TIPS & TRICKS
* * * * * *
TIP #1:  USE SMARTPHONE APPS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
There are dozens of apps that can help you easily and quickly track your receipts and expenses.  Use apps to help track mileage, revenues, expenses and keep tabs on your financial pulse.

TIPS #2:  DON NOT MISS DEDUCTIONS
Even little things add up...keep your receipts for charitable donations, job hunting costs (including mileage), child care expenses and other deductibles.  Ask your accountant for a list of things you may be able to deduct.

TIP #3:  USE A YEAR-ROUND TAX FILE
Tuck away receipts as you get them, so you do not have to dig them up at tax time!!

February is the month dedicated to matters of the heart—it’s American Heart Month plus we have Valentine’s Day—so it’s only natural to open up the conversation around protecting this vital organ. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in America. So what can you do to take care of your heart’s health?

One of the big lessons to keep in mind when it comes to heart health: It goes far beyond just lowering bad cholesterol.
Although it’s no bigger than your fist, your heart beats 100,000 times each day and sends 2,000 gallons of blood throughout your body. That’s quite an amazing function!
​
Two things you can do to ensure optimal heart health are to eat healthy and exercise. There are also some obscure heart health tips such as laughing (laughter is actually good medicine!) and controlling your stress especially on Mondays (the day when heart attacks are most likely to occur).

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION TIPS!
* * * * * * 
We have a variety of certificates, holders and seals to help you create custom awards for your employees.  Let employees know when they've gone above and beyond.  It builds confidence, celebrates success and encourages future growth.  Try these tips for building a successful employee recognition program:

Be timely
Do not wait to recognize employees for doing a great job. Acknowledge their accomplishments while it is still fresh in their mind.
​
Have a presentation
Call the team together so everyone knows who's earning awards and why. It encourages others to do well.

Be specific
Give a certificate or plaque that star employees can hang in their workplace to show their accomplishments.

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue-
Keep Both of Them to Yourself on Feb. 14
* * * * * *
Valentine's Day is a Double-Edged Sword
Valentine's Day. Perhaps no other holiday evokes stronger feelings from both the lovesick and those entirely sick of love.
Sure the celebration of holidays at the office can be fun. After all, you're still sporting that certificate for "Best Costume" at Halloween. But if management wanted you to make a big deal about Valentine's Day, they'd have handed out a list of names and asked you to decorate a card box for your desk just like in the fourth grade.

The bottom line is Cupid would never make it past security for a reason. Love may be the motto for February in the card aisle, but in the office the key word is "discretion."

Here's a list of helpful tips to keep in mind if you're thinking about merging your love life with your professional life this Feb. 14.

Tone Down the Flower Power.  Oh my gosh! He sent you flowers!
After reception calls you down to pick up your two dozen roses and you've dashed through the office to fill that enormous vase with water, you'll walk back to your desk via another route to brighten the day of even more officemates with your burgeoning bouquet. You chuckle while straining to see where you are going around those big blooms, and benevolently toss tissues toward the sniffles you hear in your wake.
​
Psssst. Being officially dubbed "Valentine Worthy" is nice, but has no bearing on your performance review. Be sensitive to others who may not be similarly blessed, and don't needlessly showboat while others are drowning in romantic turmoil. Smiling is fine, but please refrain from cartwheels.

Don't forget:
* * * * * * 
This year's tax deadline falls on April 18th.  Normally it is April 15th, but due to a legal holiday the tax deadline moved to the next business day.  That gives us an extra weekend to make sure all paperwork is organized and have all your documents in order.
  
Make tax season a bit less painful by getting prepared now.  Check with your accountant for a list of the documents you will need.  Gather all your materials and get the paperwork organized, so it's easy to put your hands on just the things you need.  Check out our assortment of files and calculators to make everything go more smoothly.  When your tax documents are all in order, it will make life easier in April...for you and your accountant.

TREAT WORKERS
Easy ways to make the perfect break room
* * * * * *
A great way to show your appreciation to employees is by providing comfortable, well equipped break room can help boost morale and develop workers personal relationships in the workplace.  Of course, it also provides a place were employees can relax and recharge, so they are more productive. A great beak room can also facilitate meetings and training's, so it is a win-win!!

* * * * * *
Keep things tidy:
Keeping a well-organized and attractive break room is beneficial to the company’s overall image as well as the morale of staff. Choosing the right office coffee solutions to stock a break room can make a significant difference in the impression made on employees and guests.

Provide well-stocked shelves:
While coffee, tea, and other hot beverages are mainstays of a break room, other types of office refreshments should also be provided for staff and visitors to the company. Items like snacks, powdered drink mix packets, canisters, napkins, cups and plates are also important elements of a well-stocked staff break room. These supplies will ensure that everyone in the office can enjoy break time with their favorite refreshments.

Charge minimally:
If you’re a small company, and you’re concerned with the costs associated with keeping a well-stocked break room, consider offering snacks and drinks for a minimal charge or on a voluntary donation system. Larger companies typically provide these amenities for free as an added benefit to their employees. Either way, making these items available to employees can create a more pleasant work atmosphere and increase job satisfaction for employees.

Lessen mess and stress:
Depending on the size of the break room, it can also serve as the location for informal group get-togethers to discuss various issues of importance to the staff or the company as a whole. A well-equipped break room is the perfect spot for brainstorming new ideas without the formal atmosphere of a conference room. Training sessions can also be held in the break room, allowing employees to enjoy office refreshments while keeping the potential mess confined to a smaller area for easier cleanup.

Order online to save time, money and the environment:
Twist Office Products offer a wide range of office coffee solutions and break room supplies, including a variety of snacks, powdered drink mix choices, and paper products at reasonable prices. By buying in bulk online, you can save significantly over the cost of purchasing individual items locally. Additionally, these break room supplies are delivered directly to the company, eliminating the cost of transport and minimizing the time spent shopping for these necessary items. It can actually save the company money by reducing waste, making a lighter footprint, and improve the cost-to-benefit ratio for break room supplies.

Ordering online from us, is simple and convenient.  Making it easier than ever before to provide a well-stocked break room as an added benefit for staff.

HELLO, FEBRUARY!
WE LOVE YOU
* * * * * *
There is so much to love about February! There is the "big game" in football.  Then, of course, it is Valentine's Day.  And did you know that February is American Heart Month?  It is also a great time to share the love with employees and customers with appreciation events or gifts.  Look for our ideas for celebrating and giving throughout this month's blog.

And do not forget...April 18th is just around the corner.  We have supplies to get you organized now, so you will be ready for tax time!
​