1. You can easily identify which among your business’s marketing channels are attracting the most number of leads to your business and which ones aren’t worth investing anymore.

If you haven’t included a phone number in any of the marketing channels that you’re using to promote your products or services, you’re missing out on the opportunity to know where and how your leads had found out about your business.

With call tracking, each of your marketing channels have a unique phone number, thus making it easier for you to identify which channels had pulled the most number of leads to your business that can translate to a significant increase in profit.

Using call tracking can also make it easier for you to identify which marketing channels aren’t generating as much leads to your business that can cause you to abandon those promotional mediums altogether and focus on high-performing ones instead.

2. You can easily tailor-fit your business’s products or services to meet the needs of your potential customers.

Once you’ve found out where and how your leads have found out about your business using call tracking, you’ll then want to get to know them better. As you can record each of your leads’ calls with call tracking, you can listen back to what they want your products or services to have.

You can then customize your products or services to suit the needs of your potential customers instead of waiting for them to complain that they aren’t satisfied at all with what you’ve offered to them.

3. You can easily spot which among your customer service staff are pulling as many leads to your business as they can and which ones aren’t doing so.

Aside from getting to know your potential customers better, call tracking also lets you accurately see how your customer service staff handle your leads’ inquiries and concerns.

Call tracking allows you to measure the performance of your customer service staff, thus making it easier for you to see which ones are consistently converting your leads to customers and which ones aren’t even trying at all.

You can then reward your high-performing customer service staff for a job well done. As for those who have failed to convert your leads to customers, you can arrange a meeting with them to investigate further as to why they haven’t performed as much as their colleagues.

Conclusion

Most of your leads might still prefer to dial your business’s phone number to ask anything about a product or service that you’re offering. After all, verbal communication often results in faster response and resolution that you can’t achieve by replying to a message or email. You wouldn’t want to have only one business phone number for receiving calls though. With call tracking, you can have several phone numbers set up by a service provider such as Fone Dynamics to track each of the calls that your potential customers are making to your business. The above-listed powerful benefits of call tracking when improving your business should convince you further to have it installed as soon as possible.

John Taylor

John is a long-time professional with over two decades of experience in analytics and communications technology. He works as the Senior Data Analyst at Fone Dynamics, a leader in call tracking, voice, and SMS communication. When John steps out of the office, he loves to spend time with his family and bike riding.

Having your home inspected will allow you to identify if there is an issue, what the issue is and how to best deal with it. If you have no issue an inspection can help it to stay that way by identifying vulnerabilities in your home.

The fact is that pests can enter virtually any home. You may not have had an issue and think it will never happen; but it can. This is why it is essential to book an inspection now and at regular intervals in the future.

How Often Do You Need To Inspect Your Home?

This is a difficult question to answer as it will be different for every home owner.

However, there are some guidelines which you should follow:

• Yearly

If you’ve not had an issue with pests yet then a yearly inspection in the spring should be sufficient. This is the time when pests are becoming awake and looking for a summer home.

• Twice Yearly

If you have experienced a pest problem then it is advisable to have your home checked at the beginning of the season and at the end. These are the most prevalent times for pests to find homes.

Twice a year is also a good idea if you’re in an area known to have termites. Waiting a whole year is too long; the termites can have eaten through much of your house during this time.

Between Inspections

It is likely that the inspection will have pointed out any issues with your home which will attract pests or allow them in. It is important to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.

You should also visually inspect your home on a regular basis to ensure there are no new entrance points for pests.

This will help to keep them out!

Why Have You Home Inspected

You may feel that a few pests will not bother you. In fact in many cases you will not even see any sign of them.

However, this can be a costly mistake.

Termites can eat your wood and destroy the strength of your home.

Raccoons and rats chew through nearly anything; they can easily damage your electrical wiring. Even mice can cause a lot of damage inside your walls.

Smaller pests such as ants can bite, especially the red ant. They also leave pheromone trails which attract other ants, rapidly increasing the size of the issue.

All of these things can quickly end up costing you far more to put right than the cost of an inspection and a small amount of maintenance.

It doesn’t matter if no one in your area appears to have a problem with pests; prevention is generally much better and easier than treating the problem.

Get a New Look

It can be too easy to fall into the trap of sticking with the same patterns of thinking. One way to try to break the cycle is to try to update your style. This can be particularly important if you are suddenly finding yourself single again. Don’t think in terms of dressing to catch the eye of someone new or even looking your best. Now is the time to mix things up. Try new looks and have fun. Grab a friend and try on outrageous outfits together. Try a variety of wigs so you can sport blond or blue hair for the day or a night out with friends. You might find a different look that you love or not. Either way, getting outside your comfort zone will help you find a place where you fit.

Avoid the desire to wait until you lose weight, get a new haircut, or find the perfect job. Now is the time to mix things up. Don’t focus on dressing for success. Simply experiment with new styles and don’t be afraid to try something completely different.  

Broaden Your Horizons

When you’re feeling down, the first instinct is often to stick to your traditional comfort zones. Instead, you need to seize new challenges. Now is the perfect time to sign up for a fun class or try out a different hobby. Classes, in particular, are a great way to meet people. Having activities scheduled that you’ve already paid for puts pressure on you to get out. Otherwise it can be too easy to procrastinate on activities so you end up spending too much time home alone.

Contact Your Herd

We all know people that make us feel comfortable or remind us of great times. Now is the time to get together, talk on the phone, or video conference with people who see you for who you are. Avoid energy vampires who are likely to bring you down. You want to be able to connect with upbeat people you trust.

If you need to find more people you can relate to in your city, try looking for opportunities to get involved with a cause you care about. Volunteering and giving back to your community can make you appreciate how fabulous and lucky you are. While you’re there, you can meet more people. Since you’re volunteering for the same cause, you are more likely to have something in common. That could be a start of a wonderful friendship.

Laugh It Up

Comedy is a great way to produce more serotonins to improve your move. Laughing during a game night with friends, enjoying an outrageous movie, or visiting a comedy club can take your mind off yourself while you boost your mood with laughter. Get together with a close friend or two and dress up in costumes to visit an eatery. Do silly things together and you’ll find yourself more at home once you’re back to your usual routine, plus, you’ll have entertaining stories to share.

Sharing is Caring

The concept behind teaching children to share is extremely important. We all want our kids to be willing to share with others, to be generous, and to be willing to play with others. From getting along with siblings to learning how to get along in life, sharing is an important life lesson. The problem is there are limits to sharing your children should understand.

Food

Sharing food is often a key part of socialising. Sadly, for many people sharing food is more of an issue. As society has become more aware about food allergies, we’ve begun recognising the risk children could face when sharing food. If your children have allergies, it is vital that they understand why they can’t freely accept offers of food from other people. This can be very difficult when cupcakes or other delightful treats are being offered.

Kids also need to know that if they offer food to other children, those children might not be able to accept. If your kids are tempted to offer foods to younger children, it is important that they check with those children’s parents, first, to make sure it’s ok. One way to help to prevent problems with sharing food is to make sure your children’s snacks and lunches are clearly marked with name labels. This can help prevent them from eating the wrong child’s food by mistake.

Germs

The disadvantage to sharing can be that germs are easy to share. Kids who are young enough to still put items or their fingers in their mouths are particularly at risk from picking up germs while sharing objects. Doctor’s offices and other public places are particularly likely to have items covered with harmful germs. This can make it important for your children to know that sharing their belongings with others or playing with things that belong to others may not always be a good idea.

Boundaries

We want our children to share with others but don’t let your children’s generosity be abused. Bullies can often use “sharing” as a pretence for taking items from other children. Let your children know that in cases like that, your children can decide whether or not to share. Kids who aren’t playing nicely or who aren’t treating items properly, can be turned down. If other children or adults are making your children feel uncomfortable or if they are trying to “borrow” their belongings to take home, saying “no” is a perfectly acceptable response. As much as we like to teach our kids to be generous, we also need to teach them to stand up for themselves and maintain their own boundaries.

Start a Babysitting Club

Every mum needs an occasional night off but finding a babysitter can be expensive! Save on the cost of hiring a babysitter by setting up a babysitting circle with some trusted friends instead. When you babysit for someone in the circle, you are given a token. This token can then be exchanged when you need someone to look after your kids, meaning that no one ever feels they are being taken advantage of or doing more than their fair share of the childcare.

You’ll know your children are being looked after by someone you trust, and you won’t have to pay twice to have an evening out!

Sell It On

Do you have a collection at home that you cherish? Whether you collect figurines, coins, or stamps, having a collection that you love will boost your happiness and overall wellbeing. But if you have a collection that doesn’t bring you joy any more then why not sell it on and pocket the cash instead? You can also sell unwanted toys, outgrown clothes, and other discarded household goods to bring a little extra pocket money into your household.

Plan Your Supermarket Shop

The average cost of feeding a child from birth to 21 is now calculated to be £19,270: that’s a lot of chicken nuggets! However, it is possible to reduce the amount you spend on your weekly shop by planning it in advance and cooking from scratch. Menu plan, work out what ingredients you’ll need, and write a weekly shopping list. Check what you have in your cupboards and fridge before you hit the shops to avoid any unnecessary food waste. By doing this, and avoiding those expensive supermarket impulse buys, you’ll be amazed by how much money you’ll save each month.

Use Cash

Swiping your credit or debit card is so easy, and spending on your card often doesn’t feel like spending at all! If you’re keen to save money then instead of swiping that card, spend cash instead. Withdraw the amount of cash you have to spend on extras and incidentals each week, and you will more easily be able to see where your money is going, and budget accordingly.

Save For Christmas

Finally, one of the biggest non-essential expenses that most parents face is the cost of Christmas. This year’s must have toys, trips to meet Santa, and family pantomime tickets don’t come cheap. But Christmas is never a surprise: we know it’s going to happen every year. So, start saving for it now! Putting just £20 a month aside will give you a very respectable £240 to spend on gifts in December. You could also shop for gifts all year round if you have a large family, taking advantage of things you see in the seasonal sales when they are heavily discounted.

But whether you’re Type A or Type B non-gym goer, if you’re like me, that time finally came when, for whatever reason – be it an ever-growing silhouette that greets you in the mirror in the twilight hours; be it an overwhelming concern that your years are now greater than your waist measurement (in inches) – it was time to change it up and become a semi-dedicated gym frequenter.

But that’s easier said than done. The gym near me: it’s full of fantastically built individuals, bulging biceps, firmed glutei. Beads of sweat roll of their perfectly defined pecs, quads and laterals like pearls of mercury on a plate. It’s intimidating for people like you and me – you might even doubt whether you’re up to it.

Fear not. You’re not alone. And once you get started at the gym, you might even enjoy it. Here’s how to get going as the new gal or guy at your local gym:

1. Stop worrying about what other people might think of you. There are lots of reasons as to why you shouldn’t be concerned with what other people opine when they see your skinny/overweight/weedy/podgy frame stumble by, but by far the most compelling of these is the fact that they literally don’t care. No-one cares. About you. An overworked treadmill (hardly likely) could set you on fire, a rogue dumbbell could poke your eye out, an exercise bike wheel could spiral out of control and dislocate your face.... no-one cares. People, like you, go to the gym to stare at mute televisions and listen to their podcasts. And to get fit. You’re safe from judging eyes – they’re far too busy with checking themselves out, anyway.

2. Don’t try to prove anything on the first day. One my first day at the gym, I was convinced I was fitter than I was. In my tiny brain I was an Olympic athlete. Daley Thompson. Kirani James. That if anyone could be bothered enough to measure, gather and accumulate the stats on my imagined gym ‘performance,’ they’d be blown away with my searing pace on the treadmill, the strength in my non-existent adductors. So I overdid it on the warm-up, had to sit down to settle my spinning vision, then head home early with an upset stomach. You’re not impressing anyone, go easy on yourself, be sensible and get into a new routine gently.

3. Be aware of and observe the etiquette. Don’t worry, you’re not a gym goer so you don’t know, how could you? But here’s what everybody else does know:

• You are expected to wipe down each piece of equipment after having used it, so bring a towel.
• Replace the weights where you found them, put the mat back in its proper place.
• Down allow weights to drop down – place them on the ground. If you can’t do that, they were too heavy for your feeble body to start with.
• Don’t block anyone’s view of themselves in the mirror – it’s literally why they came to the gym in the first place.

And with that, your gym induction is complete. Now go get marginally closer to becoming the person you want to be.

So what should you look for in a commercial truck rental company? We will look at three (3) areas:

• Selection & Delivery
• Damage policy
• Extent of use

Selection & Delivery

When it comes to selection, you definitely want to rent the right truck for the job. Maybe you only need a 1/2-ton pickup for lighter duty. For hauling equipment or materials, you might need a 1-ton or 1.5-ton flatbed truck. Or maybe you just need to transport your crew and your tools, so a crew cab pickup. Do you need towing capabilities?

Whatever your particular needs are, talk to a company that has the variety of inventory to address a variety of needs.

Most of the time when you rent a truck, you’re expected to pick it up personally. But say you’re in one state, and the job site is a few states away. How will you be able to pick up your rental? That alone could be very costly to your company. Then there’s the possibility you actually need several rental trucks delivered to the remote site.

Go with a company that delivers when renting a work truck. A company that can deliver trucks in any amount to any place in the lower 48 states can get it done.

Customer Service & Damage Policy

You also want to deal with a commercial truck rental company that is known for excellent customer service. No matter how big a company is, customer service should be right at the top. You want to have a rental company that’s ready to serve your needs from consultation to delivery to turn ins.

Dealing with damage can be a real thorn in the side, depending on the commercial truck rental company you’re dealing with. Some have used their damage policy to fleece their customers for damage that could simply be wear and tear.

A fair-minded company will clearly outline their policy before the contract is signed, and only charge you for actual damages when the vehicles are turned in.

Extent of use

If you’re in construction and you are using a rental to work on a site that is remote, remember, you may have to drive off-road. That could mean some rough terrain, including mud.

However, other commercial truck rental companies don’t like that. In fact, they don’t allow it at all. And it isn’t worth taking a chance on driving their vehicles anyway. If it’s found out, they could penalize you heavily for it. Besides that, their trucks could be so poorly maintained that they couldn’t handle off-road driving anyway!

Look for a company that also allows you to drive them out-of-state as well. Of course, if they can deliver to anywhere in the continental U.S., they sure can be driven in another state.

Dealing with a commercial rental truck company doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal. Find a company that:

• Offers a wide selection of models for a variety of needs
• Provides excellent customer service from start to finish
• Has a fair approach when assessing vehicle damage
• Doesn’t needlessly limit your use of the rental, whether it’s highway use or driving off-road,

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. There are other things to consider, but the items covered here are some of the most important. You yourself may have things on your mind that weren’t covered.

The key is to choose tasteful pieces that are of good quality. Choosing jewelry that matches your taste and sense of style is extremely important as well.

If you are the guy who always wears runs around in sneakers and board shorts, for example, a classically styled ring would not go amiss. A completely blinged out chain and pendant set, however, would probably not work.

In this post, we will look at five different accessories that every man should consider adding to their ensembles.

A Great Watch

This is a no-brainer. Watches do more than just tell you what time it is. They have a practical purpose, but can also be a real expression of personality and complement your style.

Take the Rolex, a classic favorite – when worn it can subtly impress others. This Is great when trying to close a business deal.

On the other hand, if you want to a more casual look, a Rolex is undoubtedly going to be overkill. It is, therefore, a good idea to have a couple of different watches to suit different occasions.

A Necklace

These are seen as more of an accessory for the ladies, but men's necklaces can be quite appealing. You can find them in different lengths and chain styles to help complement your personal style. Men's necklaces tend to be plainer and chunkier than women's.

Start off with a plain silver or gold chain and see how it looks. You can always consider adding a pendant later to give it more bling.

Bracelets

Men’s bracelets in the past have tended towards the more rugged, casual look. You don’t have to settle for only leather thongs or cuffs, though. There are plenty of men’s bracelets made out of gold and silver that look elegant and interesting.

With bracelets, a simple rule applies – If you are wearing them with other jewelry, including a watch, be sure that they fit together in terms of materials and style. You don’t want to wear a silver bracelet and gold chain together, for example.

Rings

This is where guys are able to let their hair down a bit. Men can traditionally wear rings that have a bit more bling on them than would work in something like a necklace or a bracelet.

When considering which ring to choose, consider when you will wear it. How many rings do you want to wear at a time? Are you happy with one ring per hand, or do you want your fingers covered in rings?

The basic rule with rings is to wear them so that they match in with any other jewelry that you are wearing. So, a gold ring with your gold chain, etc.

Cufflinks

Are you a businessman wearing dress shirts often? An elegant pair of cufflinks might be all you need to give your outfit that boost and panache. You can also get away with something with more bling here if that is what you want.

Use these tips that we have given here as a rough guide. Maybe there is a piece of jewelry that doesn’t quite fit in terms of our guidelines, but that looks amazing on you. Be open to trying many different styles on and you will find the perfect look.

Seldom do you see a person who doesn’t own a cellphone these days. At the very least, one could have the most basic model. More often, however, you will see the latest and most sophisticated mobile phones being used in almost every corner of the world.

Young or old, a phone seems to be a natural extension of one’s limb.

Finding the Perfect Phone Plan

Since having a phone is typically a given in this fast-paced, highly connected world. The only question left to answer is which phone plan to get.

Normally, telecommunication companies offer two main type of phone plans to their subscribers: prepaid and postpaid.

These plans give you the option to choose from a variety of services that would most fit your requirements. There are certain variations that differentiate one plan from the other, and here is where subscribers are usually puzzled over which to choose.

To help you identify which phone plan is best for you, here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of each main type:

1. Prepaid Phone Plan

Pros

1.              No contract commitment

Prepaid packages will not require you to be tied down to a contract. All you need to do is buy a prepaid card that suits your mobile needs and just top it up when it runs out.

This lowers your risk of committing to a plan that you might find cumbersome after a while, and it allows you to switch easily when you find yourself eventually veering toward a postpaid plan.

2.              Fantastic flexibility

There are several prepaid card packages available today. Depending on your use – whether you need more data, more calls, more text, a combination of calls and texts, and many other permutations – you only have to choose a card that fits you to a T.

• If you’re always on the go and have plenty of contacts abroad, you can opt to choose a prepaid card that offers amazing international rates with unlimited international SMS services.
• If you are hooked on the internet and spend most of your mobile minutes online, booking staycations at the best hotels and spas, then you can choose a prepaid card that offers unlimited data to give you that ease of use on a speedy 4G network.

Whether you need more data or more voice credits, you have great flexibility with a prepaid phone plan as you only pay for services that you use.

There are even promotions that you can take advantage of, like an unlimited validity package where you only need to recharge with any amount to place calls, send SMS, or browse data at least once every 90 days.

3.              No fuss sign-up or termination

With a prepaid phone plan, you simply purchase the phone you want, plus the services you need, without having to go through tedious credit checks.

Usually, phone companies won’t require you to plunk down a deposit or pay a termination fee when you decide to discontinue use of your current plan.

Cons

1.              Higher cost for phone unit

Typically, you’ll need to pay for your phone unit upfront when opting for a prepaid package. Since you are not obliged to sign up for a contract with the phone company, paying full price for the phone of your choice will also protect their interests.

2.              Possible phone number loss

For some companies, once you fail to top up your prepaid SIM for a certain period, your phone number will also be deactivated. This will prove to be a hassle, but it could be completely avoidable if you set reminders to recharge your credits.

2. Postpaid Phone Plan

Pros

1.              No mobile service limit

There really is no limit to the mobile services that you want to purchase. You usually sign up for a set amount every month with a corresponding list of services.

For example, a mobile service provider can give you unlimited minutes on voice and SMS, unlimited data, unlimited roaming data, and up to 300 minutes for international use. On top of that, you can also get a vanity number and a superb device plan for a competitive monthly fee.

However, if you find yourself exceeding the use of voice calls, SMS or data services, you need only pay the amount that went over and beyond your monthly cap.

2.     Lower cost for a new phone

Postpaid plans usually offer very attractive prices for their handsets. Either it comes at no cost for certain monthly packages, or at really discounted rates spread out over the two-year contract period. This way, you can easily pick the phone of your choice.

At times, the latest phones are bundled with postpaid plans as well, which makes it very attractive for those who are fond of following the latest phone trends.

3.     Convenience for family or group use

Usually, phone companies offer postpaid packages for families or large groups who want to share their mobile services.

Aside from the convenience of maintaining just one account, it provides ease of monitoring of the cost for each member.

Cons

1.              Excess usage charges

It varies among carrier companies, but excess usage charges can pile up quite a bit when you are not careful. It is a relief, however, that control packages have been made available for postpaid plans as well.

2.              Sign-up and termination processes

It is common practice for phone service providers to conduct checks on you first before you can subscribe to a postpaid contract. At the same time, termination before the 24-month contract period can translate to filling out forms and hefty fees.

With the pros and cons listed above, you now have a better idea of what the advantages and disadvantages are for each plan type.

It is also essential that you consider what you need and how you use your phone. By taking into account your lifestyle, your budget, and the coverage area that your phone company covers, you can be guided toward choosing the perfect phone plan that caters to your requirements.

AUTHOR BIO

Azhar Abulhamayel is the Head of Marketing - National Segment and High Value at Zain KSA. The company was the first operator in the Middle East to commercially launch the 4G/LTE network. Zain serves +10M customers, has extended its network coverage to 94% of the population, and attracts thousands of new customers daily.

Companies, big or small, must know the importance of proper workplace training. Workplace training can go a long way for the benefit of the company. It can make your employees become more productive and increase employee loyalty. Workplace training can take on different forms, including sending your employees to seminars or conferences, go back to school, or have key speakers to come to the company to make presentations. 

Here, we’ll discuss the importance of workplace training and give you some tips on how to keep your employees interested in it.

1. Improves the performance of your employees.

The performance of your employees also depends on the kind of training you’ve given them. If a company invests in proper workplace training, it will bring positive results which include improved employee performance, among others.

• Employees who went through an extensive training program will be able to perform their duties better, which increases the overall productivity of the company.
• The workplace training program could be anything. It could be designed to boost the confidence of the employees, which will encourage an employee to work harder and better, knowing that they’re extremely capable of the job.

1. Improve employee satisfaction and morale.

Companies investing in proper workplace training means that they value their employees. The training will create a supportive workplace for your employees, where they can work comfortably.

• Workplace training programs can give employees the opportunity to learn more about their job and ways to become better at it. They gain access to training programs that they wouldn't consider by themselves, or other have heard about it.
• Employees who went through workplace training programs will feel appreciated and satisfied; and if employees are satisfied and happy, they will surely like to strive harder for the benefit of the company.

1. Increase consistency.

To address consistency, companies should design a training program that will ensure that all of their employees will have consistent knowledge and experience of the tasks and procedures in the workplace.

• A workplace training program should also be designed to provide consistent knowledge that will ensure all tasks are completed on time without any issues.
• Workplace training should also include the changes in administrative tasks, safety policies, and discrimination policies if there are any. So all your employees will also be in the know.

1. Identify and address any weaknesses.

Even the best employees have weaknesses especially when it comes to their workplace skills. To help your employees overcome their shortcomings, you should provide workplace training programs that focus on strengthening the skills of their employees that need improvement.

• With the help of a proper workplace training program, you have the chance to bring your employees to a higher level and give them similar skills and knowledge.
• With proper workplace training, you get to create a very knowledgeable staff of employees who can take over for one another, if needed. Your employees will be able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Tips How to Make Workplace Training Interesting

As important as workplace training can be, most companies usually find it hard to provide proper training to their employees. The big reasons for this, is perhaps they are unable to keep their employees interested in the training. With that said, here are some tips on how to make your workplace training engaging and interesting for your employees.

• Pick an enthusiastic trainer. You must assign a trainer that is not only knowledgeable about the subject at hand but is also engaging and enthusiastic. An enthusiastic trainer knows how to engage your employees and keep them interested in the training program.
• Establish a connection with your employees. A trainer must create a connection with the employees right away to make them interested in the training program. It’s important that a trainer must earn the trust and respect of the employees so they will believe everything you say once the training starts.
• Have meaningful conversations and avoid lecturing your employees. The training should be dedicated to improving your employee's skills so they can become more productive, happy, and satisfied in the workplace. Your employees will be disinterested with the training program, once they feel that you’re lecturing them. Have meaningful conversations with your employees instead, for the length of the training program and always value their ideas and opinions.
• Use a rewards-based system. There’s nothing wrong with a little competition going on in the workplace. You can even use it to encourage your employees to complete your training programs.

Put simply, workplace training is meant to help make your employees become more skilled and engaged in their job. Companies who invest in proper workplace training programs also make them an ideal attractive employment option. But to make the most out of these benefits, every company should give their employees access to all the training resources and tools. It’s also important that you keep the training program engaging and fun. You can’t expect your employees to learn much from the training programs if they find it boring or disinteresting. Find ways to encourage your employees to complete your training programs and make them understand the benefits of these training programs. If you don’t have the resources to create your own training programs, you can opt to look for workplace training professionals like Go Training to help you train your employees and make them more effective.

Jim Stevenson

Jim Stevenson has worked in training business staff across 20 years. He’s proud to help business clients push their business further by providing ongoing training and assessment of companies across a broad range of industries. He works for Go Training and has a loving wife and two sons.

You're curious what are the most common auto repairs out there and how much it would usually cost you. It's good to be familiar with the facts regarding car repairs, especially if you're considering having something done. So what are the most common auto repairs in cars, and how they get damaged?

1.         Oxygen Sensor Replacements

If your car is usually an older model, then oxygen sensor replacements are the most common problem you will probably encounter. An oxygen sensor is a critical component of your car's exhaust. However, when a car ages, the sensor also becomes worn and would need a replacement. This problem usually occurs if your car has already run for at least 60,000miles.

Cost: Moderately expensive, usually around $250 for the replacement.

2. Spark Plugs and Ignition Coils

Once again, this is another one of the most common causes of repairs for older cars. Both functions spark your ignition chamber as this ignites and bring your engine to life.

Cost: Average cost to get this done would be about $390. However, if not repaired correctly, it can cause you more problems.

3. Catalytic Converter Systems

It functions to neutralize possible risky compounds present in your exhaust system like carbon monoxide. Secondary functions include enhancing the overall car performance of the car as well as increasing gas mileage. Usually, there can be unattended issues with some parts of your exhaust system and in turn, would cause the catalytic converter system to break down.

Cost: New models are being sold at $1,150

4. Fuel Cap Replacements

A loose fuel cap may cause several problems to the fuel tank leading to low performance. It's also a cause of the check engine light. You might think repairs for this wouldn't cost much, but in the long run, a loose fuel cap will cause you hundreds of dollars when it comes to gas mileage over a short amount of time.

Cost: Inexpensive, the price per cap is $15 on average.

5. Replacement of thermostat

Another most common problem of older models is a faulty thermostat. Technically, the thermostat measures your engine's temperature. This type of problem should be fixed as soon as possible because due to strain, your car will damage itself. 

Cost: Moderately expensive, repairs cost about $250

6. Mass Airflow Sensor Replacements

Your MAF Sensor functions to regulate the amount of air entering your engine. The car's system then uses it determine what the ideal air-fuel ratio is for your ignition.

Cost: Average cost of the repair would be $382

7. Solenoid/ EVAP Purge Control Valve

It is the valve that manages your EVAP system to makes sure it works properly. The primary function of the EVAP system would be trapping gas vapors and feeding it back to the engine so that it could decrease emissions that could be harmful.

Cost: Average cost of the repair would be $169

Who wouldn't want to drive a car that will last for many years to come? Whatever problem your car might have, it is advisable to address these concerns as soon possible and see a professional like the ones at St. Louis auto body shops.  Even small car repairs can lead to more serious concerns.

John Masterson

John Masterson is an auto vehicles enthusiast who's been in love with cars since his childhood. He continues to share this passion with others as a writer for Schaefer Auto Body, and aims to spread his love for automobiles and St. Louis auto body shops with his pieces. He reads magazines about cars and the automotive industry during his free time.

When you walk into your home, you want it to be a place where you feel relaxed, comfortable and happy. The best way to do this is by making your home suit your personality. If you don't feel that your living space is tailored to your interests and preferences, there are simple ways to make it feel more like your own. After all, there's nobody better at making a place more "you" than you.

Add an Accent Piece

No matter your design aesthetic, you can find an accent piece that adds a little class, chicness, fun or color to your home that makes it look unique and more personal. Get a bright accent table to spice up a room full of neutrals, or just add a fun blanket to your bedroom. Accent pieces are a great way to make your home more personal because they show off your personality without completely taking over a room. Let this piece be a conversation starter and hog the spotlight a little bit, because it represents you.

Display Personal Memorabilia

We all have some sentimental pieces that we keep around because they're meaningful. This may be an old softball, family pictures or a souvenir from a special trip. Instead of keeping these things hidden away in an attic, put them on display. Surround yourself with memories that make you feel happy or remind you of good times and people. Once you decide on an item or items that you want to display, do a search on Pinterest for artistic ways to do so. You may be surprised at how many ways you can show off your collections.

Find Awesome Artwork

Many people think that artwork should be serious and perfectly match a home, but throw those thoughts to the wind. Find artwork that makes your soul happy and puts a smile on your face because it represents you instead. Keep your eyes peeled because you can find it anywhere — local farmer's markets, Etsy, eBay and more. Really want to make it personal? Find an artist you love and commission a work of art that's made just for you, or create a piece on your own

Create a Space for Hobbies

What more personalization could you ask for than an area of your home solely dedicated to doing what you enjoy? If you like to paint or draw, designate a room or even a corner of a room as your studio. Get an easel and a desk, and dedicate yourself to making that space special. Film buff? Set up some shelves to display your collection and get some movie decor to make it your very own home theater. Even if you don't have a hobby that can benefit from an indoor space, find a way to highlight one of your interests and show off something you are passionate about.

Personalizing your home is an important step in being comfortable where you live. If your place is decorated like a stranger is living there, you will not likely enjoy living there as much as is possible. From accent pieces to funky artwork, let your personality shine in every room.

After someone you love dies, you may think that your relationship with him or her is already finished. You may even assume that the very best thing that you should do is let go of him/her emotionally and get over your family, friend, or lover’s passing.

It may even be hard for you to bring up his or her name in a normal conversation. And no one can blame you, as it’s always painful to remember the things that you and that person have shared. However, the question is, does anybody ever get over losing someone they cared for?

Every person mourns the loss of a loved one differently. And the way you grieve may change in time. But your relationship with that person never breaks, and it’s never over. The things that you and your loved one shared live on. As long as you’re breathing and living, those memories are alive, too.

Why Remembering Is Important

The mourning of someone you care for is hard, and going through the different stages of grief is healthy for you and people close to you. If you work through your pain and suffering now, you’ll equip yourself with the knowledge that you are creating a better future for yourself. And if you find a way to remember your deceased loved one, you’ll be able to cope with the loss better.

Tips on Keeping the Memory Alive

1. Talk to him/her.

This does not mean that you’re going crazy. In fact, a lot, if not all, of those who have lost a parent, a child, a lover, or a friend do this. Doing this can bring you comfort when you miss him or her the most. You can talk about:

• How you miss him or her
• How your day was
• Your problems

Talk to him or her as if your loved one was there. This is a good way of continuing your relationship with your loved one.

1. Write letters to the deceased person.

This is an activity that you can do on your computer, in your journal or in an actual letter. And you can either choose to keep these letters, throw them away, or read it to your loved one at their gravesite. You can get creative by drawing on the letter, creating a collage, or inserting pictures of you. No matter what you decide to do, writing a letter is a way of staying connected with your loved one in the moment. This is almost the same as talking to the deceased person but in a written form.

1. Keep pictures of him/her around.

You may encounter some people, like a jealous wife or husband, who are not comfortable with you doing this. However, you shouldn’t let that hinder you, as having those photos around can help you keep your relationship with the deceased.

If there are people who are uncomfortable with the photos, talk to them and tell them how your dead loved influenced your life. Let them understand that the deceased person has been part of your life, and has enabled you to crossed paths with people you are with now.

1. Incorporate him or her into the special days of your life.

You can sit down with your family and friends and talk about how you can involve and honor the deceased person in special events. Talking about it with them will help you gain ideas on how to include your loved one. Plus, it will make them understand why you are doing this.

You can incorporate your loved one by:

• Adding an empty chair at the dining table
• Making a toast to him or her
• Lighting a candle for him or her

1. Ask yourself what you think he or she would’ve said.

There are times when you have to make choices and it can be tough, especially if you don’t know what to do. And it can be tougher when the person that you used to talk about these things with is gone. You no longer have the person who can tell you what you need to do and what are the considerations that you need to make.

However, even if your loved one is gone, you can still ask for his/her advice. You can imagine talking to him or her and thinking about what would he or she say. Think about how your dear one would tackle the problem with you.

1. Talk about the deceased with people that you just met.

In your walks of life, frequently, you’ll meet new people who later become an essential part of your life. These people are essential to you; this is why it’s important that you talk to them about people who were part of your life, including the deceased people.

The new people may be:

• Your friends
• Your new lover
• A new member of the family

Doing this will help you ensure that your loved one’s memory lives on while you are moving forward with your life.

Get Legal Help

The death of someone you care for can be painful, and you can minimize this difficulty by contacting a lawyer who can help you with the legal issues after someone’s passing. You need to have a reliable lawyer who can help you deal with the property the deceased has left behind and other considerations. He or she can also help you deal with things such as withdrawing money from the bank account and getting a death certificate.

Your Past, Your Present, and Your Future

The important thing that you should remember is that even if your loved one has passed away, your relationship and the memories that you both have shared live on. You can still sustain your bond with him or her as the years pass by. You can honor the memory and legacy of your loved one with the help of the tips we have given above and even create new ways to do so.

Like other types of road accidents, bicycle accidents can also be deadly. If you want to get compensated for the losses sustained by your family, you can click here to know more about your legal options.

Joanne Reed

Joanne Reed has been writing about law and business for almost a decade, and is currently writing her next big law project. She is an avid sports fan and loves watching games if she has free time.

Health is wealth. As much as you take good care of yourself, you should always be ready for anything that may unexpectedly happen. While the public hospital system can’t guarantee everything, private health insurance is available to help you take more control over your health. If you’re unsure about the idea of signing up for a plan, here’s what you need to know about a private health fund.

Things to know about Private Health Funds

A private health fund is designed to help you control your health. It works in a way that when you need an operation or treatment, you’ll have a say as to how and where it should be done. For instance, private health funds generally cover the following categories:

• Hospital cover

This type of cover allows you to choose your doctor who’ll treat you. Also, you can decide whether you want to be treated in a private or public hospital. What’s important here is the fact that if you are admitted to a private hospital, you’ll have a choice as to when you would want to be treated in the hospital.

• General treatment cover

This provides insurance for some or all costs of treatments by auxiliary health service providers. However, the type of policy you’re going to select would determine the extent of your general treatment cover. The services included in this type of cover include dental treatment, prostheses, podiatry, home nursing and glasses and contact lens.

• Ambulance cover

While Medicare cannot shoulder everything about the cost of emergency services, you can contribute to this type of cover as part of your private health fund. However, keep in mind that your ambulance cover options vary depending on where you live in.

Reasons why you should get a private health fund

In most cases, maintaining your health can be financially draining. And without health insurance, you may find it difficult to afford an expensive medical service. If you don’t want to be out of pocket when you’re ill, you should think of considering the following reasons why you should get a private health fund:

1. It can save you thousands of dollars on your tax obligations.

Having a private health insurance fund can help you get savings of thousands of dollars on your taxes.

• While health services have become more expensive nowadays, it would still be difficult on your part if you end up needing to spend an excessive amount of money for your medical treatments.
• For instance, Australian taxpayers who earn above a particular income are required to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
• If you want to be exempted from this surcharge, getting a private health fund can be an excellent option.

2. It can reduce your waiting periods.

If you depend upon the public health system, the possibility of waiting for a longer time before you’ll be treated could be something you face.

• Have you ever asked yourself as to how long you’re willing to wait to be treated in a public system? This is a common line of questions you’ll probably encounter when dealing with medical services.
• However, having a private health fund can provide you with higher chances to select your own doctor. This situation is entirely dissimilar in a public hospital, where they’ll be the one to assign a doctor for your health needs.
• Typically, if you’re a private patient, you can take advantage of shorter waiting periods for your treatments.
• For example, if you need to undergo an immediate kidney surgery, your private health insurance can find a way to accommodate your needs at the earliest time possible. It means that the shorter the wait, the better it is for your medical condition.

3. It can give you peace of mind and control over your health.

Signing up for private health insurance can help reduce your worries when unexpected events may happen.

• Depending on the type of your cover, you and your family may be able to gain control over your treatments.
• While money is always an important consideration when it comes to health, private insurance may be suitable for you.
• Also, you can make the most out of your hospital cover as you get the opportunity to have the medical practitioner of your choice to attend to your medical needs.
• You just have to go to your fund’s participating hospital, get admitted there and hopefully avoid the long waiting periods.

4. It covers for other things excluded in your Medicare.

Remember, not all medical services are covered by your Medicare.

• Like other problems, matters about becoming fit and healthy should always be of paramount importance. That’s why taking extras cover can assist you in paying for health benefits such as therapies and even massages.
• Also, extras cover can be the only way to go when you need assistance for other health services such as dental, chiropractic and even glasses.

When you’re healthy, you can do so much with your life. One of the best ways to attend to your mental and physical well being is by making the most out of some medical services. And with a private health insurance fund, you can maintain good health without shelling out an enormous amount of money. By taking note of the information mentioned in this article, we hope we’re able to help you decide whether having one can efficiently work for you and your family’s welfare.

Jessica Wilson

Jessica is a professional health expert who works for some major health industry giants. She currently writes for Membersown and is dedicated to helping people learn more about health related topics along the journey. When she's not a health advocate, she enjoys some down time traveling or talking with family.

Are you looking to travel to the United States? Well, in order to do so you must be prepared and make sure that you secure and bring along with you the essential travel documents before coming to the United States.

Here are a couple of tips to help you prepare for US travel and secure the essential travel documents you need.

What is US ESTA?

ESTA is the easiest and fastest way to arrive in the united States. It is a simplified version of the regular visa application which aims to provide easy access to the US. Eligible citizens from specific countries are pre-screened online.

• All you have to do is to complete an online application form which includes personal information and answer a couple of questions regarding health and safety.
• Once you complete the online application, you will immediately know if it has been approved or denied. In fact, the process is so fast that you can know if your application has been approved or denied after only a couple of seconds.
• The entire application process can take less than 10 minutes. You don’t have to pay for interview fees, meet appointment requirements, or prepare any proof or evidence.

If you are an eligible candidate from a country that’s part of VWP and want to travel to the US, applying for ESTA is your best choice.

What is VWP?

VWP, which stands for Visa Waiver Program, is a program organized by the government of the United States that grants citizens from specific countries authorization to travel to the country with a purpose of business or tourism and stay there for no more than ninety days, without a visa.

Travelers who wish to enter US under the VWP must first apply for ESTA (Electronic System Travel Authorisation) prior to traveling to the country.

When Should You Apply for ESTA?

Travelers who wish to enter the US under VWP must apply for ESTA more than 72 hours before departure.

• Moreover, it is advised that you apply for ESTA as early as when you have the travel dates, should your application be denied. This will also help give you a good amount of time to secure a visa from the US Embassy which can take up to two months just to get an appointment.
• It is also advised to undergo ESTA application prior to paying for your travel tickets, just in case your application is denied.
• Even if you don’t have any goals to travel to the US, you are still allowed to apply for ESTA just in case. For instance, if the nature of your work may require you to make an emergency trip to the US, you may want to apply for ESTA just in case of a future or unexpected trip to the country.

What Important Details or Documents are Required to Apply for ESTA?

With the recent changes enforced by the current US administration regarding those who wish to apply for ESTA, citizens or nationals from participating countries are now required to provide:

• Basic background information;
• Passport information;
• Current and past employment details;
• An address in the US; and
• Emergency contact information.

If you have a valid, existing ESTA document, you are still allowed to continue traveling to or from the US, until it expires or the circumstances have changed.

How to Apply for ESTA and How Much Does it Cost?

The only way to apply for ESTA is to do it online.

• You must go to the ESTA website and complete an online application form.
• The application process should only take no more than 10 minutes, especially if you have your passport details with you.

Apparently, an ESTA application can cost you $88 which already includes the $14 charged by the US government. Moreover, all ESTA applications must be submitted at least three to four days prior to departure.

How Long is ESTA Valid?

Once approved, your ESTA is eligible for two years’ worth of usage. It could also be less if your passport will expire within two years. Your ESTA will allow you to travel to the US for up to 90 days within two years after the application was granted.

Reasons That Your ESTA Application Could Be Denied

There are many reasons why your ESTA application could be denied, here are some of them.

• Your application is incomplete or includes incorrect information. A simple typo is enough to deny your application especially when it comes to your passport details.
• You have committed a serious crime in the past. If you have a criminal history, then it’s more likely that your ESTA application will be denied.
• You have a communicable disease. If you have AIDS, HIV, or HEP C, your application will be denied immediately.

If you have more questions regarding ESTA Visa guidelines for US travel, don’t hesitate to talk to a travel consultant.

Kimberley Jones

Kimberley is a travel enthusiast who enjoys visiting new places with her visa. While on her journey around the world she loves to write about her experiences. She has written for many different travel related sites such as Esta-formulaire.us and enjoys living life to the fullest.

With that being the case, how will you stand up to this illness that can change your life in a moment once diagnosed?

For some individuals, they will rely on what advice their doctor puts forth for them.

For others, the option of natural cancer therapy is the way to go.

So, how much control will you have when battling cancer?

Exploring Your Options

As you look to take the battle to cancer, it is important to remember that you more times than not will have options.

In looking at those natural therapies, you want to keep learning as much as you can about such treatments.

While chemo and radiation may prove fruitful for some, others know both can damage good cells too. As a result, one is not only weakened, but could actually be reducing their chances of survival.

In taking a more natural approach to fighting cancer, you can do the following:

• Look at meditation – If you’ve never been one to meditate up to now, is it time you try it? Meditation can do wonders from both a physical and mental aspect. As you look to build up your immune system, you also want to have a positive attitude moving ahead. By meditating and doing other related therapies, you could be at more peace. Doing so could give you the upper-hand.

• Relieve the stress – Are you someone who seems to stress over the smallest of things? If the answer is yes, that is not going to help you in your battle with cancer. Do all you can to remove the stress sensors in your life. One of the more common ones is work. If you find that your job is stressing you out, see how you can lower the stress level. It may mean finding another job at the end of the day. Another stress issue can be finances. If money has you too stressed out, look to see how you can change that. It may very well correlate with your job situation. If you do not have enough money coming in to handle your bills etc. try to change that. No matter how you go about reducing stress, your body will appreciate it. As part of that appreciation, it will in all hopes lead to fewer sleepless nights.
• Positive attitude – Last, do you have a positive attitude? Unfortunately, too many people would have to say no to that question. With a positive attitude in-hand, you are able to stand taller against cancer. Look for the positive things in your life and not focus on the negative. As an example, do you have a child who has a wedding down the road? What about an anniversary you want to celebrate with your significant other in a few years? By having special times and dates to look forward to, you will be more inclined to keep fighting cancer.

In doing all you can to be in control, make sure you find the treatment program best suited to your needs.

At the end of the day, you have to decide what is best for you.

However, one thing’s for sure: You will find yourself longing for the familiarity of your motherland. There will be days when all you want are the flavors of home. There will be moments during your challenging work week when your family’s encouraging words and their physical presence are what you need to keep on going.

Suffice it to say, a potentially bad case of homesickness can inflict you. You may find yourself entertaining thoughts of heading back home even if you had exerted a lot of effort and paid a considerable amount of money toward procuring a work visa.

Homesickness, however, is not a terminal disease. More often than not, time can heal it. But if you wish to expedite the process of getting over your homesickness, you need to be quite intentional in overcoming it.

Leading immigration consultants in Dubai give five unconventional strategies that are known to work for first-time immigrants dealing with homesickness.

1.     Create a new ritual

One of the most reliable ways of dealing with loneliness is by knowing all the things you do on a day-to-day basis. A ritual takes that to a whole new level because it’s repeated action and intention.

You can create and perform a ritual to beat your need to latch onto what is familiar. Your ritual can be deliberately about forming new relationships in your community and nurturing them. These new relationships and activities can spark joy in the life you currently lead.

2.     Continue an old hobby

This is not only an effective way to distract you from the tendency to think about what you’ve left behind; it can also tie you back to the roots of your personal enjoyment.

One of the scary things about homesickness is that it makes you uncertain about your life. But you can balance this out with accomplishments in a different area of life, like activities you can fall back on to keep your mind and body preoccupied and productive. A hobby is a great source of continuity.

3.     Reconnect with your old ties through one specific activity

Take a cue from Asian immigrants everywhere in the world. Most of them get over homesickness easily because they stay in touch with the interests of loved ones back home.

Koreans, for example, they reconnect through their K-dramas, which are viewable online and certain cable channels. It often seems like they never left Seoul because they get to watch beloved TV shows in real time and exchange stories with family back home through Skype.

4.     Take lessons on local culture

Many people feel no need for this, but this can actually help you to build more connections faster and make your life in a new country less lonely. Get educated on the local lifestyle and activities at a culture center so you can try interesting new things and feel more like you belong in your new environment.

Most of the time, what intensifies homesickness is the unwillingness to accept that a new country can also be “home.” By being more open to this possibility, you can struggle less and slowly build strong connections similar to what you had where you came from.

5.     Deliberately be active in the community.

Embrace your new home. Take part in the activities. If you can’t find events to attend, get in touch with your local council and provide your contact details so they can reach out to you should something come up. This is a wonderful way to get busy and meet folks.

Pining for your motherland is understandable, but always remember the reason why you have decided to migrate, and make the best out of the situation. With a positive mindset and deliberate efforts, from feeling homesick, you will soon feel like you have indeed found an equally great home away from home.

AUTHOR BIO

Bevan Berning is an Immigration professional and owner of Pathway Visas, an Immigration Agency dealing mostly with skilled immigration to Canada and Australia. Bevan’s enthusiasm for the industry has kept in the Immigration field for the past seven years. Bevan is South African by birth and has been residing in Dubai for the past eight years.

There’s nothing more painful than a loved one passing away, but it can bewilder you when you find out all about the financial and legal steps that you need to take to settle a dead loved one’s affairs. Your spouse might have passed away and as they handled all of your finances, you’re left overwhelmed and uninformed. Or you must be probating a property that you know little about, or the property might be scattered into different accounts. Probating can feel intimidating, but if you understand the process and working with an expert, you’ll execute your duties with ease.

What is Probate?

Probate is the process of passing on an estate or property of a deceased person to an heir or beneficiary named in his/her will. It’s used to describe the distribution of the estate or the process of dividing the property legally in court.

The probate court supervises the process which can take up to a year. An appointed executor or personal representative has the responsibility of overseeing the whole process. If the deceased doesn’t have a will, it can make the process more complicated.

Steps to Take to Start Probate

1. File to become an executor

Every state has laws governing the notification of the concerned parties of a deceased property or estate. You’ll be notified how much time they can file a claim against it. The announcement can be in the form of an obituary in the local newspaper or mail.

If the deceased didn’t leave a will, as an heir, you must file a petition to become an executor. If you’re an heir, you should submit to the state court where the deceased stayed while he/she was alive. The state court decides who to appoint the executor. Normally, a spouse is first in line, then the children, parents, and other next of kin.

2. Collect all the deceased person’s assets

If you’re the executor, you have to make an inventory of the deceased person’s property and submit it to the court. You should do this as soon as you can, and prepare to consolidate everything. To make everything simple, all the bills of the deceased should be paid from a single checking account.

3. Pay all the bills of the deceased

Even if someone dies, the bills would still keep coming. You need to ensure that you pay the bills such as utilities and storage fees. Bills like medical bills and taxes would only be paid after the probate has concluded. If you’ve used your own money to pay the bills, make sure to keep records, so you’ll be reimbursed.

4. File the last tax income return of the deceased

As an executor, you should never forget to pay for the last income tax return of the deceased. If any of his/her property is still earning, you need to file a separate tax identification number to track its earnings and tax consequences.

5. Distribute the property or estate to heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors

As an executor, you can only distribute the assets after all the existing loans and credits of the deceased has been paid. You also need to reserve an amount for costs of closing out the estate.

6. File the final account

You need to file a detailed account with the probate court. Make sure to include all tax filings, payments made and distributions of the deceased property. After the court approves the final statement, you’ll be able to distribute the remaining funds. Then, your work is done.

Tips to Make Probate Easier

Secure all the tangible property.

All the properties that you can touch should be immediately appraised, don’t let any family pass it around or take it away. Hold off any distribution until the court says so.

Take your time.

Make sure that before you take any action, give the family time to grieve. And when going through the process, take your time so that everything would be done right.

Meet up with a lawyer.

Before taking any steps mentioned above, be sure to consult a lawyer. The lawyer will help you organize everything, and help you to make sure everything is done right and according to law.

Losing someone you care for can be very devastating, and going through probate can make the feelings worse. That’s why, as an executor, you need to handle it with much care. Meticulous record-keeping can be very helpful when it comes to handling probate. Finding a lawyer who will give you sound advice can make the process shorter and more comfortable, not only for you but also for the family and friends of the deceased. This is a difficult time, but probate doesn’t have to make it worse.

Danielle Grate

Daniel Grate is a professional writer in the law industry. She currently writes pieces on various law topics for the common reader. In her spare time she spends quality time with her family and friends.

Disclaimer: This article should not be treated as legal advice. It’s recommended that readers still consult legal counsel and contact a lawyer should they have any concerns regarding tax evasion.

Part of what it means to be a citizen is to pay taxes, as these allow us to help the government gain the necessary funding in order to help its projects be successful in the pursuit of public service. Taxes pave way to government funding, which in turn paves way to a lot of perks and programs that help us have fruitful lives where we live.

Of course, this also means taxes are part of our obligations. These come in many forms, such as taxes on services and things we buy, or a deduction in our paychecks. Annual tax reports must be submitted as well in order to prove that all our accounts and balances are in check, lest we risk tax evasion, its penalties and other consequences. If you want to be familiar with the nature of tax evasion and its various implications, do read along.

The Dangers of Not Filing Taxes

Not filing your tax returns on time can actually pose serious consequences and potential penalties on your end, which can go beyond getting interest. It may be important for you to learn what these consequences are in order to fully understand the importance of being able to file your returns when needed.

We do however recommend that it's best if you consult a lawyer and a financial professional should you have any concerns regarding the implications of not being able to do your taxes properly. The consequences and penalties to be elaborated upon below depend on the degree and the severity of the conditions involved, and specific situations can make changes to these penalties.

Here are some tax evasion penalties and other consequences you should be aware of.

Penalties, Interest

If you are found guilty of acting because you want to avoid paying taxes to the IRS, you can actually have fines of up to $250,000. The fines can still apply even if you're not charged with a tax evasion case especially if you file your tax returns two months or 60 days after the date it is due.

• This might be the reason why it's recommended you file your tax return, regardless if you can or can't pay in full, because the documentation also matters.
• Another reason why paying on time counts is because the IRS is obligated by law to actually add interest charges if you don't pay on time. This starts adding up if you don't pay on the due date regardless of your extension until you pay what you owe to its fullest. When we say "full payment," this now includes all penalty charges and interest rates, the latter of which can actually change quarterly.
• Of course, failing to pay the IRS on time can make your credit suffer, and a low credit rating may not be helpful if you want a loan.

The other set of penalties related to tax evasion don't necessarily immediately relate to money.

• Sometimes, your properties and benefits can be at risk as well. For instance, if you do owe money to the IRS, there's a chance that 15-percent of your benefits from Social Security will be taken monthly until you are able to pay in full.
• Your property may also receive a federal tax lien, which can be used as a legal claim to your property. This is automatically given to your property when you don't pay your amount due 10 days after a tax assessment has been made. There will be a notice that states a demand for payment and the taxes owed. The IRS can also file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien that will be placed in public records, which then informs creditors that the IRS now has a claim to all sorts of properties you own.
• This means that there's an opportunity that a levy to your property will also be given. The IRS has an opportunity to levy or seize your property if this helps you pay your debt.
• Your passport may not be renewed if the IRS tells the Department of State that you haven't been paying your tax debts appropriately.

Criminal Charges, Potential Sentence

Sometimes, penalties can get severe enough that you may find yourself facing criminal charges. If you've been found guilty of committing tax evasion, you can actually go to prison for as much as five years. This is because tax evasion is a felony, which means the United States Attorney's Office can actually prosecute you in the federal court.

If you want to read more on specific potential penalties for tax evasion, here's a list from the IRS.

Conclusion

The penalties and consequences of tax evasion as seen above can depend on a variety of conditions and situations. This means it's important that we get a basic understanding of how our taxes work and understand how important they are when it comes to our responsibilities as a citizen. Much of the benefits we have now as citizens are all thanks to the taxes we give the government, as these are responsible for a lot of services that we are receiving today.

If you look at your reports and see some discrepancies, we recommend you ask your legal counsel on the best approach on having these information corrected.

As you may have read above, tax evasion penalties and other consequences are different based on a variety of factors. It's important to have a basic idea of how these factors work and how you can avoid these situations, as it can get tricky to pay back taxes when cases like these are put into consideration. Should you have things to clarify, it's best to consult a lawyer, a legal professional, and a financial professional on the matter. These laws can change depending on where you live, and on the specifics of your situation.

Anne McGee

Anne McGee has over 20 years of experience writing about law subjects where she hopes her knowledge can help the common reader understand law topics that may be of relevance to their daily lives. If she's not reading a good book, then chances are Anne is jogging during her free time.

Disclaimer: the material presented in the article below should only be considered as a general overview regarding bankruptcy. Should you, or anyone you know, find yourselves in a bankruptcy situation, it’s best that you speak to an attorney who’s well versed in bankruptcy. He/she can help you decide on the best legal actions to take.

When building a business, no one looks forward to one day filing for bankruptcy. At times, no matter how hard you’d try, you’ll still find yourself in a position where your empire is on the brink of tumbling down. You’ll then see yourself deep in debt, and possibly considering filing for bankruptcy. Worrisome thoughts would then come, and to add to the stress, you’d also need to fend off collection calls, lay off employees, and find ways to cope. Filing for bankruptcy can be complicated and confusing, and your future hangs in the balance. However, if you know what to consider when you’re looking into bankruptcy, you can be more prepared and be able to start anew.

1. Bankruptcy takes time. On average, from the time you’ll file for bankruptcy until the time that you’ll receive your discharge can take four months up to five years, depending on the case.

                        Length of Each Bankruptcy Case:

• Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • It can take up to four months to complete if your case is not complicated and you don’t get any objections.
• Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
  • This can take up to a full year or more. Mostly, it begins the same as a Chapter 7 case, but requires multiple hearings and gives more time to business owners to get back on their feet.
• Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
  • It can take up to five years; which would allow you to pay your debts while also paying for your properties.

2. Bankruptcy would require you to open up your finances to the public. As soon as you file for bankruptcy, everything gets scrutinized. You’ll need to submit bankruptcy schedules, which requires you to list your assets, income, expenses, and any recent financial transactions.
   1. You’ll also need to meet with creditors, and they’ll ask you probing questions that would feel invasive, even if they’ll try to make it as dignified as possible.
   2. Bankruptcy proceedings are held in public, unless under extreme circumstances.
   3. Filing for bankruptcy is like airing your dirty laundry; it can be embarrassing and uncomfortable.

3. You need to be honest and disclose everything. Remember that when you’re filing for bankruptcy, honesty is of utmost importance.
   1. If you’re dishonest, and the court discovers it, you may not only end up losing the bankruptcy discharge but also end up facing an investigation by the FBI.
4. Bankruptcy is a complicated process and would require much of your attention. Bankruptcy forms are complex; they contain tricky questions about your finances.
   1. You need to consult your lawyer when filling out these forms, so you’d have a better understanding and avoid mistakes that would cost you money, property, or your freedom.
      
      

5. The bankruptcy discharge is personal. The ultimate goal of filing for bankruptcy is to get a discharge.
   1. A discharge prevents your creditors from attempting to collect payment for your debts.
   2. Bankruptcy discharges, however, are personal and can only protect you. This means that if you have outstanding debts co-signed with someone, the creditors can still collect from your co-signer.

6. Filing for bankruptcy is expensive. Filing for bankruptcy can cost a significant amount of money, and this may be unhelpful to you when you’re already in financial ruins.
   1. The amount that you need to pay for an attorney can significantly affect the total amount that you may need. And even if you decide to prepare and file your case, the fees are also substantial.

                        Costs:

• Filing Fees
  • The price for filing a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is $335, while Chapter 13 costs $310.
• Conversion Fees
  • If you’d want to convert your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy to a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, it would cost you nothing, but if you would do the reverse, it would cost you $25.
• Courses
  • You would also be required to take credit counseling or financial management course, which would cost around $20 - $100.

7. Your credit will be affected for years if you file for bankruptcy. After you file for bankruptcy, your credit score will be affected for years.
   1. Most creditors will shut you out, and if someone loans you money, you’ll get charged substantial interest.
   2. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy usually remains on your credit report for ten years.
   3. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy may remain on your credit report for up to ten years, but usually wears off after seven years.

Bankruptcy is not anything anybody would want, but some circumstances are unavoidable. If your debts are high, and you’re held responsible for them, you should contact an experienced lawyer as soon as you can. He/she would help you figure out the best legal actions that you should take. You may have suffered losses, and it isn’t easy, but if you avoid critical mistakes, you can still get back up.

Gerald Stevens

Gerald Stevens has dedicated much of his life to law, and his pieces as a writer for Dove Law Firm are imbued with his wisdom obtained from over 20 years of experience in business. Gerald enjoys hanging out with his grandchildren when he has the free time.