Let’s face it…January can be a bit bleak, can’t it? Our finances may have taken a post-Christmas hit, the weather’s still a bit cold and blustery, and there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot to look forward to other than waiting for Mr Sunshine to rear its cheery head again.

So, while I had grand plans to introduce this new ‘Good News Guide’ series on my blog as far back as spring last year (yes, really), I’m only getting round to it now. Better late than never, eh?

What is Good News Guide?

The clue’s in the name, really. It’s a series reserved for sharing only good things: positive news, fun stories and useful titbits that you can all use to make your January - and the rest of your year, to be fair - better. We could all do with some positivity in our lives from time to time - particularly during the last couple of years.

I’m open to receiving submissions from anyone who wants to share something good, too; just pitch your idea via email here.

Without further ado, then, let’s kick off Good News Guide with some book recommendations from Tanya at Settle-based Limestone Books.

Throughout the pandemic specifically, Tanya has been keeping the good people of England in great books - and giving a certain online, next-day delivery books website a run for its money.

I always like to hear about independent businesses doing their bit to put a smile on people’s faces - and I guessed that, since many of you may have set yourself a reading challenge or two for 2022, this first Good News Guide post is perfectly timed.

Here, Tanya shares her top five novels to make you happy this month and beyond…

Leonard and Hungry Paul

This book focuses on two friends who have a beautiful, quiet, and contemplative relationship. The conversations they have with each other and the people they mix with are very thoughtful and considered, and turn out to be very philosophical. You’ll all wish you had a Leonard or Hungry Paul in your life.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Although the lead character has a hard life, in a very poor area of the USA, you’ll feel uplifted by her ability to raise herself up to create a really special life for herself. It will make you believe that anything is possible, and to question what is justice.

A Prayer for Owen Meany

A hugely enjoyable book - just because you’ll love the character of Owen Meany so much. You’ll be totally engrossed in his story and life, and despite the difficulties he faces, you’ll still want to read right through to the end. It’ll make you forget your life and the world around you.

Tales of the City

Take a trip to 1970s San Francisco and get caught up in these characters’ lives. You’ll meet spaced out neighbours, go to outrageous parties, and watch as 25-year-old Mary Ann carves out a brand new life for herself, a million miles away from home.

Adrian Mole – The Cappuccino Years

Laugh out loud funny, Adrian has become a semi-celebrity chef, famous for making low-grade food fashionable. His parents have separated and are now having affairs with Pandora’s parents! Meanwhile, Adrian discovers a child he never knew he had as a result of a fling. Silly and farcical in equal measure.

Will you be adding any of these books to your reading list? A huge thank-you, once again, to Tanya for sharing these recommendations - and don’t forget to check out the Limestore Books’ site.

Until next time…

Psst: enjoy this first instalment of Good News Guide? Let me know via email or on Facebook. Plus, stay tuned for the next post in the series - coming soon!

January 31: the only date (probably) that's likely to strike fear into any business owner. But getting your self-assessment form in on time is as satisfying as removing the petrol pump from your car just as it hits a good, round number. Or finding the exact change for the parking meter in your glove box. Or - and here's the best one - realising that carrot cake is actually (probably) one of your five-a-day.

But enough about my obsession with cake; here are a few tips on surviving the dreaded tax season as a self-employed copywriter. Read on...

Just Do It...

Cheers Nike, for the sub-heading. My guess is that 'Just Do It' was coined, not by an expert marketer, but by a copywriter who was also in the midst of TRP (Tax Return Procrastination).

The point is, the annual self-assessment tax deadline will be here soon - whether we all like it or not. And trust me when I say it's never a good idea to leave it until the last minute. I have a friend who does the very same; he'll do anything at all to avoid sitting down and cracking on - batch cooking the week's meals, weeding, paying overdue bills, calling old friends - you name it; he does it. But to be frank, I think secretly he enjoys the 'will-I-won't-I-complete-it-in-time' pressure of it all.

For most of us, though, that pressure is excruciating. So don't do it to yourself. Open your laptop, grab those receipts and knuckle down. You'll thank me for it. My pal, on the other hand, can probably be found hitting 'send' on his tax return at precisely 11.59pm. Not you, though; because this year, you're going to be organised. Hey, why not reward yourself after? Now, there's an incentive to get going.

...Or Hire Someone Else to Do It

My editorial assistant salary at the newspaper I worked on, aged 21, wasn't great. So I beavered away in my own time to earn an extra income. Back then, I'd file my tax return myself; there was hardly anything to note down on the self-assessment form, so it made sense to save some money.

But the books soon became more complex when I transitioned from being employed by someone else to being employed - and full-time at that - by myself. So, if you’re transitioning, too, I suppose now’s a good time for me to extol the virtues of a bookkeeping firm, who can take the headache away from filing your taxes.

Cue Relative Accountancy here in Huddersfield, who've not only taken the stress away from the dreaded tax return, but helped to demystify some of the self-assessment jargon for little old me.

If you've taken the plunge to go full-time freelance, believe me when I say one of the best investments you can make is to hire an accountant. Plus, it'll save you on paracetamol for those headaches.

Too late to find an accountant to file this year's tax return? Make it your business to find someone ahead of April 1 and get a good head-start on next year's books. Check out these freelancer tips, too,from 3 Wise Bears.

Hang Onto Those Receipts

No matter how irrelevant they may seem now, hang onto all those even slightly business-related receipts. Lunches out, stationery for your home office, even magazine subscriptions you may need to do your work; they may all add up to a great saving on your tax return.

Establish a System That Works

So, you may have found a great accountant to save you time and money on your taxes. But hiring a bookkeeping company doesn't mean you can switch off and put your feet up. You'll still need to do some work, keeping track of your receipts (the easiest option is to chuck them in an old shoe box, clearly labelled 'Tax Receipts', so a well-meaning partner or pal doesn't throw it out), expenses, and earnings.

If you're a whizz on Excel, you may be able to put a fancy schmancy spreadsheet together, which keeps track of your profits and your expenditure and 'tots' everything up for you, too. Don't know what you're doing? Ask your accountant; mine put me an absolutely brilliant one together, which makes keeping on top of all things money so much easier.

In the meantime, use a bookkeeping website like BrightBook (one of the few free accounting sites out there!) and send invoices directly to clients. It's transformed the way I work and it's meant I've got into a great routine when it comes to sending and logging payment of invoices.

Work Out What You Can & Can't Claim For

I'll admit that when I was freelancing on the side of a full-time job, I had no idea what I could and couldn't claim for - and was therefore doing myself, and my finances, a huge disservice. I'd attend gigs as part of commissions for NME magazine and not even think about claiming travel expenses. And I once spent some of my savings on a short course for work, without realising I could have put that through my books, too.

So if you've just dipped your toes into freelancing, or self-employment, now's the time to discover what you can and can't claim for. The Guardian team answers a few frequently asked questions, just in case you'd like to know more on that very subject.

And Remember: It'll Soon be February 1!

I'll leave you with some sound advice of my Dad's. Whenever I was worried about something as a kid - be it a school exam or presentation - he'd say: just remember; it'll soon be tomorrow. And he's right, you know. You spend days, weeks, sometimes even months, worrying about something - and guess what, it's over before you know it. Don't stress; it’ll all be fine. Why? My Dad says so. And he's never wrong.*

Do you have any tax filing tips of your own? Share them by commenting on this blog. Or better yet, say hello and send me your advice to share on Twitter.

* At least that's what he thinks

Until next time...