It’s the
beginning of November and we’re working our way through the many self-assessment
returns we have on the desk at the moment. That board is super filling up.
It’s the
season for starting to think about Christmas, the weather is changing, the
leaves are golden brown and reds. Its
one of our favourite times of year. The Pumpkin soup is made, the Christmas
parties been booked.
We are all
working through a year of uncertainty.
Seems like this has gone on for years.
We’ve moved from Brexit, the Covid pandemic, to energy crisis and the
crazy interest rates. We’re not alone, big countries like France, Germany and
America are going through the same. But guess what we are all still here. We’re leading our lives and running our
businesses. Goals are taking a little
longer and we are seeing a number of clients taking their businesses into their
own hands and putting long awaited goals into practise. So, wishing them all
the success with these.
The delayed
budget has not helped anybody, so many rumours and you can’t tell if it’s the
newspapers scaring everyone and selling papers, or if stories and tax
consultation is being tested in the marketplace.
It’s hurting
our retail industry and people are waiting to buy Christmas presents. Retail is
not just about big corporation but about small business owners working hard to
make a living for themselves, in the town centres and the local villages. So please support your local business, the
local gift shop, the card shop, even the little baker on the corner. They all
need you right now.
Hospitality
has taken a beating over the past couple of years, they employ a lot of people
and need your support too. Again, please give your family run local a try,
bring the festive cheer to the community. We see several of them bringing and
supporting local brewers, and artisan baking is a very popular thing. They are not all dealing with large
corporations for their stock, but local family run businesses, preparing
quality food and drink. Supporting these businesses you are supporting a whole
community.
Preparing
for time off or gearing up for it to be your businesses main time of year. Try
to take some time for yourself, its all too easy to work late days and full on
at weekends.
The staff
maybe wanting time off too, to spend with their families. It’s definitely a
juggling act. Here at Cross Accounting, we always have a team discussion about
holidays and put in place a buddy system, in that they need to discuss with
their holiday buddy who is taking time off when. To ensure they are not all off
together at the same time and someone with the same skillset as another staff
member aren’t both off together, causing delays for the client base.
We have a
very colourful holiday planner, so everyone can see at the instant look who is
off and when. It’s worked well for years. It also gives me a heads up if
someone isn’t using up their time off and could ask for a lot of time off in a
short time period. So, I encourage my staff to take time off throughout the
year. They are more rested and motivated and also healthy. Give it a try.
Back to the
tax return. Please get your return into your accountant before the weather
changes. Remember accountants like to socialise and party too. So, if you’d
rather your accountant not sing Christmas carols in your ear, get super
organised this year and don’t put off that dreaded tax return. Concentrate on enjoying the festive season
and even planning that super dream goal for 2026, with all that free time you
now have.
Here’s to a
better end to 2025, and a dream 2026.
