Intersections can be one of the most dangerous areas of any roadway. Around 40% of accidents in the U.S. each year occur at intersections. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says more than two million crashes at intersections annually. So what is it that makes intersections so dangerous and too-often deadly?

Understanding Intersections

Intersections are needed to connect people who are driving, biking, and walking from one place to another. An intersection is where a road intersects, creating crossing paths. Intersections can also become points of conflict, where many crashes occur. 

At an intersection, roads or streets are coming together, and there’s a lot of congestion, signage, distracted drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, all converging in one place to create a risky situation. 

The NHTSA said that almost 96% of crashes at intersections are preventable, and the cause is frequently reported as driver error. 

When drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists are at an intersection, they need to be focused at a high level. Everyone who’s in an intersection has to process a lot of things all at the same time, including who’s got the right-of-way, how fast oncoming traffic is coming, whether there are pedestrians at crosswalks, and if there are cyclists at the side of the road or in bike lanes. You also have to be cognizant of cars that are making left turns. 

There are three main tasks that are required when driving. The first is control, meaning the operation of your vehicle, and the second is guidance which refers to interaction with other vehicles. The third is navigation, meaning choosing a right to get from one point to the other. All of these tasks mean you need to process a lot of information. If you’re driving and you’re overwhelmed with information, then it can be especially dangerous to you. 

Some of the specific reasons that intersections are dangerous include:
• Distracted driving
• Making false assumptions about what other drivers are going to do next
• Engaging in illegal maneuvers
• Misjudgment of someone else’s speed or the amount of gap you have
• Aggressive driving
• Speeding
• Turning when views are obstructed

Because of how intersections are designed and work, a lot of intersection accidents are side-impact collisions. Side-impact collisions are also called T-bone crashes or broadside accidents. Side-impact injuries can be severe, even with airbags, since the sides of a vehicle don’t provide a lot of protection. 

Injuries Stemming from Intersection Accidents

If you’re in an accident at an intersection, the injuries can be severe, depending on the impact and specifics of the situation. Injuries can include:
• Fractures and broken bones
• Neck injuries
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Loss of limbs
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Internal organ damage 

Avoiding Intersection Accidents

The best thing to do when recognizing the risk of intersections is to try and avoid putting yourself at an even greater level of danger than what needs to be the case. You can’t control other drivers, but you can control your own behaviors behind the wheel. 

To reduce your risk of being involved in an accident at an intersection, remember the following tips:

• Be aware of your surroundings. This is important any time you’re driving, but with so many factors coming together at an intersection, it’s especially important that you’re aware here. Watch all the drivers and other people around you. There are intersections where you might not have full visibility in every direction so be hypervigilant. 
• Don’t speed through an intersection. There are often surprises at intersections, even when you try your best to anticipate what other drivers are going to do. More than 8% of intersection crashes are estimated to stem from inaccurate assumptions about the actions of another driver. If you’re speeding, you don’t have time to adjust to an unexpected move by someone else. If the light’s turned yellow, don’t try to speed and get through it. 
• Maintain a safe distance. This is always a good rule of thumb, especially at an intersection. Don’t follow any vehicle in front of you too closely because this way, you’re being proactive about safety if there were to be a crash in front of you. When you have extra space, it also gives you a buffer in case someone pulls out in front of you. 
• Use your signal. This is the best way to let other drivers know what your intentions are. 

Finally, be careful as you enter intersections. This is one of the most important reminders for navigating them. The most dangerous time you can enter an intersection is when the light is yellow, or it’s just turned green. People are trying to beat the light when it’s yellow, and when it’s green, even if you have the right-of-way, you want to assume there’s another driver in the intersection. 

Big Sky – Elevate Big Sky is announcing a request for proposals related to resident workforce and single-family housing initiatives in Big Sky, Montana. Proposals will be accepted from December 1, 2022 - December 30, 2022. The goal is to increase the housing inventory for the resident workforce based on identified needs by leveraging resources, organizations, partnerships and plans unique to the Big Sky community.

Successful projects will:

• Demonstrate community need in the form of increasing the inventory of single-family homes (for long-term rent or home ownership) for the resident workforce
• Address affordability of buying or renting single-family homes in the Big Sky Resort Area District (BSRAD) for the resident workforce
• Demonstrate a partnership with a nonprofit entity(s); multi-stakeholder commitment
• Target long-term livability with single-family housing for rent or home ownership
• Include deed restrictions that guarantee accessible, long-term single-family housing for the resident workforce in perpetuity

 
In 2022 Elevate Big Sky was launched as a community-led effort to identify and support sustainable solutions for the most pressing issues facing Big Sky today: livability, behavioral health, and the environment. This collaborative impact funding framework was created in response to the Our Big Sky Community Vision and Strategy. “We have a great sense of community. Even with the current challenges we are facing, Big Sky is a phenomenal community, and we band together when people are in need,” said John Seelye, Elevate Big Sky Committee Member.

 
Project proposals will be reviewed starting in early 2023 and efforts to coordinate with existing funding cycles of Community Foundations and BSRAD are underway. The lead organization for any submitted proposal must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit and the proposal application must list all public/private stakeholders and implementation plan/timeline. “We are at a critical juncture in Big Sky where the pressures are exceeding what the community can provide,” said Ciara Wolfe, YCCF’s Vice President for Philanthropy. “Instead of letting outside pressures steer the direction of the community we love, we are strategically partnering to develop community infrastructure necessary to maintain both the quality of life and culture that all of us fell in love with.”

The university city of Bozeman, Montana, offers a diverse range of sights, entertainments, and historical spots to visit; it's richly steeped in history, and its beautiful scenery is the reason that films including A River Runs Through It and Amazing Grace were shot here.

If you're planning a trip to the seat of Gallatin County, and are wondering which locations should be on your must-visit list, then relax, as we've done the work for you! Here are the spots and sights that you should put on your itinerary.

Explore Yellowstone

Joining a day tour that begins in Bozeman and heads into Yellowstone via the dramatic Gallatin Canyon is a spectacular way to kick off your trip!

During the excursion, you'll hear all about the park's ecology, geology, and history and have the opportunity to view a diverse range of wildlife and landscape features. Marvel at Yellowstone highlights such as the park's very own Grand Canyon and Old Faithful before returning to Bozeman after your adventures. And if all that wildlife spotting has left you hungry for dinner…

Montana Aleworks

The Montana Ale Works offers a creative gourmet-yet-relaxed dining experience that's as delicious as it is stylish. All the dishes on the menu are handcrafted from scratch daily using fresh, locally sourced, and seasonal ingredients, and there is a range of drinks on tap that have arrived straight from the state's best craft breweries and distilleries.

The atmosphere here is vibrant and fresh: the decor, restaurant furniture, and artwork all combine to create a space that's as intimate and cozy as it is contemporary. And if you want a taster of the menu? Think bacon-wrapped sirloin steak with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies, truffled parmesan frites, grilled fish tacos served with black beans and slaw, and bison patty melt sandwich with caramelized onions on toasted rye. Hungry yet?

Museum of the Rockies

Located within Montana State University, the Museum of the Rockies is a fascinating exploration of the natural and human history of the Rocky Mountain region. It also houses the largest collection of dinosaur remains in the whole of the US, which the kids, especially, will love - particularly the T-Rex skull, the biggest that's been discovered worldwide to date.

The living history house is also impressive, and the sections on indigenous and settler history relating to the area are fascinating, too.

Guided Kayak Excursion

Ready for more adventure? If you want something a little different, then this fully guided kayak trip that sets off from Bozeman is just the ticket! You'll be told all about the history and wildlife of the area and taken to some of the most scenic spots on the Madison River.

The experience is designed to be relaxing and informative, offering a unique way to view the area's stunning landscape. As a stress-free family day out while in town, it's hard to beat.

American Computer and Robotics Museum

Currently ranked on TripAdvisor as one of Bozeman's very best attractions, the American Computer and Robotics Museum’s impressive exhibits are a testament to human innovation and creativity.

From the earliest computers to AI-enriched machines, quantum computing, the space race, and the cracking of the Enigma code, visitors will be fascinated by the museum's scope. It's recommended that you allow around two hours for your trip to best appreciate everything the museum offers.

Downtown Bozeman

Take a trip to Bozeman's charming main street to view some of the city's most beautiful historic buildings, a range of artisan shops, cute places to eat, and craft breweries. Preserving the historical elements of the city is important to Bozeman, and this care is evident in the stunning condition of even the oldest of the buildings downtown. When night falls, the atmosphere is vibrant, as bars, restaurants, and casual eateries come alive, such as…

The Bozeman Tap Room

For those wanting to relax after a day of hiking (or hitting all those gorgeous shops!), the Bozeman Tap Room is just the place! As well as a huge selection of regional and international beers, the bar also offers a wide variety of wines and champagnes and a selection of easy-eating bar snacks.

This venue prides itself on the mountain culture it's a part of, and the bar area's TV screens regularly play sports such as snowboarding, skiing, and extreme mountain sports, which you can enjoy watching as you sip one of the establishment's craft beers.

Bridger Bowl

And if watching mountain sports puts you in the mood to try some out yourself, then why not head over to Bridger Bowl, one of Bozeman's community skiing and snowboarding areas?

This friendly ski resort offers plenty of different trails for all levels and abilities; and if you're totally new to mountain sports? Take advantage of the on-site skiing lessons to get started!

Exploring Bozeman

Bozeman is a gorgeous city and acts as a natural gateway for those keen to use it as a base from which to explore Yellowstone. The town itself, though, boasts such a multitude of attractions, restaurants, and boutique shops that setting aside time to explore Bozeman, as well as Yellowstone, is something that you won't regret.

Some of our Gallatin County voters have reported not receiving their absentee ballots for the Nov. 8 general election. The Gallatin County Elections Office has a variety of ways to get those voters replacement ballots to ensure they are able to vote in the upcoming election.

We understand this is frustrating for voters who haven’t received their ballots. Our office is working diligently to navigate through these mail delivery issues to ensure all eligible voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots in the general election.

Get a new ballot – Come in Person

Voters can request a replacement ballot if their first ballot was not received, spoiled, damaged or destroyed. This request may only be used if the voter has not yet returned the voted ballot to the elections office. 

To receive a replacement ballot, fill out this form and bring it to the Gallatin County Elections Office (second floor of the Gallatin County Courthouse at 311 W. Main St. in Bozeman). Voters can request that our office re-mail their ballot, but with slow mail delivery time and the upcoming ballot-return deadline (received in our office by 8 p.m. Nov. 8) in-person visits are recommended.

To request a ballot be re-mailed, email a physically printed and signed copy of the form to gallatin.elections@gallatin.mt.gov. Digital signatures will not be accepted.

Designate someone to pick up your replacement ballot

If you are unable to pick up a replacement ballot, or concerned it may not be delivered in time, you can also designate someone to pick it up on your behalf. That person can then deliver your ballot or send your ballot via expedited shipping to you.

Print out this replacement ballot form and fill out using black or blue ink. At the bottom of the form, include the name of the person who you authorize to pick up your ballot for you and sign as Elector.

Give the completed and signed form to your designee. You may also scan or take a picture of your completed form and email to your designee to bring into our office for pickup.

Vote at your polling place on Election Day

Registered absentee voters can go to their polling place on Election Day and vote with a provisional ballot. Find your polling place location atwww.MyVoterPageMT.com.

Polling places will be open on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 7 AM to 8 PM, with the exception of Bridger Canyon Fire Station, which will be open noon to 8 PM. 

Contact us

If you have further questions, please come to our office, give us a call at 406-582-3060, or email us at gallatin.elections@gallatin.mt.gov. We are open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Election Day, our office will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit our website www.gallatinvotes.com. 

BOZEMAN — Even after the smoke clears, communities can be impacted by wildfire when scorched mountainsides are flushed with rain, washing sediment, ash and other contaminants into streams and reservoirs that supply drinking water.

In light of the severity and frequency of wildfires across much of the U.S., a Montana State University researcher and collaborators are working to help communities better safeguard water resources against wildfires as part of a three-year, $4 million transdisciplinary project led by the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station.

“We want to provide municipalities and others in the drinking water community with really clear, science-based guidance for how they can invest their money and resources to prepare for future wildfires,” said Amanda Hohner, assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering in MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering.

Hohner, a drinking water treatment engineer, will use $725,000 of the funding for research focused on understanding the water infrastructure and treatment processes currently used by communities, how those systems may be vulnerable to potential wildfire impacts and what changes water managers could make to be better prepared.

In collaboration with Hohner, other partners, including researchers at Oregon State and Washington State universities, will conduct field studies to monitor burned headwaters and understand how recent fires have affected watersheds in the Pacific Northwest and develop models showing how future wildfires could affect municipal water supplies. The project includes a socioeconomic analysis of the costs of wildfires to community water supplies and the investments that are most likely to pay off in the future. The research results will be widely applicable to Montana, where many communities rely on surface water supplies in forested watersheds that are vulnerable to fire, Hohner said.

“This is a collaborative effort involving a wide range of expertise to tackle a complex topic,” said Hohner, noting that the team includes hydrologists, foresters, ecologists and environmental economists at the partnering institutions. “It’s exciting to be working with a team of researchers with diverse backgrounds and expertise to address this problem.”

Since the project kicked off last spring, the team hosted a virtual workshop with stakeholders involved in watershed and drinking water management. “We really want to engage stakeholders, including municipalities and state and federal agencies, so that our work is aimed at addressing the challenges they face,” she said.

The motivation for the project came in the wake of the 2020 wildfire season that saw fires rage across the Pacific Northwest, with many cities and towns experiencing problems with drinking water supplies afterward. Fires consume vegetation that anchors soil and helps the ground absorb rain and snow. The absence of that vegetation leads to more rapid runoff filled with sediment and debris as well as ash and charcoal. Because most municipal water systems aren’t designed to handle extreme post-fire runoff and erosion, the large flush of sediment and debris can damage and clog water intake pipes and overwhelm treatment processes and filtration systems that normally remove smaller quantities of sediment and contaminants, according to Hohner.

In her MSU lab, Hohner will test different water treatment processes using samples collected from surface waters impacted by wildfires to assess which technologies are most effective at removing the fine ash and organic carbon that commonly spike in concentration after a rainstorm hits a burned area. The funding will provide opportunities for several undergraduate and graduate students to be involved in the work, Hohner said.

Combined with the work of the rest of the team, Hohner’s research will result in specific and comprehensive recommendations for how water managers could upgrade infrastructure to better manage future wildfire risk, she said. That could include adding different treatment technologies, adjusting daily operations schedules and expanding filter systems to better handle sediment and ash runoff. Additionally, the research is exploring how different types of water supplies are affected and the benefits of diversifying water sources to include groundwater, reservoirs and watersheds not as prone to wildfires, as well as adding capacity and flexibility to the system through water storage and other infrastructure.

Bozeman and Helena are among the communities in the state that source their municipal water from streams in forested areas that could burn, she noted. Because many other, smaller towns may not have the resources to invest in water system upgrades, one goal of the project is to help quantify the kind of assistance those communities may need from federal agencies and other partners.

“Unfortunately, the wildfire problem isn’t going away anytime soon,” Hohner said. “This research is one part of helping provide communities resources to be more resilient.”

Gallatin County DVRT Tackles Domestic Violence Issues in Our Community

Read the paper in Gallatin County often enough and it’s plain to see that domestic violence is a problem in our community: Stories of strangulation and other violent acts appear regularly. In the past few weeks alone, there were three high-lethality cases reported in local media – and those are just the cases where law enforcement has intervened.

That’s why the Domestic Violence Respose Team was created in 2012. It’s a group of law enforcement, attorneys, advocates, and more, in our county, trying to work together to address the violence that stems from one partner exerting power and control over the other partner – violence that’s on the rise in our community, according to local experts on the task force.

“Domestic violence cases are complicated to investigate and even more difficult to prosecute due to the intimacy between survivor and suspect. That is why these cases, more than others, require such a collaborative team effort to hold offenders accountable and keep survivors safe,” said Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer. “The predominance of homicide cases in Gallatin County are domestic related homicides. There really is no such thing as too much effort as this is truly a life safety issue.”

One in five people are survivors of domestic violence nationwide — in Gallatin County alone that’s more than 24,000 of our neighbors, friends, colleagues, and loved ones.

And each one of those survivors has family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and classmates who have likely seen the ramifications of that abuse. Domestic violence is an issue that affects us all.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and a time to bring this topic out of the shadows and into the forefront of our community conversation. And while this month might be wrapping up, domestic violence is an issue that deserves awareness all year long.

What Domestic Violence Looks Like

Domestic violence has one core component – it’s about power and control. It describes physical violence, sexual violence, economic abuse, spiritual abuse, stalking, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse.

Physical violence can be pushing, kicking, hitting, strangling, and at its worst, killing.

Psychological harm can be threats, manipulation, stalking, name-calling, criticism, blaming, and unpredictable behavior, among many others.

Economic abuse can look like denying access to bank accounts or other sources of money.

These forms of abuse do not discriminate. Anyone can experience domestic violence no matter their age, gender, race, sexuality, or socio-economic status.

Here in Gallatin County, statistics from a local domestic violence organization and from our area law enforcement provide a snapshot of how often survivors are reaching out for help locally.

Haven, a nonprofit that provides shelter, legal advocacy, a 24-hour support line, and other resources to survivors, saw a 12 percent increase in the number of people it served last year from the year before. Haven also saw a 9 percent increase in bed nights at its emergency shelter. Local law enforcement has also seen increases in the number of domestic violence-related calls they respond to.

In 2019, there were 573 calls related to domestic violence responded to among the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, and Bozeman, Belgrade, Montana State University and Manhattan police departments. That number jumped over 41 percent in 2021, with 810 domestic violence calls responded to by those agencies.

“The number of survivors seeking support right now is far outpacing the growth we’re experiencing as a community,” Haven Executive Director Erica Aytes Coyle told KBZK-TV in August.

Gallatin County Domestic Violence Response Team

A local multi-jurisdictional team of professionals has been tackling this issue head on in Gallatin County for over a decade.

The Gallatin County Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) meets monthly with the goal to ensure that each agency and each practitioner, 911 operators and patrol officers, courts and probation officers, is on the same page in maximizing both the safety and well-being for survivors, and the accountability for offenders.

The purpose of DVRT is to educate the community, improve community-wide system response and collaboration, and influence statewide policy regarding domestic and sexual violence.

The team is made up of representatives from the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office, Gallatin County Victim Services, Gallatin County Court Services, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Bozeman Police Department, Montana State University Police Department, Hearts and Homes; Gallatin County Court Services, Bozeman City Attorney’s Office, MSU VOICE Center, Gallatin County Child Protection Services, and Haven.

“It’s only by working together that we can see the gaps in how our community responds to domestic violence, and in how we can all work together to save lives and support survivors,” said Bailey Brubaker, the Haven staffer who’s been facilitating the Domestic Violence Response Team since January. “We’ve got a few things in the works for the coming year. It’s exciting to be part of the momentum we’re gaining.”

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month and beyond, we encourage our residents to educate themselves on domestic violence, talk about it, bring this topic into the light, and work together to end this issue in our community.

BOZEMAN — Montana State University Extension is using the results of a statewide needs assessment to help prioritize programming, inform strategic investments, consider new collaborations and partner with communities and stakeholders to address needs and issues facing the state.

“The results of this needs assessment are already being used by our MSU Extension faculty and staff as they continue to offer programs and resources,” said Carrie Ashe, MSU Extension associate director. “We are excited to see the responses as we use this information to help plan and prioritize local and statewide programming and invest in continuing to meet the needs of local communities.”

Nearly 2,500 Montanans from all counties and reservations completed the needs assessment survey. More than 800 others participated in listening sessions and interviews coordinated by MSU Extension county and tribal agents. Participants included people who use MSU Extension programs, as well as non-users.

Survey participants identified water quality as an extremely important issue, and the responses showed that people were most interested in attending home gardening programs. Overall, needs were determined by combining measures of importance and dissatisfaction on a variety of issues.

The top 10 identified community needs were:

1. Affordable housing options
2. Affordable food options
3. Counseling or mental health services
4. Development of life skills for youth
5. Youth career readiness
6. Rural community vitality
7. Child care options
8. Health care services
9. Safe/accessible community infrastructure
10. Agricultural profitability

Participants were most likely to prefer receiving information from MSU Extension through in-person workshops; other preferences included websites and online classes.

Local MSU Extension offices that conducted listening sessions and interviews compiled a report representing statewide themes from those local results. It can be found at msuextension.org/NeedsAssessment.html. 

MSU Extension released the results of the needs assessment during its annual fall conference, held Oct. 17-19 in Bozeman. The results were presented to more than 100 faculty and staff who serve across the state.

Ashe said the mission of MSU Extension is to provide unbiased, research-based information and education to Montanans.

“One of the fundamental practices of MSU Extension is meeting locally identified and statewide needs,” Ashe said. “At MSU Extension’s core are the needs of the people and places of the state.”

For more information or to view the full needs assessment report, visit msuextension.org/NeedsAssessment.html or contact Ashe at carrie.ashe@montana.edu or 406-994-3293.

HELENA – By order of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, the hunting of all mountain lions will close in management unit 422 one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, Oct. 27.

This hunting district will re-open for the hunting of all mountain lion for the winter season beginning Dec. 1. 

For more information, visit FWP's website at fwp.mt.gov/hunt/by-species to check the current quota status, or call the toll-free number at 1-800-385-7826.

Are you in search of effective techniques for saving money in the face of a seriously weak economy? If so, you are not alone. Owners and entrepreneurs are looking for ways to get their company finances in order and on the right track before 2023 arrives, and it becomes potentially harder to turn a profit. In fact, now is the best time to act because it appears that the nation's financial situation will get worse before it gets better.

What can you do? In addition to investigating possibilities for outsourcing a few core operational functions, explore other areas where you can make a few cuts, changes, or quick fixes to minimize expenses and boost the bottom line. Commercial fleets can gain a competitive advantage by transitioning to electric vehicles. Other worthwhile tactics in the war against rising expenses include:

Consider the following ideas that can help any company owner or manager get ready for whatever 2023 holds.

Use EVs For Commercial Fleets

For fleet managers, whether their companies have one, two, or hundreds of vehicles, transitioning away from combustion and towards electrical power is a profitable decision. Supervisors of commercial fleets always have cost on their minds, which is why they often begin exploring the concept of purchasing EVs (electric vehicles). The good news for company owners is that the benefits of electric cars outweigh the negatives across the board.

Not only is the typical EV a cleaner running machine, but the technology delivers long-term sustainability. One reason so many companies opt to switch to electric power is the fuel efficiency factor. In fact, commercial cars, vans, and small trucks that use electric power offer a high degree of cost-effectiveness. That translates to lower operating expenses for businesses that use EVs as their fleet vehicles of choice. The good news is that it's easy to begin the process of replacing combustion fleet cars and vans with electric ones on an incremental basis, which avoids the need for high up-front costs as the process begins.

Identify Outsourcing Possibilities

The majority of managers dislike the idea of giving control over a core function to a third party. Unfortunately, the modern world is a complex one, and almost no one can do every job alone or even with a small team. That's why it's so critical for owners to learn the fine art of letting someone else step in and take some responsibilities on occasion. Review your entire organizational plan with an eye toward identifying at least one function that can be outsourced. Be careful to study both short-term and long-term expenses because some service providers might appear to be a costly alternative but pay off in the long run.

Knowing what you are great at, and where you need help, is a great way to build leadership skills as well. One example is how outsourcing can positively impact the customer experience. People that take to e-commerce as their main shopping strategy are always looking for ways to improve the online shopping experience and if your website and user-friendly efforts are not up to par, they will bop on over to your competition. If this is not something you are great at, outsource the task. The result will be a higher performing aspect of your business, greater customer satisfaction, and less stress on you since you won’t have to be bogged down with trying to complete something that you struggle with.

Reduce Inventory Stockpiles

Inventory can be one of the stealth expenses in any organization, particularly ones that store merchandise for future sale. Entrepreneurs tend to think of goods on hand as a great convenience, and that's often the case. However, remember that it costs money to store, maintain, insure, and protect inventoried items. For medium and large companies, the ongoing expense of holding goods in warehouses or on-site can be significant. Consider developing more precise reorder points for all your for-sale goods. That way, you'll always be carrying as little inventory as possible. Adjusting order timing means paying less for insurance, security, and spoilage.

Purchase Supplies in Advance

Explore the idea of making next year's supply and equipment purchases now, before the year-end price increases take effect. As 2023 approaches and inflation continues to reach record levels, it's possible to save a significant amount of money just by acting fast and acquiring machinery, appliances, devices, equipment, and similar items as soon as possible. Buying in bulk or bundling different items from one seller are two of the most effective ways to get the lowest prices on needed supplies. Let sellers know that you are searching for discounts and are willing to purchase a larger-than-normal quantity all at once. They might be willing to negotiate and help you save even more.