When you’re planning a day-long meeting, having the right food and beverages keeps attendees’ minds sharp. But those costs can add up. Here’s savvy advice on appeasing attendees’ palates while trimming your meal budget:

Retailers that sell electronics are after your business, and that bodes well for your old electronics and your wallet. A growing cluster of retailers and web sites are snapping up old gear and offering credit toward the purchase of new products:

Four easy spruce-ups for the office kitchen: 1. No room for coffee cups? Maximize a small space with storage helpers such as wire stacking shelves. 2. Invest in a trash can that does double duty. 3. Replace plastic foam cups. 4. Add a splash of color and more purified air with potted plants or flowers.

We recently reported that workers are packing their lunches more often. Packing lunch is definitely more affordable. It can also offer a way to lessen your carbon footprint. Laurie Cleary, of Lunchville.com, says “by making small changes, like carrying reusable lunch containers, we can make a big impact in reducing waste.”

Anyone can look put-together and professional with a hefty wallet. But Sandy Dumont, of the Image Architect, knows how to achieve a million-dollar look, even on a shoestring budget. How to build a wardrobe that positively affects your career:

Newer smartphones have such good cameras they can double as barcode scanners. That means while shopping, you can use your phone to: 1. Compare prices on the spot. 2. Store your membership cards on your phone, rather than crowding your key ring.

How are companies feeling about the future? A recent McKinsey survey reports executives are feeling positive about their companies’ ability to rebound: 74% of respondents say they expect companies’ profits to rise over the next 12 months.

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