Professionals such as lawyers can benefit substantially from adopting the KAM model. The fruits of lavishing special care on key accounts are, frankly, bountiful, offering major opportunities to generate more business as well as saving costs for both sides. Given that the costs of managing key accounts are relatively high, demanding time, significant investment and continuous innovation, it matters that law firms select their most strategic accounts wisely.

Studies consistently show that between 60 and 80 per cent of a firm’s profits are generated by approximately 20 per cent of its clients. It’s essential to differentiate accurately between these high profit clients and those who generate lesser revenue in order to deploy resources most effectively. Key Account Management, as its name implies, directs additional attention toward a firm’s key accounts (that lucrative 20 per cent) without neglecting other major accounts – the clients who between them may generate up to 30 per cent the company’s profits. A larger number of smaller clients – the base of the pyramid, as it were – typically generate around 10 per cent of revenue.

Specialists in Key Account Management will typically conduct a matrix analysis of a firm’s client data using sophisticated software. Generally, these analyses plot relative customer satisfaction against account attractiveness, providing a powerful tool for deciding accurately which accounts to prioritise. KAM analysis also continually monitors a firm’s accounts so that the process of prioritisation remains live and up-to-date.

Different management strategies can then be applied to different accounts: those with high customer satisfaction scores plus high account attractiveness ratings will become the firm’s strategic accounts and secure the highest investment. Another category may score highly on customer satisfaction but somewhat less on attractiveness. These accounts may need further scrutiny and more selective investment. A little lower down the scale are accounts with high customer satisfaction but relatively low attractiveness, and are most appropriately served by more basic maintenance strategies.

In short, Key Account Management will allow lawyers to carefully understand each of their customers and stay ahead of their needs. But it also helps law firms accurately assess a client’s potential for further desirable business, and evaluate not simply the profit but the cost and the sources of risk, too. This is how the firm’s most strategic accounts can be identified. KAM allows law firms to drop a less discriminating “one size fits all” approach to managing accounts, facilitating the development of targeted strategies appropriate for each customer.

Insurance is cheaper: Whether it’s health insurance or life insurance, your monthly payments and premiums will depend greatly on your height-to-weight ratio. By getting yourself to a healthier weight, you stand to see cheaper insurance quotes as a result.

The grocery bill is lower: Let any dietician or other healthy eating expert tell you, it’s all about portion. By eating less at mealtime and cutting out snacking, you’ll greatly reduce the amount of money spent on groceries.

The air conditioner is used less often: An obvious side effect of being overweight is that added fat makes overheating a real issue. Those significantly overweight are much more likely to use a home or car air conditioner when they may otherwise be comfortable without it being on. Preventing this can save several dollars on energy costs during the summer.

Less gas is used: If you opt to walk and bicycle to places you’d otherwise use your automobile to get to, then you’re certain to save on fuel costs. With gas prices going nowhere but up, it pays to find alternative ways around town, which fits perfectly into any agenda aimed at getting into shape.

Free time is more likely to be free: Whether it’s bike riding through a winding trail that stretches for miles, or listening to the big game on the radio while throwing the ball in the backyard, getting into better shape means you’re less likely to be spending your free time doing activities that cost money. Sitting on the couch only means you’re more likely to give into pay-per-view offerings, snacking, and other money-eaters.

There are big benefits to getting into shape, but not all of them are related to health. You’ll likely to see an improvement made to your personal finances as well. Weight lost and money saved is a combination most people would be happy to live with.

Kidney

The most common organ to be transplanted, it’s estimated that 3 patients still die each day while waiting for a donor kidney because of a shortage of willing donors. It’s perfectly possible to live a long and healthy life after donating a kidney.

Interestingly, in Iran where selling kidneys for profit is legal, the waiting list for transplants is non-existent.

Payouts vary; kidneys can be sold for anything between $20,000 and $80,000, although as the donor you could expect to receive just a portion of that, with the rest going to cover surgical fees and other expenses. After deductions, you’d be looking at a profit of up to $10,000.

Cornea

The second most common transplanted body part, the cornea has a high success rate because of the lack of blood vessels. Corneas are the clear lens across the front of the eye and are necessary for vision. Most corneas are harvested from cadavers but it is possible, if you want to live with the sight of just one eye, to be a living donor.

The major exporter of corneas is Brazil and the practice reportedly doesn’t pay too well. Donors can typically expect around $7,000 and a loss of depth perception for their trouble.

Liver

Obviously you can’t donate your whole liver and expect to carry on living! However partial donations are possible, albeit risky. Surgeons will, wherever possible, remove the left lobe as there are fewer complications involved than with removal of the right lobe.

Apparently, liver donors could get up to $150,000, but you’d be risking hefty fines and jail time if you got caught. And prison isn’t really the ideal place to recover from liver surgery!

Lung

The lung is another organ for which a partial donation is possible, with the right lung preferred as it avoids the need to manoeuvre around the donor’s heart. Complications can include fluid around the lungs, spitting up blood and non-productive coughs. Needless to say, being a living lung donor requires careful consideration.

Perhaps not surprisingly, it was hard to find out a definite price for a lung donation! However I did manage to find one site which estimates the worth of a human lung as being anything up to $116,000. Presumably that’s for a full lung, which would be much harder to part with than a partial one if you planned on living a good life with the money you’d earn…

Blood

Donating blood and plasma for compensation is legal in the US. It’s the simplest form of donation and you can earn between $20 and $40 each time you give blood. It’s recommended that you don’t donate too often, although guidelines do vary: in the UK you can only give blood every 16 weeks, whereas in the US a gap of 54 days is recommended.

Plasma, the substance which carries vitamins through your bloodstream, can be donated at the same time or in a separate donation. Unlike blood, plasma can be donated up to twice a week, with donors getting paid roughly $20-$25 for the first session and $30-$45 for the second.

Bone Marrow

Next to blood and sperm, this is perhaps the simplest of all the body parts to donate, and donors report a fast recovery time of just 5 days while their body regenerates the marrow.

Originally classified as an organ, it’s technically illegal to receive financial reward for donating marrow. However, a new ruling passed in December 2011 states that some donors can now receive cash for their marrow; depending on the amount taken this could be anywhere from $125 to $450.

Sperm/Eggs

Donating sperm is not as simple as walking into a clinic, ‘doing your stuff’ to some girly mags and trotting out, cash in hand. A donor needs to fit certain very specific criteria regarding height, colouring and education level, then provide a sample to check the quality of the ‘swimmers’. If the candidate gets accepted to become a regular donor, he will need to commit to a minimum 6 months contract, making one or two deposits each week.

Depending on the clinic, you could be paid between $35-$50 per deposit…but you don’t get the cash right away. Instead, the clinic ‘freezes your assets’ – as it were – and holds onto the money until 6 months after your contract finishes, and then you only get the money if your swimmers are still healthy after defrosting.

Women can donate their eggs, or ova, but the procedure obviously isn’t as simple! Egg donation involves injecting yourself with a stimulant hormone to boost egg production prior to them being harvested from your ovaries.

The compensation an egg donor receives varies greatly between countries. In the US the going rate can be anywhere from $2,000-$10,000, whereas in the UK the maximum a donor can currently get paid is £250 (a little less than $390). However this sum is under review and may be increased in the near future.

To sum up (taking the highest values found):

Kidneys                        $10,000

Cornea                         $7,000

Liver                            $150,000

Lung                            $116,000

Blood                           $240 per year for blood

Plasma                        $3640 assuming 2 donations every week for a year

Bone Marrow               $450

Sperm                          $2600 assuming 2 deposits per week for 6 months

Ova                              $10,000

Total  worth (men)       $289,930

Total worth (women)    $297,330

As far as debt management goes, selling your body probably isn’t the most ethical way to do it, but it’s comforting to know that you’re worth so much!

Written by Louise Tillotson from MoneySupermarket, a price comparison site in the UK. No, we don’t compare body parts!

Take online courses before going back to school. Before jumping into an expensive college education you should explore the many online resources that are available in order to make sure you’re sure. Often times people will return to school because they’re not satisfied with their jobs, only to discover they simply weren’t satisfied with their lives. Tens of thousands of dollars later, they realize they should have explored their true passions instead of gambling on a degree.

Invest in health care. Yes, it can be expensive. Ideally, your employer will provide you with a good deal. Either way, you need health insurance. Any random day of the week, you could be in an accident that could cost you your savings and a lot of future debt. A broken finger alone can cost thousands.

Ferment your own vegetables. It’s easy, cheap, and healthy. Lactic acid helps with digestion and a multitude of other bodily functions and fermented vegetables can prevent you from spending money on condiments, salad dressings, and party favors.

Save on gas money by not blasting the air conditioner, closing your windows, and driving under 65. It’s not easy, or fun, but if you get into a habit with these three factors you will greatly augment your miles per gallon.

Make your own coffee brew. A sack of coffee beans can last you a month for around $12. Or you could buy two to three cups everyday and essentially flush hundreds of dollars a month into a lazy caffeine addiction.

Buy a bike. This may seem counter-intuitive in a blog about saving money, but some investments pay for themselves. Not only is a bike cheaper than a yearly gym membership, it provides vigorous exercise that will keep you happy. Additionally, you’ll probably save more money on gasoline, since it’s more likely you’ll ride your bike to close destinations.

Drink rich red wine and dark beer. This one also sounds counter-intuitive. Clarification—I’m not suggesting that you get drunk. Always drink moderately. Red wine is loaded with Resveratrol, a life extending antioxidant, and dark beer has also been shown to have positive health benefits in moderate amounts. If it’s rich enough you’re less likely to drink too much and waste a bunch of money at bars and restaurants.

Use Foursquare to be the Mayor. A lot of local businesses offer great discounts and giveaways to people who check in on Foursquare.com. You may find yourself getting a free lunch multiple days a week if you become a company’s Foursquare Mayor.

A list of money-saving tactics could unfurl like a sea scroll—there are too many to list here. But you’ve got to start somewhere. The best methods are ones that double as healthy living adventures.

I’ve been reflecting on that conversation some 10 years later, having read an article recently about a father’s failed attempt to sell his kid in a Wall-mart parking lot. How far are we willing to go to support ourselves in a bum economy? Surely he could have sold a kidney or something. I found myself asking an odd question. Which is the better risk reward scenario, having a child or selling a kidney?

I’m a bottom line kinda guy so I’m inclined to use a balance sheet to get a clear picture of what we’re looking at.

According to ABC News the Department of Agriculture recently released a report saying that the average middle class kid born in 2008 will cost approximately $221,190 to raise from birth to 18 years of age. That’s a BIG investment. Factor in college costs and that investment can double, even triple. But here’s the good news. Kiplinger says that if you’re the average family, you’ll see a tax benefit of $2900 a year. Well, that’s something for the positive side of the ledger.

Let’s suppose that I decide to sell my kid instead. It is illegal to sell a child, so we’re talking theoretically, of course. Prices vary wildly when selling children. There’s the story of the guy who tried to sell an infant in Walmart for $30, a mother who attempted to sell her kid to the highest bidder on eBay, and a father who put his kid on Craigslist for $5000. Reportedly, he stated in the ad that his kid was one of a kind, a great kid. Hmmm. And you’re selling him. Are kids covered under lemon laws?

Okay, since he’s such a catch, let’s go with the $5000 kid. The child is reportedly four years old so we prorate the expense over that term. We divide $341,674 by 18 and we get $18,981.89 per year…times 4 equals $75,927.55. That’s our total cost to date. Factor in revenue of $5000.00 on our $75,927.55 investment.

Here’s our balance sheet:

• Estimated cost from 0-18 years old: $291,570 (adjusted for inflation)
• Est cost of tuition to a 4 year college: $50,104 (avg. out of state tuition per collegeboard.com)

• Total: $341,674
• Prorated over 4 years: $75,927.55
• Revenue: $5000
• Net Profit/Loss: ($70,927.55)

It doesn’t take a genius to see that this is not a good business model.

As an alternative, let’s sell a kidney. Apparently this too is illegal. Well, I was never one for rules so let’s continue regardless.

Just as with selling kids, estimates for kidneys vary greatly. In his article entitled How much is your kidney worth, John Stossel uses the example of a listing that appeared in the for sale section of a St Petersburg Fla. newspaper. “Kidney, runs good, $30,000 or best offer.” Thanks to the numerous after dinner martinis I’ve consumed, my kidneys are fermented. That ought to be worth something extra so I’m holding out for more.

There are harvest centers in some parts of the world where the trafficking of a kidney is an acceptable practice. In Israel a kidney can fetch as much as $80,000. Those numbers are much more enticing. Hell, for that price, take two. They’re small.

To get a proper revenue estimate we’ll have to make a few assumptions, Let’s say that I’m 30 years of age. That’s a typical child bearing age, one that is consistent with having a four year old. Let’s also assume that the average price of a martini where I live is $7.50. If I have one martini a day from the age of 21 until the age of 30, I will have spent $2,737.50 a year on the maintenance of my finely fermented kidney. Times 9 years, that would be $24, 637.50 total investment in my kidney over that time.

Here’s my balance sheet:

• Estimated cost of fermented kidney: $24,637.50
• Revenue: $80,000.00
• Net profit/Loss: $55,362.50

I’ve made a profit!

This appears to be a much more solid revenue source than selling the kids. While the Tea Party and Occupy folks argue about how to resolve the budget deficits experienced worldwide, it occurs to me that we may have hit on a realistic solution. Pardon me whilst I step out for a few…

It’s martini time.

Richard Rossi is a guest blogger, humor writer and illustrator from North Carolina by way of Syracuse NY. You can find his Childrens books at Amazon.com or Costco. Stop by and see him at his Orange sports and entertainment website where it’s always martini time.

1.    Home cooking

Preparing food at home is generally cheaper than buying ready-made meals in stores or eating out at restaurants. To get the best out of your home cooking budget, plan ahead. Plan a menu and let this dictate your shopping list. When you go grocery shopping – stick to the list! Impulse purchases can really add up.

If you have a baby, making healthy baby-friendly meals from vegetables, rice or potatoes can work out a lot cheaper than the baby food in jars and it can be  healthier for your baby too because you’ll know what’s going in there.

2.    Second-hand clothes

Some people don’t like the idea of ‘pre-loved’ clothes because they think new is best. These people could be missing a trick! Let’s face it, kids out-grow clothes and shoes in a matter of months and it can be really expensive to keep them kitted out in new clothes all the time.

You could ask friends or relatives with bigger kids to pass old clothes onto you, you could pass your older kids’ clothes down to their younger siblings or you could try the sale rail or second-hand clothes stores. After all, kids should wear what you tell them – up to a certain age, at least! (And if they’re really fussy, they don’t need to know where the clothes came from.)

3.    Online shopping bargains

Online shopping can be a real blessing for parents who can’t make it out to the shops with their kids much. These days, there are so many good deals to be found online. One way to save money online is to buy second-hand goods from places like Amazon or eBay. Another way is with cash-back sites that reward you for buying goods. Finally, online vouchers can also save you money on your shopping bill – for example you can use these vouchers if you live in the UK. Remember, you’re only making a saving if you stick to buying things you would have bought anyway!

4.    Staycation

The rising price of fuel has forced up the price of the typical air ticket. Taking a vacation every year isn’t actually essential, so why not save money and stay in your home town or city and plan some daytrips out instead? There could be all sorts of interesting things to discover on your doorstep. The money you save by taking a ‘staycation’ instead of an expensive overseas vacation could go towards the mortgage, paying off other debts, or into a savings account for a really special holiday in the future!

5.    Childcare circle

Share the responsibility for looking after your kids with other parents. Other parents might be happy to mind your child for a few hours if you’re prepared to do the same in return, or something else of equal value to them. Childcare is expensive if you work – could you ask a relative or close friend to mind your child while you’re at work? It’s also worth checking you’re receiving everything you’re entitled to from the state if you have children.

These are just five simple ways you could save money while you’re a parent. The best thing about cutting unnecessary cost is that you can put that money to good use elsewhere – perhaps redecorating the kids’ bedrooms, paying off that expensive credit card bill, or saving for their future.

Write Things Down

This doesn’t mean you have to literally write down a budget on paper (which you can, if you want to).  But you absolutely need to get all of your monthly income and expense figures out in front of you so that you can create a plan.  If you don’t want to do it the old-fashioned way, you can create a spreadsheet, invest in budgeting computer software, or take advantage of any of the free budgeting tools you can find online.

Set Some Goals

Perhaps the greatest beauty of a budget is setting financial goals and figuring out how you are going to reach them.  Put some serious thought into deciding what you’d like to accomplish, and use those goals to prioritize your budget.

Establish Good Spending Habits

Once you have all of your monthly expenses in front of your face, it’s a good idea to trim the fat where you can.  Cut back on all unnecessary spending, as you see it, in order to free up as much cash flow for goals as possible.

Be Realistic

It’s possible that you are paying all of your living expenses for the first time in a long time (or ever), so you need to examine your monthly obligations and get them down to the bare minimum.  That new salary may seem like a lot to you, but you may be surprised by the reality of having to pay your rent, utilities, insurance, and more.  Be realistic about what you can and cannot afford, and you won’t get sideswiped.

Eliminate Debt

If you happened to get into some debt to get through college, then you might want to consider consolidating that debt into one, manageable payment.

The time after college graduation should be exciting, but for many, it can also be very stressful.  Keep financial stress at bay, and reach your goals in the process, by following these budgeting tips.

About the Author: Patty Kleen is a college graduate with minimal student loan debt. She enjoys writing about personal finance, budgeting, and money saving tips and is a regular contributor at creditloan.com.

The Eurozone created several economic asymmetries between Germany and other European countries. Germany is an export powerhouse replete with high wages and low production costs. The euro imposed a monetary straightjacket on all countries, irrespective of what monetary policy was best for which country. Low interest rates set by the European Central Bank (ECB) wreaked havoc by sparking real estate bubbles and debt-financed consumption. Now the PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain) are dealing with the consequences while Germany is being essentially forced to foot the bill.

On top of all the public and private debts accumulated thanks to the ECB’s low-rate policy, there are vast amounts of monies promised to aging beneficiaries of Europe’s social welfare programs. The number of active workers will shrink, and the number of retirees will rise, hampering the ability of governments to fulfil their obligations. Northern Europe has been subsidizing Southern Europe’s excess consumption for years. The PIIGS countries have run large current account deficits throughout the existence of the Eurozone. These structural pressures may simply be too much to bear.

No matter how much bailout money is committed to the program, unless massive structural changes occur, the Eurozone economy will continue to deteriorate. The big danger is that the wealthier northern countries like Germany will start experiencing problems due to contagion spreading from the PIIGS in the south. Ultimately, the Eurozone is doomed to experience a break-up, likely precipitated by Germany or Greece leaving the euro. Once that happens, the economies of all European countries will likely enter a prolonged readjustment phase. In other words, a new recession, which will likely drag the rest of the world down into it as well. The inevitable end result will occur sooner or later whether the participating countries like it or not.

My name is Nisha Sharma. I represent a site called ClearDebt.co.uk. I love to write, especially about travel, finance and business advice. Feel free to visit our site for more information on IVA and credit card debt

• Make a budget: The first step that you need to take is to craft a frugal budget that will eliminate all the unnecessary expenses that you make during a month. When you’re in debt, you have to split your payments to different cards and if you don’t save money, you won’t be able to pay on time and this will hurt your credit score badly. Formulate a budget following which you can get back a firm grip on your personal finances. Evaluate the budget at the end of the month so that you can keep space for improvements.
• Follow the debt avalanche method: When you’ve accumulated debt on all your credit cards and now you find yourself deep in debt, you can follow the debt avalanche method. While some feel that this is the best way to get out of debt on your own, some others feel that the debt snowball method is better. You have to make a list of your debts from the highest to the lowest interest rate and then start paying off the highest debt first while making the minimum monthly payments on all your cards. As you repay the entire amount on the highest interest debt account, choose the nest one with the second highest interest rate. This way you can save your bucks in the long run as you won’t accumulate money in the form of interest rates.
• Snowball your debts: The debt snowball is a favorite for most debtors as this gives them a mental satisfaction about gradually repaying the debts one by one. Here too you have to make a list of the debts, but from the smallest balance to the highest outstanding balance. You have to start paying off the smallest balance while making the minimum payments on all the other cards. Soon after you repay the card with the smallest balance, you must choose the next card with the next smallest balance.

Apart from the above mentioned ways, you can also choose to transfer your balance to a low interest rate card. Shop around to grab the card with the lowest rate and transfer your entire high interest balance to that card within the introductory period to reap small and affordable monthly payments. However, when you seek debt relief, make sure you assess your personal financial condition and then take the plunge.