3 Ways To Earn More Interest On Your Savings

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Interest on Savings|3 Ways To Earn More Interest On Your SavingsWhen you have money in a savings account, you’re likely to get a small amount of interest on it. Unfortunately, the interest you accrue may not be enough to cover your expenses. Low interest rates mean that’s definitely the case.

The money you’ve saved may actually lose purchasing power over time if your income falls below the inflation rate. However, no matter what the state of the economy is, there are always opportunities to make extra money. For those who have some money saved up and wish to increase their yields without taking on too much risk, here are some options to explore.

Switch To A High-Interest Savings Account

Some banks provide special, high-interest savings accounts with rates that are much higher than ordinary accounts.

Online banks are a great place to search for high-interest savings accounts. Online banks, which benefit from cheaper expenses due to the disappearance of brick-and-mortar branches, seldom impose monthly fees and often provide rates that are much higher or higher than those offered by conventional banks. Another advantage of using online banking is that it puts your money out of sight and out of mind, making it simpler to resist the urge to spend it.

Invest In The Stock Market

The only people who should consider this particular idea are those who have a lot of experience with investing or are willing to work with a professional advisor such as Fair Forex to help them grow their money. With cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin rising and then crashing in a matter of hours, this year’s stock market has been a roller coaster. This is why it’s important to know what you’re doing before you invest anything at all. However, if you get it right and you’re patient (investing won’t make you rich overnight), then it could be an ideal way to earn more on your savings. Plus, many people who try it find it fun to get involved in.

Consider Buying Bonds

Instead of a standard savings account, you could put your money into bonds, which carry a degree of risk and limit the amount of money you can withdraw, but which can be a good option in the long term.

An investment in bonds is similar to borrowing money from the business or government that issues them. If you hold the bond to maturity, you will get a return on your initial investment plus any interest. If you want to invest in bonds issued by major corporations, you can do so by purchasing US Savings or Treasury bonds. Each has a varied interest rate and payback schedule, with more risky bonds offering higher rates. Yields are often higher on long-term bonds and corporate bonds with a greater chance of default.

Bonds can lose value as interest rates rise, so it’s important to keep this in mind. A bond’s price fluctuates in the opposite direction of its interest rate. This means you may end up selling your bond for less money than you purchased if you do so before the bond matures. If you’re looking to raise the interest on your investments while accepting a bit extra risk, bonds are an excellent option.

How To Make Moving Out Of Uni Accommodation Hassle-Free

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Uni Accommodation|How To Make Moving Out Of Uni Accommodation Hassle-FreeMoving all of your possessions from university housing to your house after the summer holidays is a hassle. And just imagine, you’ll have to do it all again in the following semester. How can you make packing luggage simpler if you’re going back and forth?

There are a lot of ways you can make the transition from university housing to your own house more manageable – you can find out more from moving experts. There have been hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of students in your position; don’t be concerned, you’ll make it!

1. Don’t overspend on furniture and equipment.

Avoid overspending on furniture and equipment if you’re living in university housing. Even if you’re on a tight budget, we’ve all been there. It’s great to live away from home, and buying your own bookcase and kitchen set is thrilling. But keep in mind that when it’s time to move back home, you’ll have to take the bookcase apart.

To prevent this problem, don’t buy any large furniture or equipment sets. You’ll struggle to cram it into your father’s automobile (or on a plane/train/coach) unless you have access to a moving truck. You are free to leave any furnishings you do not want; however, some university accommodation providers will charge you for leaving items. Don’t get the huge egg chair yet until you have a long-term living arrangement.

2. Before you move into your new house, buy and sell secondhand.

To avoid having to do it all last-minute, sell or give your unwanted items a couple of weeks before your move date. You’ll be able to buy second-hand things again once you’ve returned to university. You’ll have an easier time selling or giving it to charity after the year is up. It’s more difficult to get rid of furnishings you’ve purchased completely new.

Consider purchasing a secondhand bookcase or office chair if you need to replace one. There are always a lot of second-hand shops near university housing since many students prefer to buy used items.

3. Get rid of clutter.

It’s time to be hard on yourself. Consider what you truly value and want to keep as you organize your things. It’s fine to keep some mementos if that’s what you want to do. However, don’t take things home with you that you’ll just toss in your parents’ garbage when you return home.

4. Furnish and equip your home with housemates.

It helps if you and your housemates can share furniture and equipment when you move into university housing. Chipping in for a dining set allows you to share the plates and cutlery. Someone may take it home at the end of the year or it can be thrown away.

This helps you avoid having to buy everything you need before bringing it home; you can share your goods between yourself and your housemates. If you’re returning to the same housemates, you may return the shared equipment/furniture that you carried with you when you moved out.

How To Combine Your Belongings When You Move In Together

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Moving in together|How To Combine Your Belongings When You Move In TogetherMoving in together is a significant step for any couple. You’ll be able to learn a lot about each other, especially when you have to pack all of your belongings together.

Merging your possessions isn’t the most exciting aspect of moving in together, but it’s something every couple must do at some point if they want to grow their relationship.

If you’re considering moving in together, it’s vital to figure out how you’ll organize your stuff first. The last thing you’ll want is a quarrel over who gets more closet space. Whether you’re a newlywed, engaged recently, or simply really committed to each other, here’s how to effectively combine your belongings when you move in together.

Create an inventory.

When it comes to merging your things and taking up residence together, the first thing you should do is determine what you both own. We recommend doing a list of all of your possessions before moving in together to save time.

Creating a spreadsheet of your haves and have-nots will allow you to easily access all of your belongings in one location, from dish towels to living room decor. This can also be a fantastic approach to discover what you need to get rid of, such as coffee-makers or toilet paper holders, so you don’t end up throwing anything. To really go the extra mile and stay organized when combining all of your stuff together, categorize your items.

Create a keep, toss, or give pile.

After you’ve created your inventory, it’s time to play the oh-so fascinating keep, toss, or give the game. This step in combining your belongings is a significant one, but it isn’t the most pleasurable part of moving in together. Consider it an extension of spring cleaning. Consider what will stay, be discarded, or given away based on your findings. Remember that when it comes to getting rid of cherished things, emotions will run high, so make sure you speak with your loved one properly.

Once you’ve got a list of what’s staying, you’ll find it easier to hire a van service to transport your goods. You can find out more about moving companies here.

Determine when it’s time to upgrade.

When it comes to old furniture, the possibilities are endless. But, as with anything else in life, what’s important is that you pick the right pieces for your living room and home. It’s absolutely acceptable to replace a few pieces of furniture when you move in together rather than attempting to restore something that is on its last legs. However, purchasing a few more contemporary items, such as an updated TV stand or new kitchen bar stools, can significantly enhance your shared area’s sense of “yours” rather than “theirs.”

Make concessions if you must.

Finally, keep in mind that compromise is essential when combining your belongings. This new area is designed to be shared, thus you’ll want your belongings to feel and appear like yours. When it comes to combining your belongings and moving in together, be patient and attempt to see both your partner’s and your own points of view. Finally, at the end of the day, a silly quarrel about whose microwave or toaster is better isn’t worth it when you realize you’re getting to live with your closest companion.

Extending Your Office in 2022? Here’s What You Should Know

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Extending your office|Extending Your Office in 2022? Here's What You Should KnowThere will come a time during your professional career where your current office space simply doesn’t seem large enough. You may be thinking about extending the company and employing many more bodies and this can of course take a lot of time and resources to do.

Today we are going to take a look at some of the things you should think about when extending an office space from the bare bricks to the final touches, and even to the colours you put on the walls. There are always a lot of things to consider so it is well worth taking into account before you launch a big project.

Cash

Look at your business capital right now. How much profit are you making each month? How much of this money goes towards operations of the business? If you have a lot of expendable income for the project then go ahead and get started, but if not, it is important to consider whether it is worth spending.

Try not to overface yourself

Extending the office will be a big task to take on and it is incredibly important that you are able to put the time into the project when it begins. The worst thing you can do is choose to build a new part of the office during a busy period of sales because this will overwork everyone in the office.

Prepare a budget

The most important thing to do when you are thinking about extending the office is to make a strict budget and stick to it. This budget will tell you how many stories you can afford to build and what kind of facilities you will be able to place into the office this year. It is incredibly important to pay attention to every little detail when coming up with a budget and prepare for any issues which may arise during the project, including tools like Accupro to licenses.

Diversify

When you are looking to extend your business and your office space, this is the ideal time to think about diversifying the products or services you provide. If you are building an extra office space or a workshop to create products, you can consider new equipment and supplies to make unique products for your customers.

Don’t forget infrastructure

When expanding a business you need to think about more than just the bricks and mortar. The business itself will change as you grow and it is important for you to place some solid infrastructure in place so that things don’t become confusing when you do expand and branch out into new areas.

Delegate

The best resource you have as a business owner when it comes to a project like this is extra hands. There is no need for you to hire a whole new team of people to complete simple tasks when you can get your staff to work on the project with you during office hours.

Add light

There is nothing more depressing than a dark office space and as a business owner it is your responsibility to take a stand and make sure that your workers are happy. Add lots of natural light sources and this can brighten a mood in your new space.

Kitting Out Your Home Office: Desks

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Home office|Kitting Out Your Home Office: DesksA lot of jobs today require some form of administration. As a result, employees must work at a desk to complete their tasks, whether this is at home or in the office. However, sitting at a desk for long periods of time is not necessarily good for you. It can lead to muscle pain and joint stiffness. As a way to combat this, standing desks were invented. The question is, are they better, and how do you decide which one is right for you? Let’s explore your options.

Sitting Desks

Sitting desks need no explanation because they tend to be the standard, meaning that most people are familiar with them. Traditional desks may be more comfortable because they offer users the opportunity to recline and work from a sitting position. As mentioned, they are also the standard, which means that they don’t get used to most people working at desks from a young age. They also tend to be more accessible and inclusive because almost anyone can use a sitting desk regardless of their level of mobility.

They do come with their cons, though. Sitting down at a desk for long periods can be terrible for your posture and your spine health. Some people believe that sitting for too long breeds feelings of fatigue and lethargy. Being sedent for long periods can also have a profound effect on your health too. This may be remedied by doing a few exercises at your desk throughout your day.

Standing Desks

A standing desk is pretty straightforward for those who don’t know; it is a higher-up desk that allows you to work while standing up. Other desks take this idea further; you can also find treadmill desks that allow you to work out while getting your work done effectively. However, this won’t work for most people who need a steady hand and concentration when working.

There are some alleged benefits to standing desks. First and foremost, they are said to keep you fitter, because you burn more calories by working standing up than you would by sitting all day. Next, standing up for longer periods is also said to be better for your cardiovascular system because it encourages the blood to flow. A school of thought also maintains that working from a standing desk aids productivity because of increased blood flow to the vital organs. Finally, working at a standing desk is said to be better for your muscles and joints because they are less likely to get stiff than if you were sitting at a desk all day.

This isn’t to say that there aren’t also downsides to standing desks. Standing all day can be hard on the body. Standing allows more movement throughout the day, but standing still can be tough on the legs and feet. Limited movement in any position can lead to muscle pain or joint aches. It is also said that a standing desk is difficult to get used to. This is because sitting at a desk to work is the default position that most people are used to.

How Do I Choose?

In all honesty, the answer depends entirely on you and your preference. There are pros and cons to both. If you are struggling to choose between the two, there is actually a compromise. You could opt for an adjustable desk. These types of desks, like the standing desks available from Branch, allow you to use them as both a sitting and a standing desk, meaning that you get the best of both worlds. You can try out each method to find which one works for you.

Once you have a desk, you also need to think about what type of chair you will use. A lot of people go for fashion over function, choosing a chair that matches their décor. This is not the best practice. Most people will be sitting in their chairs for at least a few hours of their day. This is more than enough time to damage your spine, joints, and muscles if you have chosen the wrong chair. You need to consider your needs and look for an ergonomic chair that is designed to support the body. It can make a huge difference. If you want to get an adjustable desk, then you also need a chair that is easily relocated, or in other words, a wheelie chair. Keep this in mind when weighing up your options.

The Bottom Line

There are benefits to both standing and sitting desks, which is why an adjustable desk makes the most sense for those who want to explore their options. If your concern is your health, then there are also a number of things that you can do to improve your fitness while working. A lot of people think that working in an office job is synonymous with being lazy, but it doesn’t have to be.