Those of us who are working from home on at least a part time basis will need to get our tax papers in order very soon. The end of the year is very close!
I've got my PayPal records downloaded except for this month. That will be downloaded in the first week of January because that's the earliest it will be available for the whole month of December. My next step is to look over those records along with my bank records, which are downloaded, and put all business related income and expenses on new spreadsheets.
I've got some receipts gathered already that may help offset any taxes due this coming year. I really think I didn't spend enough on business, though, and that I'll probably wind up owing money. My tax preparer will be able to tell me that. Still, there are a few days left and I might be able to make a purchase that will help.
For instance, peripherals that I use in my business can be written off, but adjustable beds for sleeping on cannot, even though the rest I get from them helps me work more efficiently.
The places online where I earn money will send me 1099 forms, so I'll know how much I actually made with them.
Sabtu, 29 Desember 2007
Jumat, 28 Desember 2007
Why work from home?
Different people have different reasons for wanting to work from home. My personal reasons are so that I can be home and return to my favorite lifestyle - that of a stay at home mom, even though my kids are grown. The stress and pressure of working outside my home and the lack of time here to really do the things I love are my driving force.
Others have other reasons for wanting to work from home, though. Maybe they want to be able to raise and homeschool their children while they generate some extra income. Maybe there are health issues that prevent them from working an outside job. Things like severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, or injuries can make an outside job impossible. Or maybe they just like the idea of being their own boss and setting their own hours for work, being in control of their own destiny.
I'd love to know your reasons for wanting to work from home!
Others have other reasons for wanting to work from home, though. Maybe they want to be able to raise and homeschool their children while they generate some extra income. Maybe there are health issues that prevent them from working an outside job. Things like severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, or injuries can make an outside job impossible. Or maybe they just like the idea of being their own boss and setting their own hours for work, being in control of their own destiny.
I'd love to know your reasons for wanting to work from home!
Minggu, 23 Desember 2007
Computing equipment
Where I work, we have two larger servers that backup our system daily and that have to be programmed anytime there are price or menu changes. I haven't ever reprogrammed them myself, but the managers who have access to that area are very talented in this task. I don't know if they have used cisco or what, but they certainly seem to get everything done and in working order pretty rapidly.
Sometimes I wonder if I should maybe be training toward that area instead of the restaurant operations.
Sometimes I wonder if I should maybe be training toward that area instead of the restaurant operations.
Last minute gift ideas
Yes, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, but I'll just bet there are some of you who are still shopping for gifts. Either you put it off till now or someone who wasn't previously on your list has come to light. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Scented candles
- Bath oils
- Pretty stationary
- Took kit
- Swiss Army knife
- Unique kitchen gadget
- Gift certificate for a massage
- Tin of cookies
- Movies
- Music CDs
- Lotions
- Shaving or grooming kit
- Travel size items
- Unique Christmas ornament
Sabtu, 15 Desember 2007
Christmas shopping update
Monday or Tuesday, I'll go to my bank and get MasterCard debit cards for my grandchildren in the amount of $10 each. Just last night, one of my grandsons commented that he had accumulated over $200 worth of cash and debit cards so far and was saving them for a musical instrument he wants. This kind of self-control in spending is rare in a 13 year old boy, so I admire him for that.
I could probably shop around town for gifts for girls to give to granddaughters, but I might never find exactly what they want. I'm not sure what the "now" thing is for them so they'll get the debit cards. I do know girls love to spend money when they have it, and they can get things they truly want this way.
I've pretty well got everything I want to get for my younger daughter. I still need to figure out something for my son Brandon. For the grown and on their own children, I'll give them MasterCard debit cards, too, though in higher amounts.
I could probably shop around town for gifts for girls to give to granddaughters, but I might never find exactly what they want. I'm not sure what the "now" thing is for them so they'll get the debit cards. I do know girls love to spend money when they have it, and they can get things they truly want this way.
I've pretty well got everything I want to get for my younger daughter. I still need to figure out something for my son Brandon. For the grown and on their own children, I'll give them MasterCard debit cards, too, though in higher amounts.
Bank offering points
I was delighted to learn that my bank now offers points based on debit card use. I have two bank accounts, which means two debit cards. I've already earned a few thousand points with those cards without even trying. See, I was automatically signed up for this when they began offering the points awhile back. And that's OK with me!
The point redemption tiers are as follows:
To receive the cash bonus from the points, I'll need to fill out a form at the bank. I think I'll let them accumulate for awhile longer before I redeem them, though. I'd like to get a large lump sum sometime after the first of the year.
The point redemption tiers are as follows:
- 2,000 points = $10
- 5,000 points = $25
- 10,000 points = $60
- 20,000 points = $125
To receive the cash bonus from the points, I'll need to fill out a form at the bank. I think I'll let them accumulate for awhile longer before I redeem them, though. I'd like to get a large lump sum sometime after the first of the year.
Rabu, 12 Desember 2007
Flowers for feasts
Your church, youth group, or homeschool group, or maybe even your business, may be planning special events during this time of the year. If so, you may want to consider buying wholesale flowers from FiftyFlowers.com for the table and hall decorations.
While they specialize in wedding arrangements, they are not limited to them. These flowers, from growers in Ecuador, Colombia, and other exotic locations, are cut fresh and delivered to you within two or three days of cutting. You might want only flowers and make your own arrangements from them. Or, you may want to create arrangements with their help and have those shipped to you instead, saving you both time and money.
Whichever route you choose, you can rest assured the flowers are guaranteed fresh and were purchased at the lowest price around.
While they specialize in wedding arrangements, they are not limited to them. These flowers, from growers in Ecuador, Colombia, and other exotic locations, are cut fresh and delivered to you within two or three days of cutting. You might want only flowers and make your own arrangements from them. Or, you may want to create arrangements with their help and have those shipped to you instead, saving you both time and money.
Whichever route you choose, you can rest assured the flowers are guaranteed fresh and were purchased at the lowest price around.
Car Angel videos
I'm going to be posting a number of Car Angel videos to this blog so you can get a sample of the kind of videos they give to kids and teens to help them. These videos are inspirational and motivating, seeking to engender in children a more soulful look at themselves and ways to make better choices in their lives.
Car Angel is a ministry that accepts donated cars, boats, RVs, and ATVs, sells them, then uses the proceeds to produce videos and printed materials for teens, children, and even prison inmates. Your donation is tax deductible and they arrange for all the towing and title transfers, so they make it very easy for you to make this kind of charitable contribution.
Be sure and look for videos from them in upcoming posts.
Car Angel is a ministry that accepts donated cars, boats, RVs, and ATVs, sells them, then uses the proceeds to produce videos and printed materials for teens, children, and even prison inmates. Your donation is tax deductible and they arrange for all the towing and title transfers, so they make it very easy for you to make this kind of charitable contribution.
Be sure and look for videos from them in upcoming posts.
AGLOCO news
Well, it looks like AGLOCO is biting the dust. If you are a part of this program, then you probably already got the email about it. If not, then don't bother signing up for it.
I'll be taking down the AGLOCO badges from my blogs. They say the marketing premise is sound but they aren't generating the revenues they had hoped to. In fact, the development team has actually been using their own money to try and keep this program going, but they just can't do this any longer.
It's a shame, really. I had hoped advertisers would jump on this very useful toolbar advertising concept. I suppose their advertising dollars are simply being spent elsewhere. Maybe in the future, this will actually take off again. I'm sorry to see them go.
I'll be taking down the AGLOCO badges from my blogs. They say the marketing premise is sound but they aren't generating the revenues they had hoped to. In fact, the development team has actually been using their own money to try and keep this program going, but they just can't do this any longer.
It's a shame, really. I had hoped advertisers would jump on this very useful toolbar advertising concept. I suppose their advertising dollars are simply being spent elsewhere. Maybe in the future, this will actually take off again. I'm sorry to see them go.
Selasa, 11 Desember 2007
Investing in gold
Without a doubt, investing in gold is one of the best ways to ensure you have solid financial footing in the years ahead. Buying gold takes some expertise and good strategy, though. You really need expert advice from a gold brokerage firm. You might also want to consider where you can purchase gold in smaller amounts and for the best possible price.
With recent price hikes in crude oil, it is even more important that your investment dollars go as far as possible. Knowing that oil resources and other fossil fuels are on the decline ensures that they will rise in price on the consumer end. Gold is similar, in that the stockpiles are dwindling worldwide and there really aren't new sources for this precious metal. Buying now can mean all the difference in whether you see an increase in your investment that will amount to enough to retire on.
With recent price hikes in crude oil, it is even more important that your investment dollars go as far as possible. Knowing that oil resources and other fossil fuels are on the decline ensures that they will rise in price on the consumer end. Gold is similar, in that the stockpiles are dwindling worldwide and there really aren't new sources for this precious metal. Buying now can mean all the difference in whether you see an increase in your investment that will amount to enough to retire on.
Sabtu, 08 Desember 2007
I love free stuff
I have entered a recipe contest and if I win, this will be a great gift for my younger daughter. See, the giveaway is a gift certificate for $10 to Amazon.com and a great cookbook. My younger daughter loves to cook and really loves new recipes. She watches the Food Network every spare minute! So, please, go vote for me, Ann, at the Christmas cookie recipe contest.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Serious bookkeeping
Besides doing the regular and the Christmas shopping in December, this is also the time of year when I begin to gather receipts and download income records in preparation for the upcoming tax season.
This past year has seen not nearly enough expenditures on business related items, I'm sad to say. I may need to purchase something related in order to not have to pay taxes or at least reduce my tax bill for the year. If I had the proper education and a chunk of money, I might try to invest in a real estate franchise to help offset my tax bill, and possibly generate some income with it. Alas, I really know but very little about real estate, although it does seem to be fairly lucrative even these days when I've read that home sales are down.
Are any of you in the real estate business? How are you faring?
This past year has seen not nearly enough expenditures on business related items, I'm sad to say. I may need to purchase something related in order to not have to pay taxes or at least reduce my tax bill for the year. If I had the proper education and a chunk of money, I might try to invest in a real estate franchise to help offset my tax bill, and possibly generate some income with it. Alas, I really know but very little about real estate, although it does seem to be fairly lucrative even these days when I've read that home sales are down.
Are any of you in the real estate business? How are you faring?
Assessing the income
In the previous post, I gave you a little glimpse of what has happened so far in my attempts to generate some income through affiliate marketing. It's fun to do, but so far I don't seem to be making a dime from it, which makes me think it could be a total waste of my time even fooling with it.
I update the ads fairly frequently. I also remove older ones and place new ones on my blogs. Still, none of them seem to attract much interest. I might as well be trying to sell Wilmington NC real estate from my hilltop home in Arkansas as to be trying to make money from affiliate marketing.
Some people have made a lot doing that, so maybe I just don't have the right ads on the blogs. I'm going to have to keep digging around and see what else I need to do.
I update the ads fairly frequently. I also remove older ones and place new ones on my blogs. Still, none of them seem to attract much interest. I might as well be trying to sell Wilmington NC real estate from my hilltop home in Arkansas as to be trying to make money from affiliate marketing.
Some people have made a lot doing that, so maybe I just don't have the right ads on the blogs. I'm going to have to keep digging around and see what else I need to do.
Jumat, 07 Desember 2007
Affiliate update
I am using an affiliate account for two different places. One is for Commission Junction (which I keep wanting to call "Conjunction Junction"). The other is for LinkShare.
So far, CJ has generated absolutely no income for any blogs where I have their ads posted. In fact, I've only gotten a total of two clicks, and since I don't get paid unless someone actually buys the advertised product, those netted me 0 in commissions.
I've been trying to login to LinkShare, but keep getting an error page and an apology for being inconvenienced, so as of this moment I can't give you any information about that one. Maybe they're updating the site or something. I really don't know, but as soon as I learn anything, I'll post it here.
So far, CJ has generated absolutely no income for any blogs where I have their ads posted. In fact, I've only gotten a total of two clicks, and since I don't get paid unless someone actually buys the advertised product, those netted me 0 in commissions.
I've been trying to login to LinkShare, but keep getting an error page and an apology for being inconvenienced, so as of this moment I can't give you any information about that one. Maybe they're updating the site or something. I really don't know, but as soon as I learn anything, I'll post it here.
Sabtu, 01 Desember 2007
I love coffee
One of my worst habits is the amount of coffee I drink. And I drink all kinds of coffee including the iced coffees we have at work. Just now, I made myself a little afternoon treat that's as good as anything you'd get from a coffee house. I just used a packet of hot cocoa mix and poured hot coffee over that. I topped it off with canned whipped cream. Yum! A coffee like this would undoubtedly be $3 or $4 at a coffee shop and I didn't need a capresso machine to make it.
So, how do you save money on decadent treats like this?
So, how do you save money on decadent treats like this?
Christmas shopping
Last year, I was pleased to be able to buy gifts for those I love without a lot of concern about the price. No, I wasn't rolling in dough, but I did have a lot more freedom. This year, with gas prices being what they are, Christmas shopping will be a bit more frugal. The cost of consumer goods has increased right along with fuel prices, which is to be expected.
So, I'll be making a much more humble list for shopping this year, and will be keeping an eye open for drastic cuts and good bargains. I'm sure electronics will enter into the picture for some gifts. But I'll also be scouring the bookstores and some discount stores for more unique gifts. For instance, I saw a calendar at Hastings the other day that had a sort of Scherenschnitte project for each month. Scherenschnitte is a style of paper cutting that produces intricate designs that are works of art.
So, I'll be making a much more humble list for shopping this year, and will be keeping an eye open for drastic cuts and good bargains. I'm sure electronics will enter into the picture for some gifts. But I'll also be scouring the bookstores and some discount stores for more unique gifts. For instance, I saw a calendar at Hastings the other day that had a sort of Scherenschnitte project for each month. Scherenschnitte is a style of paper cutting that produces intricate designs that are works of art.
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