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The Benefits of Volunteer Work
Putting Down Some Roots
Life Insurance after Retirement
 Is
Your Office on Wheels?
Author: Beth Flarida
Picture the Scene: You're a busy go-getter who's in outside sales and
your vehicle is your office. You have, at times, forgotten to bring along
important contracts, files or working papers while you're on the road. Your car
is your office, and yet it's not functional.
When working from your "car office" you want to have only the things you
really, really need, because space is at a premium.
That said, the easiest way to create a workable "office on wheels" is to
ensure it duplicates your actual office as closely as possible. It will make
your working in both spaces simpler if they have the same set up. This will
also make replenishing your forms, supplies, samples and anything else you have
to carry easier.
You want to actually schedule a time to replenish, perhaps weekly, or at
whatever interval works for you. You don't ever want to get caught without
the right sample, contract or whatever.
What I mean by duplicating your actual office is that you should create
identical files (name them the same). Keep them in the same order and keep the
same ones together. It will be a smaller version, but still functional.
Think about putting packets of paperwork you need for each client together,
so you only have to grab a packet when you see them, not a whole bunch of
individual papers. Collate the papers ahead of time so you don't even have to
think about it when you get there.
There are many, many different kinds of crates and boxes out there to buy.
Think about the function you need it to perform before you buy it. Do you
need a box to be in the trunk and you just pull a few things out at a time? Do
you need some kind of a crate for files that you will bring into your clients
office? Think boxwheels if you do! Do you need something to sit on the seat
beside you that you actually work out of all day long?
Can you leave you things in the car when you get home or to the corporate
office? Do you need to bring them in? Perhaps they are valuable or temperature
sensitive.
Another consideration is whether or not you also need your trunk for
groceries, etc. If that's the case, and they have to be removed fairly
regularly, think about having handles on your boxes or crates.
These are all questions to ask yourself BEFORE you spend any money.
A great place to look for just the right product is The Container Store. They
have pretty much anything you could want in attractive colors and styles.
Happy Organizing!
About the author:
Organizer for business -
Beth Flarida has been providing Professional Organizing Services for businesses
since 1991. Visit Beth at
http://www.GetBeth.com
and sign up for her free weekly newsletter, Answers From The Organizer®.
Claim your 60-minute
office
organizing makeover and jumpstart your organizational goals!
Top of page
 It
is easy to recognize the benefits of volunteer work to those who take advantage
of the services provided. But don't underestimate the benefits to you personally
when you undertake this kind of work. Volunteering can provide you with a way to
meet new people, expand your skills, and boost your self-esteem. You will gain
career experience along the way as well. Make sure any volunteer work you do is
noted on your resume. If you are unsure of what direction your career is taking,
exploring different opportunities through volunteering is a great way to test
the waters. You also are networking as you work. You are meeting people in a
field you are interested in, who could become important contacts by either
offering you a job or highly recommending you for one.
Where should you volunteer? A good place to start is anywhere that you would
be interested working. Follow your interests or career path. Approach an
organization or company, and ask if they accept volunteers. Be honest about your
ability to commit to a certain amount of time and what types of jobs you would
be interested in. You may be surprised at all of the opportunities out there.
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 While
you may think of the growing season as lasting from spring to the end of summer,
the fall months are actually a great time for tree planting. The cooler weather
gives newly planted trees a chance to establish roots during the dormant season
before the next growing season begins. Once warmer weather and spring rains
start, the tree will begin focusing on top growth.
To properly plant your tree, you should first take care to identify all
underground utilities prior to digging your hole. A tree should be planted in a
hole that is about three times the diameter of the root ball, but only as deep
as the root ball. This gives the roots an easy way to push through the
surrounding, loosened soil as its roots grow.
Be sure to plant your tree at the proper height. The trunk flare, the area of
the trunk where the roots spread at the base of the tree, should still be
visible. If you plant your tree too deeply, the roots may have trouble getting
enough oxygen for proper development. You can plant your tree about two to three
inches above the trunk flare. This will allow for settling. Fill the hole gently
but firmly. The soil should not be compacted down, but you do want to eliminate
air pockets around the roots. You can alternate adding soil and water to help
remove these air pockets.
Finally, stake the tree if necessary to provide stability. You should stake
if your tree is in a high traffic area or if your area experiences very windy
conditions. Add mulch around the base of the tree to help hold in moisture
around the root area. Water your newly planted tree at least once a week or more
often if you experience hot dry weather. If you are planting during the fall
months, water weekly until early November. You can then reduce your watering
schedule to once every two to four weeks.
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The need for life insurance seems obvious when you are in your working years
and have dependents to support. But once you retire, you should be able to get
rid of your life insurance, right? Well, it is not that simple. Although you may
have no income to replace and no children at home, there are some good reasons
to continue your life insurance coverage. These include:
- - Funeral costs
- - Mortgage payments
- - Debt payments
- - Charitable gifts
- - Estate taxes
Life insurance proceeds generally pass tax free to the beneficiary at the
time of your death. However, if your assets are large enough, there may be
additional estate taxes. Talk to your tax and legal advisors about establishing
an irrevocable life insurance trust to handle this situation.
If your spouse will be in need of financial assistance, you should consider
continuing your life insurance coverage. You may find that you can reduce the
amount of your policy once you hit retirement age. If you have a life insurance
plan through your employer, you should check to see if you are eligible to
continue that coverage after you retire or whether you need to purchase your own
policy.
Life insurance offers peace of mind for you and your family. By understanding
your insurance needs both before and after retirement, you can ensure that your
family is well protected.
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Plan to be spontaneous tomorrow.
I can resist anything but temptation.
To succeed in politics, it is often necessary to rise above your principles.
You can't have everything. Where would you put it?
I've only been wrong once, and that's when I thought I was wrong.
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