In a capitalistic society, money talks. When money-spending consumers want something in particular, manufacturers and the sales force will bend over backwards to provide it in exchange for that money. It happens frequently that someone will have an idea for something that is relatively new and uniqu
For most adults, having a job is necessary. It’s comforting if you’ve got a job with a stable and strong company. Not having a regular income that is sufficient to pay bills creates debilitating levels of stress. For whatever reason, what would happen if you lost your job? There is comfort in job se
In a modern society with people living and working in comfort, consumers are faced with the costs of electricity, water, gas and other utilities. Utilities are regulated by the government and provided by businesses. Government helps to maintain safety. Businesses do the actual work of creating and p
Discounts are almost always offered in percentages off. Only 1% to 5% off is not a very appealing discount offer. 10% to 15% off feels like it’s still going to be an expensive purchase. 70% to 90% off has an air of damage, trouble or at least being old. 50% off seems like a fantastic deal! If I can
Often, companies utilize names or likenesses of famous people to influence consumers. That can be expensive. A cheaper marketing tactic is to simply provide statistics and other data to show popularity. Consumer protection groups or consumers themselves might do the work of comparing products. Compa
It’s easy to see ads when we spend time on our smartphones, especially when using social media applications. Many of the ads are interesting, but not all advertisers are scrupulous. You could be convinced to provide credit card information and make a purchase. However, sometimes you do not get what
When a crime is committed, a guilty person is sentenced to spend time in prison. Certainly, we want bad guys behind bars. Prison time is both a punishment and a deterrent. The high cost of incarceration deserves careful consideration. Building and maintaining prisons is vastly expensive. Keeping a s
Knowledge is power. Knowledge is obtained through both experience and education. A formal education almost always requires a significant financial investment. In many cases, parents invest money for the benefit of their children’s futures. Are the results of formal education worth the financial inve
Businesses look for ways to promote their goods and services to the public. Coupons are sometimes used to provide a discount or a free item to consumers. Business operators hope that a consumer will become a repeat customer if they can be lured into a transaction at least once through the use of a c
Consumers rightfully expect to be treated with honesty and fairness. Business operators are often dishonest and cheat in various ways. Making a purchase sometimes can feel like a battle for fairness. Rates for services should be clearly posted so that consumers know in advance how much money they wi
There is a powerful fire of determination burning inside some people. They are highly motivated to work hard toward achieving objectives. For some, it’s hard to slow down or stop working because they are driven to keep going, no matter the obstacles. They seem to thrive on the challenge of solving o
Whether or not you are satisfied with your income might depend on what you can do with the money that you have. If you are paying your monthly bills and your family is safe, healthy and comfortable, you are doing well. If your family members have food to eat several meals per day, have a variety of
The costs of operations are the most significant aspect of almost any project or program. Materials, promotional efforts, labor and administration eat up budgets almost overnight. Along the chain from start to finish, the more hands that are connected to the funds, the more costs there are. Without
Earned income helps to pay for goods and services necessary to keep people living in safety, health and comfort. What is the course of action when income is not enough to pay for basic needs? Some people turn to family for extra financial support. That option is not always available. When a citizen
It costs money to live comfortably. Luxury items are often prohibitively expensive. However, one of the greatest expenses that also comes with a degree of fear and pain is illness. Illness causes pain, but can also destroy a person’s financial stability. A personal illness or even an illness in the
Cash is only one facet of wealth. Property, art, precious metals and precious stones can have great financial value, as well. The worth of gem stones is often determined by what is done with them. A raw gem stone directly out of the ground has potential value, but if not cleaned and not cut, it’s va
Merchants are acutely aware of the profit margins of the items they are selling. They know how much they invested to obtain the items that they are selling and they know how much a buyer is willing to pay to own those items. That knowledge allows them to be somewhat flexible in regard to selling pri
Grocery stores and supermarkets have to consider expirations dates for the items they sell. When some of those items are getting close to expiring, the items might be relocated to a space in the market where consumers are notified that these items are available immediately at a reduced price. Usuall
When a business becomes successful, often owners consider branching out. When they have several successful shops, they might consider franchising. It’s valuable if the business name is popular and customers can be assured of equal quality in all branches. Then, an owner can allow some other business
The cost of running a business is no joke. A business owner is compelled to pay taxes, pay employees, pay for several types of business insurance, pay for employee insurance, pay for maintenance of equipment and facilities, pay for new equipment and materials and then pay themselves. That’s a lot. I