It’s Time For Millennials To Get Their Finances In Shape

Most millennials are now in there 20s and 30s, beginning a career climb and also the time when you are making major financial decisions. These financial decisions can include home ownership, investment strategies, and family planning. Certainly, you want to try and avoid some of the financial hazards that have transpired in the lives of previous generations.

Financial literacy is seldom taught in school, so if you didn’t learn it at home growing up, your first time in the “real world” may get you into some financial distress. Read below to learn some of the top financial tips that will help millennials make smart financial decisions.

Take online money management courses

Because most millennials excel at technology, I would suggest signing up for courses in basic economics, accounting and budgeting. These types of courses can be very affordable and very well delivered by the online professor. I feel this is a very efficient way to update yourself on financial topics that may simplify and improve your financial life.

Build up your retirement savings

Did you know that Wells Fargo revealed that almost 50% of millennials weren’t planning for retirement? Make sure you participate in your employer’s 401(k) plan, even if you can only afford to contribute the minimum every month.

Make a list of your whole financial picture

I recommend you make a list of everything that is spent each month. After you have digested this information, ask yourself this question. How am I going to pay for all of this? There are also four essential things everyone should know about their finances: income, expenses, assets and liabilities. Having a firm comprehension of these items will help you make sense of your finances. There are many online tools that can help you connect all your accounts – Mint, Quicken just to name a few. I believe this is your first step in improving your finances.

Research passive income opportunities

Most of us work for money all our lives and never really put it to work for us. It is possible to use your job income for passive income from your investments. For example, the IRS says passive income can come from two sources: rental property or a business in which you do not actively participate. Make no mistake; passive income is not about getting something for nothing. It involves a lot of work and is definitely not a “get rich quick” scheme.

Start a savings account

Open up a share account at your credit union even if you can’t make regular deposits. You can use this account to put extra money aside for your short term and even long-term goals. This can also be used as your emergency fund. Shoot for 3-12 months of expenses, put aside for emergencies.

Pay yourself first

Once you have money in your hand from your paycheck, IRS refund, etc. always pay yourself first. Arrange for automatic transfers from your checking account directly to your share account every payday or on a monthly basis.

Do you know the impact of your credit score?

Everyone, but especially entrepreneurial millennials need to understand that their personal credit can be the defining factor in getting working capital in the future. Getting approved for a loan can be very challenging when your credit score is low. Learn how to read your credit report and check it frequently.

Reduce your debt faster

Pay off small debts first and gradually tackle the larger ones. This will allow you to see results and stay motivated.

Enlist the assistance of a trusted mentor

There is an overabundance of information online regarding financial literacy. However, picking the brain of someone you know and trust is better. Their insights are often tailor-made to your specific needs.

Remove extra costs

It is a proven fact that millennials have expensive habits ($5 lattes every day, eating out on a regular basis, designer fashions, etc.). Keep a close eye on your expenses and trim them where you can.

Raise your children to be financially savvy

At this point you may already have young children or planning to start a family. Teach them that saving money is essential. When they are old enough take them to your credit union and help them open up their own accounts. This will hopefully excite them to continue saving their own money.

I hope you use these financial tips to keep your finances on track while you are young. Remember, you have a very bright financial future ahead of you if you start now and stick with it!

Small Business Management Software: Advantages For Accounting Firms

Managing an accounting firm, whether big or small, can be challenging. And, doing it all alone, only adds more to the challenges. If you wish to turn your business into a soaring success, a slew of factors needs to come into play; at the right time, at the right place.

Small Business Management Software is one such factor that helps to take your business to another level.

Small business owners usually believe in taking things in their own hands. Naturally, it saves money. However, this practice may be doing more harm to their business than anything else. If your office desk is covered in piles of sheets, paperwork from days is lying unattended and your staying up late in office is not taking you anywhere, then it’s time to seek professional help.

What Can Small Business Management Software System Do For You?

1. Saves You More Time At Hand

Surveys reveal that entrepreneurs who do not use computerized accounting struggle with management of their accounts. Using a business management software system can take control of an array of routine tasks. Thus, saving a lot of time for the owner’s benefit.

2. Can Be Learnt Quickly

The software developers understand how occupied entrepreneurs and business owners can be. Hence the software is constructed in such a way as to ensure that the users can learn to use them with ease and in the least possible time. A team of experienced technicians is also available for 24*7 assistance.

3. Generates Invoice From The Same Application

Business management software will streamline the follow ups. With everything at one place, owners can manage sales in an effective manner. Price quotes and invoices can be generated easily with low possibility of errors.

4. Allows You To Follow a Time Table

A business requires an array of tasks to be managed at the same time. There may be meetings, deliveries, queries and client/customer visits all happening at the same time. With an inbuilt calendar in the business management application, reminders can be set and appointments can be met, without a miss.

5. Leaves You Less Paperwork To Deal With

Once again, the application allows the owners to store everything at one location. All work-related files, whether invoice, price quotes, orders, shipping documents and customer’s emails can be stored into the system. These files can be accessed anytime, anywhere, without unwanted delays.

6. Ensures Better Management Of Your Projects

A business owner has several projects at hand. There may be meetings to attend to, prospective clients waiting, a price list to create or an inventory to stock. The project management tools offered by the small business management software can offer a great deal of help in project management.

7. Employee Performance Can be Tracked Regularly

Business management software also allows you to track your employee performance with real-time data. Information including performance report of each individual employee, KPIs, project status, etc. can all be reviewed on a crisp dashboard within a few clicks.

8. Less Issues To Handle At The Year End

The best part about the business management software is that they need the users to update information every month. This ensures that there will not be piles of untended paperwork at the end of the year.

9. Scale As You Grow

The cloud-based accounting software is a rage among start-ups and growing businesses. When expanding the business in size or introducing it to other countries, a slew of data is required at one place. The cloud-based software can be accessed anytime and anywhere via the internet, making business management simpler.

10. Carry Your Books With You

With the software available in the form of applications, installable at both android and IOs, users can carry all of their files, sheets, and data in their pockets. Thus enjoying the ease of access and saving time at the same time.

11. Individually Calculate Tax On Each Invoice

Small business management software makes it easier to manage the invoices. The regular customer payment reports allow the owners to get a reliable picture of what the customers owe and what they need to pay. Thus, profits can be tracked efficiently.

And Finally

Discussed above are the proven advantages of using a Small Business Accounting Software. But the benefits do not end here. Each user comes with his own set of needs, thus the benefits cannot be limited only to a list.

Those who are still sticking to the outdated methods can make the switch to the accounting software now to experience the benefits mentioned above.

PAT Testing Procedure

Portable Appliance Testing (or PAT Testing) is a legally required method of testing portable appliances. There are many stages that go towards the testing process. It will end with either a pass or fail result.

Portable Appliance Testing needs to look at certain safety elements. Amongst the things that can cause the failure is damage to cables, plugs and wires, overheating and signs of water damage. There should be no bare wires and no sign of internal damage.

The testing needs to be done according to the IEE (Institute of Electrical Engineers) guidelines. Before testing takes place anyone who is not part of the testing team should leave the premises.

The most basic part of the testing process is the visual inspection. Over 90% of problems are said to be found during this part of the process. It consists of the tester looking at the appliance and seeing if there are any obvious issues.

Here the tester will be able to see any poor wiring, cracked casing, bent pins and other damage. These are the most basic areas where appliances fail the PAT test.

The location that a particular appliance is used needs to be inspected. There must be sufficient ventilation (depending one the needs of the equipment), the area cannot be unreasonably damp, and controls to the equipment must be easily accessible.

An Earth Bond Test needs to be carried out during the testing process. Electrical Test Equipment is necessary for this part of the procedure. This is a test between the earth bond and continuity between the plug pin and external components. The voltage and test current is assessed during this process.

Other parts of the test are the insulation test and operational test.

The insulation test is necessary to ensure the insulation resistance is safe. The operational test simply consists of the tester switching the equipment on and testing out certain regular functions that it should perform, and making sure its performance is as expected.

Once testing has been completed the result of the PAT test should be clearly stated. The most common method of this is simply placing a label on the equipment. The label will say whether the appliance has passed or failed, and should also include more specific details of its condition. It will give the date of the test and the date at which another test will be necessary.

Equipment that is faulty or damaged should be removed from service immediately. It can then be determined whether or not the seriousness of the damage is sufficient for the equipment to be out of use.

PAT testing records are required to be kept for the duration of the life of the appliance. This is a legal necessity as it shows that tests have been carried out and the results of them.