It is that time of year again…

We know how the Chancellor’s budget will affect our income and spending. Meanwhile, at the start of the brand new tax year, we’ve all got our own shiny new budgets to work with.
For most organisations, those budgets are under more pressure than ever, so we need to find smart ways to stretch that budget further than ever.

That means being organised and efficient… which could take some work!

Here’s your chance to borrow some budget-savvy wisdom from the project management experts at 54 degrees.

In our years of coaching and training, two essential words, planning and communication, crop up without fail every time we help a client become more organised and efficient.
Here are a few simple planning and communication tips from 54 degrees to help you make the best of your budget.

Planning

Even a small amount of time spent planning the use of your budget will help you to use it more effectively.

• Review your current business position
• What is your vision for the coming year?
• What steps can be taken to achieve that vision?
• What is the potential cost of each step?
• Can you get better value from your budget by considering alternative approaches?

And this is where the communication comes in…

Communication

• Share your ideas with valued business colleagues and staff. This will not only make them feel that they are appreciated, but will also give you new ideas and a different perspective on your plan.
• Be prepared to take advice. Negative comments don’t have to be taken as criticism. Try to see it as valuable feedback which could help save you from throwing your budget away.
• Make sure that you write down your spending plan and remember to review it during the year.

54 degrees are giving away a free spreadsheet template to help keep control of your budget, and there will be more free stuff on the site next week.

Happy saving!