Do you know a woman going through Chemotherapy?
If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women. It's our job to pass the word and let them know that there are people out there that care. Be a blessing to someone and pass this information along.
Check out Cleaning for a Reason's web site .
What a wonderful way to give support to a woman struggling not only with a severe illness, but the effects that the chemo has on one's body as well! Please share this information with others!
Peace
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tax Season is upon us!
With tax season upon us, my eye catches anything related to tax tips that can save me money! Because I am posting this does not make me an expert on the subject, however! I just offer what I read as point of information and to remind you to ask your tax professional about these subjects to see if they apply to your individual situation!
Since many of my clients make gifts to their children or grandchildren, I took note of the fact that you can give up to $13,000 to any individual without having to declare or file.
Homebuyer Credit. It originally expired in 2009 but was extended through April, 2010. It said if you purchased a home by April 30, and closed by September 30, 2010, you may be eligible for the credit. But the part that caught my eye and that will be a subject of conversation with my CPA, is the fact that there was also a provision made for existing homeowners. They may qualify for up to a $6,500.00 credit if they have lived in the same home as your principal residence for 5 consecutive years within the last eight years. Of course, you have to be an accountant to understand all that followed in the explanation. But, if you fit the category, make a note and ask your tax professional about it!
Home energy credits are available up to $1,500.00 if you made improvements that improve the energy efficiency of your home; windows, high efficiency furnace or water heater, etc.
If you are a teacher and you are not reimbursed for all of the supplies you purchase for use in your classroom, you can take up to $250.00 deduction.
Capital Gains rates should be checked carefully if you have sold property in 2010.
There are some new rules on IRA’s; may want to ask questions if you have one.
Contributions to qualified plans seem to have changed also. But, what caught my attention is the conversion of a traditional IRA to a Roth. Since I teach people how to create their own privatized banking systems, which allows money to grow taxed deferred and allows access to your funds without taxation penalties as well as tax free withdrawals and supplemental tax free retirement income, I am always interested in one’s rationale for contributing to a plan that will tax the harvest instead of the seed! To that end, I noticed that you can convert a traditional IRA into a Roth and although you will pay tax at your regular rate, you can incur the liability over a two year period. Thus, it makes it easier to convert and minimize your tax burden in the future.
Finally, if you are contributing to an investment for retirement, qualified or not, and your funds are not working for you, beware, there is an alternative. Contact me and I will forward a pamphlet that will offer another alternative to traditional investments. This alternative is tried and tested, has guaranteed growth that is tax deferred without market risk and allows access to your funds at any time.
CPA comments are welcomed!
Since many of my clients make gifts to their children or grandchildren, I took note of the fact that you can give up to $13,000 to any individual without having to declare or file.
Homebuyer Credit. It originally expired in 2009 but was extended through April, 2010. It said if you purchased a home by April 30, and closed by September 30, 2010, you may be eligible for the credit. But the part that caught my eye and that will be a subject of conversation with my CPA, is the fact that there was also a provision made for existing homeowners. They may qualify for up to a $6,500.00 credit if they have lived in the same home as your principal residence for 5 consecutive years within the last eight years. Of course, you have to be an accountant to understand all that followed in the explanation. But, if you fit the category, make a note and ask your tax professional about it!
Home energy credits are available up to $1,500.00 if you made improvements that improve the energy efficiency of your home; windows, high efficiency furnace or water heater, etc.
If you are a teacher and you are not reimbursed for all of the supplies you purchase for use in your classroom, you can take up to $250.00 deduction.
Capital Gains rates should be checked carefully if you have sold property in 2010.
There are some new rules on IRA’s; may want to ask questions if you have one.
Contributions to qualified plans seem to have changed also. But, what caught my attention is the conversion of a traditional IRA to a Roth. Since I teach people how to create their own privatized banking systems, which allows money to grow taxed deferred and allows access to your funds without taxation penalties as well as tax free withdrawals and supplemental tax free retirement income, I am always interested in one’s rationale for contributing to a plan that will tax the harvest instead of the seed! To that end, I noticed that you can convert a traditional IRA into a Roth and although you will pay tax at your regular rate, you can incur the liability over a two year period. Thus, it makes it easier to convert and minimize your tax burden in the future.
Finally, if you are contributing to an investment for retirement, qualified or not, and your funds are not working for you, beware, there is an alternative. Contact me and I will forward a pamphlet that will offer another alternative to traditional investments. This alternative is tried and tested, has guaranteed growth that is tax deferred without market risk and allows access to your funds at any time.
CPA comments are welcomed!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Down Payment Assistance Programs
One could debate the pros and cons of down payment assistance and if you are on the lender's side, you may not like them because of the reduced interest that the buyer has in the transaction. In other words, they have little or nothing to lose if they walk away from the deal after the loans close.
On the other hand, one might argue that it is the only way that a new buyer can get into the game! With lenders requiring more stringent underwriting guidelines and larger down payments, many first time buyers just do not qualify. This, the advocates would argue, is the ticket to getting into your first home! With some states allowing considerable money to be loaned at ridiculously low interest rates, the ability to make the larger down payment is possible and the monthly payments are more affordable.
Agree or disagree with the programs, they seem to be gaining support and may just be another kick start for the real estate market!
Read the article here .
On the other hand, one might argue that it is the only way that a new buyer can get into the game! With lenders requiring more stringent underwriting guidelines and larger down payments, many first time buyers just do not qualify. This, the advocates would argue, is the ticket to getting into your first home! With some states allowing considerable money to be loaned at ridiculously low interest rates, the ability to make the larger down payment is possible and the monthly payments are more affordable.
Agree or disagree with the programs, they seem to be gaining support and may just be another kick start for the real estate market!
Read the article here .
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Consumer Reports ratings released
I finad things to be relative when it comes to ratings. Ask someone with a particular brand of phone, for example and they either love it or hate it! Well Consumer Reports just gave A T& T the lowest rating of the mobile neworks and also indicated that I Phone users were particularly dissatisfied! I know a number that love their iphones! Conversely, they gave Verizon the best ratings and frankly, I was soured on Verizon and after many years, too many to count, I left and went to Sprint! Lot of your experience is what you make it!
One thing that I did find interesting was that they rated car batteries and in the cold weather areas, we do pay attention to battery problems. I mentioned on my facebook page that it always seems to happen when you are in a hurry and you jump in the car, turn the key only to hear crannnnnnk, click, click, click and then nothing! Well CR says they rate theri batteries as follows:
What's behind our car battery Ratings?
Our battery-life test is based on a standard recently adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Our test includes partially draining and then recharging each battery almost 3,000 times over a 10-week period.
We look for:
Battery life performance
Reserve capacity
Cold-cranking amp performance
Interestingly, they rated an Everstart Battery very well as a cold weather battery. I had never heard of them before. I guess that is because I do not shop in Walmart! Anyway, thought I would pass it along!
One thing that I did find interesting was that they rated car batteries and in the cold weather areas, we do pay attention to battery problems. I mentioned on my facebook page that it always seems to happen when you are in a hurry and you jump in the car, turn the key only to hear crannnnnnk, click, click, click and then nothing! Well CR says they rate theri batteries as follows:
What's behind our car battery Ratings?
Our battery-life test is based on a standard recently adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Our test includes partially draining and then recharging each battery almost 3,000 times over a 10-week period.
We look for:
Battery life performance
Reserve capacity
Cold-cranking amp performance
Interestingly, they rated an Everstart Battery very well as a cold weather battery. I had never heard of them before. I guess that is because I do not shop in Walmart! Anyway, thought I would pass it along!
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