TaxMamas TaxQuips: Inspiration

Happy Thanks for All the Gifts Week

Eva Rosenberg — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 07:04:00 -0700

Is there someone you forgot to thank?
Is that Thank You card burning a hole in your pocket?
Is Mom pestering you about calling your aunt?
How long have you meant to thank him for that locket?

Well, for all you procrastinators,
you ‘I meant to do it’ divas,
you folks with good hearts and poor memories – This one’s for YOU!

Annually, the third week in August is dedicated to saying “Thank You.” This year, the celebration spans August 16th through August 22th.

What’s a Gift?

At first glance, what things come to your mind when you see the name of this holiday? Do you see brightly wrapped packages with glittery bows? Do you see an envelope with a card, but more importantly, a generous check?

Or do you see a caring friend or relative stepping in to help when you’re overwhelmed? How about an acquaintance or mentor who takes time out of their busy day to guide you through a problem? Then, there’s the clerk at the dry cleaners who went out of her way to get you something on time – or the service manager at your auto place who fixed things you didn’t even realize could have killed you. What about the teacher who spent extra time putting together interesting lesson plans so you’d want to learn? Remember the client or customer who came by with gift because they were so pleased with your work? What about that grocery clerk at the end of the day who smiles and banters with you and lightens your load?

Taken for Granted?

Often, you don’t think about the family members who are always there for you. The people who call you regularly so yo never feel you’re alone. Or the boss who gives you regular paychecks, on time, every month – or the bonuses that you feel are your right! Do you think about the IRS agent or other tax agent who went out of their way to help get you out of a tight fix? Have you thought about your co-workers who cover for you when you’re late, or give you a hand with your projects? How did you thank your spouse, lover or parents when they made sure you had food in the fridge, utilities always operational, clean clothes. In fact, did you remember to thank your parents for all that they did? Your home, your education, perhaps even your car?

When was the last time you said “Thank You” to all the people who make your life so good?

Often, you mean to, but time seems to pass so quickly, have you noticed? All of sudden, ‘I’ll write that card next week’ has turned into two or three months. If you send it now, it would be embarrassing. Or would it?

Oodles of Gift Occasions

Thanks For All The Gifts Week was created by me, Eva Rosenberg, at this time of year for several reasons.

First, By the end of August, you’ve lived through Valentine’s Day, Purim, Easter, Passover, Secretary’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, Fourth of July, and your country’s annual celebration, most birthdays, many weddings and showers, lots of new babies, lots of successes and celebrations.

By this time of the summer, if you’ve had the luxury of having one (say a big THANK YOU for that privilege), your enthusiasm and energy has wilted in the heat and the humidity. School hasn’t started yet, neither has the new job. The High Holy Days of the Jews and aren’t due for a little while. It’s still a long way to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years…when, of course, you want to position yourself to get more gifts, right?

Second, one of the lovely traditions of Judaism is that before the High Holy Days, people are supposed to seek forgiveness from those they’ve wronged or hurt. But there is no tradition for you to remember to say “Thank You” to those who always treat us well.

Third, doing something nice, for no apparent reason, will make both you and recipient of your thanks feel great. (And since you’ve been feeling guilty for neglecting them for so long, just imagine the burden this will lift from your shoulders!) After all, there is never a bad time to do something nice, is there?

For Every Thing There is a Season

Well, that makes this the perfect time to catch up on all those ‘Thank You’s.’

The people you send them to aren’t expecting these expressions of gratitude. They’ll be charmed and delighted to hear from – when you don’t have your hand out. In fact, they may have been harboring resentments towards you because of all the things they’ve done for you, that you took and took as though you were simply entitled. (Read Dear Abby and Ann Landers sometimes – you’ll see some of the pain and anger expressed by parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents,...)

This is also a great time to catch up on those birthday gifts you meant to send out on their birthday. Ok, so it’s three, or six months late. Won’t that make them like it even more? It could even revive relationships!

Good Pranks

In fact, when I was in high school, I had a boyfriend whose birthday was in December. I missed it. And later, we faded apart. In the middle of the summer, I saw something that reminded me of him. So, I wrapped it up and sent it off with a birthday card. Naturally, he called, bewildered about my timing. It opened a door between us and we got closer than we ever had. In fact, it led to a marriage proposal. (Only he was just one evening too late.)

Over the years, I’ve done this to people, even people I saw every day. They’re always surprised, think I’m nuts, but go about feeling great all day. You never know when an unexpected card or gift can change a person’s life.

Buried Treasure

So, take this week to think about the people who’ve made you feel good all year. Send them a card, a note or a letter. You could send them a virtual card, but it has no permanence. Give them something they can save and cherish.

Maybe, like me, they’ve kept every personal card and letter they’ve ever received. To me, those are my most precious treasures. They are the history of all the love in my life – from friends, family, lovers, clients, and especially my husband…who seems to have squirreled away all the cards I’ve given him, too. I fell in love all over again when I found his stash one day.

And to you, my friends, I say thank you for reading my Ask TaxMama columns every week or my TaxQuips columns every day – my occasional Tweets. I thank you for your notes and comments, even when you disagree with me.

Just hearing from you spices up my day!

With warmest gratitude,

Eva Rosenberg.

Ask TaxMama :: Where taxes are fun and answers are free
www.TaxQuips.com :: The number ONE free tax podcast online
TaxQuip Archive :: Where you can comment on this

Two Choices

Eva Rosenberg — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:32:00 -0700

What would you do? Would you make the choice.

Don’t look for a punch line, there isn’t one. Read it anyway.

My question is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for Chush , a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

‘When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shaya, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?’

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. ‘I believe that when a child like Shaya, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’

Then he told the following story:

Shaya and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shaya asked, ‘Do you think they’ll let me play?’ I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father, I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shaya could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, ‘We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..’

Shaya struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, shaya’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, shaya put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, shaya’s team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shaya was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shaya bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shaya was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shaya didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shaya stepped up to the Plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shaya’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shaya could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shaya swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shaya. As the pitch came in, Shaya swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shaya would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, ‘Shaya, run to first!

Run to first!’

Never in his life had Shaya ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, ‘Run to second, run to second!’

Catching his breath, Shaya awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shaya rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head.

Shaya ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, ‘Shaya, Shaya, Shaya, all the Way Shaya’

Shaya reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, ‘Run to third!

Shaya, run to third!’

As Shaya rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, ‘Shaya, run home! Run home!’

Shaya ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

‘That day’, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, ‘the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world’.

Shaya didn’t make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

For more inspiring stories like this, please read Rabbi Pesach Krohn’s book, Echoes of the Maggid .

Courtesy of Thomas Forsyth in Florida
Prosperity Accounting & Consulting, Inc.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/tomforsythpacinc

Please remember to send us your humor.
Clean jokes preferred.

Ask TaxMama :: Where taxes are fun and answers are free
www.TaxQuips.com :: The number ONE free tax podcast online
Money Funnies at TaxMama.com :: Where you can find more humor

Your Best Investment

Eva Rosenberg — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:21:00 -0700

I ran into a stranger as he passed by.

Oh excuse me please” was my reply.

He said, “Please excuse me too;

I wasn’t watching for you.”

We were very polite, this stranger and I.

We went on our way and we said good-bye.

But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal.
My son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
“Move out of the way,” I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn’t realize how harshly I’d spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,
God’s still small voice came to me and said,
“While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,
but the children you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You’ll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.”

By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed.
“Wake up, little one, wake up,” I said.

“Are these the flowers you picked for me?”
He smiled, “I found ‘em, out by the tree.

I picked ‘em because they’re pretty like you.
I knew you’d like ‘em, especially the blue.”

I said, “Son, I’m very sorry for the way I acted today,
I shouldn’t have yelled at you that way.”

He said, “Oh, Mom, that’s okay.
I love you anyway.”

I said, “Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.”

FAMILY

Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days.

But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don’t you think?

So what is behind the story?
Do you know what the word “FAMILY” means?

FAMILY = ( F )ATHER ( A )ND ( M )OTHER ( I ) ( L )OVE ( Y )OU

Courtesy of the old I-HelpDesk & WebReview – October 16, 2003 – and my cousin in Israel

Please remember to send us your humor.
Clean jokes preferred.

Ask TaxMama :: Where taxes are fun and answers are free
www.TaxQuips.com :: The number ONE free tax podcast online
More Money Funnies ::

What's the Difference?

Eva Rosenberg — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:28:00 -0700

What’s the difference between a girlfriend and a wife?
45 lb.

What’s the difference between a boyfriend and a husband?
45 minutes.

What’s the difference between a new husband and a new dog?
After a year, the dog is still excited to see you.

What’s the difference between a Southern zoo, and a Northern zoo?
A Southern zoo has a description of the animal on the front of the cage, along with a recipe

What’s the difference between a Northern fairy tale and a Southern fairy tale?
A Northern fairy tale begins “Once upon a time.” A Southern fairy tale begins ”’Y’all ain’t gonna believe this.”

What’s the best form of birth control after 50?
Nudity.

Courtesy of the old I-HelpDesk & WebReview – October 9, 2002

Please remember to send us your humor.
Clean jokes preferred.

Ask TaxMama :: Where taxes are fun and answers are free
www.TaxQuips.com :: The number ONE free tax podcast online
More Money Funnies ::

General Eisenhower Warned Us

Eva Rosenberg — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:15:00 -0700

General Eisenhower Warned Us

It is a matter of history that when the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower, found the victims of the death camps he ordered all possible photographs to be taken, and for the German people from surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead.

He did this because he said in words to this effect:

‘Get it all on record now – get the films – get the witnesses -because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened’

This week, the UK debated whether to remove The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it ‘offends’ the Muslim population, which claims it never occurred. It is not removed as yet.. However, this is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it.

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the,6 million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians, and 1,900 Catholic priests who were ‘murdered, raped, burned, starved, beat, experimented on and humiliated’ while the German people looked the other way!

Now, more than ever, with Iran , among others, claiming the Holocaust to be ‘a myth,’ it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.

This e-mail is intended to reach 400 million people! Be a link in the memorial chain and help distribute this around the world.

How many years will it be before the attack on the World Trade Center

‘NEVER HAPPENED’

because it offends some other radical in in the U.S. who claims it never happened?

Do not just delete this message; it will take only a minute to pass this along.

FREEDOM ISN’T FREE…SOMEONE HAD TO PAY FOR IT
If you can read this…thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English…..thank a veteran.

Courtesy of Blakely Sanford, EA of San Diego

Please remember to send us your humor and inspiration.

Clean jokes preferred.

Read more Money Funnies and Inspiration here:
http://taxquips.com/index.php?cat=MoneyFunnies
http://www.taxquips.com/index.php?cat=Inspiration

Ask TaxMama :: Where taxes are fun and answers are free
www.TaxQuips.com :: The number ONE free tax podcast online
More Money Funnies ::
More Inspiration ::

Perfect Attendance

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:54:00 -0700

On June 2, 1925, New York Yankees manager Miller Huggins replaced first baseman Wally Pipp with young Lou Gehrig, the pride of Columbia University. Gehrig would go on to play in every Yankee game, every season through April 30, 1939. His record of 2130 consecutive games, played through illness, injury, and even bone fractures, would remain untouched until Cal Ripkin’s monumental career mark surpassed him in 1995. In 1939, Lou Gehrig was found to have been stricken with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known ever after as “Lou Gehrig’s disease.”

In December of 1939, in a special election, Gehrig was unanimously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame at the age of 36, the youngest player ever elected. He passed away on June 2, 1941, the anniversary of the beginning of his remarkable streak.

From his speech on July 4, 1939, “Lou Gehrig Day,” at Yankee Stadium:

“Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

“Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I’m lucky.

“When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift — that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies — that’s something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter — that’s something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body — it’s a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed — that’s the finest I know.

“So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awful lot to live for. Thank you.”
— Lou Gehrig at Yankee Stadium, July 4, 1939

Courtesy of Barry L. Pinsky, CFP®, ChFC, CLU in Encino, CA

Please remember to send us your humor. Clean jokes preferred.

Read more Money Funnies here:
http://taxquips.com/index.php?cat=MoneyFunnies

Ask TaxMama :: Where taxes are fun and answers are free
www.TaxQuips.com :: The number ONE free tax podcast online
Money Funnies & Inspiration :: More Money Funnies at TaxMama.com

Asset Valuation

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:12:00 -0800

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of sparkling cider theory…

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items on his desk in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “YES”.

The professor then produced two glasses of sparkling cider from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now”, said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.”

“The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first”, he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the good things that are important to you.”

“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented.

The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of glasses of sparkling cider with a friend.”

Courtesy of Bob Whitaker, creator of the Tax MiniMiser

Please remember to send us your humor. Clean jokes preferred.

Read more Money Funnies here:
http://taxquips.com/index.php?cat=MoneyFunnies

Ask TaxMama :: Where taxes are fun and answers are free
www.TaxQuips.com :: The number ONE free tax podcast online
TaxMama.com :: More Money Funnies at TaxMama.com
Bob Whitaker :: Creator of the Tax MiniMiser

Septaugenarian With Attitude

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:01:00 -0800

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet curtains that had been hung on his window.

‘I love it,’ he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

’ Mr. Jones , you haven’t seen the room. Just wait.’

‘That doesn’t have anything to do with it,’ he replied.

‘Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged. It’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up.

I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work. Or I can get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Courtesy of Steven Swartz of www.sizzlepr.com

Please remember to send us your humor. Clean jokes preferred.

Read more Money Funnies here:
http://taxquips.com/index.php?cat=MoneyFunnies

Ask TaxMama :: Where taxes are fun and answers are free
www.TaxQuips.com :: The number ONE free tax podcast online
TaxMama.com :: More Money Funnies at TaxMama.com
Steven Swartz :: Sizzle PR

TaxMama Tips in Times of Business Downturns - an Outline

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:05:00 -0800

Your business doesn’t have to fail, or even struggle. This is a great time for a business to shine. But you will have to face some hard truths about yourself and your circumstances. And you’re going to need to be brutally honest with yourself, your workers, your family and your vendors.

1) If you can’t pay for a product or service –

a)Don’t buy it!
b)Tell them up front and see if you can work out terms.
c)Offer a trade in products or services you have.
d)Look for a barter club
When you engage in barter, it’s still taxable. Be sure you book all the trades.

2) It’s time to re-evaluate employees – when you have staff

a)Are your family employees bringing the company down? Do they do a sloppy job that other workers have to clean up or get blamed for? Dump the family members and keep morale high.
b)Do you have ‘pity employees’? Do you have employees you don’t have the heart to fire because they are members of your community – but they do such a bad job you have to spend extra time fixing their work? If they aren’t responsible enough or focused on your business enough to get it right after all this time, it’s time to give yourself a break. Let them go.
c)Are you re-doing the work of employees? Even in large corporations, I have met managers who kept staff on who were incompetent. They’d stay nights to review the person’s work and then re-do it before morning. Are you doing something that stupid? Dump the jerk! Get some sleep.
d)If you must cut back staff – consider job-sharing. You have terrific employees who all do a good job. But you can’t afford to keep them all. Don’t lay-off by seniority. Hold a meeting and see if your staff is willing to job-share – or if one or two of them might easily be able to get new work quickly. Include them in the decision – and they might come back when business gets better.
e)Offer everyone a pay cut – in exchange for one paid day a month off – or more flexible scheduling. Sometimes, getting to keep your job, even at lower pay – and getting a personal day or two can be a real stress-reliever.
f)Cut employment costs. Have you put in a cafeteria plan – medical/child-care expenses pre-tax? It will cost a bit to administer. But the savings in payroll taxes will way more than offset admin costs. Raise for employees and cost-cutting for boss. Most payroll services can help you set this up.

3) Costs – you already know how to cut costs, right? Or do you?

a)Evaluate/change suppliers – based on service and cost. For instance, we just dumped out fulfillment house for www.homebusinesstaxcuts.com. Among other problems, they could not get it through their heads that we weren’t going to pay variable UPS or FedEx rates ($15.00 – $30.00) to ship to different parts of the country, when the USPS offers a flat rate of about $10.00. (Besides, in this economy, who says, “our way or the highway!” – figuratively speaking, of course?) The great news is, not only did we just find 3 excellent fulfillment houses that would work with us – their services ALL cost about 50% less!
b)Do you really need to buy that? Can you substitute something less costly – with similar quality. Quite often, especially today, you can find used equipment, furniture or tools or… things that are practically new. Shop around and ask your suppliers. Many offer refurbished goods with warranties. Shop at office supply houses like Quill.com who always have great deals. (We needed to get the HP fax – original cost $700 about 10 years ago – machine serviced. Our repair fellow seems to have gone out of business. We found a $100 HP copier/fax/printer/scanner on sale at Quill. With coupons and free shipping, it cost less than $30. OK…so the extra toner and other supplies we needed anyway brought the total order up to $137 – but…they included a tin of Mrs. Fields cookies!)

4) Advertising/PR:

a)Share costs – do joint/piggyback advertising with a related business – For instance, Tom Buck, CPA recorded a set of CDs to help business-people deal with their tax issues. It’s quite a good resource. So, I did a custom version of my 100% Home Business Tax Cuts, re-arranging my topics to match the order of his CD. We’ve packaged them together. And we’ll be marketing them together. (You’ll be getting information about that shortly – or just drop by Tom Buck’s website to order the set.
b)Do trade agreements with the local radio/tv station. I used to do billing for one of the hottest radio stations in Southern California. You’d be surprised to learn that many major advertisers never pay a dime. Instead, Winchells brought us donuts every week – and made some available for on-air prizes. A major florist filled each office with flowers every Friday – and made some available for on-air prizes. You’re getting the idea.
c)Get a fundraiser started locally for a charity that helps folks who are out of work or need fundamental things like food and shelter. Not only will you help your community, you’ll also get a lot of free press. And it’s amazing how much fun this can be – and how much it builds morale around the office.

5) Increase sales

a)find out what your clients/customers really need right now that you can provide. This is a good time to dump product/service lines no one really wants – and enhance lines they do. Who knows, you might find that you can build a whole new business line or direction by listening to your clients’ needs.
b)provide terms for them – or offer them trades if they can’t pay. (See barter notes in Tip 1.) Just as you may need help paying your bills, it’s time to cut your clients some slack too. Some will stiff you. It’s true. There are some jerks out there – and you’ll know who not to work with again. MOST of your clients/customers will bend over backwards to make you whole, even if they ultimately file bankruptcy – and even if it takes them decades. Over the decades, in times of trouble, I’ve adopted this policy. Most people came through – and are still friends and clients. Some…well, you knew even at the beginning they had no ethics. So what can you expect? Help the honorable folks. And let your conscience guide you on the dishonorable folks.
c)See if you can help your clients/customers increase their sales or save their accounts receivable. You have your own set of perspectives, contacts, and experiences. Sometimes, bringing fresh eyes to look at your customers’ businesses can generate wonderful ideas on how to increase their sales or – how to collect them.
d)Accept credit cards – PayPal is easy to set up and very low cost. With everyone low on cash, you really should be accepting credit cards. Your customers/clients are more apt to pay you now, knowing they can pay the card over time. In fact, PayPal is much cheaper than your traditional merchant account. If you set up the minimum service, there are no monthly fees. And they collect a small percentage of each sale. Also better than a merchant account, the charge is directly associated with each sale. There are no mystery charges. AND if you refund someone’s money, you don’t get ANY charges – not a percentage of the original purchase – or a percentage of the refund – and there are no additional transaction fees. (Have you ever tried to reconcile a merchant account statement with a couple of hundred charges? Do you even know if you’re being overcharged by the banks?)

Ask TaxMama :: Where taxes are fun and answers are free
www.TaxQuips.com :: The number ONE free tax podcast online
Quill.com :: For low cost office supplies
The 100% Home-Based Business Tax Solution ::
TaxMama's Article on Barter ::
Tom Buck CPA :: Tax Power CDs
PayPal :: Better than a merchant account - and costs much, much less!

Thanks

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:56:00 -0800

We all have so much to appreciate, every day. These are the things that brightened up your life:

From Jean Sullivan in Texas

I am most thankful for the health of my family! If you have this you are lucky, because the stock market, job loss, and the other problems of the world pale in comparison to ill health.

We have made it thru another year will no big surprises. The best thing that has happened to me personally this year is a brand new hip. I was hit by a car at the age of 9 & now at 57, have a better hip than I have had in many years!

Steve Williams tells us

If you’re talking about financial situations, here’s one:

I got an opportunity to buy a house that my wife really loved at a greatly reduced rate back in May and needed the money quick. I took $145,000 out of mutual funds, knowing I had 60 days to roll it over.
I was planning to put it back in the same mutual funds but decided instead to go with a simple IRA at the credit union paying about 3.5%.

The remaining $7,600 I left in the mutual funds is now worth $4,000 while the $145,000 I rolled over into the IRA is earning about $500 a month. I can only imagine how folks are feeling as they watch their
retirement funds dwindle.

I was fortunate to sell my house at approximately the same time (also at a greatly reduced rate) so I’m giving thanks for my financial stroke of luck X 2.

If you’re not talking financial, I give thanks for my family.

Katyna McGill life is filled with blessing this year:

I’m grateful for many things this year. God has done some things for me this year that I never thought would be.

I’m thankful for my place of worship and the leaders there. They are my family and friends. They have helped me get up, stand up, and get moving with my life.

My 4-yr old had a botched circumcision at birth. The surgery was successfully corrected this spring.

I went on a business trip to Dallas which worked out for me to see a cousin that I’ve been e-mailing for years. On that same trip I saw my dad and sisters. I was able to see my oldest sister for the very first time-she’s 39.

Despite the negativity all around concerning the housing market, I bought my first home in September 2008.

I’m 36 today and my stepfather who raised us had been trying to reach me. I thought that was strange since he left without warning when I was 14. I spoke to him a few weeks ago and he asked to see his grandchildren and plans to spend Thanksgiving with us.

I hadn’t seen or heard from my middle brother since 2001. My husband ran into him and we’ve been in touch ever since.

God has truly been good to me in 2008.

Michelle Dail in Virginia has had an awesome year!

Of course I am very grateful for my wonderful family and the many blessings that comes with it. I am also very grateful that at least at the moment my husband is still employed. (He works for a GM dealership!) But most of all,

I PASSED ALL THREE PARTS OF THE EA EXAM!!!!!!!

Stephen P. Arkulary in Minnesota has true naches (joy and generated by your children or grandchildren)

I was mentioning to my wife the other night that I cherish the holiday season more and more as long as we may enjoy our children.

My son is 500 miles away from home in Council Bluffs Iowa, just finished up with working day and night getting our new president elected. When things got really tough in order to deliver the one Democratic Electoral vote from Omaha Nebraska, that has not been done since 1964. I would remind him that he was right in the middle of a defining moment in the history of our country, our Constitution that has stood stronger and longer than any other democracy need a lot of new wisdom. His hard work on the campaign may give us the opportunity to restore the constitution back to the more pure form that it originally served.

I am also very proud of my daughter who is(embroiled) right in the middle of the recount going on in the U.S. Senate race here in Minnesota. How could an election come out so close .03 of 1%. My daughter was in charge of the get out to vote rally for the entire University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She was totally exhausted after the election, meeting with Constitutional lawyers for hours on end because of rules that may have favored one candidate over the other. We’ll see how her candidate comes out. A victory has a thousand parents and a loss is but an orphan in history.

I am so thankful that these two kids have the desire and willingness to stand up on their own based on their beliefs. I hope everybody has their children taking a place on their heroes list!

Mary Fran McCluskey, EA in California lives on a positive note – always

I feel good about my husband and I getting along so well together.
About my beautiful daughter passing her diplome this year and having a going music career in Europe.
About her and her girlfriend Clara spending part of our Clearlake vacation together this year.
About the wonderful family reunion my side of the family had in Switzerland for Molly’s concert.
About my son Ted’s new career in EMT and his having so many friends.
About having such great friends, old and new.
About my new little guinea pig girls Gingerpuff and Miss Muffet (Puffy and Muffy).
About being good enough in Spanish to do taxes. (I’m giving a talk in Spanish about taxes in foreclosure for Catholic Charities!)
About finally getting my EA.
About my great tax buddies in CSTC and CSATP. (I’ll be singing at the Christmas party).
About my holiday job delivering packages for UPS (just call me “Buff”).
About setting up shop this tax season in San Rafael year round.
About the fact that the self-employed can never be laid off.

Lucie Sample, EA in San Diego, who’s been my friend since high school has perspective

This happened to me 21 years ago but I’m still grateful.

I liked my job. I worked in a CPA office that specialized in personal service corporations (doctors, lawyers, etc.) and tax. I had worked there for several years, and I thought I’d remain there for several more years. Boy, was I wrong! One fine Fall day the boss decided to fire me.

At first I was devastated. After all, I was the sole support of my family, and jobs weren’t that easy to come by. I went home and talked it over with my husband, who was extremely supportive. We decided that I should open my own tax and bookkeeping practice, doing the same things I had been doing for the CPA. Only this time, I’d be the boss.

So I took the EA exam, passed, and printed business cards. Then I wrote letters announcing my new business and sent them out to everyone I knew. I bought a computer (this was 1987, after all!) and converted the spare bedroom into an office. Well, the practice grew, and soon I was making as much money as before but only working half the time.

If my boss hadn’t fired me, I never would’ve had the gumption to strike out on my own. So, this Thanksgiving, 21 years after my boss gave me that swift kick in the pants, I can truly say to him, “Thank you. Thank you for letting me go. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

One door closes, and another opens. We just have to be ready to walk through it.

You also have good and special things that have happened in your life this year. Or have come to appreciate that something you thought was a disaster has turned into such a blessing. Feel free to share.

Love

Eva

Ask TaxMama :: Where taxes are fun and answers are free
www.TaxQuips.com :: The number ONE free tax podcast online