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Achieving Successful Asset Management Growth

October 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Asset management growth is widely acknowledged as one of the primary goals of a business or company. When this is achieved, the industry has reached the point of successful asset management, and is at the point of general growth and improvement. Asset management growth also indicates that a business has chosen the proper approach, a system that works compatibly with those already existing within the company.

Asset management is even more important in this new millenium. Long past are the days of manual work; the effective administration of assets in today’s world includes multiple diverse and complex database systems and business that relies on accurate and timely information.

What is included in effective asset management?

Asset management should be one of the most critical strategies adopted by any industry. However, it is futile to speak of asset management merely as a tangible process. Business and industry today relies heavily on technological systems and data maintenance. Thus, in order to assure maximum effectiveness, both hardware and software assets must be managed well.

Essentially, asset management must make room for the effective organization of production, facilities, transportation, and even digital assets. Budgeting, procurement, maintenance, and depreciation calculation of a company’s fixed assets must be addressed with value maximized and projected cost minimization kept in the forefront. Solutions being offered across the board to various industries have organizational modules on managing assets, human resources, materials, and software.

Successful management systems offer tools for improvement on assets return and lowering costs of asset ownership. These systems also provide assistance in license compliance and promote enhanced security. Particularly important to companies with different branches in several locations, a good asset management solution must have provide tracking for both physical or intangible assets.

The growth goals of asset management

Successful asset management must be able to achieve several goals. Most importantly, it should assist industry managers to maximize the best use of assets. It should also pinpoint assets that require additional attention, and which assets are not producing. Simply put, asset management focuses on the ability to bring about greater value from the assets of the company. It also works to achieve more competitive performance and productivity.

Asset management tools should also provide effective curtailment of asset ownership and the calculation of asset-related risks. The tools should insure accurate inventory control and data storage. Wise decision making in asset management is essential, especially when considering the reality of consistently shifting technology and cutthroat competition.

Why asset management is essential for organizational growth

Effective asset management also requires successful utilization of both the physical and intangible assets of any organization. Such asset management caters to various disciplines, which include those as wide-ranging as administration and engineering, and from production to information management.

With such successful asset management, company growth is nearly guaranteed. Both labor and production become more efficient, downtime on equipment and facilities are minimized, and the total cost of fixed asset ownership is significantly reduced. A business is then able to pinpoint any areas that need improvement, seeking assistance from various management solution providers to utilize helpful management tools.

Asset management growth is not an easy goal to achieve, nor will it happen overnight. Asset management will continue to shift and evolve, and successful industry managers will understand this. It is only then that the most favorable results for the entire organization will be realized.

Filed Under: Asset Management, Business Tagged With: , ,

Saving Money on Your Next Camping Trip

October 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Are you planning a camping trip in the near future?  Whether it’s a family vacation, camping trip or just a romantic getaway, it’s likely that you have concerns about the costs. And though camping is usually assumed to be an affordable recreational activity, it is still possible for camping to get expensive.  So if you are planning a camping trip, but want to keep the costs to a minimum, you need to read these tips.

When it comes to saving money on your next camping trip, there are several approaches that you can take. One possibility is to consider how you plan to camp. For example, will you stay in a recreational vehicle or will you camp in a tent?  As comfortable as RV camping is, it can be quite expensive. Gasoline costs add up quickly for an RV, since it’s not as efficient as a car or even a pickup.  If you are considering the purchase of a recreational vehicle, it is important to know that tent camping is much cheaper than buying an RV or even renting one.

Another way to save money is to carefully buy the camping equipment.  If you have previously camped, you may already have most of the needed camping equipment, like tents, sleeping bags, and coolers.  If you do need to purchase equipment, search for discount camping stores or find a sale at a department store.  You may even be able to borrow some of the more expensive camping equipment items from a friend or a family member.

And don’t forget that standard equipment will likely be adequate. You’ll want to purchase a waterproof tent that is large enough to be comfortable, but the design shouldn’t have to matter.  If you are set on buying a fancy tent or sleeping bag, you might be able to save a large amount of money by going with standard items instead.  Buying used camping equipment will also be much more cheaper. Great finds can be had at yard sales or go online to find items at auction websites.

Consumable supplies that you will need for your next camping trip include food, snacks, and drinks. Given enough advance planning, you can watch grocery store sale flyers and begin stocking up on supplies that you will need. Most chips, cookies, crackers, frozen meats and drinks will stay good for at least several months.  So buy these items on sale and then store them away for your camping trip. This will ensure that you save a considerable amount of money on your vacation.

Another one of the many ways that you can save money on your next camping trip is by researching options to explore campground parks. In the United States, you can find an unlimited number of campground parks to choose from. Selecting a less expensive, more affordable campground park is a great way to save money on your next trip. Usually the more access to activities like boating, fishing, swimming and hiking that a campsite offers, the more costly it will be.

These are just a few ways to save money on your next vacation.

Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Outdoors, Sports Tagged With: , , ,

Teaching the Kids About Credit

October 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Often times, credit card trouble derives from nothing more than forgetting how credit card debt can sneak up on you.  The first time you maxed out a card and then dealt with the overwhelming task of paying off the charges in order to get back on solid financial footing, it was difficult and yet a valuable lesson.  Going through this experience, attending the school of hard knocks, teaches that it’s easier to prevent credit card debt than to recover, once you’ve gotten into trouble.

Of course, one of the most valuable results about acquiring such hard won knowledge is that you can pass it along to your children.  So just how do you help your kids establish a good foundation with their credit and help them learn how to use it responsibly?  Your children depend on you as their parent to teach them how to function as a responsible adult.

The first thing to remember is that effectively teaching your children to use credit effectively is not the same thing as preventing them from acquiring credit.  The reality is that the opposite is true.  Responsibly handling a credit card is just as essential a tool for modern living as owning a car or a cell phone.  In fact, sending a child out into the world without a working credit card and a respectable credit rating beginning to build; without training them to use credit is actually irresponsible parenting.  It is nearly the same as sending a child into battle without a weapon to defend himself.  Credit is essential but the wise use of credit is even more important.

A parent can help their child understand the basics of good credit by providing them with a credit card as early as high school.  Even if a parent pays the bills, this will educate them in using a card responsibly to pay for necessities, and a parent can track of the child’s spending from the monthly bills.  If the credit card is in the child’s name and gets paid off each month, the child will build up a good credit rating.  Consider it another one of the many legacies you are passing along to your kids.

In order to make sure that a child doesn’t spend irresponsibly, work with the credit card company — set a credit limit for the child’s spending each month. That way, if they overspend and suddenly cannot buy lunch because they abused their credit, several hours of going hungry will teach them much more than a week of lectures about fiscal responsibility.

It’s also important to make sure your child is aware that your paying their bills is a privilege and that they are fortunate to be able to start their independent life in this way.  Then give them three responsibilities they must complete to show they are worthy of this privilege.

Tell your child that he must save all receipts of every purchase made.  If they purchase an item and forget to ask for a receipt, tell them that they must make one.

Require them to maintain a ledger of spending.   Like a checkbook ledger, it should be filled in every time they buy something and a running total kept up-to-date.   If an expense is not entered, they will be required to pay that amount back to you or possibly lose their credit card privilege.

Sit down with your child once each week and go over the credit card bill. Have them explain item by item about each entry. Practicing these simple habits over several months will teach your child how to keep track of, monitor and be aware of their spending on a credit card.  In that way, when they are ready to start their adult life, they will not only have the credit necessary, but will also be able to wisely use that credit.

Filed Under: Finances, Parenting Tagged With: , ,