5 Ways to “Save” Right Now

Change the Definition to Create Savings Momentum

Saving money isn’t difficult. If it appears to be a tough task, it can be extremely beneficial to simply change the definition. Did you know that the word “save” has at least 10 definitions? Why keep the same definition if it’s not serving the intended purpose? Why stick to just one? When it comes to saving money, it’s about the end result – that you have more of it. To get to that end result, how you define “saving” is how you will go about doing it. Change the definition and see the results.

In terms of money, the definition of saving typically suggests “to set aside” or “reserve”. Piggy banks and bank accounts alike encourage us to squirrel away additional funds for a rainy day, which might not always be possible to do this based on the month’s trends, expenses, and overall work flow. The thing is, though, it’s always possible to save. It just depends on how we define it. There’s no reason to let another day go by where we are not saving in some sense of the word.

There are lessons found in each definition of the word “saving” and creating a perspective coming from one of these viewpoints can allow us to develop momentum toward that ultimate goal – a surplus of funds. As communications consultants, we’re always looking for ways to help our clients save money. While this methodology can be applied to various areas of life and business, we’ll break it down for you in terms of wireless communications. Let’s review some of these definitions and see how they can be applied within the realm of your wireless communications.

1. “To treat carefully in order to reduce wear, fatigue, etc.”
Regardless of the structure of a wireless communications program, it’s ideal to save your devices from a premature end. How can we accomplish this? By simply taking care of them. For some, this is common sense. For others, a gentle reminder to take care of our “toys” is a helpful nudge in the right direction. This can mean investing in screen protectors and sturdy cases for all of your company’s devices. Bonus points: If you plan to sell your used devices, keeping them in better condition will yield higher sales rates.

2. “To Keep, As For Reuse”
Since typical phone renewal contracts are every two years, you have to decide whether to upgrade at the two year mark or wait until the phone becomes unusable. Some employees may want the latest technology while others may be perfectly content with their older device. If an employee wants to upgrade while their current device is still operable, it can be beneficial to allow them to do so. Not only can they test out a new device that may increase office productivity, but the old device can be saved for emergency use. In the event that another employee’s device breaks prematurely, there will be a local device ready to go. Save a phone and save the cost of a full-price upgrade.

3. “Computers. To copy (a file) from RAM onto a disk or other storage medium.”
It’s easier than ever to create a backup of a device by ensuring that the phone is synced with cloud storage. If a device is lost or damaged, this ongoing task will save time and frustration by reducing data loss and decreasing the amount of time invested in setting up a new device. For most devices, this task can even be put on auto-pilot. Here’s a quick breakdown of the device methods:

Android: Once setup, Android devices will continuously sync with your Google account.
Apple: iPhones and iPads need to be plugged in, on the lock screen, with access to Wi-Fi to automatically sync with a previously configured iCloud storage account.
BlackBerry: Will automatically sync with the BlackBerry server once a schedule has been created (every day, every other day, once per week, etc.).
Windows: Once a Live account is setup, the device will sync when it has access to a Wi-Fi connection. After one week without Wi-Fi, it will automatically backup over a cellular connection to reduce data loss.

4. “To keep safe, intact, or unhurt; safeguard; preserve”
When it’s time for a vacation, take a vacation. If you’re out on a boat or at the beach, it’s okay to leave your phone back in the room and avoid the water-logged possibilities. There’s something to be said for unplugging our brains from additional communications for a portion of the day. The emails and calls will still be there when you get back, let your mind focus on where you are. Developing a vacation communications schedule and informing your colleagues of your availability will allow this workflow to succeed. It will save response-time frustration and provide you the compartmentalized opportunity to stay up-to-date on business projects and events. Remind your employees of this concept, too. Not only will you be saving devices from a watery tomb or other adventurous ends, but you give yourself and your employees the opportunity to relax on vacation so that everyone can return to work fully recharged.

5. “To avoid the spending, consumption, or waste of.”
There are so many ways to avoid unnecessary overspend with wireless communications. A lot of these solutions revolve around watching the usage and drawing on subsequent data to implement the necessary tools at the appropriate times. To reduce data costs, use Wi-Fi connections instead of cellular data when at home or when free Wi-Fi is available. To reduce the minutes used, try VoIP options (such as Skype) over these Wi-Fi connections. Even checking your device’s current applications to verify they’re not unnecessarily running can help to reduce data usage and, as a bonus, can increase the battery life of the device.

Sometimes we focus so strongly on a bottom line that we forget that there are numerous ways to get the results we want. Next time you struggle with ways to improve the efficiency of your business, create opportunities for savings by changing the definition of the word. Find a perspective that benefits your goals and you’ll accomplish the “savings” task without breaking the proverbial sweat.