Accounting software is widely used by companies of all sizes: big and small. It is even used by individuals that need to run financial operations from home. Software evolves and improves along with technology to replace older versions and become better and more advanced. The Software Development Industry therefore has seen a lot of competing within itself, and that is why there are so many different types of software available today.Accounting software can be described best as a type of application software used in accounting to trace and process important financial operations such as income, expenses, payroll and trial balance. One of the main benefits of having this software is that staff will have access to past and present financial information without having to search through files or piles of paper. This will ensure an organized financial system and save a lot of time.The software can be developed by the company itself, given that it has the necessary set of skills to do so, or it can be developed by a development company. The developers of the software can also develop custom software according to the clients’ needs and it can be altered, improved and added onto as the company’s needs evolve and develop.So, how do you know what type of software is suitable for your company? A friend of mine had that same question. She noticed that asking around and doing a little bit of research on the different types of accounting software gave her the most information and answers. She found that some software had great reviews on the internet, but did not have as good reviews from actual users, and some software did not receive recognition on the internet, but was recommended by users more than others. Why was this? Well, let me explain: All companies have different needs and requirements when it comes to certain things. If you have a small, home-based business, you are not going to purchase software fit for a corporate, and vice-versa. Before you decide what type of software your company needs, you have to evaluate your company and identify its exact software requirements. Are you a large company? How many staff do you have? Are you planning on expanding drastically within the next year? How much are you willing to spend on the software? Will your staff need any training before they can use the software?It is important that you know what your company’s requirements are. You need to know where you are and where you are going as a company, and if you feel uncertain about what software package is suited for your company, get an expert to evaluate the company and identify your needs. Then make a decision based upon their recommendations and findings.Today’s advanced technology has made our lives a lot easier. Software is an accurate, efficient way of processing and keeping track of financial information. It saves you valuable time and money and will keep your company at the top of its game. So take a leap and join the world of accounting software!

What are the greatest changes in shopping in your lifetime? So asked my 9 year old grandson.

As I thought of the question the local Green Grocer came to mind. Because that is what the greatest change in shopping in my lifetime is.

That was the first place to start with the question of what are the greatest changes in shopping in your lifetime.

Our local green grocer was the most important change in shopping in my lifetime. Beside him was our butcher, a hairdresser and a chemist.

Looking back, we were well catered for as we had quite a few in our suburb. And yes, the greatest changes in shopping in my lifetime were with the small family owned businesses.

Entertainment While Shopping Has Changed
Buying butter was an entertainment in itself.
My sister and I often had to go to a favourite family grocer close by. We were always polite as we asked for a pound or two of butter and other small items.

Out came a big block of wet butter wrapped in grease-proof paper. Brought from the back of the shop, placed on a huge counter top and included two grooved pates.

That was a big change in our shopping in my lifetime… you don’t come across butter bashing nowadays.

Our old friendly Mr. Mahon with the moustache, would cut a square of butter. Lift it to another piece of greaseproof paper with his pates. On it went to the weighing scales, a bit sliced off or added here and there.

Our old grocer would then bash it with gusto, turning it over and over. Upside down and sideways it went, so that it had grooves from the pates, splashes going everywhere, including our faces.

My sister and I thought this was great fun and it always cracked us up. We loved it, as we loved Mahon’s, on the corner, our very favourite grocery shop.

Grocery Shopping
Further afield, we often had to go to another of my mother’s favourite, not so local, green grocer’s. Mr. McKessie, ( spelt phonetically) would take our list, gather the groceries and put them all in a big cardboard box.

And because we were good customers he always delivered them to our house free of charge. But he wasn’t nearly as much fun as old Mr. Mahon. Even so, he was a nice man.

All Things Fresh
So there were very many common services such as home deliveries like:

• Farm eggs

• Fresh vegetables

• Cow’s milk

• Freshly baked bread

• Coal for our open fires

Delivery Services
A man used to come to our house a couple of times a week with farm fresh eggs.

Another used to come every day with fresh vegetables, although my father loved growing his own.

Our milk, topped with beautiful cream, was delivered to our doorstep every single morning.

Unbelievably, come think of it now, our bread came to us in a huge van driven by our “bread-man” named Jerry who became a family friend.

My parents always invited Jerry and his wife to their parties, and there were many during the summer months. Kids and adults all thoroughly enjoyed these times. Alcohol was never included, my parents were teetotallers. Lemonade was a treat, with home made sandwiches and cakes.

The coal-man was another who delivered bags of coal for our open fires. I can still see his sooty face under his tweed cap but I can’t remember his name. We knew them all by name but most of them escape me now.

Mr. Higgins, a service man from the Hoover Company always came to our house to replace our old vacuum cleaner with an updated model.

Our insurance company even sent a man to collect the weekly premium.

People then only paid for their shopping with cash. This in itself has been a huge change in shopping in my lifetime.

In some department stores there was a system whereby the money from the cash registers was transported in a small cylinder on a moving wire track to the central office.

Some Of The Bigger Changes
Some of the bigger changes in shopping were the opening of supermarkets.

• Supermarkets replaced many individual smaller grocery shops. Cash and bank cheques have given way to credit and key cards.

• Internet shopping… the latest trend, but in many minds, doing more harm, to book shops.

• Not many written shopping lists, because mobile phones have taken over.

On a more optimistic note, I hear that book shops are popular again after a decline.

Personal Service Has Most Definitely Changed
So, no one really has to leave home, to purchase almost anything, technology makes it so easy to do online.
And we have a much bigger range of products now, to choose from, and credit cards have given us the greatest ease of payment.

We have longer shopping hours, and weekend shopping. But we have lost the personal service that we oldies had taken for granted and also appreciated.

Because of their frenetic lifestyles, I have heard people say they find shopping very stressful, that is grocery shopping. I’m sure it is when you have to dash home and cook dinner after a days work. I often think there has to be a better, less stressful way.

My mother had the best of both worlds, in the services she had at her disposal. With a full time job looking after 9 people, 7 children plus her and my dad, she was very lucky. Lucky too that she did not have 2 jobs.