Some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, HR, and career tips.

SBA Atlantic (Region II) @SBAatlantic
Did you know about 200,000 #smallbusiness owners have already been matched with an @SBAgov-approved lender through Lender Match? Get matched today —http://ow.ly/HXBj50wUjlJ

NFIB @NFIB
“Firms are likely to continue to offer improved compensation to attract and retain qualified workers,” explained NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg on #SmallBiz owners’ strategy to deal with the employee shortage. Read more from @TDAJJKinihan of @forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jjkinahan/2019/11/13/selling-pressure-relatively-muted-as-investors-eye-trade-situation/#1dc79f9250fd

GSA @USGSA
GSA’s Office of Small Business Utilization connects small businesses with people and resources to help them grow. Find and pursue government contracts now: http://gsa.gov/small-business

IRS Small Biz @IRSsmallbiz
Do you employ your parent in your #smallbiz? Their wages are subject to income tax withholding and social security and Medicare taxes, but not unemployment tax. Learn more from #IRS https://go.usa.gov/xVvek 

Ben Carson @SecretaryCarson
Congratulations to the SBA for issuing a direct final rule that will allow governors to petition the @SBAgov’s Administrator to designate HUBZone status to new areas including #OpportunityZones! More at — http://ow.ly/L54K50xdVg2

Allen Ruddock @AllenRuddock
80+% of business owners say LinkedIn won’t work for them they’re wrong http://dld.bz/dSnKr #smallbiz #marketing

Angel Biz Advisors @AngelBiz
8 Sources of Finance to Kickstart Your Small Business – http://ow.ly/kE9p30pU9lm #finance #startup #entrepreneur

Lolly Daskal @LollyDaskal
10 Vital Traits to Look for In People You Hire: http://bit.ly/2HMK6HF #LeadFromWithin #Leadership #Management #HR #Success #Manager

Mark C. Crowley @MarkCCrowley
I once had a boss who said that on the occasions he ran into employees whose name he couldn’t remember, he’d just say, “Hey guy!” (A new study shows 1-in-2 of us have felt embarrassed because we didn’t know our co-worker’s name).

Neil Milliken @NeilMilliken
The average cost of making accommodations for disabilities is less than a couple of days wages – Not making them will lose you more time #HR

MACNY @MACNY_MfgAssoc
Are you prepared to rise above stressful situations? https://www.macny.org/good-leaders-rise-above-stressful-situations/

Robert Half @roberthalf
No need for a Magic 8-Ball. We’ve got the 12 best jobs of the future right here —http://rh.works/xqOf50xbbn1.

Hannah Morgan @careersherpa
Your next career move, either by your choice or someone else’s, takes preparation. Don’t wait until a crisis occurs to take some of these steps. https://buff.ly/2QpHgvM 

While an enjoyable part of the holiday season is giving to others, those nearing retirement would be prudent to give something back to themselves as the year nears its end.

That’s the advice from some retirement planners: Reduce holiday spending to provide more money for one’s retirement savings. But it’s a well-known fact that much of America wakes up with a credit-card hangover on New Year’s Day, and curtailing holiday expenses in favor of financial planning for one’s future requires more discipline and a stronger commitment. 

It’s easy to overspend during the holidays and make too many emotional purchase decisions. That hurts your long-term financial goals.

The holiday shopping list may seem to get longer as you get older, but at some point you need to draw a line and balance your urge to give with the must of retirement considerations. It doesn’t mean you leave people out, but rather, you don’t go overboard and leave a little more for yourself. It can make a big difference in the long run.

Here are four tips on saving more for retirement during the holiday season.

Review your past expenses and plan for the big picture. The holidays are a good time to reflect on how you spent your earnings over the past year. Adjustments may be necessary to get your retirement savings on track. All through the year, money gets away from people a little bit at a time. That’s often because they don’t have a firm plan. Not dealing with your expenses correctly can be very costly to your retirement. The holidays are the right time to recalibrate for the future.

Make a holiday list, check it twice. People should approach their holiday season spending in a way that can help them get on track toward retirement goals. That starts with a budget and sticking to it, but many people overspend during the holidays and end up paying for it well into the new year. If you have a budget set for holiday shopping, you can prioritize and figure out how you will get it done within those boundaries. Look for deals to stretch your dollars. Setting a budget will help you avoid spending sprees that leak onto your credit cards. The carryover there is you may need to dedicate funds in the coming year to reduce that debt, which makes it harder to save for retirement.

Sock away gifts from the company. Getting extra money from your company is a reward that you can use wisely toward retirement. If you receive a nice bonus, don’t spend it. Put that extra cash into a 401(k). That lowers your taxable income and gives you a boost toward your savings goals. And if your company offers you a raise, set a healthy percentage of that raise aside for retirement savings in the coming year.

Make extra money. Holiday seasonal jobs are an excellent opportunity to put extra money away for retirement. Online positions allow someone to work from home, and pet sitting is another popular part-time job with more people traveling during the holidays. 

It’s very tempting to spend this extra money, but if you have the big picture in mind, putting it in a long-term savings account is a great gift to yourself. With many Americans sinking further into debt during the holidays, it might be the right time for them to rethink how they spend and how it affects retirement.        

Jay Sharifi, author of “Building a Better Legacy: Retirement Planning for Your Lifetime and Beyond,” is founder and investment advisor with Legacy Wealth Management (www.lwealthmanagement.com).