Budgets are just lists - lists of what money you have coming in, and where the money

is going out. You can have a daily budget, a weekly budget, a yearly budget, but, what you likely deal with most often is a monthly budget. Now, consider zero-based budgeting. In corporations, zero-based budgeting means that every budget item must be approved as though brand-new. Your own personal finances can make use of that concept, by allocating every dollar of income to categories, and then, for every category of the monthly budget that goes up, a corresponding amount elsewhere in the budget must go down. One advantage of this method is that those expenses that must be paid are taken care of first, with reductions going to those areas that, though useful or enjoyable, do not require mandatory payments. The flaws in previous budgets immediately become apparent if all of your income goes for required payments, then you must evaluate the necessity of those areas in your life, and consider alternatives. Gym membership may give you access to the exercise you need, but if those payments climb too high, might you try jogging, or those barbells growing dusty in your garage? Another advantage is that you will continually evaluate the way your life is going. If you go out to dinner every night, and enjoy the meals, but find the growing bills too high, maybe you should consider learning to cook well yourself. The wasteful parts of your life can be trimmed why pay to have jugged water delivered, when you can invest in a good faucet filter at the hardware store? In the same way, you may find activities in your life that take up too much time, but offer little payback. Can you find someone else to do that task, freeing you to move on to something more profitable? Use this pondering over your monthly budget to evaluate your life are you doing what you want to do? Too often, we fall in the rut of thinking that what we're doing now is what we should continue doing, only because that's the way we've always done things. Zero-based budgeting, as applied to personal finance, will get you out of that rut, and encourage you to try something new. Because your priorities can, and will, change, the choices you make with your money will also change. Of course, zero-based budgeting is not just about the money involved in each outgoing transaction. The benefit you realize from each expenditure is also part of the judgment call you make. You can figure out alternatives that cost less, or that give you back more than you spent. For example, if your goal is to be a published author, then paying for evening classes in writing techniques at your local community college will pay off in the long run. However, you must realize the cost for such things must be paid by reducing another item in your monthly budget another judgment call. Setting up zero-based budgeting by dollar amounts and categories is not enough, though. Treat each transaction as an item to be measured use a budget spreadsheet or write down the dollar amount and budget category of that transaction, and keep yourself aware of how close your total transactions for the month are coming to the amount budgeted for that category. You will begin to take pride in the way you live your life, because you can show yourself the progress you've made each day toward your personal goals. n addition to saving money and improving services, zero-based budgeting may:

Increase restraint in developing budgets; Reduce the entitlement mentality with respect to cost increases; and Make budget discussions more meaningful during review sessions.

On the cost side of the equation, zero-based budgeting:

May increase the time and expense of preparing a budget;

May be too radical a solution for the task at hand. You dont need a sledgehammer to pound in a nail; Can make matters worse if not done in the right way. A substantial commitment must be made by all involved to ensure that this doesnt happen.

Zero-based budgeting can be useful for shaking up a process that may have grown stale and counterproductive over time. But I must offer three serious warnings.

Difference between auditing and investigation?

The purpose of investigation varies from business to business. The purpose of audit is to determine the true and fair view. The investigation relates to critical checking of particular records. The audit relates to checking of all books and record. The investigation may be conducted on behalf of owners and outsiders like investors. Audit is conducted on behalf of owners only. The appointment is made by them. Investigation work can be completed through cent percent checking. Audit work may be completed through test checking. The investigation has no time limit. It may relate to many years. The audit of accounts is made for a particular time period. The investigator may or may not be a charted accountant. The auditor is usually a chartered accountant. The investigator is voluntary. It may become compulsory in certain cases. The auditor work is compulsory under law for companies and other concern. The investigation may examine employees personally. The auditor does not examine employees personally. The investigation is usually conducted after the audit of accounts. The audit is usually conducted before the investigation of accounts. There is no legal requirement to disclose information in investigation. The auditor requires the full disclosure of information under the law. Audit is the examination of the financial statements and internal controls of an entity to determine the Validity and fairness while investigation is the enquiry into any matter brought to the accountant's knowledge by the management Audit is the detail checking of accounts for the satisfaction of client of the audit orand an examination of books of accounts,vouchers,and books of business as will enable auditor to satsfied that the balance sheet is proprely drawn up The qualifications of an auditor are specific and stated by a respective countries accounting standards. While, a regular old accountant can perform an investigation. Audit is a process to check whether the account are properly maintained as per required norms following all the procedures etc. And to point out any lapses in this line. Whereas Investigation is done when a lapse already exists to pin point the reason and person involved in it so that responsibility for such lapse could be fixed. Audits are objective and systematic assessments of how well offices are carrying out programs and operations, and focus on process.Audit reports containing findings and recommendations are issued to appropriate officials. Audit reports are public documents available upon request. Investigations are usually undertaken in response to reports of misconduct, and focus upon a person. Investigation reports may be prepared to refer matters for prosecution, inform the agency of a basis for potential discipline, correct serious deficiencies, or inform other government agencies of the need for action within their jurisdiction. Access to investigative reports is limited in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act. Audit is a process to check whether the account are properly maintained as per required norms following all the procedures etc. and to point out any lapses in this line. whereas Investigation is done when a lapse already exists to pin point the reason and person involved in it so that responsibility for such lapse could be fixed/ an audit is when they are actually doing the auditing and an investigation is when they are investigating.

or you could say the differences are: an audit is an official examination and verification of accounts and records, esp. of financial accounts. investigating is when you search out and examine the particulars of in an attempt to learn the facts about something hidden, unique, or complex, Audit is also when you have a checklist and you go around checking if the requirements are met or not. You know what to look for.

Total Safety Management Total Safety Management is an award-winning program designed

from over 75 years combined experience in safety management, with the ultimate goal of development, implementation and management of a comprehensive safety management program to help prevent losses and liability, increase profits and maintain compliance with governmental regulations. Total Safety Management helps your company in maintaining compliance with governmental regulations, as well as complying with your clients safety requirements, overseen by ISN, PICS, and other review agencies. Total Safety Management was created to help companies reduce the potential for accidents and injuries, losses and liability while maintaining compliance with governmental regulations. Our Total Safety Management program is the baseline for companies wanting to achieve OSHA approval under the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) as well as meeting and maintaining conformance with OHSAS 18001, ANSI Z10, and RC 14001. This most valuable program includes: Development and Maintenance of a Comprehensive Safety Management Program

Development of the Corporate Safety Manual Establishment and maintenance of required OSHA record keeping Establish training files at client facility Develop and implement accident investigation report Conduct monthly safety audits Conduct monthly safety meetings Completion of Safety Questionnaires On-Call Availability for OSHA Inspections, Regulatory Audits, Consultation and Investigation of Major Accidents/Incidents

Independent Demand
Although independent demand is called thus, it can still be influenced by economic factors external to the demand-supply model such as general consumer sentiment and consumers' available disposal income. However, businesses that need to predict the number of products with independent demand needed to sate their customers have it easier than businesses that must calculate the demand for products with dependent demand because there are fewer factors to consider. An inventory of an item is said to be falling into the category of independent demand when the demand for such an item is not dependant upon the demand for another item. Finished goods Items, which are ordered by External Customers or manufactured for stock and sale, are called independent demand items. Independent demands for inventories are based on confirmed Customer orders, forecasts, estimates and past historical data.

Dependent Demand
Dependent demand means that demand for the product in question is influenced by the demand for some other product. The demand for both products can either move in tandem or in the opposite direction -- both categories are counted as products with dependent demand. Producing estimates based on a product with dependent demand is harder because the business must also take into account how demand for its counterparts influences its demand and how outside economic factors are likely to impact both products. If the demand for inventory of an item is dependant upon another item, such demands are categorized as dependant demand. Raw materials and component inventories are dependant upon the demand for Finished Goods and hence can be called as Dependant demand inventories. Take the example of a Car. The car as finished goods is an held produced and held in inventory as independent demand item, while the raw materials and components used in the manufacture of the Finished Goods - Car derives its demand from the demand for the Car and hence is characterized as dependant demand inventory. This differentiation is necessary because the inventory management systems and process are different for both categories. While Finished Goods inventories which is characterized by Independent demand, are managed with sales order process and supply chain management processes and are based on sales forecasts, the dependant demand for raw materials and components to manufacture the finished goods is managed through MRP -Material Resources Planning or ERP -Enterprise Resource Planning using models such as Just In Time, Kanban and other concepts. MRP as well as ERP planning depends upon the sales forecast released for finished goods as the starting point for further action.