Do what is right for YOU

 I love finding little gems like this.

It doesn't mean that you are being selfish.

It doesn't mean that you are being unkind to others.

It IS taking care of yourself and being the best that you can be in any situation.  

It is THAT time of year ....

 Many of us don't want to talk about this BUT it's ... 

TAX FILING SEASON IS COMING!

I know, I know, this is NOT what you wanted to be thinking about BUT you need to start thinking about taxes now, so that you can maximize your potential refund or decrease your potential balance due to the IRS and/or State Government.  Start by making a list of all of your income and expenses you expect, based on your 2020 tax return.

PROTECT YOUR DATA

Do not be fooled by misleading websites or emails.  Any email from the IRS that includes a website will ONLY end in “.GOV”.  They will never send out an email with a URL that ends in “.COM” or “.NET” or even “.ORG”.

The IRS will also NOT call you directly without first sending a letter and setting up an appointment to talk.  They will NOT require you to make a payment via virtual currency or gift cards.  Nor will they appear at your door requiring payment in cash.  If it feels wrong, it probably is.

SECURE AN ONLINE INDIVIDUAL TAX ACCOUNT

You can Create or Access an already created account at HTTPS://WWW.IRS.GOV/ACCOUNT

Once you have created your account, you will be able to see if there are any tax balances, view any payment plans that have been set up, or make online payments.

You will also be able to see what stimulus payments, advanced payments from Child Tax Credits you have received.  Many of the notices received last filing season related to payments received that were not reflected on the tax returns, and ended up reducing the refunds expected.

UPDATE YOUR RECORDS.

Did you move last year after you filed your 2020 tax return?  To be sure that the IRS will be sending all correspondence to the correct address, you should file Form 8822, Change of Address to update your address with the IRS. 

Did you get married or divorced during 2021?  Make sure that you update your records with the Social Security Administration so as to not delay the processing of your tax return.

THINK ABOUT LIFE EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED

Did you get married?  Did you get divorced?  Did you have a baby?  Did you or a dependent start college?  Did you buy a house?  Did you sell a house? Did you lose a job?  Was there a death in your immediate family? 

All of these things and many more could have an effect on your tax return this year.  Make sure you take these things into account when putting your tax information together so that you don’t miss out on some credits that could increase your refunds this year.

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

Many people have been receiving Unemployment Compensation due to loss of jobs.  Most if not all States, due to COVID restriction, required you to file online.  You will need to go online to get the 1099G form that will detail what unemployment you have received and any tax withheld from the compensation.  Make sure you put this on the list required documents you need to gather.

Direct Deposit of YOUR Refund!

I know that many people have resisted having their refund directly deposited to a bank account.  But I am urging you to think about this so that your refund will arrive quicker for your use, since you are not waiting for the "extra steps" of check printing, envelope stuffing, and then the actual mailing.  And I believe it will be safer since you are not dependent on the mail, since many envelops have gotten "lost in the mail" or "stolen" or just majorly delayed.  I know I have had mail take weeks to just go to the next town...yes I should have just taken it to the company - it would have been faster.

And your tax refund is the same ... so just think about it.  Besides, wouldn't you want to have your money back sooner rather than later?  I know I would.

Let Karma handle it

I know when we feel hurt, all we want to do is lash out at whomever we feel has hurt us.  

Sometimes we feel that if we do this, it will make us feel better.
Trust me - it really doesn't.  

Maybe it will for a few days or hours, but over all, it doesn't.

Don't let the feelings of needing to give that hurt back take over.  
Let Karma handle it.  

You know, eventually it always does.

And if we are lucky enough to see it happen, all the better.

Who I admire

Have you ever really thought about who it is that you admire?
If you have, have you figured out why you admire them?  

Or have you never really thought about it?

If you haven't, you are not alone.

I think after these past months, as difficult as they have been for most of us, we can find a whole lot of people that we admire.

I am real

You are real too.

Being real is a good thing no matter how many mistakes you make or imperfections that you have.

Celebrate the realness of YOU.

Your most useful asset

 Oh I bet you thought I was going to give you some materialistic thing that you need to make sure that you acquire this year ... but surprise, I am not.

Oh there are many material things that we accumulate over the years, some we shake our heads and ask why oh why did we spend the money on these?  Then there are others that we feel like we need to spend a lifetime saving for or go into debt that will take a lifetime to pay off, because they will make us happy or give us status or ??

BUT ....

 Not all assets are material. 

Be like the Butterfly

I had seen this a few weeks ago, but I don't think I was ready to really see it.

As this year starts, I am going to embrace this and become like a butterfly.

 

I have too many things to accomplish this year, too many things that have been put on the shelf until "tomorrow".  

Today is the start of that "tomorrow".

Join me in taking back our place in the world.

Why I didn't give up

 I have to reach out and publicly thank you all who have come back from time to time to see if I have posted anything new.  If I have shared something that perhaps you could feel touch your heart or your soul.

I had thought that perhaps I should give up this blog and just fade into the shadows.

BUT, I decided that just wasn't me.  

I am NOT a quitter.  

I want to show others that they too, are not quitters.

I may not have met you in person, but it was those of you that visited and left messages or comments, that gave me the strength to come back and start again.

Don't give up

So many of us have wanted to throw in the towel and just let someone else take over.  Have someone else make the decisions for us.  It has been a very difficult 20 or so months.

And the thought of curling up into the fetal position has had its draw this past year.  To be honest, I've had my moments as well, but it is nothing to be ashamed of.

But this is a new day.

This is a new year.

As much as we want to just give up and let whatever is supposed to happen happen without any input from us, I am here to tell you don't.   

 

Let's make this year the start of something even better for all of us!  

I know in my heart, that we can and will do this.  

THIS is OUR year!

January 1, 2022 ... Its a new start

I know I have been gone for most of 2021 - not all by choice.

But many of us lost so much during this past year with lockdowns and illnesses and separation from family and friends.  Personally I've ending the last year with a pretty trying 2 1/2 months, but I am going to try and get back to my blogging roots.

I will start with today, wishing all of you a very very Happy New Year.  Lets hope that when the ball dropped at midnight last night it ushered out the bad and ushered in a new beginning of health and happiness and wonderfulness.

Here's to wishing all the best to each of you in the coming year!

Let's hope that we have all become stronger for what we have gone through and are ready to take on our futures with a smile and optimism.  We got this!