in this state, you’re much more likely to get the help you need.

Toni Marino, a marketing agency, gets businesses coming to them all the time looking for technical brand help and online outreach. Obsessed leaders understand their boundaries and when they need to go to professionals for the sake of their brand.

It Beats Talent

Lastly, securing talent in today’s labor market is a tremendous challenge. The best people are already hard at work in firms, or asking for ridiculously high salaries.

Obsession, though, is a way out of this. When people become utterly fixated on something, their natural genius comes to the fore.

6 Tips On Creating The Family Restaurant Atmosphere

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Restaurants that provide family atmospheres can be very lucrative. There are keys to creating those atmospheres though. The following contributed post is entitled, 6 Tips On Creating The Family Restaurant Atmosphere.

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If you’re looking to start a family restaurant, one of the most important things to consider is the atmosphere you want to create. Your customers will be spending a lot of time in your establishment, so it’s essential to make them feel comfortable and at home. This blog post will discuss six tips that will help you create the perfect family restaurant atmosphere!

Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels

1) Choose the right location:

When it comes to starting a family restaurant, one of the most important things to consider is your location. You want to ensure that you’re in a safe and convenient area for families. A good rule of thumb is to choose an area with a lot of foot traffic and easy access to public transportation. Location is also crucial from a marketing standpoint. You want to make sure that your restaurant is visible and easily accessible to potential customers. A good location will help you attract families and generate word-of-mouth buzz. Finally, you’ll also want to consider the competition in your chosen location. If there are already a lot of family restaurants in the area, you’ll need to find a way to stand out from the crowd.

2) Create a warm and inviting space:

Once you’ve chosen the perfect location for your family restaurant, it’s time to start thinking about the design of your space. You want to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that will make families feel comfortable spending time in your establishment. One way to do this is by incorporating natural elements into your design. For example, use wood and stone to create a rustic aesthetic, or use plants and flowers to add a touch of nature to your space. Another way to create a welcoming atmosphere is by adding a small beach area with top-notch beach construction. Finally, avoid harsh fluorescent lighting, as it can be overwhelming for young children. Instead, opt for softer light fixtures to create a cozy and inviting ambiance.

3) Furnish your space with comfortable seating:

Another critical element of creating the perfect family restaurant atmosphere is furnishing your space with comfortable seating. Families will be spending a lot of time in your restaurant, so you want to make sure that they have plenty of comfortable places to sit. Avoid using high-backed booths, making young children feel enclosed and claustrophobic. Instead, opt for spacious tables and chairs that will give families plenty of room to spread out. You may also want to consider adding a few child-sized tables and chairs so that kids can feel like they have their special place in your restaurant.

4) Keep your restaurant clean and clutter-free:

Families with young children are looking for a clean and clutter-free dining experience. You’ll need to make sure that your restaurant is impeccably clean at all times, as even the most minor mess can be a turnoff for families. In addition to keeping your dining area clean, you’ll also want to make sure that it is free of clutter. Avoid using too many decorations or knick-knacks, as they can make your space feel cluttered and cramped. Instead, opt for a more minimalist approach that will give your restaurant a spacious and airy feel.

5) Offer a superior menu:

When it comes to attracting families to your restaurant, the quality of your food is paramount. Families are looking for a dining experience that is both delicious and nutritious. Therefore, you’ll need to make sure that your menu offers a variety of healthy options that will appeal to kids and adults alike. In addition to providing healthy options, you’ll also want to make sure that your menu features some kid-friendly favorites. Pizza, chicken fingers, and macaroni and cheese are always popular with kids. However, you’ll also want to offer some more sophisticated options for parents who are looking for a grown-up meal.

6) Provide excellent customer service:

Finally, you’ll need to ensure that your restaurant provides excellent customer service. Families are looking for a hassle-free dining experience, so you’ll need to go above and beyond to meet their needs. Make sure that your waitstaff is friendly and attentive, and be sure to offer a kid-friendly menu with plenty of healthy options. If you can provide a superior dining experience for families, they’re sure to become loyal customers.

Creating the perfect family restaurant atmosphere requires careful planning and attention to detail. However, by following these tips, you can create a space that will appeal to families and help turn your restaurant into a success. With a bit of effort, you can make the perfect family-friendly eatery that will become a favorite destination for families in your community.

How To Keep Your Business Premises Secure

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Once you get your business up and running, one of your primary concerns should be it’s security. Securing your operations will allow you to stay open conducting your business. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Keep Your Business Premises Secure.

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It is critical to ensure your business premises are as secure as possible at all times. This includes the building itself, everything and everyone inside it, and even your stored data, which, like everything else, is vulnerable to theft. If you’re not careful, you could be inviting anybody to come in and steal anything they want just by not keeping your business premises secure. Read on to find out what you can do to prevent this from happening.

Photo by Aleksandar Pasaric from Pexels

Conduct A Risk Assessment

When you want to improve security, the first step is to do a risk assessment on the building. To do this, you will need to go around the structure to discover any weak points via which someone might get inside. This might be a window that doesn’t quite close fully or a door that you keep jammed open to allow employees to come and go as they please. It could even be a damaged roof.

Next, look online. When it comes to your online presence, you should look at whether your website is secure and how you keep your clients’ information protected. Talk to your workers about anything they think would make things more secure as well.

Improve Your Entry Points

The entry points of your building will be the primary source of possible break-ins, and therefore you should concentrate your efforts here to ensure they are fully protected. Your doors have to be strong, and they need to lock properly; if the locks are old or weak, have a locksmith change them so you know they are as safe as possible. A keypad entry adds an extra degree of protection, as only those who have the code can get inside.

Your windows will also need to be kept secure. Some people like to install bars on them, but this can be a problem for your employees and customers – it looks unattractive. However, it is possible to install bars that can be pulled across at night, improving security. As for your roof, call in a professional commercial roofing company to repair any holes or weak spots and make it safer.

Alarms And Cameras

Installing a camera system is an excellent way to guarantee your site is as safe as possible, and it will also assist you if there is a break-in since you will have pictures and video proof of the incident. Giving this to the police will make it easier to locate the thieves and secure a conviction. Cameras also serve as a deterrent since it is much simpler for a would-be thief to break into a building that doesn’t have it than to risk getting caught by breaking into one that does.

Another effective deterrent is an alarm system. Again, if a criminal notices you have an alarm installed, they are much less likely to attempt a break-in, and if they do and the alarm goes off, the police (assuming it is programmed to notify them) will be on their way in minutes. Install the best alarm that your budget will allow as this really would be money well spent.

Protecting Your Financial Future – Debts, Habits and More

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money. One of the keys to winning with money is protecting your financial future. To do so, you must take several methodical and timely steps. The following contributed post is entitled, Protecting Your Financial Future – Debts, Habits and More.

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We know that taking care of our health and wellness is one of the most important things we can do to live a long and happy life. But alongside taking care of ourselves and our families with nutritious food and an active lifestyle, we need to take care of our finances.

Our finances have highs and lows throughout our lives, and sometimes it can get a bit worrisome.

Tackling your wayward finances and taking control of your financial future might feel and sometimes look scary – but with these few tips, there are plenty of ways that you can kick your finances into touch.

One of the most important things to think about when you go through your finances is that not everyone has the same amount of cash. So, you can choose the ones that will make an impact on you and those that make sense to your own financials.

Photo by Isaac Smith on Unsplash

The basics

The basics of your cash will give you the information you need to make positive changes. IT is a good idea to create a spreadsheet or something where you can make notes.

Income

Where is your money coming from? Look at your income, passive income, benefits, and any other income that you get.

Make a note of all the individual places and amounts, then a total. Go back over a few months of your income records so that you can work out an average.

Outgoing

Most of us spend more money than we need to, or that we ever recognize. Look at all of the subscriptions you have. Do you get takeout a little more often than you should? Where do you spend money that you could trim?

Make a note of all of the outgoings you have. Just like the income, it is essential to get a more comprehensive overview – so go through 6 months of spending.

Create a calendar

Often the missing part of the process is knowing when things are going in and when things are coming out. Many of us let our automatic payments come and go without paying attention to anything more than the total. You can ask to move some payment dates around that allow you to have an easier cash flow.

Reworking your current attitude

No matter how you want to tackle your finances now, you could probably benefit from some reframing. Since you have a good overview of your finances now, it is time to align your outgoing and your income.

Budget/cash flow

If you notice that things get a bit tight by the third week of the month, or you end up in overdraft and using credit cards – it’s time to check the cash flow. Your cash flow is the timing of when money is coming in and when it is going out.

Date changes

If all of your bills go out and leave you struggling in the second week of the month, it is a good idea to talk to all of the companies and see if you can spread them across the month instead. Align the income and outgoing dates to never leave too far out of pocket.

Month on Month

As you start to make these changes, you need to keep track of how things are going. It will take several months or more to compare and look for a positive difference.

Emergency funds

Many people don’t have an emergency fund because most people use almost precisely what they have in terms of income on expenses. Build significant emergency funds with small, consistent changes.

Why do you need an emergency fund?

When broken washing machines, car breakdowns, and other big things happen, it is easy to turn to hire purchase and short-term loans to replace and repair what you need. But most of the time, this will cause further financial issues at a later date.

Emergency savings are a little nest egg that can help you to avoid needing to take out loans. One of the easiest ways to do this is to opt for an automated savings program.

With automated savings, an algorithm will automatically calculate how much you can save and put it aside for you—taking the work out of saving and overtime building an emergency fund.

Here are some apps that make saving automatic and easy:

● Acorns
● Digit
● Empower Finance
● Chime
● Keep The Change
● Mint
● Qapital

Make sure that you read the T&Cs to find an automatic savings app that works for you.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Set rules

What should and what shouldn’t constitute an emergency when it comes to spending the fund? These guidelines can help stop you from dipping into the fund when you ‘want’ something, not ‘need’ something.

And, every time that you need to use some of it make sure that you keep saving and adding to it afterward.

Bonus cash

Any time you have extra, split it between your savings and your regular account. Getting into the habit of seeing extra cash as a nest egg rather than fun cash can make it easier to enjoy saving.

Debts and insurance

There are two things that, no matter what, need to be paid. Debts need to be paid down, and insurance needs to be paid up. Debts are often scary because they stack up quickly – often come with high repayments, and after a default or two, you might end up in a lot of trouble.

Insurance

You need to have insurance that covers everything, from your home and content to family and auto. Your insurance is much like your emergency funds, it might seem like an expense, but it is one worth the time. Find a full-service insurance agency, so you get everything you want.

Debts

Often when people have debts rather than look at the total amount owed, it can be easier to hide and just pay small regular results. Look at where you owe money across the board, and make a note of the totals. Look at what you are paying off, how much of it is interest, and how much is paying down the initial debt. Often monthly payments are made up of more interest than paying it down.

Once you have your total, look at how much you are paying against the total, and then you will know how long it will take to pay off.

There are a lot of different debt reduction strategies that you can use, so it is important you find one that works for you and that is realistic. The snowball method is the one that most people have success with.

You can also get in contact with all of your creditors and renegotiate your payment terms. In many cases, they will be happy to reduce your monthly payments if you need to. It is also important to look at the options you have for paying off student loans.

Money Habits

Creating good money habits isn’t something that just happens. Unless your parents or guardians teach you good money habits – they can be hard to learn. Making a few financial mistakes is something that happens to many people, but it doesn’t have to be the whole story.

Create some healthy money habits that help you keep building on your success.

Credit

Before you apply for anything, ask yourself do you need the credit, or could you wait? Having a few small lines of credit (that are kept in good standing) can help you keep a good credit score.

Credit report

Your credit report will tell you your score, and it will also tell you where you can make some improvements. If there are any mistakes on it, you can have those rectified and clean up your score. Some credit score companies can also highlight how you can improve your score.

Ahead of trouble

If you run into trouble, like you need to have some time off work or your work situation changes, then it is in your best interest to get in touch directly with your creditors to freeze the payments. Missing a bill will give you double or more to pay and with fines and charges on top.

The call might feel overwhelming, but once it is done, you will feel better in the end.

Short vs. Long

Short-term loans and payday loans are designed to keep people in a spiral of taking and paying loans. Long-term loans are much nicer in terms of APR%, but they also tie you into long repayments.

Try where possible to avoid short-term loans and anything payday when you are trying to get your debt and money management under control.

Part of building good money habits is learning how to make your money go further. Making your money go further can help with your saving goals, increase your proactive approach, and more. Here are some extra tips for you: Tips To Make Your Money Go Further.

Once you have the basics and face your finances head-on, you might be surprised just how comfortable you get with your cash and just how quickly you see positive results.

Gain More Foot Traffic By Boosting Your Curb Appeal

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you own a “brick and mortar” business that’s reliant upon foot traffic, you want to optimize your curb appeal to pique the interest of potential customers. The following contributed post is entitled, Gain More Foot Traffic By Boosting Your Curb Appeal.

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If you are running a brick and mortar company, your business could live or die based on the level of foot traffic that it receives. As such, you need to make sure that you are taking the right steps to boost the levels of foot traffic for your company. The best way to do this is to focus on improving the curb appeal. Here are some of the possibilities that we recommend.

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Improve Your Parking Location

First, you should think about improving your parking location. More parking or improved parking will ensure that your business is more accessible to all different types of customers including those who will be coming from farther afield. One of the ways that you can improve your parking location would be by adding additional levels of security such as lighting. This is particularly useful if your business is open late. You can also use asphalt paving solutions to improve the ground of your parking location.

Use The Windows

Your windows are a fantastic asset for your business. They provide a huge surface space for marketing and promotion. Instead of leaving your business windows bare, you should think about adding different marketing materials on the inside. This can help ensure that your business building is more attractive and looks more interesting.

Another way that you can use the windows is with messages and deals for your business. This can show customers that you are providing additional levels of value and entice them to step through the doors of your business property, to gain the key benefits.

Add The Right Lighting

Next, you should think about adding the right lighting to your business property. We have already mentioned how lighting can improve your parking location. But it’s worth noting that it can also provide unique benefits for your business property as a whole. For instance, it can change the aesthetic of the building and ensure it stands out from the rest of the street. Certain types of lighting may also mean that you can send the right message about your business and ensure that it feels more welcoming overall. You can use green friendly lighting to ensure that this doesn’t cause your monthly bills to balloon.

Add Something Unique

Finally, you should think about adding something unique to the outside of your business property. This could be anything from a particular sculpture to a design that connects in some way to your business brand or what you can offer. A unique element added to the outside of the building will always ensure that you can catch the eye of people who would have otherwise walked straight past your property. As such, it can help you gain far more sales overall.

We hope this helps you understand some of the key strategies that you can use to boost the level of foot traffic to your business. In doing so, you can increase your number of sales and ensure that your business takes up a stronger position on the market overall.