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Dana R

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"You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want."

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So, you’re off on a Caribbean cruise and you’re looking to make it the holiday of a lifetime by making the most of everything? You’re in the right place – we’re going to break down how you can make the most of your Caribbean cruise in this guide.

Whether you’re stopping off at desirable destinations like Barbados and Saint Lucia or exploring the true beauty of islands like Aruba, a Caribbean cruise is like no other holiday – it will be everything you’ve ever dreamed of. Read on for our top secrets for cruise trips on ships like Silversea cruises.

Plan land excursions in advance

Ports of call where you can depart the cruise and spend some time on land are included on every cruise itinerary. During each stopover, the cruise line will provide activities which can either be included or paid extra, both before and during the cruise.

While popular activities can sell out quickly, it is wise to look at and book some in advance of your voyage. This will give you more time to decide which tours you can do, perhaps saving you time and money in the long run.

Prepare for the Caribbean climate

The Caribbean has seasonal variations despite having a tropical climate all year round. Generally, the best time of year to take a trip to the Caribbean is from November to May, when it’s colder and drier and the temperatures are not too scorching hot.

Choose a cruise with plenty of pools and things to do on board

The main goal of a Caribbean cruise is to take advantage of the warm temperatures and tropical surroundings. Being on board is a huge part of your holiday, so choose a cruise ship with plenty of pools and facilities to help you make the most of your trip.

You should check out and use everything available on board to ensure you haven’t missed a thing, be it going down the slide or watching entertainment.

Photo Royal Caribbean

Book a private bathing area or balcony cabin

Cruises are impressive in size, but there’s not always enough space on deck for everyone to bathe in the Caribbean sunshine. So, consider booking a balcony cabin or private area where you can sit back and have some relaxing time under the sun.

Try some local food and drink when on land

Sure the cruise food might be up to your standard, but it’s going to be nothing like the exquisitely good cuisine that you’ll find on any of the many Caribbean islands. Caribbean food is a delectable, multidimensional mixture of the various cultures and traditions that have influenced the Caribbean. From ackee, yams and plantain to breadfruit and jerk chicken, your tastebuds will be tempted.

Take plenty of photos

A Caribbean cruise will no doubt be an experience you’ll never forget – so be sure to make the most of it by taking plenty of photos to remember your time. Obviously don’t let your phone or camera distract you from having fun in the sun, but be sure to capture some of the awe-inspiring things you’ll see.

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In November, UK GDP grew by 0.1%, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data relayed by CNBC. This revelation defied economists’ expectations – as indicated in a Reuters poll – that the British economy would actually contract by 0.2% in the penultimate month of 2022.

Nonetheless, this discrepancy “can hardly disguise the likelihood that whilst recessionary conditions may be shallow, an economic contraction is underway,” strategist Jeremy Batstone-Carr of the US banking institution Raymond James Financial explained to CNBC.

Indeed, economists have warned that the November growth figure might not necessarily be a sign of things to come, and that the long-expected UK recession might be delayed instead of averted. Naturally, this begs the question of when exactly the country should emerge from recession.

What have economic experts predicted about the UK economy?

One projection from the Bank of England has the UK experiencing a recession lasting at least four financial quarters – and Batstone-Carr has pointed out that “the effects of the Bank’s monetary tightening are still to feed through the economy fully.”

Furthermore, as the ONS has noted, UK GDP still ultimately fell by 0.3% across the three-month period running up to the end of November.

Batstone-Carr has continued: “Together with the corporation tax increase to 25% and the expiration of the tax reduction on new investments, the economy only stands to contract further.”

As for when exactly the recession will come to an end, a Reaction article written by Ian Stewart – Deloitte’s Chief Economist in the UK – forecasts that the UK will not recommence economic growth until 2023’s fourth quarter.

Deloitte expects UK GDP to drop by 1.4% overall in 2023. Stewart acknowledges that this would mark a “rather deeper downturn” than that predicted by economists on average, who anticipate the negative growth figure clocking in at 1.0% instead.

Graphics Tablet Phone Office Company Workplace

How can UK businesses help to protect themselves against headwinds in 2023?

Though the UK has hardly been alone among major economies in battling inflation and rising energy costs, more than half a million workers in the UK have opted for early retirement since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

This situation has hampered the country’s productive capacity, while Brexit has made trading with the EU more expensive for many British businesses.    

The onus is therefore on companies across the country to look for ways to budget more effectively – ideally, of course, without sacrificing the quality of the products or services provided.  

You could seriously consider renting what is known as a serviced office. The Startups. website explains that a serviced office “comes ready-furnished, with internet and phone lines pre-connected and devices already equipped.”  

Though you might be reticent about spending time looking for a new workplace, keep in mind that you can do so time-effectively with help from an office broker. One of these is Office Freedom, which can peruse the choice of serviced offices in Soho, for example, on your behalf.

Basing your business in a well-connected London area like this can also make it easier for you to source new supplies regularly.  

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When it comes to customer service, in our tech-savvy society, we can now expect new technologies to assist customer service teams in reducing their workload and improving overall efficiency. For example, chatbots are one way customer support teams are using tech to their advantage.

Another way is through an automated attendant who answers calls instead of a customer service representative answering it straight away. For busy customer service teams, an automated attendant can make a very big difference.

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using an automated attendant in comparison to a customer service rep answering the call?

Pros

With an automated attendant, also known as interactive voice response (IVR), businesses can reap a myriad of benefits of which include (but are not limited to):

  • No missed calls 

A big problem for the customer service department is that as soon as it starts getting busy, with calls coming through constantly, there is the possibility that calls may be missed. This may be especially true for smaller teams who do not have enough representatives to cover the amount of calls that they receive. IVR fixes this problem as it automatically answers each and every call that comes through 24/7.

  • Not just for customer service

Although customer service has been mentioned a lot in this blog regarding IVR, using an automated attendant is not only beneficial for the customer support department, but also for businesses in general. As such, businesses should leverage platforms such as Microsoft Teams. Whether that’s for B2B communication, B2C communication, or communication between employees, Microsoft Teams telephony is the new way of collaboration on Microsoft Teams.

  • Personalised

IVR allows for a personalised caller experience – it enables the caller to navigate through options via keypad selection, and depending on what they have pressed, their call is routed to a specific department or personnel for their query. For use in customer service, this can be extremely helpful as it directly routes customers’ calls to the appropriate advisor. This solves business inefficiencies and may improve customer satisfaction and experience.

Cons

Unfortunately, using automated attendants also comes with a few drawbacks that you should take into consideration. In particular, some disadvantages of IVR are:

  • Loss of human connection

Many people prefer talking to a live person instead of an answering machine. Using an automated attendant makes callers lose out on a human connection that simply cannot be replicated with IVR. With a live person, human feelings such as understanding and empathy can be fostered, whereas, this is not possible with an automated attendant. Customers want to feel heard and listened to.

  • Poor customer experience

One study conducted in 2019 found that 85% of customers abandoned at least one call because they reached an automated attendant. This shows that perhaps an IVR may actually contribute to poor customer experience. This could possibly be due to the fact that customers have to listen to a range of options before pressing the number that their query relates to. This can confuse customers and instead of having their questions answered instantly, they are waiting for the automated attendant to list out the available options again.

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Many people like the idea of becoming a sole trader, and it is easy to see why. As a sole trader, you are your own boss, and you can operate your business exactly how you wish. In addition to giving you control over your business, this can also help you to build a healthy work-life balance and choose your own schedule. Operating as a sole trader is also unique and different from running a regular business, which means that you need to know how to succeed with this business model. With this in mind, this article will offer advice for a sole trader that should prove to be useful.

Know How To Network

One of the most important skills that any sole trader can have is networking. To find continued success with your business, you need to build a large network and maintain this network over time. Meeting people face-to-face is the best way to make a positive and lasting impression, and then using social media to maintain these relationships over time is effective. Having a large network can help you to discover new customers/clients, improve your brand reputation, and allow you to find new opportunities.

Outsource

There are many benefits to running your own business, but one of the challenges is that it is up to you to keep on top of all business tasks. For many, this can take away from the service and key competencies that you provide. If you are a builder, for example, then you do not want to be using your time messing around with bookkeeping and marketing! This is why it is a good idea to outsource these areas so that you can focus on other areas while getting these tasks completed by a specialist. A few areas to outsource include:

  • Accounting
  • Digital marketing
  • IT and cybersecurity
  • Admin

Make Sure You Have Insurance

You might wonder do sole traders need insurance. Absolutely, especially as you are liablefor any losses or debts incurred. Without proper coverage in place, you would be responsible to cover any damages, and this could ruin both your business and life. With insurance in place, you can protect your income, property, and personal assets and enjoy peace of mind. The kind of insurance that you need for your business will depend on the type of operation, but a few of the most common types include:

  • Income protection
  • Professional indemnity
  • Public liability
  • Tool and equipment

You will want to establish what your risks are and shop around to find the best deals for insurance.

Have An Emergency Fund

Leading on from this, it is also a good idea to have an emergency fund both for the business and for your personal finances (always keep your finances separate). The money that the business brings in can fluctuate over the course of a year, so you need to be able to manage any quiet periods. It is generally recommended to have at least three months’ worth of expenses in an emergency fund, which will help you to stay afloat if you have any issues.

There are many benefits to being a sole trader, but it also has unique challenges, and you need to know how to prepare for these.

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When you were younger, it is highly likely that your family, your friends, and those adults around you, both at school and at home, fell into one of two clearly defined categories.

Either the belief and general rule was that, after finishing high school, university and college was the next logical step for anyone who wanted to pursue a career full of success and longevity, or else getting a job in the ‘real world’ was instead the way forward.

It is in no way accurate to say that if you are someone who is passionate about and even more dedicated to building a successful and profitable life based on working hard in your chosen profession, a university degree is always going to be of benefit. There are, however, a myriad of other reasons to consider before enrolling in either an online or in-person degree program. So, with this in mind, continue reading to discover the main advantages of a university degree.

Improve Your Current Career Prospects

You may well be in high school and are now choosing your degree options for the near future, but it is equally likely that you are someone who has been involved in a particular industry for some years and is now looking to climb further up that proverbial ladder.

If so, then returning to university as a mature student will expand not only your mind but also your prospects for career progression within your current role or else within a different industry entirely. Furthermore, by choosing to enrollwith a prestigious and established online university, such as https://online.pointpark.edu/, you will be able to easily balance your current professional responsibilities with your studies.

Get Your Voice Heard!

Perhaps a surprising point to carry on from the one above, but one of the most rewarding reasons why, if you are considering attending university either this September or in the future, is that you will be in a much more secure and pivotal position to speak out on the issues that matter most.

Not only does this have advantages in terms of your overall confidence levels and feelings of self-worth, but, for example, if you have always been dedicated to animal welfare, studying for a degree in the subject will mean your passion is now backed with knowledge and experience to affect a positive change.

Enrich Your Brain

One of the best ways to stay connected to the world around you, not to mention the people close to you now and in the future, is to never stop learning, and it does not take a genius to work out that the best way to do this is to immerse yourself in a college program.

Learning new things, especially in the areas of life thatyou are most naturally interested in, will not only prepare you to launch yourself into an entirely new career direction but a greater depth of knowledge will also afford you the following:

  • A sense of pride and accomplishment every single day
  • A boost in your emotional health and well-being levels
  • Time to yourself to work on your own interests
  • A way to have fun learning about things you love
  • A way to set an example to your children, friends, and other family members

Increased Level of Professional Marketability

Across the United States, there are four areas within the main titans of industry that are reporting the fastest growth in terms of job availability: STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), education, healthcare, and government services.

If your career aspirations are indeed based within any of these exciting and challenging industries, then a university degree, whether that be at undergraduate level or a postgraduate program, will give you an important competitive advantage.

This increased level of professional marketability may well make the significant difference between being passed over for a coveted role and being successfully hired.

Impressive Salary Opportunities

Inarguably, the successful acquisition of a university or college degree will greatly increase your chances of earning a higher annual salary, even in those more practical trade-based career pathways.

From a recent US government study, this has been further proven, with those professionals who have a bachelor’s undergraduate degree earning, as an approximateaverage, between $55,000 and $63,000. For those people involved in the research study whose education stopped after obtaining a high school diploma, the average annual salary ranged between $34,000 and $37,500.

Naturally, even though it is not automatically assumed that when a new hirewith a degree certificate starts at a company, they will be earning more, the individual is much better placed to apply for promotions, which come with substantially higher annual salaries.

Higher Self-Esteem & Confidence Boosts

Even though, as previously noted earlier on in this article, holding a university degree will open a plethora of professional doors and present you with unique opportunities that are unavailable to others, obtaining a university or college degree means so much more than this, with the experience of studying and learning on the program itself affording the individual unique experiences that they will find highly rewarding.

Both during your academic training and practical placements and work experiences, and indeed after you have completed your degree, you will feel incredibly empowered, and your levels of self-esteem and self-worth will experience a huge boost.

Furthermore, when it comes to your levels and quality of mental health and emotional well-being, there can be no better method of improvement than to enrollin a university degree program. A sense of meaning and the motivation to work towards an endgoal is both consciously and subconsciously empowering, and feeding your brain with new information is a proven way to energize your mind.

Overall, even though some people may feel as if continuing education to a bachelor’s, master’s, or even a Ph.D. level is simply not for them, it is irrefutable that further learning can empower the mind, enhance life experiences, and openup the available career pathways for a better future.

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Although online degrees have not been around even a fraction of the time that traditional degrees have, they are already proving to be extremely popular. Many people are forging the standard school on a campus with lots of people and preferring to work online to gain their degrees and move forward in life.

Perhaps you’re curious about whether an online degree would benefit you or not. Maybe you’re not sure why it would be a better choice than going to a school and studying in the usual way. If that’s the case, read on for some of the reasons why taking an online degree is a good idea, and you might see why it’s the ideal option for you.

Lots Of Flexibility

One of the biggest reasons to consider an online degree is the amount of flexibility you’ll have with it. Look at the many programs available from Touro University Worldwide at https://www.tuw.edu/ and you’ll see that you don’t have to be physically present in a classroom for any of them. Not only that, but you don’t have to follow a timetable – rather than having classes at a set time, you can make your own schedule to fall in line with whatever it is you’re doing.

As long as you complete your modules by the deadlines, you can do the work whenever you want to. This gives you a lot of freedom and opens up many new possibilities that you would never have had if you had to stick to a schedule.

You Can Keep Working

One of the issues that a lot of college students have is money. They need to work in order to pay for college, but the timetable they have and the work they need to do means they can’t do it. As we mentioned above, the fact that the programs are flexible means that you can work at the same time. In this way, you don’t have to miss out because you can take on a part-time job and study without any issues. You can even take extra shifts or do overtime without it affecting your degree work (as long as you don’t overwork, of course).

On top of that, this means that even those in full-time work who might be thinking about changing their careers or who simply want to hone their skills by obtaining a degree can do so. It will mean working in the early mornings or evening, or perhaps on your lunchbreak, for example, but it can be done thanks to working on an online degree.

There Are No Geographical Boundaries

In the past, when there was only one route to getting a degree, there would have been a choice to make. You would either have moved away from home to go to the school with the program you wanted to study, or you would have stayed home and gone to a local school, but perhaps not studied the right program for you. This would have been dependent on money to some extent, but also your other responsibilities in life. Not everyone is able to move away from home.

With an online school, you don’t have to make this choice. You can find the right program and apply no matter where you live, and when you get your place on the program, you can work from home.

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When you are a nurse, you may well be looking at the best ways that you are going to be able to climb up the ladder and reach even higher. There are plenty of different options that you have in front of you to successfully advance your career and take it up to a level that you are looking to achieve. So, let’s look closer at your nursing career and what you can do to advance it successfully.

Look at Different Training Program Options

The most obvious and structured way that you have available in terms of advancing your nursing career is certainly going to be to look at the different training program options that are available to you such as rn to bsn. These give you a clear path to advancement, but you are going to need a clear sense of how these can help you to reach a certain level. You also need to come up with a study schedule that will allow you to balance working and studying successfully. This is something that you should consider throughout your career, so you are always in a good position to obtain a promotion.

Consider Specializing

While there are many nurses out there that keep to general practice and do not go down the path of specialization, there is no doubt that it can have a big impact on how well you are progressing. Certain specialisms are in a high level of demand and it could easily end up being these that put you on the path to success. Of course, you also need to think about what you are going to be most interested in practicing regularly.

Find a Mentor

This is a piece of advice that can end up having a big impact on all sorts of different career paths, but no doubt finding a mentor can help you in so many ways. To begin with, it can mean that you have someone to provide some useful guidance during the times that you are going to need it the most. At the same time, you can also look to emulate the path that they have taken that has led to their eventual success.

Join a Professional Organization

Joining a professional organization can end up making a big impact by allowing you to network with a whole range of other pros who find themselves in the same situation as you. There may also be new opportunities that are opened up that you never knew could be available before. Networking comes easily to some people more than others, but it can be such an advantageous route to go down that you should certainly embrace every opportunity that becomes available to you.

All of these are amongst the different paths and routes that you have available to you that have a big impact on your advancement in the field of nursing. So, look to incorporate a variety of them into what you are doing to see where it could take you.

Alfred Laurețiu Mihai, a Senator for the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Ilfov precinct, will be present in Chicago, IL, between the 14th and 15th of November.

During his visit, the Social Democrat will entertain multiple meetings alongside member of the General Assembly in Illinois, the Association representing the legislative body of the American state.

In addition to that, the Romanian politician will engage in communication with several US politicians, will participate in interviews and will engage in debates on topics of major interest, amongst which the military conflict carried out by Vladimir Putin’s army in Ukraine.

Alfred Laurențiu Mihai will be joinning not just the US politicians, but also the close to 150.000 Romanian nationals that constitute the Romanian community in Chicago.

The Romanian politician informed that this visit will concentrate, amongst others, on the security of the Eastern Flank, as well as the protection that NATO offers Romania as the war in Ukrain continues to unravel.

„My visit to the US marks a key moment, that is the moment in which we work towards being more unitated and towards strengthening the Eastern Flank. I’m here to encourage communication between Romanian and US men of state, so that, together, we find o solution for surpassing the crisis that bestowed upon Ukraine and their nation. As NATO stands for protection, so does the solidarity between Romania and the US stands as a guarantee not just for Ukraine’s protection and safe keeping, but the protection and safekeeping of the entire European continent. The time has come to work together to defend our democratic values, to protect what is, for each and every one of us, of the utmost essence: freedom. We fight to protect the freedom of living and o living in peace. Now more than ever, we acknowledge the importance of unity, regardless of one’s nation, against the horrors of a futile and unjust war, that does nothing but deem the lives, the culture and the future of Ukraine. We stand by Ukraine and we condemnt the needless violence that Russia displayed, since day one, as well as the unfair and unjustified attempt to attack the suveranity of an independent state”, stated the Social Democrat Senator.

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One of the most exciting and not to mention brave things you can possibly do as an adult who has been ensconced in the world of work for many years or else has spent the last decade raising a family is to re-enter the academic educational structure.

So, whether you have already enrolled for the next stage of your degree or you are currently weighing up the proverbial ‘pros and cons’, this guide is certainly aimed at you. With that being said, continue reading for a comprehensive guide for mature students.

1. Online Programs Are Fantastic!

If you choose to study for your bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or even an online education doctoral program, you will be afforded a myriad of exclusive benefits, most of which will be even more helpful if you have been out of education for a long time.

As an older student, you are naturally far more likely to have extra roles and responsibilities that will make traveling to and from the university campus each and every day decidedly tricky; choosing to embark on an online degree will obviously entirely eradicate this issue.

2. Actively Bond with Your Peers

It is often said that it is much easier for young people to make new bonds, connections, and friendships than older people. However, even if you are a mature student, it is important to remember that there will be many other students in exactly the same position as you.

Furthermore, in most renowned universities, there will be a dedicated mature students society, so if you do feel as if you are struggling to bond with your direct classmates, it is a fantastic idea to join such a society as well.

3. You Can Have It All!

Not only are degree programs, which are studied for and followed online as opposed to in a physical institution, substantially more flexible when it comes to when and where you study, but there are also numerous opportunities to plan a personal schedule for homework and coursework.

It is also fully acceptable to undertake your online degree program on a part-time rather than a full-time basis, and usually, online degree courses consist of between twelve and sixteen hours a week in ‘class’ for full-timers.

You are fully allowed and fully able to be able to juggle your professional role, your personal responsibilities, and your new studies (just as long as you stock up on coffee!).

4. Talk to Your Tutor

Obviously, you probably were not planning on completely ignoring your personal tutor for an entire year or more, but you must always remember that your tutor is there not just to discuss matters directly relating to your studies but also to act as an impartial support for you during your time at the university.

In personal meetings and one-to-ones, never be afraid to voice any concerns or worries you may have, either regarding the workload and nature of the research or instead concerning your work placement.

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Since its launch back in 2015, Ethereum has become the world’s second most popular cryptocurrency – which is no small feat.

Right now, it’s just behind Bitcoin in terms of value, but this could soon change in the future. Crypto analysts and traders are keeping a close eye on the situation, with many of them predicting that Ethereum could overtake Bitcoin as the highest-value crypto.

Plus, with Ethereum 2.0 (an update to the Ethereum blockchain) coming soon, this seems more likely than ever.

With this inmind, it’s to be expected that millions of people are interested in Ethereum. Specifically, they want to invest. If you’re one of these people, you’ve come to the right place.

Below are some steps you should follow to get started with Ethereum.

Step 1: Select a Cryptocurrency Exchange

Before anything else, you need to select a cryptocurrency exchange, as this is how most cryptocurrencies are purchased in 2022. Remember, you can’t purchase cryptocurrency through banks because crypto doesn’t have a central regulator, which is something that banks don’t like.

There are plenty of crypto exchanges that you can choose from across the internet, like Coinbase and Bitstamp. The one you go with is entirely up to you – however, you should only choose one of the trusted and reliable platforms.

After joining a crypto exchange, you can then purchase Ethereum as well as various other types of cryptocurrencies. Before doing this, though, you should know the Ethereum current price at okx.com. The value of a cryptocurrency is determined by market interest. So, if Ethereum was to ever suddenly go up in value, then that’s a strong indicator that it’s a good time to invest.

Select 2: Make the Trade

Once your account is verified and ready, you can then start to trade your dollars (or other currency) for Ethereum. Ethereum’s digital currency is known as Ether (ETC), so the amount you purchase will be shown as the percentage of an Ether coin.

For example, today, the cost of a single Ethereum coin in US dollars is $1,641.25. Tomorrow, this could go upwards or downwards – it’s entirely dependent on market activity.

Let’s say that your first move as a new account holder on a crypto exchange is to trade $100 for Ethereum. Today, this would return you 0.063495 Ethereum.

Step 3: Decide on Your Storage Method

When it comes to storing Ethereum (or any type of crypto), you have several options.

If you want to, you can store it directly through the exchange that you purchased it from.

Or, if you want an extra layer of security, you can transfer your crypto to a hot wallet or cold wallet, which is your personal wallet.

Cold wallets are generally seen as the safest option because they are offline wallets. This means that they aren’t connected to the internet, making it impossible for cybercriminals to hack and steal from them.

After storing your ETH, you can then use it for whatever purpose you like, such as buying goods and services online. Or, you can adopt the classic trading tactic of ‘buying low and selling high’, which is when you sell your ETH during market value increase periods.

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It’s scary to consider the extent to which our day-to-day work schedules rely on a reliable supply of electricity. Without it, your business could be thrown into disarray, with its employees potentially having to resort to awkward workarounds, like attempting to get work done on their smartphones.

To help prevent this kind of thing from happening, your business should invest in a power protection device known as an uninterrupted power supply (UPS). Here are some of the most compelling purposes a UPS can fulfill once put in place.

Preventing damage to electrical appliances

Contrary to popular belief, electricity is not delivered to workplaces in an entirely steady fashion. Though Mighty Gadget cites the “ideal voltage supply” as 120 volts, in some geographic areas, the voltage can fluctuate between 100 volts and 160 volts.

Unfortunately, surges or drops in voltage can inflict damage to electrical devices in your workplace – but a UPS can moderate the flow to help protect this hardware from damage potentially necessitating hundreds of pounds’ worth of repairs.

Temporarily replacing the main power supply if it is interrupted

Of course, if a power cut besets your business base, it hopefully won’t be left in the dark (literally and metaphorically) for too long. However, this loss of electricity could still last long enough to risk you losing valuable data you were in the middle of working on.

It’s reassuring, then, that one of the main aims of a UPS is to provide short-term power so that employees can save their progress and shut down their office computers.

Countering risks of natural and non-natural disasters

When a power cut does strike, chances are that somebody somewhere is uttering one word: “Oops.” That’s because construction workers as well as tradespeople working on utilities can inadvertently disrupt power supplies, as can tree surgeons who fell trees.

Often, though, natural disasters – like lightning, floods and strong winds – can actually be to blame. Whatever the culprit when a power cut arises, you can expect a UPS to quickly kick into gear as a direct consequence.

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Saving time for your workers

Obviously, it would be tragic if, as a result of your workplace’s electricity supply suffering, members of your team lose a lot of work that had taken up a significant amount of their time.

However, a UPS can act as an extra line of defense against the potential loss of this work. A LinkedIn article explains that, “within a few minutes” of the power cut, a UPS can restore power long enough for the in-progress work to be completed there and then.

Providing power of a consistent quality

As a UPS can deliver strong power both consistently and continuously, workers don’t have to fret so much about, say, their laptop displays flickering or the sound from their electrical devices being interrupted.

It can be an especially good idea to implement a UPS power supply for a server room or data center, since these are settings where a reduction in power quality can be felt relatively easily.

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For sweltering summers, linen is the perfect hot-weather fabric. For centuries, men throughout time have worn linen material to keep cool and stay cool, no matter the temperature. You might be wondering, how can linen regulate heat so well? It’s all down to the plant its made from! Linen is a natural fibre derived from the stalk of a flax plant. Flax plants make textiles with brilliant moisture absorbency and breathability, having a lower thread count than cotton. Coming from this abundant organic material, linen garments are made to be worn in the natural world – sun and all.

With this in mind, for the modern man, linen should already be a staple of your everyday wardrobe! If you want to know more about linen and, most importantly, how to wear it fashionably, do read on.

The best qualities of linen

We have previously mentioned that linen has impressive moisture absorbency and breathability, but these qualities are only the tip of the linen iceberg! Linen is also hypoallergenic, meaning sweat won’t break it down over time. The lower elasticity of linen makes wicking away moisture easy but also increases the strength and longevity of the material. Really, the best thing about linen is that – the more you wear it – the more comfortable it gets! Calling back to the brilliance of the flax plant, flax fibres are extremely resistant to the usual wear and tear of clothing; even pretty rough abrasion and folding can be tolerated.

How to wear linen

Suits

Every man should own a good suit or two – one for hot weather and one for cold, at least. Linen suits are the only option for a warm summer. Tan linen suits are an option we would particularly recommend, as their neutral tone can complement a range of environments; belonging as much to a casual dinner party as a corporate office or wedding venue.

If you’re unsure about where to buy your linen suit from, we advise you take a look at T.M Lewin; certified suit specialists whose linen suits combine the best of comfort and style to create a true wardrobe fixture.

Shirts

If a linen suit would be out of place in your current wardrobe, consider investing in a simple linen shirt. Linen shirts are attractive and easily tailored to fit your unique form. We suggest layering a linen shirt over a T-Shirt and shorts to elevate what would otherwise be an excessively casual look!

Trousers

Picking trousers that can keep you comfortable in boiling temperatures is no easy feat. Trousers are either too tight, too warm or too scruffy looking for the summer! Fortunately, linen trousers are here to save the day. Even in dark shades of brown, navy and black – a colour palette that tends to absorb warmth rather than reflect it – linen is a material that won’t overheat. Linen trousers, thanks to their stellar moisture absorbency, also won’t loose their crisp shape over time.

You don’t have to worry about wearing your trousers down, and you don’t have to worry about finding smart clothes to match! Linen trousers can be worn casually or smartly; attractive regardless of whether you wear a sweatshirt or button-down.

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Although you know your HR department as the people who hired you and the people who you tend to want to avoid, they can actually be a really useful asset to employees who are seeking career development. So, without further ado, here are 6 ways that HR departments can help employees thrive.

  1. Career planning

HR are focused on helping the business to succeed, but they’re also aware that businesses won’t succeed without employees who are good at their jobs and want to move forward.

Your HR manager is a good person to go to if you want some help on next steps to achieve your goals or if you want some advice on identifying your strengths and weaknesses, for example.

career
  • Offering continuing education and training

Many companies offer tuition reimbursement, especially if the degree or certification is something that can directly help the company. It’s worth asking HR because most of the time there’s a good chance your employer will make some money available for you.

Even if you’re not seeking a degree, there will be many online classes or courses you could attend.

  • Medical assistance

It’s a good idea to seek legal protection if you or a loved one is suffering with health problems. Rather than missing work and risking getting in trouble for violating attendance policies, HR can provide you with paperwork to protect you. Most companies also have some kind of employee life insurance  they can add you to.

  • Whistleblowing

All workplaces will have a dedicated person whom you can talk to but remember that HR is always there to help too. No matter what violations you’re reporting, the HR department will be able to set up an investigation and get to the bottom of the issue.

  • Recruitment and induction processes

In order to be successful in a role in the first place, HR will ensure the role is right for you and you’re right for the role. Once the recruitment process is over, they’ll then begin the induction process which will ensure you hit the ground running on your first day.

Having a proper recruitment and induction process at the start of an employee’s journey is vital to ensuring the successful running of any company and ensuring that all employees thrive within their workplace.

  • Coaching line managers

HR departments coach their line managers to lead their teams (you) effectively! Without this process, managers won’t have the ability to provide clear direction and expectations, have good communication skills or have the confidence to build trust and recognise performance – all of which will have a direct impact on the success of the employees under that manager.

How can HR departments help employees thrive? Final thoughts

To summarise, HR departments have a huge amount of influence and impact through people-oriented strategies that focus on engagement and leadership, which will ultimately drive employee and business success. HR departments have their own practices in place to ensure every employee is performing as they should, but it’s equally important for employees to know that they can speak to HR at any time about any issue they’re having.

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Advertising is a powerful tool for businesses. It helps them reach potential customers and increase sales, promote their brand and gain attention for all the right reasons. Tagline marketing can be a particularly effective advertising technique – but just what do we mean by this, and why does it work so well? Let’s take a closer look.

What Is Tagline Advertising?

Tagline advertising refers to the use of short phrases or slogans that are often used as part of an ad’s copy or headline. They’re typically used in ads that have a strong visual element such as TV commercials, radio spots, print advertisements, and billboards. The most famous tagines are those that you instantly connect with a brand or product – we all know where “The happiest place on Earth” is, or which brand is advertising when they say “Just Do It”. The goal for businesses is to create an instantly recognizable phrase or slogan, which allows them to communicate effectively with customers.

Why Does Tagline Advertising Work So Well?

The reason why tagline advertising works so well is because people respond to things that they recognize. A tagline is something that everyone understands immediately, and therefore has a much higher chance of connecting with your target audience. This makes it a very effective way of communicating with consumers, especially if you want to get across a specific message quickly.

Some of the main reasons that tagline advertising works so well include:

  1. You can make a connection with your audience almost instantly.

With a short, sharp tagline, you are creating an instant connection with your audience, making it easier for them to remember the message you’re trying to convey.

  • You can stand out from other competitors.

By using a memorable tagline, you’ll be able to attract more attention than your competition. If you’re looking to sell products online in a crowded or saturated market, then having a catchy tagline could be crucial to getting noticed.

Free photos of Board
  • You can easily incorporate your tagline into any communication medium

If you’re planning on running your own campaign, then you can easily add your tagline to any promotional material that you send out. For example, if you’re promoting a new website design, then you can simply add your tagline to the top of your homepage, or use it as a hashtag on social media.

  • You don’t need to spend too much money on advertising

One of the biggest advantages of taglines is that they cost less than many other forms of advertising. With a simple tagline, you won’t need to invest a huge amount of money to get your message across.

  • You can create a unique experience for your customer.

A great tagline can also help you create a unique experience for the consumer. By adding a tagline to your site, you can encourage users to take action, and give them a sense of urgency.

Why Wait?

Adding a tagline to your advertising campaign can be a great way to get your message out there, connect with customers, and boost your profits. With all these benefits in mind, now is the time to get creative!

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The world of finance is difficult to get into and manoeuvre around to your advantage. No matter what business you operate, there are going to be times when you make more money than you expected. However, what about the times when you get a false positive? Your first instinct may be that there is some fraudulent activity going on that you feel unsure about. So, what is a false positive and how will it affect the overall journey for your customers? That’s what we are going to find out below.

What is a false positive in finance?

When a false positive appears, it’s since the business suspects an order is not quite what it seems. In fact, it’s very likely that an act of fraud has occurred. Therefore, it makes sense that the order has been declined. The business does not want to become the victim of fraud. Ultimately, it can be a risk to decline any type of order. After all, it’s extremely hard to know whether it is legitimate. If it is legitimate, then you will simply be declining an order which can reduce sales. Ultimately, this could mean that you are not only losing revenue, but customers in the future.

How does a false positive affect a customer’s journey?

It’s normal that your customer will go through a 5-step journey before they interact with your business. This will include creating an account or logging into an account. They will also show that they have the intention to buy from you by placing an order into their cart. However, if their card transaction fails, it’s likely that they will not be interested in making an order in the future. Therefore, you have potentially lost a customer, as well as any revenue that they planned on spending. Not only does this mean that there are wasted acquisition costs, but it will ultimately damage your brand as a whole.

Image source Max Pixel

What can you do to reduce false positives?

Unfortunately, false positives are a part of business that you will need to try and take care of as well as you can. To understand which sales are genuine and which are false, you will have to keep an eye on your customers to understand their spending habits. Most businesses rely on customers to contact them about false positives, but you may also see genuine buyers try to purchase your products for a second time.

You can help reduce false positives by:

  • Becoming more aware that not all false positives are examples of fraud
  • Using AI, Machine learning and automated payment software, like Xelix
  • Establishing the identity of your customers to prevent fraud

Do you know what to do about false positives?

If you have opened a business, it’s crucial that you understand as much as you can about false positives. They can impact your sales and cause you to struggle with retaining your loyal customers. Thus, with the information in this guide, you will be able to future proof your business and mitigate this risk. The more you understand about your false positives, the more you can increase the amount of business you receive.  

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Right now, it’s clear to see that there is a nursing shortage in many areas of the world, including the US. Therefore, there is an effort being made to attract more people to the profession; there is a need for more nurses because the population is getting older, and it’s growing at the same time, meaning that healthcare has to be a priority. The more nurses there are, the better the world can take care of those who need help.

The issue with recruiting people to become nurses is that there are often negative things said about the profession that can cause those who might be interested to think again, and potentially ensure that some people never even consider nursing in the first place. This is a shame, as there are many benefits to being a nurse, and if more people were aware of them, then more people would train to become nurses, and the problem of numbers would be at least some way to being solved. With this in mind, read on to discover what some of the best things about being a nurse are, and it might make you realize that this really is the career for you. If you’re already a nurse, it might make you realize you’ve made the right choice, and push you to do more.

High Job Security

With technology making the world a completely different place to what it was just a few years ago, and this certainly being accurate when you think of career possibilities, it’s not easy to choose a job that will still be valuable and needed in years to come. Something that you can train for today could disappear due to advancements in technology or simply the lack of resources or consumer need. This would be an unfortunate position to be in, and it would mean that you have to effectively start again, and use your skills in a different area.

Nursing isn’t a profession in which you have to worry about that. Although technology does play a part, and although the role of the nurse will change as time goes on, nurses will always be needed and therefore, when you have nursing qualifications, you’ll have the peace of mind that you’ve chosen a secure job.

The Most Rewarding Career

There is a big difference between a career and a rewarding career. In the former, you go to work, do what you need to do, perhaps push yourself further, but really, when you think about it, what you’re doing isn’t that important. If you didn’t do it, it wouldn’t matter. In the latter, what you do definitely matters and you can see that every day. Clearly, nursing is a rewarding career.

If you decide to study to become a nurse, you’ll enter one of the most rewarding careers you can find. There are very few professions in which you actively change people’s lives, and even save those lives, on a daily basis.

career

Career Advancement

Another great thing about being a nurse is that you have complete control over your career, and if you want to move forward and advance, there are always going to be avenues for you to take that will allow that to happen. Some nurses will want to work in a specific department, and they will gain skills and experience in that so they can take a job when it is offered. Others will want to become a leader and manage a team, in which case they will need a University of Indianapolis DNP degree to help them. In other words, no matter what kind of nurse you want to be or what level of nursing you want to reach, there will be options open to you.

If you’re not sure what you want to do, you can also find plenty of help to advise you and guide you to making the right choice. Nursing is very much based on teamwork, and this extends away from helping patients and into other areas, including career progression.

Transferable Life Skills

When you think of why nursing is a good career and some of the best things about it, it’s a good idea to consider it as a microcosm of the rest of the world. The things you learn during your nursing training and then when you are working are often very specific, but there are many things you’ll learn that can be used in other areas of your life. These transferable life skills can help to make you a happier, healthier, more productive person outside of work as well as when you are nursing your patients. It can be hard to determine exactly what these skills are, especially when you are working and they are simply a natural part of helping others, but they include:

  • Good communication
  • Compassion
  • Empathy
  • Good listening
  • Punctuality
  • Ethical working practices
  • The ability to stay calm in a pressurized situation
  • Critical thinking
  • Continuous learning

Once you note them down, it’s much easier to see how a nurse could use these skills – and others – on a daily basis, but also how they might use them in other areas of their lives.

An Inspiring Career

Imagine a career in which you are able to inspire people every day, through even the smallest of actions. Most people would like that feeling, and it is certainly something positive. When you are a nurse, that’s the kind of thing you’ll be doing even without realizing it, and it’s another of the best things about being a nurse.

Nurses are incredibly hard working, and they see both the most joyful parts of life, and the saddest and most difficult. Yet they continue to be professional and dedicated to their patients no matter what. Ofcourse they are going to inspire others. Even if those people they inspire don’t become nurses, they will still understand why doing good and working hard is important, and that can make a big change in someone’s life, and the lives of those around them.

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With the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic having faded in recent months, you could, as a business owner, once again feel comfortable with the idea of meeting potential clients up close and handing them a physical card as a reminder of your company and how to contact it.

However, one statistic shared by Real Wealth Business suggests that about 90% of all business cards distributed are thrown away within a week. So, the onus is on you doing what you can to make sure your card not only catches the eye but also keeps it for as long as possible.

Go for a colored business card 

You might not have realized that a colored business card lasts ten times longer than a standard white business card before being discarded. 

Hence, it’s worth taking the time to be creative with your card’s design — especially as, according to another statistic, sales grow by 2.5% for every 2,000 business cards given out.

Remember to include the relevant contact details 

While opting for a minimalist look with your card might make it stand out in a sense, you should be wary of stripping away too many elements. Designer and illustrator Sam Hampton-Smith advises in an article for Creative Bloq: “You’ll typically want to include at least a business name, phone number and email address.”

He adds that, depending on exactly what communication channels your business has, you should probably also include a website address, a physical address and social media handles.

Make your business card ‘dual-purpose’ 

Depending on the industry in which you operate, it could be both wise and clever for you to design your card in such a way that it can also serve as something other than a business card.

Whatever that second purpose is, verify that it is genuinely relevant to your company and its target audience. A card for a drinks seller, for example, could also constitute a bottle opener, while an eco-conscious company could make its business card a packet of seeds.

Image source PxHere

Give your card a custom finish 

That way, the person you give the card to could quite literally feel the difference as soon as the item touches their hand. You only get one chance to make a good first impression, as the saying goes…

The various custom finishes from which you could choose include foil blocking, metallic and spot-UV finishes. While adding custom finishes to cards can inflate the cost of creating them, you could allow for long-term savings by buying your own print finishing equipment

Thoroughly spell-check a card before printing it out 

Imagine how your heart could sink if you printed out thousands of cards only to realize a silly spelling error sticking out like a sore thumb on each of them.

Hence, before printing business cards in any design, you should repeatedly go through its text with a fine-tooth comb and potentially also ask someone else to check that copy for you, lest you end up having to reprint the entire batch of cards. 

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Obviously, the primary purpose of an electric light is creating light in a space where sufficient light would otherwise be unavailable. However, different light fixtures can vary in exactly what kind of illumination they create — and, of course, the design of the unit in which they are encased. 

Hence, it can pay to be picky about precisely what lighting pieces you source for your home. Here are a few things you could do to guide yourself towards making the right choices.

Measure the space itself 

“To be sure a ceiling fixture is large enough for your space, especially a chandelier, a quick guideline is to measure the length and width of the room,” designer Billy Ceglia tells The Spruce. “Then add them together and convert to inches, and that will give a standing point for the ideal size for a light fixture.” 

He further explains that a fixture of 36-inch width, for example, would suit a room spanning 20 by 15 feet. However, you should also…

Consider the fixture’s visual weight 

This needs to be another factor before you decide whether a particular light fixture is just the right size for the room where it is intended to be installed. 

Ceglia notes that if the lighting unit in question is “light and airy, it may be better to size up”. Meanwhile, with a “dark and massive” alternative, “sizing down might be a better option.” Fortunately, when you peruse, say, the wide range of Pagazzi lighting solutions, you could boost your chances of a successful find. 

Balance architectural lighting with decorative lighting 

Designer Barry Goralnick urges you to strike a “perfect” balance here. “Integral lighting on the ceiling gives an overall glow, and is best to light art and sculptures as well as the more mundane tasks like cleaning,” he says.

Goralnick adds that, in contrast, “table and floor lamps illuminate reading, games, and intimate gatherings.” If the room has screens and planters, these “can be even more drastic with lighting on the floor,” he continues.

Mix up the levels of lighting in your home 

Naturally, particular lights tend to be designed for use at specific levels. For example, while chandeliers can serve a striking aesthetic purpose, you are unlikely to rely heavily on them when undertaking certain intricate tasks, like unscrewing the battery compartment of a TV remote.

Scenarios like this are one reason why it would be wise for you to vary exactly where in the room you position lighting. Doing so can eliminate dark areas while creating a soothingly ambient lighting effect.

Consider when the lights are likely to be used 

During the day, especially in the summer, you could opt to keep many of your home’s lights switched off, given abundant natural sunlight available and appreciable savings you could make on your household energy bills. 

However, as an Ideal Home article notes, “a piece may only reveal its full potential when illuminated” — and a light “may become far more exotic once darkness falls, casting wonderful rays and shadows”. 

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Now more than ever, it’s important to look at ways of making your lifestyle eco-friendlier. Many people do this with numerous aspects of their daily lives, such as altering their diets, travelling, and recycling. But one of the biggest polluters in the world is the beauty industry, and as a result more people are looking for ways to make their beauty routine eco-friendlier. Thankfully, there are many easy changes you can make to achieve this.

Look for more eco-friendly products

Due to the high pollution rate of the beauty industry, more and more companies are making the effort to produce and market their goods in an eco-friendlier way. For example, many beauty and pharmaceutical companies use cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant to make their products. In an effort to be more sustainable, wellness companies like Cellular Goods are using lab-grown cannabinoids instead, helping to reduce their carbon footprint. When shopping for such products, take the time to find out whether they’re produced in an eco-friendly way to ensure a more sustainable beauty routine.

Switch off your water

An easy way to be more eco-friendly is to switch off your water when starting your routine. Too many of us tend to leave the tap running when brushing our teeth or washing our face, which ends up wasting a lot of water. Make sure to switch off the water when it’s not needed and in the long run your routine will be eco-friendlier.  

Use what you have

It can be tempting to buy the latest improved product the moment it’s available. Even if it’s an eco-friendlier product, it’s often not worth abandoning what you already have. Try to use what you already have before buying a replacement, but if you do have products that you’re unlikely to use again, consider donating them to a friend so they don’t go to waste.

Refill your empty bottles

Many companies are now offering refillable versions of their products. This means that when you finish using a particular product you can refill using the same container you were using, rather than buying a whole new one. Many products do this by offering refillable pouches or containers with their products. This has the benefit of reducing the amount of plastic used but can also be an economically beneficial solution for both the company and the customer.

Make your bathroom eco-friendlier

To make your beauty routine as eco-friendly as possible, it’s worth looking at ways you can make everything in your bathroom more sustainable. As well as beauty products, many of the items you use every day can be swapped out for more environmentally friendly alternatives. For example, consider a stainless-steel razor in lieu of disposable ones, and toothbrushes with stronger bristles that will last longer. Many toothbrushes also come with replacement bristles, meaning you can simply replace them rathe than buying a whole new toothbrush.

If more people were to introduce these simple changes to their beauty routines, the long-term effect on the environment can be significantly improved.

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The decision to seek money from a bank or credit union is not easy, but it is often necessary. This cash injection can help you get back on your feet, sort out your finances, and solve emerging problems. If used responsibly, lån på dagen can help you back on your feet.

Lenders base their decisions on approval on several factors, including credit score and income, employment status, residence stability, liquidity issues, etc. So they need to check your entire financial standings and make sure you can repay the loan at the agreed time.

Banks and other lenders are happy to work with solvent and responsible clients. But if the mentioned parameters are not by their rules, they can reject your application. You might be denied by mistake, for example, because of inaccurate information on your credit report. So you should always discuss that decision with the lender and do double-check.

Know the Reason for Denial

Getting a denial letter can be heartbreaking, especially if you’re a first-time loan applicant. But that shouldn’t discourage you. If your application is declined, you can ask for an explanation. Luckily, there are ways to get around the reasons for this lender’s decision.

Understanding the reasons behind loan denial will help you avoid repeat rejections in the future. Lenders base their decisions on various factors, including your credit score and income. Suppose you have problems with these parameters, but it’s not too urgent for you to take a loan. In that case, it’s always better to improve your overall credit standings than to accept loans under fairly strict conditions.

Improve Your Credit Rating

Most lenders have second thoughts about loan approval if your credit score is below ‘good’ (usually 680). The lower this parameter is, the stricter lending conditions will be. But in most cases, if your score is below 600, it’s considered poor, and your chances for approval are almost none.

Being turned down won’t change your credit score, but your actions after denial will. But hard inquiries will lower your score. Applying for more than one lo in a short period can also affect your score. So try to reduce the number of applications in the next coupanle of months.

Also, your credit score depends on your payment history and behavior toward financial obligations. If you have a record of late or missed payments, it will negatively affect your credit score. So try setting up an autopay for your account.

Unused credit card limits also lower your rating. So if you don’t use your credit cards, lower your limits or start using them. An even better option is to increase your card limit and use two-thirds of it if you can afford that. Then, paying your balance in full each month will significantly boost your credit score.

Look for Credit Report Errors

There are situations when all your financial parameters are good, but you are still denied a loan. There could be some errors or non-updated information that messed everything up. So reach out to credit bureaus to look for possible omissions and fix these mistakes as soon as possible.

There may be information on your report that contradicts the information you provided, such as an incorrect Social Security number or address. These could be computer errors or fraudster actions, which you shouldn’t be held responsible for.

Assess Your Debts and Income

Too much debt is another common reason why lenders deny loan applications. The parameter in question is the debt-to-income ratio. It compares your monthly debt payments to your gross income. When more than 40 percent of your monthly income is burdened with debts, lenders can be wary of your application.

So if you got ‘No’ from a bank or credit union because you have too much debt, you should focus on paying down current accounts and making on-time payments. Try to solve the highest debts first and don’t make new ones, at least for a couple of months. Or, if you can, find ways to increase your income.

Check the following link for more tips on boosting your income:

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/starting-new-job/how-increase-income

Think about Secured Loans

A secured loan requires you to place some valuable asset as collateral. Lenders suggest these agreements when your financial standings are not perfect, but they seem promising. They use the collateral to recover their losses if you fail to make your payments. But lenders assume that won’t happen.

Most people wouldn’t risk their cars, retirement savings, or anything they pledged because of missed payments. So if you choose this option, get pre-qualified with them so that you can compare their rates and fees. Once you’ve gotten pre-qualified, submit a formal loan application.

Getting a Co-Signer

Lenders could reject your loan because you’ve asked for too much money without cover. So you could get co-signers to reapply. Also, if you’re young and still don’t have a credit rating but can pay your installments on time, a co-signer can help you qualify for a loan. They will also increase your chances of qualifying for a lower interest rate than you can on your own.

Co-signers are something like a financial cushion if you can’t make payments. While this type of agreement lowers the risk to the lender, co-signers take certain risks. You should discuss the consequences of missing payments, as co-signers have no equal access to the loan funds – just an obligation to pay your debts if you fail to do so. More about co-signers rights and obligations find out from this source.

Look for Other Lender

You can always look for other lenders if your first application has been denied. You can explain the situation and get a second opinion. Some of them might have more lenient requirements or are specialized for applicants with poor credit ratings. So depending on why you’ve been rejected, the lender may be willing to accept your appeal.

Rejecting a loan application is not the end of the world, especially since this decision doesn’t hurt your credit rating and is certainly not final. You can always try again. Meanwhile, identify the reasons for the rejection and work on them to improve your chances of approval.

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In the UK, the cost of living has grown at its fastest rate in nearly a decade, as consumer watchdog organisation Which? has noted. In February, hearts across the country sank when energy regulator Ofgem revealed that the energy price cap would rise by 54% in April, as The Sun reported.

Fortunately, there are more than a few ways you could help financially cushion yourself against the rocky road ahead — and some of those techniques, like those listed below, might have long eluded your notice.

Think twice about switching energy supplier 

While perusing the tariffs available from various energy suppliers would usually be a reliable way of confirming that you are on the best deal possible, many people are currently likely to be in a situation where switching definitely wouldn’t be a good idea. 

For example, if you are on a low-priced fixed-term deal, you are unlikely to find anything just as cheap elsewhere. If you do need a new tariff, a variable or default one might be the best bet for now.

Consider buying new, more energy-efficient appliances 

If all of your existing appliances currently work fine in terms of their core functionality, replacing many of them now could prove a false economy. However, if any particular device you have needs replacing in any case, you should make sure the replacement is an energy-efficient model. 

Keep in mind that, even when two particular machines have the same energy rating, they can still differ significantly in how much energy they consume in practice.

energy consumption
Photo Source: wellsphere.com

Add fresh insulation to the home  

As well as adding what you might call ‘proper’ insulation to the loft and to any hot water pipes and tanks in your home, you could insulate the property through other, less direct means — like adding cosy furnishings and installing draught proofing. 

Many households in the UK could also utilise the award winning loft boarding service from Instaloft to ensure the loft can be used in a way that does not hamper the effectiveness of its insulation.

Wash in a strategically cost-effective way 

As revealed in various statistics shared by the Energy Saving Trust, you can slash your yearly energy bill by about £28 just by using your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle — rather than higher temperatures — and, over the course of the year, reducing your washing machine use by one run per week.

Meanwhile, if you tend to use a shower rather than a bath to wash yourself, showering for just four minutes at a time could potentially save your household £70 a year.

Reassess lighting and how often it is switched on  

When you leave a room, remember to switch off any lights fitted in it. Simply getting into this habit can net you an annual saving of approximately £20 — or potentially even more if those lights are LED bulbs rather than standard lightbulbs.

On a similar note, it would be wise for you to turn out-of-use appliances off standby mode, as doing so could save you a further £55 yearly. 

Social Democratic Party Senator Alfred Laurentiu Mihai attended the meeting of the General Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Security Cooperation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (PA SEECP) in Athens, hosted by the Greek Parliament.

On this occasion, the members of the committee debated the draft report and resolution on “Protection of human rights, in particular the rights of vulnerable persons”.

He declared on his Facebook page:

“I mentioned in my speech in the plenary of the Senate Hall of the Hellenic Parliament during the meeting that we strongly and unequivocally support the defense of human rights and the rights of vulnerable people, and I also mentioned the situation we are facing regarding the wave of refugees in Ukraine following the military aggression of the Russian Federation!
In my speech I also mentioned the efforts Romania is making to support Ukrainian refugees by offering them facilities such as: food, accommodation, free access to the health system, free access to the education system for children and the right to work without a permit for a period of 12 months with the right of extension.

Ar putea fi o imagine cu 2 persoane, persoane în picioare şi text care spune „ΒΟΥΛΗ ΛΛΗΝΩΝ”


Last but not least, I reminded that the Romanian people show solidarity and humanity towards our Ukrainian neighbors and I conveyed that the Romanian Parliament strongly condemned the aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, considering the attack in Bucha and other cities as war crimes and crimes against humanity!”

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The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on almost everything imaginable, including the oral language of more than 90,000 pupils in the UK. With this in mind, here are some of the ways that you can help to support your children or pupils’ developmental skills through play when targeted support is not as readily available as it has been previously.

Targeted creative play

Creative activities are great at helping children to develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills. When they explore with different toys they are provided with an opportunity to develop their understanding of the world around them and to question things that they experience.

For example, Lamborghini ride on cars can help children to develop not only their fine and gross motor skills, but their oral language skills too. By taking advantage of the child’s interests, you can encourage them to speak to you about what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and how they might adapt their play to better meet their needs or wants.

Reading activities

One of the key ways to nurture language development in children is by encouraging interaction between young people in the first place. Peer learning opportunities should be given as much as possible, including dedicated reading time.

Reading to children is an invaluable method for improving their language development. When children have the chance to listen to language they absorb the different methods of communication and the various forms of language that they’re being exposed to. Even if you can’t see any changes right away, you can rest assured that the child you’re reading to is taking in everything you’re saying.

Puppets

Using puppets is a great way to encourage children to vocalise their emotions and invent their own conversations among themselves. Children often feel more confident with their oral language when communicating through the medium of toys, so providing puppets allow them to make up their own stories, practise different voices and act out a variety of scenarios.

Singing

In the same way that allowing children to make up stories helps them to use their words, rhymes and songs also encourages children to make use of their voices to communicate with one another. Children often learn patterns of language and vocabulary words when listening to and taking part in rhymes and songs. By making language fun, children are more likely to want to engage with it and will improve to a greater extent than if they were forced to copy out of a vocabulary book or equivalent.

Final thoughts

The bottom-line is that language is scary – even for adults! Children should never be made to feel inferior or not enough because they’re struggling with their oral language skills. Use targeted play as much as possible with your children or pupils to help them with their language and communication whilst there is a shortage of specialist help available to them.

Yes, the pandemic has negatively impacted our lives, but equally, the lives of thousands of children have been turned upside down too. But with these ideas in mind, we can assist children in the areas of development that they may have missed out on during this uncertain time.

Social Democratic Party Senator Alfred Laurentiu Mihai had a meeting today with Bonnie Carroll, the founder of TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors), who came to Romania at the invitation of the Social Democrat parliamentarian.

According to the announcement made on the personal Facebook page of the Social Democratic Party senator Alfred Laurentiu Mihai, the purpose of the visit to Romania of Mrs. Bonnie Carroll is related to the implementation of the projects of the TAPS association. On this occasion, Bonnie Carroll had a series of meetings in the Senate with the Vice President of the Senate, Robert Cazanciuc, with Senator Radu Oprea and with the President of the Defense Commission, Nicoleta Pauliuc.

The TAPS association will also be present in Romania
Senator Alfred Laurentiu Mihai announced that discussions took place in order to support and support in the necessary steps to carry out the activity of this association in Romania as well. Meetings will also take place on Wednesday at the government level, the Social Democratic Party senator added.
On my last visit to the United States, I had the pleasure and honor of meeting with President Bonnie Carroll, Founder of TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors), to whom I extended an invitation to Romania to implement TAPS projects.

senator-alfred-mihai

Today this invitation was honored and on this occasion President Bonnie Carrol had a series of meetings in the Senate, with the Vice President of the Senate Robert Cazanciuc, with Senator Radu Oprea and with the President of the Defense Commission, Mrs. Nicoleta Pauliuc.
There were discussions in order to support and support in the necessary steps to carry out the activity of this association in our country as well.
Meetings at the government level will follow today.“, is the message sent by the Social Democratic Party senator, on the Facebook page.

senator-alfred-mihai

The Social Democratic Party senator participated today, within the European Affairs Committee of the Romanian Senate, in a debate on the stage of absorption of European funds and the stage of implementation of the NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan).

It is the US Vice President’s first visit to Bucharest, and although it is taking place in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine, it is a sign of President Joe Biden’s growing confidence in her ability to pursue high-level diplomacy.

In addition, the official visit to Bucharest by Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirms the strength of the bilateral strategic partnership and the firm commitment of the United States to support the security of Romania and NATO allies on the Eastern Flank.

I believe that the presence of Kamala Harris in Bucharest reflects the appreciation of the American administration for the responsible approach of our country in the context of the current security events caused by the illegal aggression of the Russian Federation.

It is in this sense that our partnership must be developed, that American investments in energy, defense, trade and the financial sector become the key elements of a stronger collaboration.

For the stability of the entire Black Sea area, a CONSOLIDATED NATO presence is needed in Romania.

Social Democratic Party President Marcel Ciolacu will attend the meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris, which will take place in Cotroceni and as President of the Chamber of Deputies and as President of Social Democratic Party, the largest party in Romania, is fully committed to defending democratic values ​​and interests security that the two nations have.“, declared Senator Alfred Laurentiu Mihai, member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs from Romanian Senat.

Sourcehttps://www.facebook.com/MihaiAlfredLaurentiu