In just four short weeks (give or take a day or two), many of us will be taking a break to celebrate Christmas.

For the first time in quite a few years, I am pleased to say I have started my Christmas shopping and plans are coming along nicely.  In years gone by I’ve been super duper organised but lately that organisation has fallen by the way-side as business pursuits have kept me busy – but I’m back on track for now!

My personal advice for making it through the ‘silly season’ includes:

• start a Christmas Club savings account today and be prepared financially for next year (mine helps cover Christmas and birthday gifts through December and January with a little splurge money for moi)
• make a list (and check it twice) of each present you need to buy
• allocate a dollar amount to each gift and stick to it – you’d be surprised what you can find on sale to fit with your budget!
• divvy up the catering among your family and friends so that everyone shares the load, both in organising and spending
• drink water between alcoholic drinks (do as I say not as I do)
• relax and enjoy yourself – eat that extra after dinner mint and indulge in the cheese platter, Christmas comes but once a year (except if you do Christmas in July, then it comes twice a year but you can still enjoy yourself!)

Tell me your tips so I can add them to my list for next year!

Regards

Please note all advice contained herein is general in nature, please discuss with your financial advisor before making an investment.

Perhaps you’re thinking that a headline like this is going to lead to an article of succession planning in business?  But not today, instead I’m sharing this picture of the blue cornflower (the floral symbol for Motor Neurone Disease) in recognition of the 32nd anniversary of my Dad’s passing.

I was reflecting last week and remembering how my Mum and Dad operated a business when I was young – it’s where my love of motorbikes came from.

As franchisees of the Honda brand, Graeme Levett Marine sold and serviced motorbikes, lawnmowers, boats and outboard motors – and I remember a little Honda Civic sitting out the front of the shop when Honda cars were introduced to Australia (the Honda Civic went on to become one of my favourite cars – I’ve owned three of them in my driving lifetime!)

I have fond memories of visiting “the shop”, sitting on the bikes, climbing in the boats and pretending to drive the ride-on lawnmowers (it’s about as close to a lawnmower that I’ve ever been!), and while I didn’t realise it at the time, I expect this is exactly where my entrepreneurial seed was first planted.

And now all of these years later, when people hear my surname is Levett, I still get asked if I am related to Graeme – it’s kind of nice to know his legacy lives on.

To all the family businesses out there, keep up the good work, you never know who or what you are inspiring.

To anyone who has also lost their Dad, to all of you out there fighting MND, and to your families, my thoughts are with you.

Regards

What happens when an employee needs to attend the funeral of an immediate family member while they are on annual leave?

To answer this we need to ask, “If the employee was not on annual leave, would they be entitled to compassionate leave?”

If the answer is yes, then the relevant days of annual leave must be re-credited to the employee for future use, and the time should be recorded as compassionate leave.

The Fair Work Act provides for two days of paid compassionate leave to an employee when a member of their immediate family passes away or contracts an illness or injury that is life threatening.

Immediate family includes a spouse, de facto partner, parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild of an employee, or a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild or sibling of a souse or de facto partner of an employee – including step family and adoptive family.

You can read more here.

Regards

Where in the world IS The Tax Chic?

As The Tax Chic, I’m located in Australia and work out of an office in my home in South West Victoria.

The beauty of the internet though, allows me to connect and work with individuals and businesses from across Australia.

I love being able to help Australian taxpayers (and even a few non-residents across the ditch in New Zealand), attend to their taxation obligations. It’s even better when they don’t have to leave the house!

The Stryke Tax App I use allows you to submit all of your taxation documentation safely through their channels and into my secure (two step authentication required to access) tax program – recent users of the App have commented:

• Wow what a great app. Done already! 
• Appreciate all your help and it being such a smooth, easy process! I’ll be recommending you to family + friends

So regardless of where you are, you too can benefit from the wisdom of The Tax Chic in my regional location.

I know you want to try it – just Contact me to explain how!

Regards