This guest post provided by uSwitch for Business.  Enjoy!

Running a successful and profitable business requires entrepreneurial flair, a degree of creativity and an eye for detail. Keeping a check on your company’s energy bills is just one way to take control of the finances, look for ways to cut costs and maintain a lower level of energy consumption. Go online and reduce your business energy  consumption by comparing cheaper tariffs for both business electricity and gas.

Before embarking on a major cost cutting initiative, try to engage staff and get them on board to make the biggest savings. Encourage discussions of ways to save energy, they may be more inclined to help out. Having helpful reminders around the workplace will help focus and remind employees how they can contribute.

There are of course regulations in place regarding the minimum and maximum temperatures in the workplace, but most businesses are well within the limits if they reduce the heating or increase the cut off point of the air conditioning system. Significant savings can be made in business electricity rates by turning down the heating by just one degree in the winter. In the summer months, when the temperature outside increases, increasing the ambient temperature in the workplace will also provide a drop in business energy costs. Everyone can help to retain warmth in the office by keeping windows and doors shut and similarly by ensuring they stay closed will allow the air conditioning to run more efficiently.

Lighting represents a huge expense to business electricity bills. Luckily you can make huge potential savings if you invest in these few simple ideas. The most obvious way to reduce costs in this area is to maximise the amount of natural light available and then use this natural light in the best ways possible. Modern buildings are now equipped with a functionality to operate zoned lighting and therefore have the option of switching off the lights in areas not being used. Smart technology also uses sensors which automatically activate lighting when someone enters the relevant zone and will switch off on their own after a set period of inactivity. Business energy bills can also be cut, especially for business electricity, by advising staff to power down or even switch off computers, printers and monitors during breaks and at the end of the working day.

For new buildings, energy efficient features can be incorporated into the designs, but it is also possible to upgrade older buildings. One of the ways to do this, is to ensure that buildings are well insulated. It is also important to maintain equipment such as lights, ventilation systems and air conditioning units to allow them all to run efficiently and also to prevent unexpected breakdowns. As a business, you can help yourself by searching the market online where you can compare and switch suppliers to gain the most competitive rates

One might ask, Why is it a problem that the Fed keeps interest rates low to devalue our debt interest payments?❠Having a simple understanding of economics assists you in answering this question.
To simplify things, imagine three dominoes. The first domino we will call The Fedâ, the second domino we will call Inflation❠and the third domino will be named Interest Ratesâ.

These dominoes are lined up one after the other, with the Fed❠as the first domino and “interest rates” as the last. As with regular dominoes, when you knock over the first, a force is exerted on the second, causing it to fall and exert a force on the third. This is the order of operations by which the Fed controls interest, and thereby controls our debt payments.

The Fed’s main policy tool is called open market operations. This is the buying and selling of debt, in the form of US government securities such as Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS. When the Fed, through open market operations buys bonds, the Fed receives the bond and debt-holders (such as the US public and foreign nations) receive cash for their bonds. Therefore, when the Fed buys bonds, it injects liquidity into the economy by increasing the amount of dollars available to the public. The reverse is true of the Fed selling bonds; in this instance the Fed gets cash and US corporations, citizens and foreign counties get US government debt.

Over the past ten years on net, with the exception of the last three years (which we’ll get to), the Fed has been keeping liquidity in the economy to a minimum by selling US government securities. This regulation of cash in the economy has created a situation where inflation cannot rise rapidly. This is a simple example of supply and demand, whereby the fewer dollars that are in the â˜system’ creates a situation of scarcity causing each dollar to be more valuable. Conversely, if there are more dollars in the economy, price levels tend to rise because each dollar is worth less and there are more nominal dollars.

The definition of inflation is â˜a general rise in the level of prices, causing purchasing power per dollar to decline’. Because dollars have been predominantly scarce (comparatively), price levels did not have the opportunity to rise and inflation was kept to a nominal 1-3%.

Interest rates, our third domino, are usually based on inflation. Why do I say â˜usually’? Well, as inflation rises, even marginally, it only makes sense that interest rates would have to rise higher to provide a positive return on investments for those lending money. Over the past ten years, our real interest rates have been a negative percentage (or zero) because inflation, as low as it has been, has actually outpaced lending rates. This has allowed the US government to pay off its debt in â˜cheapened’ dollars, as inflation has slowly eroded away the value of the dollars that we are paying back, while the interest rate has been stuck below the value of inflation.

All fine and dandy right? We are paying back our debt in cheaper dollarsâ¦sounds great! ⦠Wrong! In the background, while the Fed and government are utilizing monetary and fiscal policy in attempting to save themselves from going broke with interest payments they cannot afford, our debt continues to increase beyond what we are paying back.

The real amount that we owe is ever climbing, and the moral hazard presented by allowing interest payments to be negative means the government will continue to borrow and ride the Fed’s good graces❠until we have spent ourselves into oblivion. Eventually, the real interest rate will have to be constantly zero so the government doesn’t become insolvent, leading to would-be creditors not wanting to lend money and receive negative return on investment, leading to zero economic growth, leading to layoffs, depression, government dissolution, etceteraâ¦but we’ll save that for the Future❠article. Aren’t you excited to learn about your future?

Before we go over these verses, let me tell you something.  I didn’t pick these out of the blue.  These are verses that have molded my personal finance life to what it is today.  While there are many other verses that deal with the topic of money, these five are paramount for any Christian striving to glorify God with their finances.  As you digest these verses, take some time to really mull these topics over in your head.  Take this next week and ask yourself how you can glorify God with your finances in practical ways.

On giving back what is rightfully His: Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,❠says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.â

This is one of the few places where God asks his followers to test Him.  This verse strikes me in two ways.  One, it’s always good to remember that nothing is rightfully ours.  We didn’t earn anything.  At the root, it’s all His because he gave us the strength and opportunity to make money in the first place.  Also, tithing is no longer required of us for salvation.  Although this is true, think about all the churches that wouldn’t exist today if people didn’t tithe…

On the love of money: Ecclesiastes 5:10

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

I used to struggle hardcore with this subject and I still do to some extents today.  If it wasn’t for loving parents an amazing friends, I would worry about this a lot more today.  There is something peaceful and harmonious to be content with the money that God has given you.  I’m not saying you should be lazy, you should actually work your butt off.  Just don’t make it the focus of your life to make it big.  Because guess what, it’s all going to burn in the end.

On paying our debts: Psalm 37:21

The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.

This is a sensitive subject for people.  Are you falling behind on paying off your debts?  Don’t fall into the trap of not being able to pay off your debts.  Look at this this way.  The moment you are debt free, God can use you even more for the glory of His kingdom.  Debt really limits what one can do with their finances.  Pay off your debts as soon as possible and avoid it at all costs once you’re debt free.

On God meeting our needs: Matthew 6:31-32

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat ‘ or ‘What will we drink ‘ or ‘What will we wear for clothing ‘ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Don’t worry about making ends meet.  God has everything in control and will take care of your needs.  The Bible has never preached a wealth gospel.  The Bible is clear on this.  You are one of God’s children, He has nothing but the best for you. Trust  in Him and you will be amazed by the miracles when others discourage.

On what really makes you rich:  Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.

Riches, gold, your big house, or your Ferrari don’t make you rich.  Those are temporary satisfactions and will disappear someday.  What makes a person rich is a relationship with Christ.  Once you realize this, watch as the blessings flow in your  spiritual  life!

What is stewardship and how does it relate to you?  When is the last time you’ve heard stewardship been preached on at your church? It’s probably been a while hasn’t it?  Do you even know what Biblical stewardship looks like?  There’s good reason for that.  It’s a topic that makes a congregation uncomfortable and many pastors simply avoid the issue.

I’m here to talk a little about why this is the wrong approach and that stewardship actually is freedom as a Christian.  When I say freedom, I don’t mean retiring early and moving to the tropics and sipping mojitos as your live the rest of your last days playing bingo.  I’m talking about a mentality.  This mentality has everything to do with who you believe your money belongs to.

Reality check people, you money does not belong to you!  It belongs to God.  Let’s check out a conversation God has with his Jewish people:

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.  But you ask, How are we robbing you?In tithes and offerings.  You are under a curseâ”your whole nationâ”because you are robbing me.  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” -Milachi 3:8-10

These are serious allegations.  God takes tithing very seriously and we need to too. Everything we own is His.  The sooner we realize this, the sooner we will realize that the more we give the greater miracles and lives will be transformed.

Once in a while, I sit back and ask God about my giving and when I do this, I usually get challenged to give more.  God does not promise to make you rich by giving more of your money, but He does promise to transform and save lives through your financial resources.  And that’s the beginning of answering the question: what is stewardship.  is it really what we were taught it should be?

I first started this blog to help people reach what I’m trying to reach, financial freedom.  What does this mean for a Christian? My goal is to retire as early as possible (sights set on 60).  No, not, not to go on vacations and sail around the world…  Rather, to give more of my time and resources.  As of now, I work 50+ hours a week.  This takes away from time I could be serving and/or sharing the Gospel.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could take those 50 hours and use them specifically for His kingdom? Now, I’m not saying those hours aren’t glorifying to God.  They are, I’ve had great conversations with co-workers and friends.  But it would be amazing to dedicate my time to full time ministry.

In closing, ask yourself if you are spending time on what’s important? Can you answer the question, what is stewardship?  Are you seeking a balance between fun/work and things that really matter?  Are you impacting the future generation? Do you spend time with family?  Do you give your money away joyfully?  These are questions I have to ask myself on a daily basis.

So what practical steps are you going to take to live out Biblical stewardship?! Comment below.

Don’t tithe because you feel you have to.  Tithe joyfully in faith knowing God is going to do great things with that money.  Do it as an expression of your love for Him.  Are you still asking, “what is stewardship?”

The United States debt… In the style of a seeming financial manifest destinyâ, America, led by the Federal Reserve and the government has crusaded to an unprecedented level of growth in the past 30 years⦠But at what cost? Unfortunately, Americans possess the trait of we want it, and we want it nowâ. This has had deadly implications for the American economy.

Americans have been drastically increasing their financial leverage over the past 30 years to finance growth and operations beyond our natural means. All the while, in the background, China, Japan, Europe and others see their cash registers starting to “cha-ching” with IOU’s from the U.S government. And this is okay, right? I mean, isn’t that what financial leverage is forâ¦to fund real growth and make people better off by increasing GDP and per capita purchasing power?

Unfortunately, this freedom to borrow has led to moral hazard. America stopped borrowing to invest in real capital assets or infrastructure. We started to speculate. We formed financial innovations with fancy names like collateralized debt obligations and mortgage backed securities; anything to try to make a buck. The flow of borrowed money began to be used for things that had small, if any return-on-investment such as wars and pork-barrel spending by politicians to gain another term.

Of course, just like with any loan, we began to accrue interest that had to be paid back to our creditors. This amount has grown over the past thirty year, increasing drastically with the more recent Iraq and Afghanistan wars, QE spending, increased transfer payment payouts to the retiring baby-boomer population, conflicts in Libya, natural disasters, etcetera, etcetera.

Since 2008, we have doubled our total national debt. Take a second to think about that. In 3 short years we have spent as much as we have in the past 30 years. If that doesn’t scare you, it should. Our total debt today (according to the Treasury), is $14,210,071,848,853.10. Seem like a lot? It is. And what’s really scary? This is about 1/5th of the actual amount of debt we owe when you consider transfer payments owed, such as social security, Medicare, Medicaid etc.

This number is a problem because of the interest we must pay on it. Now, to the inexperienced wanderer who ventures a look at the nominal interest payment numbers may see that interest payments on debt are actually declining! What gives? Well, what they don’t tell you on CNN is that the Fed, over the past 10 years, has actually kept real interest rates NEGATIVE more than 60% of the time!

This means the government is actually making money on the debt we owe because we are paying it off in less valuable dollars⦠Suffice it to say, our real debt levels are spiraling out of control, and the Fed is toying with monetary policy to attempt to prevent itself (and YOU!) from going broke on the spot by changing interest rates so that we aren’t truly paying down our debtâ¦.

(This is a guest post by a friend  Steve Furst, a smart guy who specializes in economics.  He is a graduate of Central Washington University.)

If you’ve been a regular reader at Free Money Wisdom, you’ll know that I usually post every other day.  I thought I’d change it up this Saturday and post up a special little treat!

I’m sure you’ve heard of the famous Snuggie, well say hello to the DEBT SNUGGIE!

When you’re drowning in debt, the Debt Snuggie is there to stand by your side 🙂 Enjoy-