Accounting: Understanding Your Assets

Current assets are the key assets that your business uses up during a 12-month period and will likely not be there the next year. The accounts that reflect current & long-term assets are:

Cash in Checking: Any company's primary account is the checking account used for operating activities. This is the account used to deposit revenues and pay expenses. Some companies have more than one operating account in this category; for example, a company with many divisions may have an operating account for each division.

Cash in Savings: This account is used for surplus cash. Any cash for which there is no immediate plan is deposited in an interest-earning savings account so that it can at least earn interest while the company decides what to do with it.

Cash on Hand: This account is used to track any cash kept at retail stores or in the office. In retail stores, cash must be kept in registers in order to provide change to customers. In the office, petty cash is often kept around for immediate cash needs that pop up from time to time. This account helps you keep track of the cash held outside a financial institution.

Accounts Receivable: If you offer your products or services to customers on store credit (meaning your store credit system), then you need this account to track the customers who buy on your dime. Accounts Receivable isn't used to track purchases made on other types of credit cards because your business gets paid directly by banks, not customers, when other credit cards are used. 

Inventory: This account tracks the products you have on hand to sell to your customers. The value of the assets in this account varies depending upon the way you decide to track the flow of inventory into and out of the business.

Vehicles: This account tracks any cars, trucks, or other vehicles owned by the business. The initial value of any vehicle is listed in this account based on the total cost paid to put the vehicle in service. Sometimes this value is more than the purchase price if additions were needed to make the vehicle usable for the particular type of business. For example, if a business provides transportation for the handicapped and must add additional equipment to a vehicle in order to serve the needs of its customers, that additional equipment is added to the value of the vehicle. Vehicles also depreciate through their useful lifespan.

Accumulated Depreciation Vehicles: This account tracks the depreciation of all vehicles owned by the company.

Furniture and Fixtures: This account tracks any furniture or fixtures purchased for use in the business. The account includes the value of all chairs, desks, store fixtures, and shelving needed to operate the business. The value of the furniture and fixtures in this account is based on the cost of purchasing these items. These items are depreciated during their useful lifespan.

Accumulated Depreciation Furniture and Fixtures: This account tracks the accumulated depreciation of all furniture and fixtures.

Equipment: This account tracks equipment that was purchased for use for more than one year, such as computers, copiers, tools, and cash registers. The value of the equipment is based on the cost to purchase these items. Equipment is also depreciated to show that over time it gets used up and must be replaced.

Accumulated Depreciation Equipment: This account tracks the accumulated depreciation of all the equipment.

What Is Crystal And Gemstone Therapy?

Is Crystal therapy for real? Alternative health practices have become more and more popular in the past few decades because of their many health benefits. They often heal the body in more natural ways, since chemicals are not introduced into the system. However, there are also many skeptics of alternative medical treatments who believe that these techniques do not work, and it is simply a matter of healing through the power of suggestion and a positive attitude. Whatever the case may be, studies show that some alternative therapies work, so you should explore these options with your doctor. One such option that is being studied more often is the use of crystal therapy to relieve pain and illness.

This technique uses crystals and gemstones on the body in the belief that they encourage the healing process. There are a number of ways in which you can do this, and professionals have specific techniques that they use in conjunction with spiritual and physical healing. However, you can also use this type of therapy in your own home by purchasing gemstones and crystals for your own use. In the end, the process may not help you, but it cannot hurt your, so it is worth the try for those suffering from pain and disease.

A number of different stones can be used for many different purposes. Apatite is said to ward off viruses. Blue Aventurine helps clear congestion. Cape Amethyst is used to relieve arthritis pain. Citrine uplifts the spirit and physical body, so it can be used on people who have spinal problems. Emeralds promote healing and are thought to be very strong. Jade can be used for relaxation, like massage. Black Onyx helps you change bad habits and can therefore be useful for people trying to cope with alcoholism or other kinds of drug abuse or addiction. Sugilite can be used to gain energy. A number of other stones can also be used for spiritual and physical well being, and a professional can help you discover these properties.

When buying a gemstone, make sure that it is real, as glass can often look like the true thing. Also, metal greatly effects gemstone therapy. Purchase stones that are free, in the form of beads for example, instead of using jewelry in which the stone is encased in metal. Always be sure that you are buying high quality stones as well, as these will have a larger effect on your body-the stones should have few inclusions, chips, or other faults and the larger the stones are, the more healing powers they emit. Choose stones that are undyed for the best results and as you use the gemstones, record your feelings. Everyone reacts differently to crystal therapy, so find what works best for you.

Biofeedback Therapy: Controlling the Uncontrollable

A new field within the alternative health field is that of biofeedback therapy, which was first studied in the 1960s and was brought to the attention of the public by Drs. Barbara Brown and Elmer Green, and Joe Kamiya. Biofeedback is a process in which people control seemingly uncontrollable body functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing by using feedback from electronic devices. Today, biofeedback is still being studied and used for a variety of health reasons.

A variety of illnesses and medical conditions can be treated by using biofeedback techniques. These include insomnia, twitching eyelids, constipation, ring ears, irritable bowel syndrome, headache, stress, Raynaud's disease, tennis elbow, high blood pressure, attention deficit disorder, back pain, muscle spasms, asthma, and hyperactivity. It is especially useful for those suffering from stress-related mental illnesses or diseases that cause loss of muscle control. Your doctor can give you more information about the many medical conditions that can be treated with biofeedback therapy, so speak with a professional if you want to know how it can help you.

Biofeedback therapy is a simple process. First, electrodes are stuck to the skin in specific places so that your reactions can be closely monitored. They measure skin temperature, muscle tension, heart rate, and brain activity. A patient, once hooked up to a machine with these electrodes, will then be instructed to meditate, do visualization exercises, or perform other relaxing techniques. The electrodes measure response to this relaxation and over time, you can see a pattern in your body's response to specific techniques. You can then use these very specific techniques, such as visualizing a certain person or thing, to achieve the result you want most, such as lower blood pressure.

Biofeedback therapy is still being highly studied in the medical world. Its exact effectiveness is unknown, but it is a procedure in which many are finding success. If you suffer from any of the aforementioned conditions, talk to your medical doctor about how participating in biofeedback sessions can help you. He or she can provide you with a clearer understanding of cost, technique, and side effects as well as direct you to professionals who can perform the biofeedback sessions. Also check with your health insurance to be sure that the procedure is covered, since some alternative health treatments are not covered with tradition health insurance. When considering treatment options in the alternative health realm, remember that biofeedback therapy can be extremely useful.