November 3, 2018

Why Being Eco-friendly Should Extend Beyond The Home


Note: This post has been contributed.


With awareness increasing in recent years when it comes to the effects of things like climate change, and more implementation of environmentally-positive things like recycling and decreasing use of plastics, it’s fair to say that things are definitely moving in a positive direction regarding taking care of the environment, but there’s still a good way to go before any major impact will be noticed rom these changes.

The majority of those making or being required to make changes are private households, and although it’s great to see eco-friendly practices being embraced, if you’re a business owner, you can make a contribution, too.

Below we’ve listed some tips for you to help you make your business more eco-friendly.

Encourage Cycling To Work:

We all know that cars are bad for the environment, and although public transport is slightly better, it’s also not great. Although it’s not going to be practical for everyone to cycle to work, it doesn’t hurt to start some kind of initiative within your company to help encourage your staff to use a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation. You may even want to incentivize in some way, such as through bonuses or even vouchers towards bikes.

Use Reusable Containers:

Many workplaces offer some kind of facilities for staff to store food and make coffee, so instead of using disposable cups, food containers, and even cutlery, you can clamp down on the plastic use by either supplying reusable containers for all staff, or encouraging them to bring their own.

Change Your Lighting:

Some types of lights are definitely better for the environment because they use less energy whilst still offering an effective solution for businesses who need strong lighting. Whether it’s lighting to go in LED Signs for Churches, nightclubs, or simply just natural lighting for your office, it’s always a good idea to evaluate your energy usage and look at where changes can be made.

Use Laptops: 

Although computers of any kind aren’t exactly friends of the environment, laptops are certainly more energy efficient when compared to desktop computers since they don’t require to be constantly plugged into an energy source. 

Aside from the environment issue, laptops are also more practical since they’re portable, so when you buy laptops for your staff, you won’t have to get them a second computer if you need them to go on a business trip or to meetings. 

These tips are not only easy and effective, but they cost very little, and often far less than the less eco-friendly ways that people have become accustomed to.

In order to see any real, lasting changes when it comes to the environment, of course, starting at home is great, but it really has to go beyond that, and encouraging these good practices within the workplace will likely have a knock on effect that helps more people implement changes at home, work, and even school.

You certainly don’t have to do anything that’s not practical or sustainable for your business, but simply starting where you are with what you have is already enough to make a lasting difference for future generations.

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September 20, 2018

Healthier Ways To Manage Your Money

 
Note: This post has been contributed.
Managing your money is a 24/7 job. If you want to protect your finances then you need to keep on top of your income and outgoings, as we’ll discuss in this article. It’s very important to have a financial plan in place to ensure that you never have to worry about money. After all, money shouldn’t be the primary focus in life. Once you become a master of financial management, you can finally stop worrying about where your savings are going. Here are some healthier ways to manage your money.
Budgeting yourself.
One of the simplest and most effective ways to manage your money responsibly is to regularly track your income and expenditures. Your income is probably fixed (although it could vary if you take on board the advice in the next point), but your expenses might fluctuate from month to month. The best way to ensure you know where your money is going to start budgeting yourself. Start off with your basic costs because they’re probably relatively fixed (unless you do a lot more driving or use a lot more electricity on a particular month).
Once you’ve calculated how much money you need to set aside for the essentials, you’ll know how much remains for non-essentials. But you might want to start putting some of that excess income into your savings account so that you’re prepared for the future. It’s always smart to think ahead when it comes to managing your money. And, as for your basic expenses, you might be able to reduce those in smart ways, too. You could save money on energy by insulating your windows, and you could save money on gas by limiting your car usage as much as possible; walk or cycle to town instead. It’ll be good for your health.
Investing your money intelligently.
Rather than spending your money on things that add nothing to your life, you should aim to invest it in ways that could increase your overall wealth and provide a better financial future for you and your family. You might want to learn about spreadbetting if you’re looking for a good investment opportunity. Doing your research to learn about the workings of the market could really help you to make educated decisions as to how you should use your money. Investing can bring in new sources of income, increase your wealth, and help you improve your financial situation. As long as you don’t jump into opportunities without considering the latest market trends, you should be able to make sizeable returns on your investments.
Keeping on top of debt.
Not all debt is avoidable. Many people borrow money to put themselves through college or to afford the down deposit on their first houses. But the important thing is that you don’t take on too much debt. The best way to manage your money effectively is to pay off your debt in regular installments. As mentioned on this site in the past, debt should be avoided (wherever possible), but the crucial thing is that any debt you do accumulate is paid off on time. Don’t borrow money that you can’t afford to pay back. The rest of the financial advice in this article should help you if you’re struggling to cover your costs. In particular, the previous point should have given you some helpful pointers to boost your disposable income if your bank account is often quite empty after the bills have been paid.
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