Messages

Discharge of debt is frequently considered income, but I'm note sure the circumstances where it can be claimed, nor how it's reported.  For instance, if you renegotiate the amount owed on your home or credit cards, you are quite likely to be taxed for the amount the debt was reduced - a reduction of $50K is $50K in taxable income.   

I've been stiffed - once - for over $900 and it took me years to be able to trust customers again.  You try to convince yourself that they're not all going to do that, but it's not so easy.  To a small business owner, every $ counts and it's not like we're living high around here (except for maybe Mojo and Gene  ;) ).

June

How about cars/trucks/farm equipment?  The seats are similar to boats and the only tools you'll probably have to buy is a pair of hog ring pliers for $12.95.  Check with trim shops or put ads in CraigsList.

June

Yep, garbage in, garbage out.  If the numbers and data supplied are incorrect, what's the accountant to do about it?  He/she can only work with what they're given.  And they're not on the hook when the IRS comes knocking.  However, if they really screwed it up and you could prove it was their fault, I suppose you could sue them for malpractice. 

I just hope this year's personal returns aren't awful since it's all over the news that there's going to be no help at all from the IRS.  They expect to field something like less than 30% of the calls they get and they'll only answer the most basic of questions.  The whole organization, IMHO, is on a path to implode.  When people find out they don't have the budget to do audits and chase down small "cheats" or those who don't file at all, more people are going to skip filing, resulting in less tax collected.  Death spiral....

June

Shipping is a big hit to the bottom line.  In S. Florida there are no supply trucks, per se.  Several companies will deliver what you order, but for a fee.  It's less than UPS, but still not free.  It's one of the reasons I like Keyston Bros.  They'll deliver the day after I order for $6.

The problem I have with some large suppliers, like TriVantage is that you never know what they've got and where.  So you place an order and you may pay 2 or more shipping fees.  I don't think they mark up the shipping, but it's not cheap.  And even though they have a Miami location, they won't deliver anywhere local.  MiamiCorp also has several locations but at least you can see from their website how much they've got and where it is, so when you place the order you know if it's going to generate 2 or more shipping charges. 

Just wondering if everyone has a CPA do their quarterly and end of year filings.  I found the worksheet for Part 3, lines 9 and 10 of the Federal Unemployment form 940 extremely confusing and poorly written.  The Instructions were worse.  I also could not find a single youtube video or step-by-step how-to anywhere on the net that was accurate.  I eventually figured out how to reconcile unemployment paid to the state with the federal requirement, but all help I could find online was completely wrong.

So do any of you do this work yourselves?

June

Just saw this tonight.  Maybe you're not ready yet, but it wouldn't hurt to at least figure out who they are for future reference.  It's a bit south of Tampa.

http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/mnu/4859960174.html

June

No, but I did a patch on a trampoline once. It was the most awful repair I've ever done.   That material was the most slippery I've ever dealt with. It's like silk sheets on steroids.  Take my advice... don't ever agree to repair a trampoline for "normal" compensation.

June

Sounds like you need to import Darren for the winter ;-)

June

I'm surprised to hear about dog fighting in Nebraska.  In Miami, yeah, but Nebraska????!!! 

As for the domestic violence, one of my facebook friends recently shared the video in this article.  Interesting social experiment.  Watch the video to the end.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2897207/Why-not-m-man-Tearjerker-video-shows-touching-reactions-boys-asked-slap-girl-street.html

June

Night at home - cooking my paella.  Good stuff.  No need to fight the crazies on the highway.  And Thing 1 and Thing 2 need a little reassurance with the bangs of fireworks going off all over the neighborhood.  Bubbly at midnight then sleep in late for a brunch tomorrow morning. 

June

Don't know what the current price is, but Dreamweaver is/was a decent DIY web site development tool.  My daughter bought it maybe 3 years ago for around $250-300 as I recall.  I still do raw HTML/CSS, but I haven't changed my website in a long time so I'm sure it's way outdated (no Flash, etc).  The Computer Science dept a your local Junior College is probably your best bet for a reasonable designer/coder.

June

Merry Christmas to all you good stitchers!


June

Aqua-View, 30 gauge.  It's double polished, very clear, and seems to hold up well.  It comes in 20 gauge as well.  See page 35 here...

  http://www.manart-hirsch.com/manart_hirsch_catalog/

Some eBay vendors sell it for crazy money, but it's around for less.  I'll have to look up what I paid for the last roll I got.  I seem to recall it being less than $10 a yard.

June

Sorry to hear that.   Hope he got medical help in time to minimize the damage.  Best wishes for a quick recovery. 

June

Happy Thanksgiving to all us 'Mericans.  And to the international crew on your own thanksgiving day(s).  Turkey's in the oven ;-)

June