Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. Now that we have gotten past the solar eclipse hysteria, we are headed to the halfway point of April: Tax Day! If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and earned more than $400 in 2023, you are probably required to file an income tax return by April 15th. Hopefully, you will be eligible for a refund and will not have to pay, like we did.
Quote of the Week: “You must pay taxes. But there’s no law that says you gotta leave a tip.” –Morgan Stanley
Joke of the Week: Why did the IRS hate Sherlock Holmes? Because he made too many deductions.
Organizational Tip of the Week: I know what you’re thinking…how do taxes and organization have anything in common? I can explain. It is crucial that you keep all of your tax documents: prior year’s returns, current W-2 forms, and any other specialized documents. You should also save receipts for major purchases that can be deducted from your taxes, as well as receipts for charitable donations.
I recommend making a folder for each year and keeping them together in one place, so that you can quickly find past documents and know where to place new documents as they arrive in the mail. You’ll also need to write down any PINs or other passwords in a specific location, so that you don’t waste time in guessing what you chose or in creating a new password. (With three working-age children in the house, my husband has spent lots of time doing this very thing, because of poor organization.)
To finish this thought, I’ll leave you with these words from Benjamin Franklin: “By failing to prepare, you prepare to fail.”
Recipe of the Week: Zucchini & Squash with Onions
What you’ll need:
2 zucchini, sliced to desired thickness
2 yellow squash, sliced to desires thickness
1 onion, sliced to desired thickness
2 pieces of cooked bacon, crumbled
paprika
garlic salt
In a frying pan over medium heat, cook the bacon until completely done. Remove bacon from the pan and set to the side to cool. Into the pan with bacon grease, place all sliced pieces of the zucchini, squash, and onions and sauté over medium heat. Crumble the bacon into the pan, stirring frequently until all is cooked to desired texture. Sprinkle paprika and garlic salt to taste, or use whatever seasonings you like better with your veg. This makes a great side dish with most meats.
Shout-Out of the Week: This week, I want to give a shout-out to everyone who assists people with their tax preparations, whether in an accountant’s office or in a department store. You keep us straight and help us avoid tax disasters.
Have a great weekend. Remember, you are most awesome, and YOU ROCK!
Marion Rhines is a foster-turned-adoptive parent. She lives in Knoxville, Tenn., with her husband and five children. She has written and published two children’s books as well as two foster-care-themed novels. She has a Facebook blog, Tips from the FLIP Side, and enjoys working with children of all ages.
