Author: Debra Watkins

A Little Bird Told Me

5peepyeljpg-c3f3b79c7059f81aSo it’s the dead of summer, at least here in Texas and not really anywhere near Easter but I thought we could all use a little #FridayFun in our lives.

Anyone else love Peeps candy?  They were created by the Just Born company of Brooklyn in 1953 and have been an Easter delicacy ever since.  Enjoy the Peeps trivia in this article from the AARP magazine, 11 Things You Didn’t Know About Peeps and don’t worry, if reading this makes you crave that soft, sugary treat, they sell them year round!

This Just In
Workers at the Bethlehem, PA plant where they make Peeps have walked off the job in protest of a proposed change from a pension plan to a 401K.  Might want to get your Peeps sooner rather than later.  Although, the company is reportedly hiring replacement workers to keep production up and running.
‘No pension, no Peeps:’ Strike threatens holiday candy supplies

Stock Photography Profits to the Photographer

the hands of a young Christian child are folded in prayer over the book the Holy BibleImagine a site with amazing stock photos.  Now imagine that the majority of the profits go directly to the photographers.  That is exactly what Bruce Livingstone and Brianna Wettlaufer created not once, but twice.  Previously they owned iStock which billed itself as “by creatives, for creatives.”  This business was later acquired by Getty Photos.  As the amount of royalties paid to photographers began to lessen, the team decided it was time to start again.  Together they created Stocksy, where photographers are paid 50-75% of sales as well a 90% distribution of profits at the end of the year.  Next time you need a stunning stock photos, give Stocksy a look.

A New Wrinkle in the Gig Economy: Workers Get Most of the Money

Long Term Care, Worth It Or Not?

v_3975Long term care insurance is quickly losing its shine.  In the 1990s these policies were sold in large numbers and seen as the best way to preserve your style of living as you aged.   Since that time, premium rate increases due to high claim volumes and low lapse rates have made the plans much less affordable.  Darla Mercado for CNBC examines when these policies may be right for you and what other ways you can plan for unexpected care needs in Less is more: The dilemma over long term care insurance.

The IRS Always Sends A Bill First

safety-first-283x300Recently there has been a rash of phone scams concerning taxes.  Many people have paid money over the phone, believing that they would be in trouble with the US government if they did not.  As a certified public accountant, I wanted to make sure you understand that the IRS will always send you a letter first.  They do not make cold calls demanding money.  Please read this article to better inform yourself about the scams currently in play, and remember that the IRS will not call you, they will send a bill.

Phone Scams Continue to be a Serious Threat, Remain on IRS “Dirty Dozen” List of Tax Scams for the 2016 Filing Season

No Cash? No Problem.

Stamp with text no cash accepted inside, vector illustrationHow would you feel about this sign at your favorite restaurant?  Going cashless is the latest tactic some businesses are employing in an attempt to streamline their process.  Not all patrons are happy about this practice and some have been so vocal against it that stores have amended their policies.  It’s a fascinating thought that we have made the full circle back to credit/debit cards.

Where a Suitcase Full of Cash Won’t Buy You Lunch

Use The Food You Have

Fridge-organizing-tips-placement-veg_335_354_largeEver feel convicted about wasting food when you clean out the refrigerator?
Then try the ideas offered in, Tips to Reduce Food Waste.  Practices as simple as letting vegetables have room to breathe in the cripser drawer and using leftover seafoods and meats to make stock can greatly reduce the amount of food that spoils before it can be consumed.  This article not only offers food saving alternatives but better ways to use all parts of fruits and vegetables, including recipes to try at home.  Imagine the feeling of opening an empty fridge and knowing that you and your family ate everything that was in there leaving no waste.

 

Owning a Piece of The Dream?

home-that-didnt-sellGrow up, get married, own land…

That’s been the American dream for ages.  Owning a home or piece of property has always been viewed as a sign of wealth and as a good investment.  What if that is no longer true?  Robert J. Shiller for the Economic View section of the New York Times brings this idea to light in his article, Why Land and Homes Actually Tend to Be Disappointing Investments.  Shiller points to many causes but one of the most intriguing is the decrease for demand of urban land, specifically home plots; with the development of micro-housing.  A current trend that is changing the way many live in “downtown” areas.  Where this movement will be in ten or even twenty years still remains to be seen, but if it goes the way Shiller predicts, the need for rural land will be so low that farmland may be converted back into wildlife preserves.

 

Buy Only What You’ll Use

7Give yourself time to think about every purchase.  That’s what Carl Richards, for the New York Times suggests in his article, New Rule: All Purchases Subject to a 7-Day Mental Quarantine.  We have a similar process in our house for purchases made at Goodwill.  If you bring it home, you must clean it and incorporate it into your life within seven days or it goes back to Goodwill.  In many ways, this compares to the seven-day item quarantine Carl’s family is currently using.

During the quarantine, the person desiring the object must answer the following questions: How much did it cost? Are you replacing something you already own? Why do you think it’s amazing? And if it’s food, are you sure you’ll eat it?  Once the time limit has passed, it is much easier to make an ‘informed’ decision and not end up with something you’ll never wear, use or eat.  Give it a try and let us know if it works for you in the comments.

Look At Me Now

What does it look like to others when you use your cellphone?  Ever caught yourself watching TV and checking Facebook at the same time?  The photographer Eric Pickersgill explores our relationship with media in his photographic project, “Removed.”  Mr. Pickersgill recruited friends, family and strangers to pose as if they were holding their phones or electronic devices.  The results were both fascinating and shocking to many.  Seeing themselves so focused on media instead of the person next to them, Eric and his wife created rules such as leaving their phones in the car when they go out to dinner.  Both feel like they’ve gotten to know more about each other and grown closer in the last six months.  Take a look for yourself and listen to his Ted Talk, then see how you feel about the part electronics play in your life.

What do you look like when you look at your electronic device?