by admin | Jan 27, 2018 | Donations, Organizing, Paperwork, Taxes
Benjamin Franklin wrote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Given those two choices, wouldn’t you rather discuss the IRS? Sure you would.
There’s nothing I can say that will make this fun or exciting, (as in, “Yay! I get to file my TAXES now!”) but I can offer suggestions to make the process a little less stressful.
Gathering the necessary documents should not feel like a scavenger hunt. Take action NOW to streamline the process once and for all.
You need a file folder. Label it: Current Year Tax Records. Voila! You’re done. Now, every time you get a donation receipt, a 1099-Div or a W-2, you have a place to put it. If your documentation is more than a standard folder can hold, get an accordion pleated one that expands to 3″ or 5″.
The same goes for documents you get electronically. Put them into an email file labeled, “Tax Documents” or if you use Gmail, slap a “Tax Documents” label on them and hit “archive” and they’ll be there waiting patiently when you need them.
If you get a blank receipt for items you give to charity, make note of what you donated while it’s fresh in your mind. I wouldn’t remember what I donated on August 3rd if I didn’t list it right away.
I’m sorry, but it really is this simple. Hey, don’t roll your eyes at me, I’m the voice of experience! I prepare a tax return for me and hubby, and that return includes income property. I also prepare returns for each of our grown kiddos as well as for my elderly mom. On top of that, I must gather the appropriate paperwork so my accountant can prepare my corporate tax return.
If this system didn’t work, I’d be running around like that proverbial chicken with its head cut off. Instead, all returns will be filed before the end of March.
If you have your taxes professionally done, don’t be that person every accountant hates to see coming with your over-stuffed shoe box full of random pieces of crinkled, crumpled papers. As an added bonus, eliminate that hot mess and it might reduce the preparation fees. Nothing warms an accountant’s heart like an organized pile of tax prep papers; as a former accountant, you can trust me on that.
![The Tax Man Cometh…]()
by admin | Apr 15, 2017 | Donations, Organizing, Paperwork, Taxes, Time-saving Tip
Are you ready? April 18th is right around the corner and for most of us, that’s the deadline for filing our 2017 tax returns. There’s nothing I can say to make the process conceptually exciting (as in, “Yay! I get to file my TAXES now!”) but I can offer some suggestions to make the process a little less stressful.
If gathering the necessary documents felt like a scavenger hunt this year, take action NOW to streamline the process for next year.
You need a hanging file folder for each return you need to prepare. Label it: Current Year Tax Records. Voila! You’re done. Now, every time you get a donation receipt, a 1099-Div, or a W-2, you have a place to drop it. If your documentation is more than a standard folder can hold, get an accordion pleated one that expands to 3″ or 5″.
The same goes for documents you get electronically. Put them into an email file labeled, “Tax Documents” or if you use Gmail, slap a “Tax Documents” label on them and hit “archive” and they’ll be there waiting patiently when you need them.
If you get a blank donation receipt for items you drop off at a local site, make note of what you donated while it’s fresh in your mind. I would never remember what I got rid of a year ago on August 3rd if I didn’t list it right away.
I’m sorry, but yes, it really is this simple. Hey, don’t roll your eyes at me, I’m the voice of experience! I prepare a tax return for me and hubby, and that return includes income property. I also prepare returns for each of our grown kiddos as well as for my elderly mom. On top of that, I must gather the appropriate paperwork for the accountant to prepare my corporate tax return.
If this system didn’t work, I’d be running around like that proverbial chicken with its head cut off. Instead, all returns were filed by the middle of March.
It doesn’t matter if you do your own taxes or have them done for you. However, if you use a professional, don’t be that person every accountant hates to see coming with your over-stuffed shoe box full of random bits of scrumpled papers. Eliminate that hot mess and you might save money on preparation fees, too!
by admin | Mar 31, 2016 | Clutter, Donations, Keeping Stuff, Saying Goodbye To Stuff
Do you ever get caught in the vicious clutter-creating cycle that goes something like this:
- You buy something you really don’t need and probably won’t use
- You tell yourself it was worth it because it was on sale
- You have no idea where to put it when you get it home/it gets delivered…
- …so it sits in a bag/box/corner where it’s joined by more “bargains”
- And now you won’t get rid of it because you paid good money for it
Sound familiar? I see this regularly when working in clients’ homes, so you’re not alone.
How can you break the cycle?
- Before making ANY purchase – especially an impulsive one, ask yourself:
- Do I need it?
- Will I use it?
- Where will it live when I get it home?
- If there are certain stores (brick and mortar OR online!) you can’t resist, proclaim a 30-day moratorium on visiting them. Break that habit of impulse buying!
- Take things out of the shopping bags/open delivered packages. It’s too easy to ignore something you can’t see.
- Create one designated area for pre-purchased gifts and “shop the house” when an occasion arises.
- Donate new/unused items to non-profit organizations for their fund-raising gift basket raffles.
Trust me when I say that retail therapy rarely produces long-lasting, positive results.
by admin | May 9, 2013 | Donations
Saturday, May 11, 2013 is the National “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive, sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers.
Place a bag of non-perishable food items next to your mail box or mail slot this Saturday, and your letter carrier will deliver it to your community’s local food bank for distribution to those in need.
What can you donate? This is directly from their website:
Donate items like canned meats, fish, soup, bottled juice, vegetables, pasta, cereal and rice that do not require refrigeration. Please do not include items that have expired or are in glass containers.
Now is a great time to go through your pantry and food cupboards. Pull out those items that are still good but, for whatever reason, you don’t want, won’t eat, can’t use, have plenty of, or simply want to donate to those less fortunate.
Will you be heading to the grocery store in the next two days? Grab an extra box of pasta or cereal; use a coupon for three of something that you only need one of and donate the other two.
Go ahead, fill that bag and put it out before your mail delivery on Saturday. You’ll feel great, and your pantry could gain some much-needed wiggle room!
