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Posted By Susan Beattie, Director,
10 January 2023
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As we begin the new year many people are now preparing their self-assessment tax returns to be filed. However, leaving your tax return until the last minute can lead to mistakes. Here are 10 common mistakes to avoid.
- Not declaring all income
Various types of income must be included on your tax return, failure to declare all relevant income (including capital gains) can result in penalties. Some of these include;
- Employment income
- Pension income
- Interest income (excluding ISAs)
- Dividend income
- Property income
- Foreign income
- Capital gains from the sale of assets (i.e. property, shares, investments)
You do not need to include income from premium bonds, national lottery, gambling winnings, or interest awarded for damages for injury or death.
- Claiming expenses that cannot be claimed
There are complex rules around expenses you can and cannot deduct. Some expenses that cannot be claimed are;
- Forgetting deadlines
Deadlines for filing a self-assessment tax return are;
Registering for self-assessment as soon as possible is advisable as receiving a UTR number can take a while, and HMRC does not always give it to you over the phone. A UTR number is usually received within 10 days and is needed to file the return.
- Forgetting about tax reliefs
Some forget about the various tax reliefs available such as;
- Forgetting about payments on account
When a person’s tax liability is over £1,000 HMRC request payments on account are made for the next tax year and are usually 2 payments of 50% of the previous tax year’s liability and are made in January and July.
- Incorrect figures
Any error can result in penalties and interest being charged and any errors found to be deliberate can result in prosecution. Double-check all calculations.
- Incorrect UTR & National insurance numbers
This can result in the return and liabilities being allocated to the wrong account.
- Forgetting to date & sign the return
If you are filing your return by paper, you must make sure the return is signed and dated in the right places.
- Getting your tax code wrong
You could be paying too much or too little tax. For example, if you have 2 jobs your personal allowance should be allocated to one or apportioned to both, it could be both jobs are claiming the allowance and the tax is incorrect.
Your tax code is adjusted for job expenses such as cleaning of uniform, working from home, professional fees and subscriptions, traveling, etc.
- Forgetting to enclose supplementary pages
- Entertaining
- Depreciation
- Non gift aid donations
- Customer gifts over £50
- Governing body penalties & fines
- Some legal fees
- Paper returns must be filed by 31st October
- Online returns must be filed by 31st January
- Payment of liabilities by 31st January
- Tax-free allowances;
- Personal allowance - £12,570 (this reduces if your income is over £100,000)
- Transferable Marriage allowance - £1,260
- Blind person allowance - £2,520
- Self-employment trading allowance – first £1,000 (if not claiming other expenses)
- Property allowance – first £1,000 (if not claiming other expenses)
- Self-employment allowances;
- Trading allowance – first £1,000 (if not claiming other expenses)
- Home office allowance – you can claim a proportion of your home costs used for business or use a flat home allowance of up to £26 per month.
- Mileage allowance – first 10,000 miles at 45p per mile, 10,000 + at 25p per mile (cannot be claimed if claiming expenses for business vehicle)
- Property allowances;
- Property income allowance – first £1,000 (if not claiming other expenses)
- Rent a room scheme – first £7,500
- Private residence relief – if you live in the rented property for some time (on disposal)
- Investment allowances;
- Capital gains allowance - £12,300
- Dividend allowance - £2,000
- Savings interest allowance - £1,000 basic rate taxpayer, £500 higher rate taxpayer, £0 additional rate taxpayer
- Pension allowances;
- Private pension tax relief – contribute up to £40,000 per year or 100% of your relevant income (whichever is lower)
Additional income not covered by the main tax return needs to have supplementary pages included.
What to do if you find a mistake?
If you make a mistake on your tax return, you must inform HMRC as soon as possible. You normally have 12 months from the submission deadline to amend the return. For example, the 2021/22 tax return must be filed by 31st January 2023 and you will have until 31st January 2024 to file any amendments.
There are a lot of complex tax rules around the various points above and for peace of mind, a lot of taxpayers ask for the assistance of an accountant to help them complete their tax return. Some accountants also offer their clients a fee protection service which will cover the fees incurred for the accountant to assist in any investigations the revenue may carry out into the returns filed.
If you require any assistance in preparing your self-assessment tax returns or want to discuss our fee protection service, please call, or email me and I will be happy to help.
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Posted By Sally Inkster, Brand Specialist,
10 January 2023
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Hi Everyone and Happy 2023!I’ve recently been sharing my 12 steps to personal brand on my LinkedIn profile!Including 12 words related to Personal Brand (all with only 3 letters to keep it simple!)I’ve brought them all together here so you can follow them and arrive in your very own personal brand heaven.
Step 1 ✅ YES ✅
Say that word out loud 5 times! It may remind you of When Harry met Sally, LOL - It will make you feel more positive, say it with confidence, meaning and commitment.
As the famous quote says 'It's the things you don't do in life that you regret'.
❓Will you say ‘Yes’ to defining your Personal Brand.
Step 2 ✨ AIM ✨
What is your aim in life for today, this week, next year? Research shows that people who do not set goals earn less than those who do - interesting!
Take 3 sheets of paper and title them…
💥Short, these should be for the next week or up to the next 3 months.
💥Medium 3-6 months
💥Long term Goals 6 - 12 months
Include both your business goals, personal and health goals - don't hold back!
❓Have you written you goals for 2023?
Step 3 ✨ YOU ✨
'Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You'. Dr Seuss
'Be yourself everybody else is taken' Oscar Wild
Bringing out the 'real you' rather than trying to be what others want you to be or fitting in is a waste of energy and time. I believe finding your Personal Brand is about finding you! and it is a journey, one that can start whenever you want but it is more important now than ever.
❓How do you know who is you?
❓What does the best version of you look like?
Write down on a piece of paper the 'Ideal You'
Now look at it and see how close you are!
Step 4 💥 OWN 💥
There are 7.5 billion people living on this planet and no two are exactly the same, we are all unique! Finding the way to own our own thoughts, personalities and actions are paramount.
❓What can you choose to do differently to take more control of your life?
We feel more in control when we are helping others So, go out and catch people (yourself included) doing something good.
Step 5 💥 AWE 💥
What can you remember in your life that made you catch your breath because you were in awe of it - this is usually something that is so much bigger than ourselves.
It can help put perspective on things, our problems our mistakes.
For my 40th birthday, which was quite a while ago now,😉 I was lucky enough to go on concord, when we got to the supersonic speed and as high as we were going to go, I could see the curvature of the earth, it made me see things differently, Something I will never forget!
Will you look out over the next 3 days and notice 3 things that you are in awe of...
Step 6 💥 Day 💥
⭐ 365 days in a year
⭐52 weeks
⭐12 months
⭐7 days in a week
⭐24 hours in a day
⭐Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes in a year (Love song from Rent the musical!)
We all only have 24 hours a day - are you making the most of them? Billionaires, Milkmen, Doctors all only have 24 hours in the day …
Let's imagine time is in an ATM - You go to your ATM and draw out time everyday!
What you don't know is how much time is in that account. It may be millions it may be only thousands of days! Do you spend that time wisely or do you fritter it away on nothing that is going to help you have a day tomorrow!
Choose to use 10 mins every day doing something that can help you fulfil your dreams, or doing something useful…
💥Read a book,
💥Write a journal,
💥Make that phone call,
😳Declutter an area to make space for more to happen.
❓Do you use your time wisely?
Step 7 🌟 WHO 🌟
If you suddenly needed help who would you call, friends family, who would get up in the middle of the night and come and collect you in the rain from a garage, where you have left your broken down car? Choosing the people we surround ourselves with is one of the most important decisions we make in life - you are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with!
Surround yourself with negative people - guess what❓
Surround yourself with couch potatoes, who never exercise and eat junk food - guess what❓
❓Who can you speak to within the next 7 days that will make a positive difference to you?
Think about which people you really want in your life from now on and how you can spend more time with them.
Step 8 👍 ACE 👍
What deck of cards were you dealt when you were born? It's easy to see evidence that backs up our beliefs about ourselves and other people in general.
But you are only looking at it from your perspective, there is lots of evidence out there that people who seemed to be dealt an 'ace' card, great life etc are the ones that are now struggling mentally, financially or in their relationships.
You could also find people who were dealt a 2 of spades in life, who are now successful, happy and thriving, enjoying the challenges and considering themselves a real success.
The questions…
❓ ‘Am I a little better than I was yesterday’?
❓Have you learnt something recently
❓ Have you performed an act of Random Kindness
❓Yes
Then you are ACE 'ING' LIFE.
Step 9 💥 WHY 💥
One of the hardest things to come up with, is why are we doing our business, what is it that drives us? To become successful we have to take action. To take action we have to have motivation.
And for motivation, we have to have a why.
I struggled for a long time - as I know many of you do too - this one quote gave me enough of a reason until I could dig deep and find my other Why's
❣️'What one can be, one must be!’❣️Abraham Maslow
❓Do you know your Why?
If not, feel free to use the one I did until I found my unique why!
Trying to find your Why on your own isn't always easy, which is one of the reasons I developed my online course DAZZLE which has a whole section on how to define your why!
❓Would you be prepared to spend a day defining your Personal Brand?
Step 10 🎉 FUN 🎉
Your Personal Brand should show a fun side of you, This can be using humour in social media, your activities, the way you sell your services or products.
Fun also stops us as individuals from getting bored. Remember fun and laughter keep us healthy which boosts our immune system and keeps our energy high, this is a big part of your Personal Brand as the energy you show comes over to others.
💥 A small task - In the next few days get creative, paint, draw, design, make or bake and then maybe show your end result on social media
❓Have you just done something fun?
Step 11 ✨ ACT ✨
There is a saying 'It's the thought that counts' but realistically you need to actively take action.
Procrastination is the opposite of action and this is what a lot of us do when it comes to the parts of our job we don't like.
❓Are you taking some action today?
Step 12 ✨ ASK ✨
Being curious is one of the biggest indicators of success!
The first questions to ask yourself should be…
Who am I❓
What do I stand for❓
How do I help❓
To find clarity around your offer, you need to have clarity around what is unique about you, this is where Personal Brand comes in!
Ask for opinions (people like being asked their opinion) when you do, it makes them feel more valued. Ask for help with tasks you are not good at doing, tasks you don't like doing and tasks you haven't got time to do. Ask ‘Would you like my product/service/help?’
What questions are you going to ask today?
So, there you have it. The 12 simple steps to really nailing your personal brand. Are you up for the challenge?
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Posted By Samantha Lindsay, Mortgage Advisor,
10 January 2023
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Does Mortgage Advice Really Have to Be Dull?
Recently, I went along to an industry event.
As I ordered my coffee, I couldn’t help but notice something. Dressed in my purple trousers, leopard-print top, and red jacket, I stood out like a sore thumb!
The other mortgage advisors looked the way some people might expect a typical mortgage advisor to look.
They were mostly wearing grey, navy, or black suits – maybe with the occasional flash of colour, or a shiny piece of jewellery here and there.
What ‘should’ a mortgage advisor look like, anyway?
I wasn’t embarrassed about looking so different from everybody else. I hadn’t ‘dressed up’ especially for the event, after all. Anybody who knows me, knows that the outfit I was wearing is just part of my everyday work wardrobe!
But did it surprise you?
Whatever you do for a job, some people will immediately picture a certain ‘look’ that goes with it. If you were to think of a creative photographer, for example, you probably wouldn’t imagine them in a sober suit. And I doubt you would expect to see a funeral director wearing lively patterns.
I dress the way I do partly because I love bright colours, and because my clothes are a reflection of the person I hope people see me as – fun, friendly, and down-to-Earth.
But it’s also because I want to challenge the assumption that mortgage advice must always be sombre and severe.
I know that getting a mortgage is a serious financial decision.
There is a natural assumption that a person providing financial advice must look as though they take that role seriously. And a grey, black, or navy suit can seem like a short-cut to achieving this effect.
However, there is no rule that says you can’t offer excellent mortgage advice whilst also wearing a vivid yellow dress!
When I started my business, I noticed that many people felt drawn to the ‘angel’ logo. My intention has always been to guide people towards the right mortgage deal for them, just as an angel might gently guide their life decisions.
But I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much my customers appreciate my bright clothes, too.
“Refreshing” is a comment I hear quite often, along with “un-intimidating”.
It cheers me to think that people feel I will be speaking to them on their own level, rather than using professional jargon they might not understand. I may even crack a smile once in a while!
A pioneering approach
My wardrobe forms part of my overall objective: to help make my customers feel informed and confident about choosing the right mortgage for them.
If I can also help them feel relaxed, and maybe even inspire a smile along the way, so much the better.
I work hard to make sure this approach extends into our online presence, too. So when a mortgage lender recently told me that they follow My Mortgage Angel on social media, and that they enjoy seeing our posts and watching our videos, I was very happy indeed!
You can do the same, if you feel so inclined.
And if you’d like to know more about our friendly, fee-free mortgage advice – or even our relaxed dress code! – please get in touch.
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Posted By Emma Cohen, Digital Solutions Manager,
04 January 2023
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According to recent sources, 84% of SME businesses feel more efficient with cloud accounting. Cloud accounting is now as popular as ever, and it all starts by adopting useful software, such as Xero, to manage your financial records and cash flow.
I believe that businesses are being transformed beyond the numbers, simply by introducing cloud accounting and open banking, and we at Raffingers are huge advocates of cloud accounting and adopting technology. By implementing this into our business, we have seen evidence of genuine success, just by introducing new processes. These processes have smoothed everything out, allowing us to slowly say goodbye to the traditional spreadsheets and keep up to date with the constant things happening in our offices.
At Raffingers, we want businesses we work with to embrace the future!
In previous articles, I have spoken about how your business can transform through digital along with the risks and issues that most businesses face by not making that leap into the digital world. In another article I wrote (Transformation Tales - How Our Digital Solutions Transformed Businesses), I speak about a business which was completely transformed, purely by trusting our advice and making that big change within their information flows and processes.
By working with us and allowing us to take that deep dive into your business, we can do a full review of all core components of your business to ensure you are gaining accurate financial information and running your business as efficiently as you possibly can.
Introducing cloud accounting software is only the starting point. There are several other tech software’s that can also be implemented within your current business flows and processes. These could be for areas of your business which you thought couldn't be automated or made easier but, 99% of the time, there is always a solution available and we will assist in finding that and making sure it works for both you and your business.
There is a lot on the horizon for cloud accounting and technology, and I believe that this is only the beginning. Integration of all the elements needed to grow a small business into a single platform appears to be a primary focus, allowing SMEs to smoothly manage their operations and enable them to flourish.
For information on Raffingers and the services we offer, please do not hesitate to visit our website About Us - Raffingers Accounting Services
If you do have any questions on how we can support you, contact me at emma.cohen@raffingers.co.uk or click here
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Posted By Cate Caruth, Founder and Director,
21 December 2022
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You need to do more with your content! You know it and you know it will help grow your business - so what’s stopping you producing it?
Here, from my experience, are the four main roadblocks to getting going.
What do I have to offer?
You may think you couldn’t provide valuable content but that’s simply not true. Everybody has something they can produce which will add value to the audience.
Remember that your audience are not looking for a unique concept, they’re looking for new perspectives and new ways of explaining things. There are no new ideas, but there are always new viewpoints.
Your skill set is a valuable source of content, whether you’re a restaurant owner- sharing recipes, a carpenter with DIY advice, or a content alchemist- explaining how to develop content.
You wouldn’t be in business if you didn’t have value to offer. Content is all about explaining that.
I don’t have time!
Unfortunately there’s no easy solution to this, other than to simply make time. When considering my time limitations, I often think of this quote:
“If it is important, you will find time, if it isn’t you’ll make an excuse” (Anon.)
Assuming you get things done on time for clients, use this approach to get things done for yourself. When producing content, you’re effectively your own client.
Make sure to get help rather than battling with things, too. For instance, if you have a choice between spending several days producing a flier, or hiring a graphic designer who knows what they’re doing and can do it in an hour, seriously consider each approach. More than anything else, value your own time.
If you were working for a client, what could you be earning rather than struggling with content?
‘Perfectionitis’
It’s a common problem where someone spends a disproportionate amount of time trying to make their content perfect. True perfection is impossible.
Instead the level of perfection should directly relate to the lifetime of the content. For example, a flier needs to last longer than a single email. This means that you can afford to make that email less than perfect, but the flier might require more time.
Some things matter more than others but ultimately perfection is less important than whether or not you’re getting the message across, or the value is clear.
There’s a blog post on this in my last series entitled “Spoiling and Grammering” which should help you here.
I really hate….
If you hate producing a certain type of content, the quality of the content will probably suffer. Livestreaming, for example, is great and extremely powerful, but if you dread being in front of the camera, don’t start there.
It’s important to experiment with a range of content, but build your confidence by starting with content you’re already comfortable with. Remember, if you enjoy doing it, you’ll produce better content and it won’t even feel like work.
When you’re ready to use something else, consider re-purposing existing content. Take a blog, far example, and turn it into a livestream. This makes the new format less intimidating.
With these blockers out of your way, you should be well on your way to producing great content. And, if you feel there are other road-blocks in your way, comment below or contact us and we’ll be happy to see how we can help.
Image credit Canva
Tags:
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Posted By Elaine Walsh-McGrath, Managing Director,
14 December 2022
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Does it sound weird if I suggest that you should build your list before you decide exactly what to sell? It's a little counter intuitive isn't it?
So here's what I'm saying. If you're a coach or a yoga teacher you know what your passion is and you know roughly what you're going to teach. So before you start paying deposits on venues or buying lights for your course or online studio (even if that's your front room) build your network. And it doesn't have to be a stadium! Twenty, thirty, fifty people who are really engaged in exactly what you do is great.
Why?
Have you ever put your heart and soul into a project, spent hours on getting it just right and then tried to sell it but no one buys? I have. What I learned is that posting a couple of posts in local groups about your upcoming event or posting on social media a few times is not enough. You need to have a group of people who are really interested in you. Who know, like and trust you.
How?
Figure out what you want to teach.
What general style?
Decide who you will offer it to.
Create something that you can share with them in exchange for contact details.
Talk to them about the kind of course or classes that you want to share, how you will help them to feel in their body and mind as a result of your classes.
Imagine how it would feel if you had customers ready to buy your course, your membership, your coaching.
Think about how powerful it would be to ask a group of people who are already interested in what you share for feedback on something that you're thinking of offering.
Remember people want to help others so ASK
- Look around on social media, It's full of people helping each other, connecting, sharing, laughing, crying, buying.
- Reach out to friends and family, even former colleagues and ask them to share your lead magnet.
The worse thing that can happen is that they say NO.
Everyone appreciates being heard so LISTEN
- Go to the hashtags that you use to post and share to try to reach your ideal clients. And see what they are posting and talk to them. Like their posts. Share their posts.
- Help them to succeed. Make insightful comments. And do it consistently.
Set notifications up for when your prospective clients post. On Instagram and LinkedIn you can do this using the bell feature beside the account name.
Get the balance right use SELF AWARENESS
- Have you ever heard that phrase that you shouldn't go back to the same well too many times.
- This expression is a modern version of an ancient proverb, appearing in various ways and numerous languages from the fourteenth century on. Thomas Fuller (Gnomologia, 1732), “The pitcher that often goes to the well comes home broken at last.”
But some people think asking their family to help them once is too much.
Others go back and back and back and ask for help until no one wants to talk to them anymore.
Self awareness is so important. It's ok to ask for help. Maybe not 10 times from the exact same people. But certainly more than a couple of times is ok.
Do you have a system for Building your Network?
On the 11th January I am going to run a Paid Workshop to show you how you can Grow a List with Ease. It's going to include:
- A live Workshop at 1pm Ireland and UK time on Zoom to show you to Grow your List with Ease when you use the right tools to attract the right people.
- A follow up Personal Recorded Video Feedback session within the Private Facebook Group.
- A 40 Lead Magnet Ideas Workbook PDF
- A recorded tutorial on How to host your Lead Magnet
- A recorded tutorial How to Create an Automated Email Welcome Series.
- 5 different Lead Magnet Canva Templates to customise and use as your own with Accompanying Canva Training Tutorial on how to use the templates.
- Private Facebook Group to receive peer to peer support and further resource on how to Attract your Ideal Clients.
AND There's an early bird 30% discount for WIBN members if you book by the 21st December
Here's the link:
https://www.elainewalshmcgrath.com/offers/PFzLgey4?coupon_code=WIBN30OFFNOW
Photocredit: Elaine Walsh-McGrath in Canva
Tags:
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Posted By Vanessa Gillbanks, Mrs,
13 December 2022
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What to think about when trying to agree a financial settlement
One of the trickiest parts of getting a divorce, once the initial decision has been made to separate, is what will happen to the assets that you’ve built up during the marriage. It’s not always a simple as splitting everything equally; what is fair in a financial settlement? And what needs to be considered?
Here’s Gillbanks Family Law’s helpful guide to dividing up the family assets in a financial settlement.
First, ask yourself what the family assets actually are.
It might seem obvious, but you probably have more to take into consideration than you think. Think about all of the things you’ve bought, acquired or preserved during the time you have been married. Don’t just consider obvious property like the family home, car or tangible assets. Think about other things like your bank accounts, any shares you both own, savings, investments and pensions. On another note, while considering the assets, don’t forget debts and liabilities either.
How can you be sure what the assets are?
It’s very important that you make sure you know exactly what there is, asset-wise, before you make any decisions about the financial settlement. Are you the type of person who keeps track of everything or are you the partner who prefers to keep your head in the sand? If you’re the latter, now is the time to get out of the habit and start making notes.
You might have a pretty good idea what there is jointly and who owns what individually, or you might not know much about your spouses’ finances. There can often be nasty surprises or things that you may have forgotten about.
Making ‘disclosure’ to each other.
Disclosure is a legal term that means exchanging documents with your spouse which confirm your income, property, capital and pensions. It’s also important that you both find out what mortgage capacity you have and what it might cost to purchase or rent an alternative property in the area that you want to live in.
“But I bought the house before we were married!”
The family home is considered to be a family asset, no matter who the legal owner is. If you’re in a situation where you or your spouse bought the property before the marriage, there may be an argument for one of you having made a greater contribution, but this could also be countered by other factors such as the needs of your spouse or other family members.
We know what the assets are
Once you know what you have, what else do you need to think about and how do you divide it all up? The starting point for the family court is ‘equal division’, but a court may still decide on a different ratio depending on factors such as:
- The length of the marriage.
- Any health issues the parties have.
- The parties’ age.
- Any income or likely income.
- The parties’ individual needs and ability to meet those needs.
- Any contributions they’ve made.
- Ages of the children.
- A difference in income and pensions.
- What one party might lose due to divorce (specific attention to loss of pension benefits and income).
- Any other relevant circumstances.
Division of marital assets can be a delicate balancing act. Even if there are other factors (like those listed above) the assets might still have to be divided equally. It all depends on the circumstances of the parties. One factor can often counter another and sometimes more weight and consideration will be given to one specific factor compared to another. Needs and contributions often compete against each other.
Assets that were owned before marriage or obtained after the end of the marriage won’t immediately be considered as family assets but may still be relevant to meeting needs in the future.
What can the court order?
- Periodical payments
- Secured periodical payments
- Lump sum order
- Property adjustment order
- Pension sharing order
- Pension attachment orders
- Dismissal of claims
We have agreed a financial settlement – what next?
Even if you have reached an agreement about your finances, it’s still best to get legal advice about what you have agreed, so that you can make sure that you have covered everything. It’s also important to make sure that whatever you’ve agreed is possible for the court to order!
It’s advisable to convert any informal agreement into a formal financial remedy order approved by the court, however amicable you think your divorce is, because you won’t be able to enforce an informal agreement between you if one of you then changes your mind.
If you have agreed on a settlement based on a clean break, there is no dismissal of the claims unless they are included within a financial remedy order and you have obtained a decree absolute or final divorce order.
If you have agreed to share pensions this also can’t implemented without a court order, pension annex and a decree absolute or final divorce order. Make sure you have an order that covers everything you have agreed and that all the right steps are completed.
Need help sorting a financial settlement? Contact Vanessa Gillbanks at Gillbanks Family Law
Vanessa Gillbanks vanessa@gillbanksfamilylaw.com
Telephone 01206 299282 or 01473 937888
Mobile 07505360702
Gillbanks Family Law www.gillbanksfamilylaw.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gillbanksfamilylaw
*Image credit - Adobe stock, used under licence.*
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Posted By Vickie Farrell, Professional Declutterer & Organiser,
12 December 2022
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Declutteright - Tips for a clutter-free Christmas
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere we go.......... Isn't it just!
Christmas gives clutter a huge opportunity to infiltrate and take over our homes, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and disorganised. Don't get me wrong, I adore Christmas and love making our home festive with all the decorations. There is something special about this time of year when everything is all cosy and Christmassy. However, there are some parts of the Christmas holidays that can easily lead to having too much stuff in the home before, during and long after the big day.
So read on for some useful tips that can help you maintain some control over that Christmas clutter.
Christmas creates clutter
It can be hard to know what to get for people at Christmas time but worry not, as the retailers have mastered this market and have come up with lots of ideas for you. These tend to be novelty gifts such as Christmas branded items or books which quite frankly end up at the back of a cupboard or are even re-gifted the following year. Whatever way you look at these things, they usually end up as clutter somewhere in the home.
Well make this the year, the year where you rebel against the novelty gift and go for something that won't end up on the clutter pile.
So, what are the alternatives?
Some simple solutions can include:-
- Food and drink as they tend to get consumed quite quickly. Just make sure you are getting something you know the person likes, otherwise they will get lost in the pantry until they are no longer good enough to eat.
- Gift vouchers for places you know the person shops are also a great idea and can always be presented nicely if you want to turn up with something wrapped.
- Restaurant vouchers are a good contribution to a night out or for those who can't get a babysitter, how about Take-Away vouchers.
- Experience gifts can be more cost effective than you might think. These types of gifts range in price but you can usually find something within your budget. Cooking classes, gin tasting, afternoon tea, treatments, and theatre vouchers, the list goes on, just make sure you pick something that the person you are buying for will be able to use.
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There are even experience options for kids such as vouchers to go to the trampoline or climbing park, bowling, the arcade or cinema.
- TV Streaming, gaming and e-book vouchers are also good options that won't cause physical clutter and will definitely get used if the receiver is an avid reader, gamer or TV box set binger. You don't need to spend much on these things either.
- Charity gifts are also a nice option such as sponsoring an elephant or tiger or an animal closer to home such as a local wildlife centre or dogs home. Charities have some great, cost effective, packages that keep on giving throughout the year. It is lovely to get updates on how your sponsored animal is getting on.
- Memberships can be a nice present for a family or couple such as The National Trust or English Heritage. This is a gift that will create memories for a family long after Christmas Day has gone.
So, you see there are lots of ideas out there that don't have to create physical clutter. You just have to think outside of the box.
Dropping Hints
So kids get to write their letter to Santa of exactly what they would like for Christmas. As grown ups this isn't common practice, understandably so. But how many of us have opened up a gift on Christmas morning and had to use our best acting skills to say how much we love it. I know, we should be grateful for getting anything at all, and I know we are. But if it's the difference between getting a gift that will just add to the clutter pile compared to something you want, need or love, then where is the harm in dropping a few hints for Santa to hear.
Managing Present Expectations - Quality vs Quantity
We can sometimes feel a pressure to ensure there are piles of presents for our kids under the Christmas Tree. Some of us feel the need to buy lots of little things, as well as the big things, so that when the kids come down on Christmas morning, they see a big stockpile of presents. One of the problems with this is maintaining it year after year. Especially when you find that as our kids grow bigger, the expensive toys they want tend to get smaller, and so that pile doesn’t seem as big anymore.
A top tip for those small expensive toys is to wrap them up in a bigger box. They will love the present just as much, and there will be a bit of fun whilst they wonder where that present might be. Filling under the tree using this tip will mean that you don't have to buy extra things that they don't necessarily want or need.
Financial Pressure of Presents
This year in particular is a time when we should really think hard about the choices we make when buying presents for those who are not in our immediate family. We should not feel like we have to if we aren't currently in a position to do so.
Spending time together and creating lasting memories are much more important, especially at a time when people might be struggling.
I always find the Christmas message from Martin Lewis a great way to understand the pressure on people to buy each other presents, and it is also a good way to start the conversation, if you do want to discuss it. Here is the link to his message for this year, which includes a video he did in 2018.
Is it time to ban Christmas presents? - Martin Lewis' Blog... (moneysavingexpert.com)
If you are worried about having the conversation then you don't have to, most people would understand if they don't receive anything from you this year.
Declutter the Kids Toys
It is always a good idea in the run up to Christmas to have a clear out and make some room for the new things that Santa will be delivering on the big night.
Involving the kids in this process will depend on their age but a good incentive is to start thinking about it around the time that Christmas Lists are being written to Santa. Making room for that new toy can be a great motivator for some children. Also don't forget to use that Naughty and Nice List as another way of getting your kids to tidy their room ready for Santa's visit.
This is also a good time of year for selling toys as people will be looking for bargains or for things that may have sold out or are no longer even available. Or if selling the items isn't important to you there are charity shops or even pop-up charities around Christmas time that are on the look-out for nearly new toys that can be given to kids who may not be as lucky as others.
100% Recycled - Eco Friendly Wrapping Paper and Bows
Why is this such a good idea, aside from the obvious of being better for the environment than non-recyclable wrapping paper?
Think about Christmas morning when the presents are being opened and the wrapping paper has been ripped up, screwed up and tossed to one side. Some of us find it quite annoying and dare I say stressful when you have to separate what can and can't be recycled. It's so much easier if you know things can go straight into the recycling bin.
The day I discovered most wrapping paper couldn't be recycled I was not a happy bunny, and feel guilty when I bag it up to go to landfill. Some people find it a huge barrier to letting things go if they can't be recycled and it can become part of a much bigger problem.
So please think before you buy this year and go for an eco-friendly option.
Pantry Purge
If you are lucky then Christmas is a time when lots of food and drink can find its way into your home. So, make sure you are prepared for this! Otherwise, your pantry will be bursting at the seams, and you will lose items at the back of cupboards and forget you ever had them.
Now there is a line of thought that we should be doing a meal plan of what to buy for Christmas, and whilst this is the sensible option, we don't always have time for. But let's at least make some space for what is inevitably going to arrive.
Declutter your Toiletries
Christmas is the time of the gift set. How many of us end up with items we know we will never use? These things will take up space in our cupboards, shelves and drawers, if we let them. So, before Christmas arrives have a clear out.
If items haven't been opened, they could make a nice gift for someone else, maybe as part of a small hamper of items. Make your own gift set that you know someone will like. You could also donate the items to a charity shop or even a food hub (they do take non-edible items too). Maybe look locally to see if any schools are collecting contributions for their Christmas fayre raffle or tombola. These items can help to make money for those who need it.
If you have empty make-up or beauty product containers, there are now retailers such as Boots, Superdrug and The Body Shop who will take them in as part of a recycling programme. The Perfume Shop will even take back empty bottles and give you a discount voucher in return.
Whatever Christmas brings, do enjoy, keep smiling and remember wherever there is clutter there is a way to let it go! Merry Christmas.
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Posted By Danielle Abramov, Homeopath,
30 November 2022
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Lunatic (crazy) comes from the Latin ‘lunaticus ‘or ‘moonstruck’. Folklore has us all affected by the moon’s phrases, but more recent scientific research has noted that more outdoor criminal activity takes place at the full moon.
Moreover, there is as clear relationship between the change in the moon’s gravitational pull and bi-polar patients’ manic-depressive cycles.
Women’s menstrual cycles can also be influenced by the moon’s cycle, and many cultures have associated them with fertility.
In my practice, I am regularly told that ‘my period always starts on the full moon’, a characteristic symptom which I include to narrow down the remedy I shall eventually prescribe.
In other cases, the advent of the full moon affects some so negatively that they dread the monthly depression, paranoia or insomnia.
Homeopathic treatment has greatly helped those suffering from symptoms before or during the full moon.
Homeopathic treatment is holistic and individualised and as such remedies will differ according to a person’s totality of symptoms.
If any of this resonates with you, contact me for a no-obligation 15-minute discovery call.
Image credit used under free licence - Aron Visuals, Unsplash
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depression
fertility
full moon
holistic
homeopathic treatment
homeopathy
individualised
insomnia
menstrual cycle
moon
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totality of symptoms
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Posted By Vicky Kelly, Business & Life Coach,
28 November 2022
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It has been remarked on a few times recently, that I appear very calm and gentle compared to other Business Coaches.
Being compassionate and nurturing in my coaching style has always come naturally to me. I see the innate human vulnerability in everyone (even the apparently really confident, high achievers), so it never made sense to give my clients a hard time if they haven’t completed an activity we’d talked about. It’s also never felt like it is my place to do so.
After all, it’s their time, their business, their life - not mine.
My role is to support and help them find their own strengths and work with the challenges in front of them in as positive a way as possible. The support can be emotional as well as practical. Whilst many of my clients want and appreciate having some accountability in their business, it’s essential to me that they don’t give themselves a hard time if it hasn’t happened for whatever reason. They aren’t going to perform at their best if they are feeling bad about themselves - so I am definitely not going to add to that.
What we may work on, however, is the reasons that the activities weren’t completed and see if I can support them to make some changes there (whether in mindset, or practical ones) if that is appropriate.
I occasionally wonder whether people assume that coaches have it all together and never experience any difficulties, so it feels important to point out that I am a human too and sometimes my own to-do lists go out of the window!
Last Wednesday was a classic case of this. I had an hour or so in the morning before my first client of the day and I had written a to-do list that I wanted to get through as much of as I could. (I have a nearly 3 year old, so that childcare time is precious and whizzes past in a flash!) Bea had been a little under the weather and when my parents arrived to collect her, rather than marching off happily with them, with barely a backward glance, we had sobbing and her wanting to be held by me. My chosen approach to parenting means that I gave her what she needed and held her until she was feeling happy enough to go off with my parents, which she eventually did after about an hour. Gladly, I didn’t have to postpone any of my clients, but my to-do list was rather compromised! In that situation, I just have to pick what is the priority and what makes the most sense to do at that moment.
There really is no point getting stressed/upset with yourself if your to-do list doesn’t get done because life gets in the way. However, if this is a regular occurrence, you might feel instinctively that there is room for a little improvement – whether that is in mindset, or in practical application - and that some gentle outside help may help you with that. If that’s the case, get in touch. I’d be happy to discuss your options with you and see if I am the right outside help for you.
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