How To Protect Yourself From Counterfeits

7 Ways Health and Safety Training Can Benefit Your Business

It is a known fact that human resources are a business’ most important asset. The effort that your staff personnel put into their respective work tasks is a huge determining factor as to whether you get to achieve your financial objectives or not.

As a business owner or manager, it is, therefore, crucial to ensure working conditions are safe and comfortable enough for maximum employee productivity.

You need to ensure that your team is adequately trained on how to abide by the relevant industry health and safety practices. Read on to find more about how providing your staff with Workplace Health and Training (WHS) can benefit your business.

Minimizes Workplace Illnesses

If your staff personnel are well-trained on procedures for safeguarding themselves and their colleagues from risks to their health within the workplace, workplace-related health issues are less likely to occur.

For instance, training your team on hygiene procedures when handling food in the staff kitchen helps in reducing food contamination incidents. This has a positive impact on the overall productivity of your business; if more employees were to take time out due to illnesses, less time would be spent working to make a profit.

Improves Employee Productivity

If your business involves staff sitting at their workstations for extended periods of time, introducing staff health training sessions will be beneficial. This will encourage them to take walks during breaks and adopt appropriate exercise regimens and meal routines. Overall,  this can help your team maintain a positive mindset.

There’s a depressing feeling that comes with monotonous tasks, which usually tends to affect one’s engagement levels as time goes on. Such therapeutic practices help individuals relieve themselves of this feeling, as they’re able to take their mind off work for a while.

Employees can also be trained on how to effectively handle work-related pressure without letting it take a toll on them. This helps them ward off stress, which could pose a serious mental health risk and affect their concentration. A mentally healthy employee is usually the most productive. They’re able to maintain tunnel vision focus without being distracted by other weighing issues.

See Also: 6 Strategies to Increase Productivity in the Workplace

Minimizes Workplace Injury Incidents

Training your team members on the relevant safety standards and procedures improves their equipment-handling skills. This greatly reduces the chances of an accident occurring due to improper equipment use.

If you’re in the construction business, ensuring your workers undertake and complete the necessary safety courses minimizes chances of a forklift driver injuring himself, or a site worker being a victim of a fatal fall.

A good training program ensures that staff is instructed on the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), when to use them and how to effectively wear them. If your business involves handling chemicals, training staff on safe handling and storage will also reduce the frequency of accidents.

See Also: 8 Avoidable Workplace Safety Mistakes

Improves Workplace Communication

Typically, WHS training usually incorporates informing staff personnel of the recommended communication protocol whenever they observe a health or safety hazard. This helps with timely rectification of the risk issue before the risk manifests itself, with potentially serious consequences to your business’ personnel. You need to draw out a good WHS communication plan that details who should be contacted and via what means, whenever one identifies a health or safety hazard.

Helps With Legislative Compliance

The Department of Labor requires all business owners to ensure that their workplace environs are free of any known health and safety risks. This includes training staff personnel on how to maintain safety within the workplace. Failure to do so amounts to a breach of Federal legislation and exposes your business to legal battles and penalties that are likely to harm your financial security. In extreme cases, your business permit may even be canceled.

Helps With Your Business’ Image

The reputation that you build with your consumers has a very huge influence on your financial gains down the line. If customers come to your place of business and observe that they’re served in a meticulous manner, with staff members going the extra mile to observe health and safety standards, they’re more likely to be impressed by your brand. Training your customer service staff on health and safety practices is, therefore, a worthy investment.

Strengthens Workplace Relations

When you invest in training resources to facilitate your team members’ training, you’re investing in their professional development. Employees appreciate an employer who is proactive in facilitating their career development and repay such employers through increased engagement, as they now trust you more.

The importance of training on health and safety standards and practices cannot be undermined. From productivity benefits to injury reduction and legislative compliance, the benefits of WHS training are definitely numerous.

—
Isabella Lee is a freelance HR consultant and writer. After working for several high profile businesses in the city, Isabella is now supporting businesses through difficult times as an independent consultant. Isabella is currently writing for Effective Software, with a focus on improving health and safety as a catalyst for internal change.

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Moving Into a New House On a Budget

Are you settling in a new house? How do you start decorating a new home on a budget? Should you buy new furniture?

Let’s discover how to create an inviting new house without digging a deep hole in your pocket.

Plan and Understand Your Budget First

In settling into your new house, you don’t have to splurge. Instead, you should plan and understand your budget first to resist the temptation of splurging. Otherwise, you might end up broke with more debts.

Learn how to set your priorities. What do you need first?

Use a careful, thoughtful approach that matches your finances, needs, and wants to make sure you can settle in space with the decoration and furniture you love and can afford.

Next up, you must decide where to start. Determine which room should be filled first. It can be a little overwhelming but it can also be rewarding when done right.

As a tip, you might want to start filling high traffic areas first. It could be the living room or a room where your family members spend much of their downtime.

Another tip is to stick with the room you want to work with and accomplish the task first before moving to other rooms.

Use Affordable But Cozy Decorations

You should make your new space a home and you should make it yours. If you are on a budget, you can consider cozy DIY but affordable decorations.

Think about surrounding your home with the texture you love, including wavy wallpapers. Think of textures that you can integrate into a specific room to make it comfortable and cozy but without spending huge. For a larger room, the right texture can offer a cozier feel.

Consider furniture diversity. Do not be afraid of mixing things up a bit. This diversity can make for a vivid interior which is visually engaging and appealing.

In addition, you might want to choose warm colors, such as peach, red, orange, and brown. These colors can make a more inviting and compact space.

Overall, you should have fun with the entire decorating process and consider it as a huge art project.

Consider Reusing Furniture

Another tip to remember is to consider reusing furniture. Those that are still in good shape and condition can be refurbished and repaired.

For example, you can consider cabinet refacing for the bathroom or kitchen cabinets. A little repair here and there can do just fine.

Refacing is a cost-effective remodeling option if the old cabinets are well constructed and can still be used. It can involve changing the current look with a new paint color.

It is more affordable than replacing the old ones with new and custom cabinets. Additionally, it is not just a nature-friendly remodeling option but also a faster method since it retains the old layout of the bathroom or kitchen.

Cabinet repair can include a surface repair that involves fixing small nicks and chips in the wood cabinets with plastic wood fillers. On the other hand, matching the color is another trick if you’re trying to touch up any scraped or chipped cabinet.

Overall, reusing old furniture offers plenty of benefits. It’s one of the best ways to settle into a new home on a budget because you don’t need to buy new pieces.

How does your house look on the outside?

Being too busy decorating the interior of your home, you might overlook its exterior features. This can directly affect the overall look and appeal of your home.

One of the things you can do is to repaint the outside yourself. In doing so, you don’t just add a new touch to the entire home but also makes it more desirable with your chosen paint color.

You should prepare the landscape, too. Make sure you’re covering the bushes, ground, and any plants just below where you are painting. The same goes if there are hoses, outdoor furniture or grills. Cover them up before painting to avoid the mess later.

Perfect Lawn On A Budget

If you think that it’s hard to accomplish it, think again. Landscape maintenance does not have to break the bank. In fact, it doesn’t have to take a toll on your finances. Just prepare your general supplies and tools and invest some time on the task for a healthy lawn.

Regarding the watering, you should water infrequently but for a longer period of time. As an advice, you can consider watering about an inch of water.

Otherwise, it’ll suffocate and you’ll eventually kill the roots. When this happens, the grass will be prone to damage. In addition, over-watering the lawn will also consume more water and increase your bill.

Pruning is another way to perfect your lawn. However, you should do it at the right time because it can affect the growth of the plants or trees. As a general rule, you can prune during the winter or early spring if you’re pruning ornamental shrubs or trees that blossom in the summer.

In addition, don’t forget weeding. You should pull the weeds together with the roots manually or using a handheld weeder. For better results, you might want to prevent weeds before they show up by using a pre-emergent herbicide to control crabgrass and stubborn weeds.

Perfecting your lawn, reusing old furniture, and repainting the exterior of your new space will help you create a cozy and welcoming space without breaking the bank. Follow these tips and enjoy your new home!

See Also: 5 Simple Tweaks to Make Your Home More Attractive

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10 Ways to Embrace Changes In Your Personal and Professional Life

For most of us, change is inevitable. It’s something that’s bound to happen sooner or later. And when it does happen, whether in your personal and professional life, you’ll find yourself in a really difficult position.

Anticipating the changes is one way to make them easier to adjust to. However, as change often means stepping out of comfort zones, making the necessary adjustments won’t be as easy as it sounds. And as a result, achieving your goals becomes harder, too.

Why are people so afraid of change?

Even though you may want to control your own destiny, making changes in your life may be so intimidating that you will end up settling for less or doing nothing at all. There are 6 reasons why so many people are afraid of change.

• Agonizing over certain decisions because you feel isolated
• Clinging to those perks, possessions, and statuses that you have acquired along the way
• Doubting yourself and feeling that you are not up to the challenge of making changes
• Fear of the unknown and being reluctant to take any chances
• Focusing too much on the external world around you instead of yourself
• Overlooking the fact that there are always options available

It’s important to remember that you never have to settle for what transpires when making changes in your personal and professional life. When you have enough confidence to act in the face of your fears about change, it gives you a sense of control. Ultimately, it will provide you with a purpose in life.

10 Benefits of Change

Conversely, the person who is willing to gamble and embrace change has a greater chance of achieving success in their personal and professional lives. Whether it is in your personal life or in your professional life, there are 10 benefits of change to be aware of:

Flexibility

Frequent changes enable us to adapt to new environment, people, and situations.

Improvements

Without change, nothing improves by itself. Therefore, there would be no improvements in your finances, home, and income without change.

Life values

When you are open to change, you see things in your life differently. You’ll have an easier time re-evaluating your life. Sometimes, this enables you to reinforce your life values.

New beginnings

Change is about closing one chapter in your life and opening another. New beginnings arise and life becomes more exciting.

Opportunities

When you adapt to change in the workplace or make changes in your personal life, you will find that different opportunities present themselves. In many cases, change provides you with choices that bring about fulfillment and happiness.

Personal growth

Every time change occurs, you have an opportunity to grow and learn. You discover insights into your life and certain aspects of it.

Progress

Certain aspects of our personal and professional lives develop and improve as change has a way of triggering progress.

Routine

Without change, your life would be routine. It would be dull, predictable, and very uninteresting without it.

Snowball effect

When we attempt to make big, immediate changes, we often give up because we feel like we just can’t do this. It is during such times that making smaller changes can become very important. Making these smaller changes can result in your bigger, desired changes or goals.

Strength

Unfortunately, change sometimes leads us to unpleasant times in our lives. When you overcome these difficult periods, you grow stronger as a result.

In addition to the above, change accommodates personal and professional growth. It helps us to address specific problems at home and at work while staying up to date on market trends and technological advancements.

Although change may seem inconvenient at times, it has a way of bringing about benefits in a company setting. Some changes enable companies to attract higher caliber job candidates such as changing their pay and benefit structure.

10 Tips for Dealing with Change

Be flexible

You improve your chances of succeeding by being flexible and adapting to change. Take a look at what is required of you in these new circumstances after changes have been implemented in your professional life.

Communication is imperative

This is especially true when you are facing changes. Effective communication has a positive impact while the lack of it has negative consequences.

Continue with your work as usual

Corporate reorganizations are never fun. It’s easy to have a bad attitude when changes are implemented in the workplace since you don’t know if the work you are doing will continue being important.

Envision the big picture

Realize that the goals of making change are usually beneficial. The sooner you see the big picture, the better off you will be.

Maintain your network of contacts

Whether external or internal, your network of contacts can be invaluable. They can be a sounding board and share their experiences regarding change.

Perform self-assessments

When planning for the future, many companies will analyze opportunities, strengths, threats, and weaknesses in order to determine what they need to improve on. Self-assessment also helps individuals determine their strengths and weaknesses while showing the areas that need work.

Realize that change is inevitable and is the only aspect of our lives that is constant

As we grow older, we experience change in our personal lives. Why should it be any different in our careers and professional lives?

Recognize the stages of change

These include shock, denial, guilt, anger, and moving on. In some way, the stages of change resemble the stages of grief over the death of a loved one.

Stay alert for subtle clues in your surroundings

Try to listen in on the rumor mill at work. Are there meetings occurring that you are not invited to? Is your boss acting distant towards you? Realize that change is desirable but also recognize when it is happening in your surrounding.

Stay positive

Keeping a positive attitude during change will enable you to handle the uncertainties that come with it.

See Also: How to Be Adaptable in 11 Simple Steps

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15 Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car can be a smart decision. If you do your research well, you won’t just be able to save thousands of dollars but you’ll be able to find tons of favorable financing terms and rates, too.

To help you make the right decision, below are the top questions to ask when buying a used car.

What is your budget?

One of the first questions to ask when buying a used car is about money. What is your budget for this vehicle? There are several recommendations about how much you should spend on a vehicle. Various sources suggest only paying cash or making a large down payment to keep your monthly payments low.

How much is my current vehicle worth?

If your trade-in vehicle still has a lot of value, you might be able to afford some additional features or a higher quality vehicle.

How will you pay for your used car?

If you are paying cash, you are ready to start brainstorming about your needs and wants. If not, decide if you are you using a local bank, a credit union, loan from family or an online bank.

How do you make sure you get the lowest interest rate?

You will usually find the best interest rates by searching online. It’s best to shop around and compare rates and terms. Keep in mind, used vehicle loan rates vary based on the age of the vehicle.

Are car dealerships a good source for lending?

You can consider promotions at a car dealer since they can sometimes be competitive with banks. Be sure to do the math and don’t forget to compare multiple car dealers.

Should I trade in my current vehicle or sell it myself?

You can research online or ask for a quote from a local car dealer. Selling it yourself will often mean getting more money but it will also take more time and effort on your part. If your budget is tight, you might want to consider selling it online or to a private buyer. Selling a used car can also be good experience and teach you what to ask when buying a used car.

Once I have determined my budget, how can I decide what vehicle to buy?

You need to make a list of your most basic needs. Then, make a list of the things that you would like your current vehicle to do. You can use this list to narrow down your search.

See Also: What Science Says About The Car You Drive 

What features should I consider for my used car?

Do you need to transport several people or lots of cargo? Do you need great gas mileage or lots of power? Do you need a 4×4 vehicle for snow or rough terrain? Think about how you use your vehicle now and refer to your list of wants and needs to develop a list of features.

How can I narrow down my search among the thousands of vehicles available?

Fortunately, shopping online at local car dealerships is much easier than it used to be. You can use the lists you just made to filter car dealers’ inventory and find the car you need. Once you identify 2 or 3 vehicles, it is time for a test drive.

Since I don’t know anything about cars, how can I make sure I don’t buy a piece of junk?

No one knows all the things to ask when buying a car. You should ask for some additional advice from someone you trust or check a few unbiased sites for owners’ experiences with the car you are interested in .

A trusted mechanic is another great resource. They can provide basic tips to buying cars in your area and advise you on the best used cars to buy. They may even know a little bit about you and your needs and can help you ask other questions to ask when buying a used car. Cars that cost a lot of money to operate are certainly ones to avoid.

See Also: How to Find a Good Mechanic in the Age of Social Media

Do I have to shop alone or can I bring someone with me?

Close family members, coworkers, and classmates can also be great to bring along when buying a car. They can help you avoid making a hasty purchase by being an instant second opinion or by playing devil’s advocate.

Once I find a car I like, what should I do to make sure I won’t hate it later?

Once you have narrowed your choices down to a vehicle or two, you can weigh your options by listing the pros and cons of those vehicles. You may even want to take another test drive.

What if I don’t want the salesperson to come with me on my test drive?

You can just request to drive the vehicle alone. Some dealers will press the issue with younger drivers, but you can avoid this impression if you take an older adult friend or parent with you.

What can I do to make sure I don’t feel rushed to decide?

Someone else might come along and buy one of your selections before you do. So, take the time you need, but don’t be surprised if a car you want gets sold before you decide. Some car dealers might allow you to place a deposit on a vehicle that places the vehicle on hold until a certain date.

What do I do if I change my mind after I drive away?

Some dealerships offer a return policy. If you are very concerned about this, keep this in mind when selecting a dealership or try to negotiate a return option. If you buy a car from a dealer that doesn’t accept returns, you may have recourse legally. Otherwise, you need to trade it in or sell it yourself.

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15 Benefits to Outsource Document Management

Being a Single Parent of Three, This is What I Advise All the Moms

Today, I attended the graduation party of my twin boys. Looking at them with their graduation gowns and hats on, I felt so proud. When their names were being called out, I went down the memory lane when I had my newborn twin boys in my arms.

I was very happy to see their tiny, innocent faces. At the same time, I was scared of how will I bring up my three kids while being a single parent.

Being a single parent means you’re serving as a homemaker and a breadwinner at the same time. This can be a very exhausting and grueling job. You’re not only concerned about taking care of your children but you also have to manage the finances strategically.

To stretch my hard-earned dollars and make the most of them, I learned about managing finances as a single mom. I read tons of tips and talked to other single moms who were facing the same troubles. Finally, I was able to figure out the solutions to my problems.

If you are also a single mom and you’re struggling financially, then I will advise you to learn these tips which will not only assist you to manage your finances but will also help you to save some dough.

I kept a black book

This black book helped me keep a record of all my expenses. I wrote down all the monthly payments and expenses there. I made sure to keep the expenses less than my monthly income.

Also, I made sure to trace every dollar I spent. That way, I could figure out where I spent unnecessarily. It also allows me to refrain from such unnecessary expenses.

I made the most of sales

I made the most of the sales when I go grocery shopping. If you are planning to do the same, you have to be very particular about the items you choose to purchase from the sale section.

For example, I purchase items in bulks that have long expiry dates such as cereals and frozen products. I purchase less organic products which can expire soon. For clothing, I purchase one or two sizes bigger clothing that can come handy next year and so on and so forth.

I never let go of saving coupons

This has made my life 100 times easier. I can buy items on discount without a sale. Saving coupons can be used to avail discounted rates from articles to services.

I always make sure to get my saving coupons before I go shopping to get discounted rates. When I am shopping online, I enter a promotional code to avail discount and offers such as free shipping.

It was just last year when I shopped using coupons from Merchant 1948 for my kids’ shoes. I have used coupons everywhere from grocery shopping to shoe shopping and even for plumbing services.

I saved receipts

This might sound weird.

I keep receipts to maintain my monthly record. This helps me to track where my hard-earned dollars went. Sometimes, receipts make you can realize you have paid the wrong bills or items.

It usually happens in grocery stores. Often, the contents in the lines are mistakenly added to your cart. The receipt will help you to find if you have paid for something that was not in your shopping list.

Receipts can also save you in case of a wrong bill. It has happened to me quite a few times and receipts were my savior.

I always paid the bills first

No matter how hard I found it, I always paid the bills first when I received my paycheck. So, my advice to you is to always pay all your bills whether it is for rent, utility bills, fees or credit card debts.

The more you shrug it off and delay it, the more it is likely to pile up, making it more difficult for you to pay. Consequently, the overdue bills add up along with extra charges, which is just a waste of money.

I kept one debt at a time

I never paid for more than one debt at a time. There was a time when I had to pay for my new car’s installments, my twins’ college fee, and loan for my daughter’s small startup.

I focused on paying for one debt at a time. My advice to you people is the same.

Do not try paying all the debts together. If you do, you’ll end up giving away a major chunk of your salary.

I compartmentalized my expenses

We all know that every month, we get carried away with expenses other than utility bills, groceries, and transport. By the end of the month, we realized we have no savings left.

What I did and still do is I categorize all my expenses and allot a fixed sum to each category. This way, I end up spending only the allotted amount and avoid any additional expenses.

When you have three kids around the same age, you’ll never know where your money is going. Keeping the investment separate for each category facilitated me a lot.

I lived in a low-priced house

The best thing, in my opinion, that I did was to rent a low-priced apartment. While it was not in the middle of the city, it was spacious enough for my kids to get around.

Getting a house that has a low rent is wiser than living in the middle of the city where you find everything nearer. My priority was my kids’ convenience and I was lucky enough to get it in my cheap yet perfect apartment.

Thrift shops were my best friends

Children grow in the blink of an eye.

All the clothes I used to get for my children, they outgrew them in no time. It seems a waste of money to spend so much on clothes that will be worn in one season only, so my go-to place was thrift stores. These stores have a wide range of clothing, shoes and other accessories. Plus, all these items are available at the fraction of their price.

After my children have worn these clothes one season, I return them back to these stores or give away in charity.

I relied on homemade food

My kids cannot go without pizza and burger with loads of fries and it is very hard to say no to them. So, even if I was tired after work, I used to cook at home and refrained my kids from eating out.

Having homemade food is, in my opinion, the best way to save money on food and that’s what I did. You can cook in batches which can last for two to three days.

That way, you won’t have to cook every day. You can have ready-made lunch for the next day, too. Keep your take-outs to a minimum and soon you will see a surge in your savings.

I sold all the excess

There will be countless items in your house that are not in use anymore and are just sitting in your closet for no use. Grab them all and sell them.

Doing that won’t just help you declutter your house, but you’ll be able to earn money from it, too.

I know being a single parent is an uphill struggle every day. You are continuously grinding and striving to make the most of it. Managing finances is not an easy task to do.

However, with these tips, I was able to cope with my financial struggles and even succeeded to save some dough. Start with tips that are easy for you to follow and with time, you will surely be able to carry out all of them.

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8 Avoidable Workplace Safety Mistakes

Let’s accept it. Not all businesses are serious about their workplace safety.

Some of them leave the safety on the mercy of a few fire extinguishers and a couple of warning signs here and there. Some of them don’t bother if the chemicals are stored near their MCB box or employees go through a wet floor. Unfortunately, they only realize the importance of workplace safety when a serious accident occurs.

Why wait for something unpleasant to happen?

Create a secure and positive work environment by avoiding common safety mistakes in the workplace given below.

Failing to Use a Ladder Properly

According to one report, 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries every year. Even worse, over 400 people lost their lives as they succumbed to those injuries.

Tiny ladder-related mistakes can lead to serious injuries. For example, some use unsteady ladders that can easily slide out while a person is on it. Leaning from the ladders is another mistake that can affect their balance. Using other objects like chairs, stools or scaffolding as a ladder is not safe, either.

Not Getting the Machine Inspected

If you are like most business owners, you are likely to skip an inspection if a machine is working fine.

Well, this can be problematic down the road.

You never know when an underlying fault can lead to damage or harm the operator. Therefore, make sure to get your machinery inspected on time.

Timely and proper inspections make sure that your machines are running correctly and won’t pose risk. With regular inspection, your equipment stays in top shape and won’t cause a halt due to breakdown.

Not Keeping the Facility Clean and Organized

Make sure to keep your facility clean and organized. Otherwise, a huge stack of waste or debris can lead to a fire outbreak if they come into contact with a spark or inflammable material.

Moreover, an unclean work environment is an ideal breeding ground for various bacteria and germs, thereby affecting the health of your workforce. By practicing proper work hygiene, you can prevent the growth of harmful viruses and bacteria, ensuring a safe and healthy work environment.

It goes without saying that having clean premises will also improve your business image.

Inappropriate Storage of Chemicals

Your workers are also prone to risks when they come into contact with harmful chemicals or toxic substance like gasoline, paint, and insulation. Here is how you can minimize the risks associated with them.

• Keep the areas ventilated.
• Make sure your employees wear protective gears like gloves and masks while using chemicals.
• Tell your employees to seek treatment if they experience itchiness or not feel well after using the chemicals.
• Store the chemicals away from any equipment and electrical short circuit board.
• Read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to store them.

Not Performing a Safety Risk Assessment

Let’s admit it.

We are often so used to our work environment that we forget about our safety. In fact, we take it for granted. We assume that we are aware of the risks as well as the ways to deal with them.

That’s not the right approach.

You need to assess the risk factors present in your workplace. For example, you never know when an overheated system can turn into a hazard or when a slippery floor can injure someone.

Therefore, you should perform a safety risk assessment of your workplace frequently. A health and workplace safety professional can help you with this task. They can assess your workplace for risks and help you deal with them.

Electrical Hazards

No matter how upscale and sophisticated work environment you have, you are not immune to electrical hazards. Electrical hazards are one of the major causes of workplace fatalities, even in developed nations like the US.

Power fluctuations can also affect the equipment in your workplace. A big power surge can damage your machinery, while an unexpected power outage can lead to loss of work.

Here are the tips to avoid electrical hazards taking place at your organizations.

• Make sure to power off the device before repairing it.
• Update your equipment as old equipment may have frayed wires or worn out segments.
• Avoid stuffing outlets with too many equipment and tools. Avoid plugin more than high wattage equipment at a time.
• Unplug equipment when not in use to save energy as well as minimize the risk of fire or shock.
• Get your electrical cords inspected once a month to make sure that they are not cracked or damaged.
• Don’t run the wires through high traffic areas like carpets or doorways.
• The repairs and installation should be done by a licensed electrician.
• All the equipment should be certified.

Not Wearing Protective Gear

One of the major causes of workplace accidents is not wearing protective gears like gloves and helmets.

Also known as Personal Protective Equipment, protecting gear protects workers against several risks on the job. These hazard risks can be anything from falling debris, wet floors, electrical sparks, and poisonous gases. For example, wearing hard hats provide protection to the workers against head injuries or shocks caused by falling objects.

These protective gears generally include items like eye protection, high visibility clothing, safety footwear, helmets and respiratory protective equipment like a mask.

See Also: 5 Reasons Why Wearing Safety Boots at the Workplace is Crucial

Not Having the Safety Signs

Many employees don’t bother if they walk on a wet floor. Some don’t realize that the lift is out of order until it halts in the middle. Some may not be able to find the emergency exit door when a fire breaks out.

This is why safety signs are used to help workers identify the risks. They warn the employees about potential dangers. For example, the sign of a wet floor will warn them to avoid the pathway so that they don’t get injured.

Some of the common workplace safety signs are prohibition signs, mandatory signs, warning signs, fire safety signs, danger signs, general information signs, and emergency signs.

These are the workplace safety mistakes you can avoid to keep your employees and infrastructure safe and sound. What do you think? Please drop your opinions to the comment box given below!

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How to Decorate Your Home

Some people have a strong gut feeling for home decor. They exactly know what to buy and where to place it. They can also visualize the colors and they’re never afraid of change.

Then, there are those people who always have their interior designer’s phone number on speed dial. They want to try a lot of things but don’t have the eye for designs. If you are one of those people who always prefer to search Pinterest before making any major renovations, I feel you. I also fall in the second category.

However, home decor has never been a headache for me. I love to experiment. I always research thoroughly before trying anything new and it works well for me. After meeting many interior designers and surfing on the internet, I have compiled some secrets and easy decorating tips.

Read on to find out what those tips are.

Vibrant Walls

When we enter our home sweet home, the first thing we notice is the color. The walls cover a significant part of our house. Whether we want to add energy to a dull room or calm a hectic one, we just need to change the color combination.

Use the 50/150 Rule. For the perfect color, mix one batch of paint 50% lighter than the base color. Keep the other one 150% darker than the base color and create a tint.

If the budget does not allow to paint the whole house, change the color of just one wall. We can decorate the window wall or backside of your bed instead.

Fancy Floors

No matter how hard our day is, our little nest welcomes us with open arms. As soon as we put our first step on our favorite rug, we suddenly feel comfortable even after a long hectic day.

We must not forget our roofs and floors while thinking about renovations. Nowadays, floor paintings are trending.

Any pastel color, light blue, light green, light pink or yellow may suit the floors. It depends on the color shade we have applied to our walls. We can also buy fancy carpets to make our floors look beautiful.

Rocking Roofs

We often take our roofs for granted while decorating the house. We forget that even ceilings can change the entire look.

It is essential to renovate our roofs with the help of p.o.p, designer cuttings, and hanging lamps. We can also decorate our roofs with some carved woods or beadboard ceiling.

I have seen hanging hammock in a few houses and I find it super cool. There are many ‘how to’ videos available on Youtube. Apart from that, we can try different colors to make our walls look gorgeous. Bright colors always win the race.

Comfy Corners

Don’t forget to free a small corner for some ‘me time’ at the time of renovation. An intersection near the window is preferable. Put a cozy chair, stool, lamp, and a lot of books in that corner.

Have some light or transparent curtains on the window and enjoy the sunshine every day. This corner can lighten up the entire day and can fill us with all the positive vibes. We can sit there to write our daily journal or listen to our favorite tracks!

We can also hang a wind-chime or dream catcher to decorate the free space.

Kempt Kitchen

The kitchen might be an expensive room to renovate. Sometimes, we may feel that a complete renovation is not necessary or practical.

If so, there are many ideas of kitchen makeovers we can consider. We can deep clean the walls, refresh the paint, add lights, replace cabinets or sink, and add new accessories.

To change places of furniture can also make a huge difference. We can also grow some green plants in the kitchen by placing ceramic pots or vases.

Blissful Bedrooms

We spend 1/3rd of our life in the bedroom. Thus, it is imperative to design it carefully to make it a relaxing place.

Comfort should be our priority when it comes to bedrooms. Start decorating the room with the best bed, good-quality mattress, and comfortable pillows.

Our choice of color is also crucial. Colors reflect our personality. Bright colors like yellow or orange can expand our thinking while light colors like blue or white can calm us down.

So, choose accordingly. Apart from the furniture and colors, bedroom lightings also play a vital role. It helps us to set the right mood and encourage us to start our days positively.

Radiant Rooms

Whether it is your living room, dining room or guest room, each has different characteristics. So, each room should be decorated with attractive colors, matching curtains, and creative art pieces.

Refurbish the old furniture to get a new look with the least budget. If there is no issue with the closed beds, try having a canopy or bunker bed in the kids’ room. Fairy lights and neon lamps are also famous for instant makeovers. I have placed a bench attached to the window which I use to store excess luggage and as a sitting area.

Home is our little world. We can do whatever we want to do according to our convenience.

Beaming Bathrooms

Last but not the least, let’s discuss bathroom renovations.

It is important to have a spacious and bright bathroom. We generally feel tired of walking into our outdated bathrooms every day. We always dream for a change. So, what we should do is to change all the tiles first.

Replace the old tiles with new ones and change the lighting. Start using white bulbs and avoid the yellow lights if possible. Nowadays, hanging pendants and light bars are stealing the heart of many.

We can also buy some unique bathroom accessories and place them near the bathtub. We can replace our old cloth hangers with a ladder or creative hooks to make it more stylish.

See Also: 5 Features to Achieve a Peaceful Home

I believe that our home communicates with us every day. Each wall, floor, door or window know us in and out. We feel happy and safe in our home sweet home. So, it is crucial to keep it pretty.

Home decorations are always subjective. The ideas may differ from person to person. These are my set of plans. I hope you can relate to them and use some of these ideas for decent decorations. Have a happy, super positive, and cozy life in your small world.

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Take Your LinkedIn Profile to the Max: 4 Tips to Get More Jobs

If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, you’re missing out on a killer opportunity to get flooded with job offers.

Worse, you’re giving your competition the edge because 40% of recruiters won’t interview you if they can’t find you online.

So, having a LinkedIn profile isn’t a matter of choice; it’s a must.

But a blank LinkedIn account doesn’t cut it. If you want to wow recruiters and get showered with job opportunities, you need to optimize it.

This guide shows how you can start improving your LinkedIn profile.

Get a Custom URL

First things first.

When you create a LinkedIn account, your profile URL has a nauseating mix of characters and numbers that don’t roll off the tongue.

Which would you rather choose?

linkedin.com/in/Aasfjhw27482xaA291 vs. linkedin.com/in/max-woolf/

Exactly.

Also, a custom profile URL gives a much friendlier SEO look that helps you rank better in LinkedIn search. And it looks 10x better in your resume’s contact info section.

So, go ahead and learn how to get a sweet customized URL.

Help Recruiters Find You

This one might sound obvious, but we don’t want to take chances.

If you want recruiters to know you’re open for a new job, navigate to the Career interests bar and flip that switch from Off to On.

Perfect.

Get ready to bathe in job offers!

Make Your Profile Hulk-Level Strong

Alright, done with the basics.

It’s time for some advanced LinkedIn optimization techniques.

Head over to your profile. See the big circle titled Profile Strength?

When you provide as much information, that circle will read ‘All Star’ and that’s where you want to be.

Why?

Users that fully complete profiles are 40x more likely to get job offers.

How to reach the All-Star level?

Fill out all the sections with your info:

Pen a summary, provide volunteer experience, add certifications, etc. Leave the skills section for now—we’ll cover it later.

Pro tip: Use keywords in the headline to up your chances of popping up in search. E.g., instead of Max Woolf, write Max Woolf, Career Advice Writer.

Make Your Skills Drip with Expertise

So far, so good.

Now, it’s time to take care of the skills section.

LinkedIn allows to add up to 50 skills, but you can only prominently feature ten. The rest will hide under the ‘Show more’ button.

Make sure those ten skills are (1) keyword skills and (2) are your core strengths.

Pro tip: When adding skills, pick the ones suggested rather than typing skills manually. The suggested skills are what recruiters search for.

If you did your homework and made a list of skills with the highest impact for your resume, copy-paste them to your LinkedIn profile.

If you need help, here are five most demanded hard skills (according to a 2019 LinkedIn study.)

• Cloud Computing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Analytical Reasoning
• People Management
• UX Design

What fun is it to have a boatload of skills if you can’t prove you have them?

That is when endorsements kick in. They come from people you worked with and can prove your expertise.

The good news?

Getting your skills endorsed is as easy as ABC.

All it takes is to scratch someone’s back and wait for them to scratch yours.

So, what do you think? What are your tips to make a LinkedIn profile pop?

Drop your insights in the comments below.

See Also: Using The New LinkedIn For Personal Branding And Career Success

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Free Time-Saving Tools for Students

7 Tips to Lower Utility Bills in Your Business

Businesses always need to optimize their processes to make the operations more profitable. One factor you need to pay special attention to is your business’ utility consumption.

If you’re willing to put the effort, it is easy to reduce the utility consumption of your business. The problem is most companies think that it is not possible.

It is not true at all. And as proof, we’ll share with you 7 tips to lower the utility bills in your business.

Use solar power partially

One thing you can do is rely on solar power. While complete migration to solar energy might not be possible for your business, you can easily set up some solar panels and use solar power partially. It will ensure that you can reduce your electricity consumption by the same amount.

Most of the authorities and governments globally will provide you with tax credit when you set up solar panels and start using solar power. You can also make your business eco-friendly by doing so.

See Also: Going Green To Save Green

Make it a team effort

If you’re the only person making an effort to reduce your company’s utility consumption, you will have limited success. You have to educate your employees to save, too.

Once you do so, you will be amazed at the number of resources which you can save. It will also mean that you’ll be able to reduce your bills drastically.

As a way to encourage, you can provide your employees with added incentives or add savings to your bottom line. A team effort will help you succeed in saving big on utility costs.

Use Data analytics

These days, you have the option to use data analytics to understand your utility consumption. While it might require you to spend some money to set up the sensors and gather data, it will be easier to understand where you can save money.

You can put up not just electricity meters but also water meters to make it easy for you to understand the utility consumption. It will help you save up to 10% of your electricity and water consumption.

Hire an expert

If you are having a hard time reducing your utility bills, it is a good idea to hire experts to help you out. Energy audit experts can help you understand your utility consumption. They can also give you recommendations in writing after conducting an audit. You just have to follow their recommendations.

Do not ignore the sunlight

One of the most simple tips to lower your energy consumption is to use sunlight during daytime. Instead of always having curtains and blinds drawn, it is a good idea to open them a bit during the day. It will ensure that your office has plenty of sunlight.

As the sunlight increases in your office, the consumption of electricity will go down during the daytime. You will not have to rely on artificial light.

Plug the leaks

During the summer months, if there is any leak from your office, you will not be able to maintain your office at a comfortable temperature. The air conditioner will consume more electricity to keep the desired temperature. So,  plug in the leaks after checking your windows and doors.

On the other hand, a leak or if any of the pipes in your office are broken, it will result in excessive consumption of water. The excessive use will once again increase your water bill. You have to find that leak and fix it.

Use smart power strips

These days, small and big businesses rely on gadgets to make their employees more efficient. One of the most common accessories in any office is a power strip.

The problem is that if the power strip is not smart, it will leave the gadgets running throughout the day and probably throughout the night as well.

This can drive your electricity bills through the roof.

A much better solution is to opt for smart power strips. You can program them to turn off automatically during the night.

Instruct your employees to shut down their devices before leaving the office. Both of these measures will make it easy for you to reduce electricity consumption by a significant amount.

These seven tips are the easiest ways for you to lower utility bills in your business. Following them can help you quickly increase your bottom line and ensure that you can have a smaller carbon footprint as well.

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Boost Your Memory With Exercise

Generally, I think it’s a good thing we can forget things.

Would you really want to remember all your homework and assignments from grade school with the same clarity as you would present-day events?

I certainly wouldn’t!

That’s why you should be tracking your workouts. That way, you won’t have to waste memory space on remembering what you are currently lifting or if you broke a personal record.

But when it comes to boosting your memory with exercise, the memories most of us are referring to are the really important ones. It includes memories with family, friends, and our general knowledge of how to live our day-to-day lives. Yet, diseases like Alzheimer’s threaten these memories.

Currently, there are around 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease. That number is projected to rise to around 14 million by 2050. But you don’t have to accept that your memory will decline. Instead, you can protect your health and memory with exercise.

Develop Brain Volume With Regular Exercise

As we age, our brains tend to shrink, losing not only its overall volume but also impairing some of its functionality. One critical area which can be affected is the hippocampus. It’s the area of our brain where long-term memories are stored and accessed.

As this area of the brain decreases in size, our memories become harder to reach. It becomes difficult to store new memories, too.

But with exercise, this grim, memory loss future doesn’t have to happen.

A particularly engaging study made a connection between exercise and an increase in brain volume, specifically with the hippocampus. In the study, the participants in the regular exercise group had an increase of 2% brain mass volume in their hippocampus. This means the effects of age-related brain volume loss was reversed for as much as 1-2 years worth of loss.

That means, if you set up regular exercise patterns, you can protect yourself from years of brain volume loss and keep your hippocampus healthy. In fact, you can even reverse some of your brain volume loss if it has occurred.

Acute Exercise Can Also Positively Impact Your Memory

Along with the great benefits of long-term exercise, you can positively impact your memory with just one short workout, according to memory researchers.

In a study on activating semantic memory in older adults, researchers studied to see if acute exercise had any impact on the memory. To clarify, acute exercise ranges from moderate-to-high intensity exercise that lasts under 45 minutes. Most HIIT workouts fall into this category. So if you have some favorite HIIT workouts, you may want to break them out.

Well, the participating older adults did experience greater memory activation, particularly their semantic memory. It’s the memory which contains your knowledge of your culture, basic world knowledge like how to hold a spoon, and all the simple things we tend to take for granted.

So, even if you haven’t quite mastered a regular routine of working out, even doing periodic, intense workouts can be helpful for your memory.

Create Greater Cognitive Function With Focused Workouts

You don’t have to just do aerobic workouts to boost your memory. A meta-analysis of multiple studies found that more meditative and focused exercises like Tai Chi can also help seniors improve their overall cognitive function.

It makes sense when you consider what slower, focused exercises offer. The person performing the exercise needs to not only engage their body but also their mind as they move through poses, patterns, and keep their movements mindful.

So, rather than doing a Soduku puzzle, maybe take up Tai Chi or yoga for brain engagement.

See Also: 10 Tips to Develop Both Sides of Your Brain

Blend Different Types of Exercises For Cognitive Benefits

I often advocate for blending different types of exercise together, like how runners should lift heavy to support their muscles and joint while weightlifters should run to boost their cardiovascular health. And the same kind of balanced, blended workout effects can apply for memory-building workouts.

So, if you are determined to incorporate good, memory boosting workouts into your daily life, shoot for a mix of workouts. Say, dedicate 1 to 2 days to the more meditative and focused exercises. Then, maybe 3 to 4 days where you do longer aerobic workouts. Feel free to swap out one of the days with a more acute, anaerobic exercise program.

As you do things like work in simple posture exercises into your daily routine, be sure that you are also incorporating some of these other types of workouts. That way, you can boost your memory both in the short- and long-term.

See Also: 10 Brain Damaging Activities You Need To Stop Doing Now

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How to Turn Negative Reviews Into Opportunities

Negative reviews are part of doing business. It does not have to be a disaster even if you receive one. Instead of worrying that you got such an undesirable review, you can use it to improve your business and work on a strategy to engage your customers once again. You can even make a positive impact out of it if you know how.

According to social media statistics, 84% of marketers believe that the focus of marketing efforts in the future is in building trust. It is why, as a business owner, it is crucial for you to learn to foster good relations with your customers, both offline and online. There are many ways to do that online, including the use of negative reviews.

Why Negative Reviews are Beneficial to Your Business

The business world is a battlefield full of challenges that make it difficult to do anything without getting hit at least once. Though you may be hit with criticisms and negativity over your products or services, it does not have to lead you to defeat. If you look at it from a different perspective, negative reviews can be beneficial to your company.

One such benefit involves Google. There are several factors that Google look into when it comes to business reviews. They consider the number of reviews you receive including their quality. It means that even if you have negative reviews, it still adds to the number of reviews you receive. It is even better if they are well-written ones.

They will add to your reputation and can improve your ranking, especially if you have more positive reviews than negative ones. There are plenty of benefits this type of feedback can offer your business and they are opportunities you cannot miss.

So, how to handle negative reviews?

Never Take the Negative Review Personally

The first and most important tactic to turn negative reviews to positive opportunities is not to take it personally. Remember that you are operating as a business. You have to look at the feedback from a more professional perspective.

Instead of being offended, use the review as a way to improve and grow. What you should do is apologize and apply the feedback.

Respond Promptly to All Reviews, Not Just the Negative Ones

You should always respond to all reviews. But for the negative ones, take the time to think about the right way to reply to make sure that you do so in the right tone. It must be professional and even though it may make you wince a bit, thank them still for the comment. Responding also includes addressing the problem, especially if it is a serious mess up.

Invite Customer to Post their Feedback and Reviews

Most customers post bad customer experiences than positive ones. While negative reviews are not entirely bad, you need to encourage your clients to share more worthwhile experiences.

Let them know that you like hearing what they have to say. Also, show them how and where they can post their review. This way, you are also building a community with your most loyal customers.

Show Brand Personality When Dealing with Negative Reviews

It is innate for people to want to connect with others. It applies in business as well with you wanting to communicate with your customers. Addressing negative reviews is a perfect time to do just that.

Take this chance to humanize your brand. Show them the unknown side of your business. It will surprise you when you see how people are receptive and forgiving of mistakes in the right situations.

Correct Wrong Information

In business, it has been said that customers are always right. They may apply in some situations, but if the negative review is the result of misinformation, you need to correct it. Otherwise, it could cause serious damage to your business.

Let them know if the information is incorrect. Even though they may not change their review, it can still be helpful to your other customers.

Shade Customer Feedback with Your Team

Addressing and responding to the reviews of your customers is great. But more than anything, it is critical that your whole team learns from this experience. Take the message of your upset customer as constructive criticism. Their feedback is an excellent way for you to determine how you can improve your business, which will allow getting more positive reviews later.

Do Not Stress Too Much on Negative Reviews

It can be stressful when your customers have negative things to say about you but don’t do that to yourself. You don’t have to worry about what it can cost you since online users are quite discerning. They can easily spot fake reviews and will do more research. If you keep being responsive, you will find that more and more customers will be drawn to you.

No one wants to receive a bad review. But instead of avoiding it, use it to improve your products and services, as well as your relationship with your customers. With the tips mentioned above, you are already on your way to turning your negative reviews into positive opportunities.

Try them and you will find that it has plenty of benefits to offer you. From improving your product and credibility to engaging customers, any small business owner will find that receiving criticism is not so bad.

See Also: 5 Biggest Problems Faced By Small Businesses And How To Overcome Them

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Preparing Your Business For The Next Recession

The economy is cyclical which means we can’t sustain growth indefinitely. When growth occurs too rapidly, it can lead to a bubble and a subsequent collapse. We saw this with the housing bubble a decade ago and even though economists were sounding the alarms for years, warnings went unheeded and the country ended up in a deep financial crisis.

That’s why managing economic growth is so important.

Gradual gains lead to gradual retractions which distributes economic struggles much more gently over a longer period of time. This is a recession which many economic indicators are pointing to currently.

If you woke up tomorrow and realized we were in a recession, would you be prepared?

All Signs Point To Recession

Last year, more than one in seven Americans was three or more months behind on car payments. It’s a potential signal of a coming recession.

According to Bloomberg, there are more recession signs to notice: both consumer and small business confidence fell as did manufacturing surveys and global growth. On top of all that, the trade war and tariffs have investors feeling skittish. The stock market has been reacting wildly, showing record one-day losses on top of scant rebounds.

See Also: Best Tips For Young Entrepreneurs

What Sectors Continue To Do Well In A Recession?

We’ve all heard of the lipstick effect in which sales of lipstick often jump in times of economic downturn. While lipstick, in particular, may not be the indicator anymore, global cosmetics sales still tend to do very well during economic downturns. In fact, during the Great Recession, cosmetics outperformed the greater economy by 45%.

There are other sectors that continue to experience growth during economic downturns. One of the most notable ones is beverage alcohol. In the United States, sales of beverage alcohol actually rose an astonishing $2 billion during the last recession. Other so-called vice industries such as candy and tattoos also tend to do well in times of recession.

Since death and taxes are the only constants in our lives, it should surprise no one that both funerary services and accounting services tend to hold their own during tough economic times, though sometimes people will cut back on overall spending in those areas. Medical spending also continues to experience growth no matter what the greater economy looks like.

Surprisingly, luxury goods are another area that has experienced a boom shortly after the last recession — while Wal-Mart’s sales jumped 5% during the recession, global sales of luxury items rose an astounding 10% just two years later while the rest of the economy was still recovering.

How Can You Prepare Your Business To Weather The Next Recession?

No matter what sector you are in, you can take steps today to help recession-proof your business. Getting all your ducks in a row ahead of time will save you from struggling or even going under when times get tough.

After taking note of what makes businesses recession-proof, it’s time to start applying those lessons to your own business. Some of the actions you can put into place today include:

• Monitor spending closely and pull back on unnecessary purchases
• Enforce a budget for all employees – 10% less than last year on everything that isn’t related to payroll
• Manage inventory more closely and don’t keep excess inventory on hand
• Market your company’s strengths to set yourself apart from the competition
• Shed extraneous projects and focus on being the best at your company’s core competencies

An Ounce Of Prevention

No one knows when a serious recession will strike. Usually, by the time we do know, we are already right in the middle of it. Preparing your business for a recession is a great thing to do even if you aren’t convinced one will come any time soon. Waiting around for a recession to come without preparing yourself is likely to yield a poor end result.

We can all take a lesson from recession-proof businesses and make all of our businesses stronger in the process. Learn all about recession indicators and how to prepare your business to weather the next recession from the infographic below.

Is your business ready to become a recession proof business?

Source: Great Business Schools

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15 Benefits to Outsource Document Management

Being a Single Parent of Three, This is What I Advise All the Moms

Today, I attended the graduation party of my twin boys. Looking at them with their graduation gowns and hats on, I felt so proud. When their names were being called out, I went down the memory lane when I had my newborn twin boys in my arms.

I was very happy to see their tiny, innocent faces. At the same time, I was scared of how will I bring up my three kids while being a single parent.

Being a single parent means you’re serving as a homemaker and a breadwinner at the same time. This can be a very exhausting and grueling job. You’re not only concerned about taking care of your children but you also have to manage the finances strategically.

To stretch my hard-earned dollars and make the most of them, I learned about managing finances as a single mom. I read tons of tips and talked to other single moms who were facing the same troubles. Finally, I was able to figure out the solutions to my problems.

If you are also a single mom and you’re struggling financially, then I will advise you to learn these tips which will not only assist you to manage your finances but will also help you to save some dough.

I kept a black book

This black book helped me keep a record of all my expenses. I wrote down all the monthly payments and expenses there. I made sure to keep the expenses less than my monthly income.

Also, I made sure to trace every dollar I spent. That way, I could figure out where I spent unnecessarily. It also allows me to refrain from such unnecessary expenses.

I made the most of sales

I made the most of the sales when I go grocery shopping. If you are planning to do the same, you have to be very particular about the items you choose to purchase from the sale section.

For example, I purchase items in bulks that have long expiry dates such as cereals and frozen products. I purchase less organic products which can expire soon. For clothing, I purchase one or two sizes bigger clothing that can come handy next year and so on and so forth.

I never let go of saving coupons

This has made my life 100 times easier. I can buy items on discount without a sale. Saving coupons can be used to avail discounted rates from articles to services.

I always make sure to get my saving coupons before I go shopping to get discounted rates. When I am shopping online, I enter a promotional code to avail discount and offers such as free shipping.

It was just last year when I shopped using coupons from Merchant 1948 for my kids’ shoes. I have used coupons everywhere from grocery shopping to shoe shopping and even for plumbing services.

I saved receipts

This might sound weird.

I keep receipts to maintain my monthly record. This helps me to track where my hard-earned dollars went. Sometimes, receipts make you can realize you have paid the wrong bills or items.

It usually happens in grocery stores. Often, the contents in the lines are mistakenly added to your cart. The receipt will help you to find if you have paid for something that was not in your shopping list.

Receipts can also save you in case of a wrong bill. It has happened to me quite a few times and receipts were my savior.

I always paid the bills first

No matter how hard I found it, I always paid the bills first when I received my paycheck. So, my advice to you is to always pay all your bills whether it is for rent, utility bills, fees or credit card debts.

The more you shrug it off and delay it, the more it is likely to pile up, making it more difficult for you to pay. Consequently, the overdue bills add up along with extra charges, which is just a waste of money.

I kept one debt at a time

I never paid for more than one debt at a time. There was a time when I had to pay for my new car’s installments, my twins’ college fee, and loan for my daughter’s small startup.

I focused on paying for one debt at a time. My advice to you people is the same.

Do not try paying all the debts together. If you do, you’ll end up giving away a major chunk of your salary.

I compartmentalized my expenses

We all know that every month, we get carried away with expenses other than utility bills, groceries, and transport. By the end of the month, we realized we have no savings left.

What I did and still do is I categorize all my expenses and allot a fixed sum to each category. This way, I end up spending only the allotted amount and avoid any additional expenses.

When you have three kids around the same age, you’ll never know where your money is going. Keeping the investment separate for each category facilitated me a lot.

I lived in a low-priced house

The best thing, in my opinion, that I did was to rent a low-priced apartment. While it was not in the middle of the city, it was spacious enough for my kids to get around.

Getting a house that has a low rent is wiser than living in the middle of the city where you find everything nearer. My priority was my kids’ convenience and I was lucky enough to get it in my cheap yet perfect apartment.

Thrift shops were my best friends

Children grow in the blink of an eye.

All the clothes I used to get for my children, they outgrew them in no time. It seems a waste of money to spend so much on clothes that will be worn in one season only, so my go-to place was thrift stores. These stores have a wide range of clothing, shoes and other accessories. Plus, all these items are available at the fraction of their price.

After my children have worn these clothes one season, I return them back to these stores or give away in charity.

I relied on homemade food

My kids cannot go without pizza and burger with loads of fries and it is very hard to say no to them. So, even if I was tired after work, I used to cook at home and refrained my kids from eating out.

Having homemade food is, in my opinion, the best way to save money on food and that’s what I did. You can cook in batches which can last for two to three days.

That way, you won’t have to cook every day. You can have ready-made lunch for the next day, too. Keep your take-outs to a minimum and soon you will see a surge in your savings.

I sold all the excess

There will be countless items in your house that are not in use anymore and are just sitting in your closet for no use. Grab them all and sell them.

Doing that won’t just help you declutter your house, but you’ll be able to earn money from it, too.

I know being a single parent is an uphill struggle every day. You are continuously grinding and striving to make the most of it. Managing finances is not an easy task to do.

However, with these tips, I was able to cope with my financial struggles and even succeeded to save some dough. Start with tips that are easy for you to follow and with time, you will surely be able to carry out all of them.

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8 Avoidable Workplace Safety Mistakes

Let’s accept it. Not all businesses are serious about their workplace safety.

Some of them leave the safety on the mercy of a few fire extinguishers and a couple of warning signs here and there. Some of them don’t bother if the chemicals are stored near their MCB box or employees go through a wet floor. Unfortunately, they only realize the importance of workplace safety when a serious accident occurs.

Why wait for something unpleasant to happen?

Create a secure and positive work environment by avoiding common safety mistakes in the workplace given below.

Failing to Use a Ladder Properly

According to one report, 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries every year. Even worse, over 400 people lost their lives as they succumbed to those injuries.

Tiny ladder-related mistakes can lead to serious injuries. For example, some use unsteady ladders that can easily slide out while a person is on it. Leaning from the ladders is another mistake that can affect their balance. Using other objects like chairs, stools or scaffolding as a ladder is not safe, either.

Not Getting the Machine Inspected

If you are like most business owners, you are likely to skip an inspection if a machine is working fine.

Well, this can be problematic down the road.

You never know when an underlying fault can lead to damage or harm the operator. Therefore, make sure to get your machinery inspected on time.

Timely and proper inspections make sure that your machines are running correctly and won’t pose risk. With regular inspection, your equipment stays in top shape and won’t cause a halt due to breakdown.

Not Keeping the Facility Clean and Organized

Make sure to keep your facility clean and organized. Otherwise, a huge stack of waste or debris can lead to a fire outbreak if they come into contact with a spark or inflammable material.

Moreover, an unclean work environment is an ideal breeding ground for various bacteria and germs, thereby affecting the health of your workforce. By practicing proper work hygiene, you can prevent the growth of harmful viruses and bacteria, ensuring a safe and healthy work environment.

It goes without saying that having clean premises will also improve your business image.

Inappropriate Storage of Chemicals

Your workers are also prone to risks when they come into contact with harmful chemicals or toxic substance like gasoline, paint, and insulation. Here is how you can minimize the risks associated with them.

• Keep the areas ventilated.
• Make sure your employees wear protective gears like gloves and masks while using chemicals.
• Tell your employees to seek treatment if they experience itchiness or not feel well after using the chemicals.
• Store the chemicals away from any equipment and electrical short circuit board.
• Read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to store them.

Not Performing a Safety Risk Assessment

Let’s admit it.

We are often so used to our work environment that we forget about our safety. In fact, we take it for granted. We assume that we are aware of the risks as well as the ways to deal with them.

That’s not the right approach.

You need to assess the risk factors present in your workplace. For example, you never know when an overheated system can turn into a hazard or when a slippery floor can injure someone.

Therefore, you should perform a safety risk assessment of your workplace frequently. A health and workplace safety professional can help you with this task. They can assess your workplace for risks and help you deal with them.

Electrical Hazards

No matter how upscale and sophisticated work environment you have, you are not immune to electrical hazards. Electrical hazards are one of the major causes of workplace fatalities, even in developed nations like the US.

Power fluctuations can also affect the equipment in your workplace. A big power surge can damage your machinery, while an unexpected power outage can lead to loss of work.

Here are the tips to avoid electrical hazards taking place at your organizations.

• Make sure to power off the device before repairing it.
• Update your equipment as old equipment may have frayed wires or worn out segments.
• Avoid stuffing outlets with too many equipment and tools. Avoid plugin more than high wattage equipment at a time.
• Unplug equipment when not in use to save energy as well as minimize the risk of fire or shock.
• Get your electrical cords inspected once a month to make sure that they are not cracked or damaged.
• Don’t run the wires through high traffic areas like carpets or doorways.
• The repairs and installation should be done by a licensed electrician.
• All the equipment should be certified.

Not Wearing Protective Gear

One of the major causes of workplace accidents is not wearing protective gears like gloves and helmets.

Also known as Personal Protective Equipment, protecting gear protects workers against several risks on the job. These hazard risks can be anything from falling debris, wet floors, electrical sparks, and poisonous gases. For example, wearing hard hats provide protection to the workers against head injuries or shocks caused by falling objects.

These protective gears generally include items like eye protection, high visibility clothing, safety footwear, helmets and respiratory protective equipment like a mask.

See Also: 5 Reasons Why Wearing Safety Boots at the Workplace is Crucial

Not Having the Safety Signs

Many employees don’t bother if they walk on a wet floor. Some don’t realize that the lift is out of order until it halts in the middle. Some may not be able to find the emergency exit door when a fire breaks out.

This is why safety signs are used to help workers identify the risks. They warn the employees about potential dangers. For example, the sign of a wet floor will warn them to avoid the pathway so that they don’t get injured.

Some of the common workplace safety signs are prohibition signs, mandatory signs, warning signs, fire safety signs, danger signs, general information signs, and emergency signs.

These are the workplace safety mistakes you can avoid to keep your employees and infrastructure safe and sound. What do you think? Please drop your opinions to the comment box given below!

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