If your business has a number of vehicles at its disposal and they are all used at some point or another by the employees of your company, then you should look into fleet management.  Utilizing this tool will enable your company to save money in a variety of ways.

 

One of the most important reasons why companies that have employees working remotely use fleet management services in regards to the business’ vehicles is to ensure that the cars, trucks, and vans are all maintained properly.  That means that they are all brought in for regular maintenance, which includes oil changes, brake system checks, and tire rotation, just to name a few.

By ensuring that your company’s vehicles are properly maintained, you cut down on breakdowns, which can lead to costly delays for both you and your customers.  In addition, having a fleet that is well maintained will help drivers avoid receiving tickets when stopped by the police for safety checks.  Cars and trucks that receive routine maintenance are more fuel efficient, as well.

 

Driver safety is another reason why many businesses turn to fleet management.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that up to 40 percent of fatal workplace injuries happen due, at least in part, to transportation incidents.  This includes a combination of both driver behavior and faulty vehicles.

 

When vehicles are not maintained, there is more of a chance that the brakes will fail, the steering system malfunctions, or the engine stalls and leads to catastrophe.  You are responsible to not only to keep your employees safe; you are also charged with providing a measure of protection to those who share the road with your drivers.  Vehicle maintenance is the first step in protecting both groups.

 

Not only are well-maintained vehicles safer to drive, but knowing that there is someone acutely aware of their driving habits can make your drivers pay more attention to the rules of the road and not take as many risks.  Speeding, weaving, and tailgating will diminish and therefore make the roads safer for all.

 

Another way that fleet management can improve your bottom line is by scheduling maintenance to occur during off-road hours.  By doing so, you reduce the number of unexpected breakdowns without impacting the overall usefulness of your fleet.  Furthermore, downtime can sideline a driver and impact customer service because when a vehicle is out of commission, you incur the expense of losing a valuable resource for your business unless you are willing to pay for a replacement rental.

 

By using GPS tracking you can trigger maintenance reminders based on the number of hours each has been in service or by the amount of mileage that is incurred.  These are both accurate measures and the proper approach for preventative maintenance.  Therefore, your company’s vehicles can be out in the community more often as a testament to the quality of your business practices.  Moreover, this can enable you to keep your vehicles running for over 200,000 miles before replacement is necessary.

 

It seems as if loose diamonds set in settings for rings, earrings, and other jewelry have been a girl’s best friend since the beginning of time.  While your engagement ring may be your favorite, there are plenty of others that have stood the test of time and history.  These are the diamonds that put Kim K and Mariah Carey’s to shame.

• The Heart of the Ocean. The popular 90s film Titanic is based on the famous cruise ship’s untimely demise after it hit an iceberg.  Kate Winslet’s character is seen wearing a large blue diamond necklace that ultimately ends up at the bottom of the sea.  While the necklace is real, it was not called the Heart of the Ocean and it was not a diamond.  The piece of jewelry worn by one of the passengers was called The Love of the Sea and it was a sapphire.  It is also rumored that the stone was synthetic.
• The Hope Diamond. Similar to the Heart of the Ocean is the Hope Diamond.  Said it be cursed because it was stolen from a Hindu Gd, the jewel now sits on display at the Smithsonian.  Prior to that, it was owned by a banker who lost his fortune and a family that suffered a series of catastrophes, including a suicide.  Clearly, the wrong stone was dropped into the sea.
• The Blue Moon Diamond. Speaking of blue diamonds, there is also the Blue Moon Diamond which was found by Petra Diamonds in 2014.  It is an Internally Flawless 12.03 carat Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond which is also known as the Blue Moon of Josephine.
• The Centenary Diamond. Found by De Beers miners, the discovery was not announced for over two years so that the 599 carats could go on display at the company’s 100th-anniversary celebration.  In order to be made perfect, cracks had to be removed.  Over 50 carats were also sacrificed by master-cutter Gabi Tolkowsky who took almost three years to complete its transformation into the world’s largest, most modern-cut, top-color, flawless diamond.  It was on loan to the Tower of London for years before being sold to an anonymous buyer.
• The Taylor-Burton Diamond. Set in a custom engagement ring, Richard Burton gave this famous stone to Liz Taylor when he asked for her hand in marriage in 1987.  It weighed almost 70 carats and was a pearl shaped white diamond.  She later auctioned it off and used the money to build a hospital in Africa.  It was last seen in Saudi Arabia.

 

While your ring may not end up in a museum, you should be proud to wear it.  It was given to you as a symbol of the love you have with another purpose.  When you look at it, you know you found the one person you can spend the rest of your life making memories with.  Plus, even if it is not the biggest diamond, it still makes plenty of people green with envy.  It sparkles beautifully in the light and always puts a smile on your face.

Many people are hesitant to hire a house cleaning service.  Some feel that they do not have the money and others feel like they should be able to clean their homes themselves.  The problem with both of those statements is that your time is valuable and no one can do everything.  Therefore, hiring someone to clean your home is worth looking into.   You have things to do and places to go.  You work all week and you probably do not want to come home and clean.  Therefore, hiring someone to clean your home may be worth the money you spend.  It will give you the time you need to get other things done, even if one of those other things is to relax.  This is especially true if you have children.  After all, you want to spend time with them, not clean the house.  You want to make memories with them, not have them remember how clean your house was. Depending upon the size of your home, you may not have the time to clean it the way it should be cleaned.  The bigger your house, the more time it takes to clean.  Just for giggles, ask for free estimates from local home cleaners.  They will come over and survey both the size of the home and the size of the mess.  They will give you a cost and tell you how long it should take.  If you do not have that kind of time, you probably should hire them.   Finding house cleaners is also a good idea if you do not like cleaning.  You just are not going to do a good job if you dislike what you are doing.  In fact, what you are attempting to clean may even look worse.  If you are concerned about the price, do the chores you like to do and then hire someone to do the rest.  For example, if you do not mind cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, do it while someone else cleans the bathrooms because you despise cleaning the toilet.   Furthermore, in the long run hiring a professional cleaning service may save you money.  This is because your home is the biggest investment you can make and you have to keep it up in order to prevent damage.  Therefore, the longer you allow dirt and oils to build up in your home, the more likely you are to need to take some severe actions, including sanding and refinishing, in order to undo the damage.  If you do not practice preventative maintenance such as keeping the house clean, you risk ending up paying more for repair or replacement later on. Moreover, regular house cleanings prevent wear and tear from progressing much faster than normal.   Do not berate yourself because you hired someone to help you.  There is nothing wrong with admitting you cannot do it all.  No one can, some people just have a hard time admitting it.  In the end, you will thank yourself for making your needs a priority.

You made a wonderful investment when you chose shutters as the custom window treatments for your home’s windows.  They are not only attractive; they will last a long time, as well.  Shutters come in either vinyl or natural wood.  They can be both functional and decorative.  The most popular kind is that of the plantation shutter.  Plantation shutters are placed on the inside of the home and are designed to act like blinds or shades.  They not only block the sun and give privacy as needed; they can also be designed to insulate the home, as well.   If you have plantation shutters, you should use your vacuum along with its the soft brush attachment to lightly vacuum your shutters and keep them free of dust and debris.  Be sure to tilt the each slat as you clean it.  This should be done at least once a week and more if you live with multiple animals or in an area with excessive pollen.   Once a month, you should spray a dusting cloth with wood polish, and dust the shutters thoroughly.  If your shutters have small grooves or crevices that collect dust and dirt, you can lightly spray a soft toothbrush with the polish and use it to clean out the areas that are hard-to-reach.  Do not use an all purpose cleaner because it may be too harsh and cause stains or discoloration. Additionally, soap and water are not recommended for use on wood shutters because it can warp and/or damage the wood. If your shutters are made of vinyl, then the same rule applies for using the vacuum with the soft brush at least once a week depending upon your living conditions.  However, instead of using a dusting cloth and wood polish once a month, you should take a bucket with one of quart water and one teaspoon of dish soap and thoroughly wash the shutters with a soft cloth.   Once the shutters have been completely cleaned, rinse them by using a clean cloth dipped in plain water and wiping them down.  Once all of the soap has been removed, wipe the blinds down with a clean, dry towel.  For hard to reach small grooves and crevices, dip a clean, soft toothbrush in the soapy solution and gently rub those areas clean.   Unfortunately, dust and dirt come back after they have been wiped or cleaned off.  However, once you establish a routine, you will find that cleaning your shutters gets easier with time.  That is because you are not allowing it to build up.   It is recommended that you check with the manufacturer before you use the polish or the soap so that you can ensure that you will not damage your window treatments.  In addition, it is also recommended that you use safety precautions when climbing to reach high areas on the shutters.  Never use a table or chair and be sure that the stool or ladder is securely in place or have someone hold it as you go up.