Ilumin

With winter here and the days feeling even shorter, now’s a great time to check in on your wellbeing

Our latest blog shares 10 simple ways to improve your happiness — from gratitude and connection to fresh air, movement and rest.
Sometimes the smallest habits make the biggest difference during the colder months.

What helps you feel happier in winter?

10 ways to improve your happiness - ilumin Discover 10 simple ways to improve your happiness this winter, with practical wellbeing tips to help you feel more balanced, connected and energised.

Yesterday was one of the official start dates for winter.

1 June is the meteorological start of winter. This basically is an easy date to keep track of statistics eg: how cold/hot was the winter.

For astronomers, the start of the season begins during the summer solstice, which falls on June 21 this year.

Which one do you follow?

It’s time for our monthly newsletter. With many New Zealanders continuing to feel the pressure of rising costs, this month we’re sharing practical tips to help with cashflow management.
Read it here:

https://tinyurl.com/iluminMaynewsletter

Or, if you would like to receive our newsletter and notifications about upcoming events straight to your inbox, please email us at: [email protected]

Do you ever ask yourself:
How much profit have I really made?
Why is cash tight even when sales are strong?
What is actually affecting my cash position?

If these questions sound familiar, our Financial Awareness Coaching can help.

We work with business owners to build confidence around financial reports, cashflow, and smarter decision-making.

The sooner you understand your numbers, the sooner you can improve business outcomes. Message us to learn more. [email protected]
04 385 3343
You can also find out more here:

https://ilumin.co.nz/advisory/financial-awareness-coaching/

Want stronger cash flow? Start with better visibility on your costs.

Our latest news item covers practical tips to help you manage expenses, improve efficiencies, and keep your business on track.
Read the full article for more insights here: https://ilumin.co.nz/cash-flow-and-cost-control/

Please get in touch if you need any help, or just want to bounce around some ideas: [email protected]
04 385 3343

Cash flow and cost control - ilumin Improve business cash flow with regular forecasting, smarter cost control, and better visibility on expenses. Read the full article for practical tips.

Xero has advised that, following the recent service interruptions (global outages from May 7–12, 2026, affecting users in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, affected customers will receive a credit to their Xero account.

If the team at Ilumin manage your subscription on your behalf, we are currently working through the application process to have any applicable credits passed on to your account.

If you hold your own Xero subscription, you should have received an email from Xero with details on how to request your credit through Xero Central.

At this stage, Xero has not confirmed the value of the credit. We will keep affected clients updated as soon as more information becomes available.

Making a profit but still worrying about bills? You’re not alone—cashflow is all about timing.

- An accountant can help you: Forecast what’s coming in and going out (so there are no nasty surprises)
- Plan ahead for tax, payroll, stock and loan repayments
- Find practical ways to get paid faster and keep more cash in the bank
- Check in regularly and adjust the plan when things change

Want help getting on top of your cashflow? Take a look at our Cashflow Forecast or Cashflow Management Coaching service and let’s build a plan that gives you breathing room.
https://ilumin.co.nz/advisory/cashflow-management/

Send us a message and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Contact us now to get started:
[email protected]
04 385 3343

Weathering the storm? When sales slow but wages and overheads don’t, proactive cash-flow planning helps small businesses stay resilient.

Our latest blog explores how you can minimise the stress of cash flow, take a look here:

https://ilumin.co.nz/keeping-your-cashflow-strong-in-tough-times-2/

Need a plan? Talk to us about how we can help your business:
[email protected]
04 385 3343

It's Friday which is a perfect time for some fun facts...

Today is Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday.

Did you know that when you reach 100 you don’t automatically get greetings from the King and New Zealand Dignitaries? The message needs to be applied for. You can find out more here:

https://www.govt.nz/browse/family-and-whanau/congratulatory-messages/

Bonus: did you know Sir David Attenborough’s favourite bird is the New Zealand kākāpō?

Have a great weekend.

In what might be an understatement, the last few weeks have been quite confusing with both a state of emergency and ANZAC Day creating short weeks. And suddenly it is had ticked over into the month of May.

Before the week gets away on you, here is your reminder that on Thursday 7 May your GST return and payment is due for the two and six month periods ending 31 March 2026.

Do it now or, put it in your calendar to complete by Thursday this week.

As always, please get in touch if you have any questions or concerns:
[email protected]
04 385 3343