Debra Newby Watkins CPA – Page 23 – CPA's not only count, they make change.

To Camp or Not To Camp?

Every summer, parents face the daunting decision of whether or not to send their children to camp. What kind of camp to choose? Day camp? Sleep-away?

The summer camp experience offers children so many life lessons, such as teamwork, resilience and decision making. Skills that are useful throughout adulthood. Not to mention a week or more break for parents! I will never forget my time spent at Ghost Ranch Vocal Camp. Todd Kestin feels the same way, 5 Ways Summer Camp Helps Your Child Prepare for Adulthood

Debt Relief Can Be Simple

Ever considered consolidating your debt in order to make it more manageable? Do you have a list of each of your creditors along with how much you owe? Or have you ever wondered why you don’t have enough on a monthly basis for all the necessities? Then this article is for you! How to Pay off Debt: 6 Steps to Success. Debt relief is a simple process if you form a plan and stick to it and if you need it, I am always here to help!

Texas, 529 College Savings Day

College is not always the first thing that comes to mind when you are preparing to have a baby. But it’s amazing how fast the years go as your child grows, and how just a little preparation can ease any transition in your life. Today is 529 College Savings Day, in Texas. Click Here to find out more about the plans Texas offers and take a step toward your child’s future!

The Tools You Need

Thinking about starting your own business, ladies? Ingrid Vaderveldt, former Dell Inc. entrepreneur-in-residence has created software designed specifically for female entrepreneurs with the possibility of available backing. There are three-levels of the product ranging from free to $49 per month.

The Austin company employs four workers and also includes a foundation focusing on women-related policies and women in developing nations. The business side of the startup provides mentors and business plans in addition to software products designed to provide budding entrepreneurs with tools Vanderveldt has already tried herself.

Sounds like a wonderful tool for small businesses that have large goals.

Former Dell exec seeks to boost women entrepreneurs with latest venture

It’s The Little Things

Reading this article made me realize that small details are very important, but that it takes observant people who are willing to act to make them count. What this young mother did with a pizza order, got her the help she needed.

This is also true in the accounting business. Small details that could save/cost you money can easily be overlooked. It takes an attentive CPA with an eye for detail to best serve your business interests.

Florida woman’s online order asks for pizza, police help

The “Art” of Investment

This article was especially interesting to me since I have an art gallery space in my accounting office. Of course, none of the works that I have exhibited fall into the category they are talking about, but imagine if you could avoid capital gains taxes all together through re-investment of your earnings from prior art sales. It’s the same principle as real estate purchases and has been growing in popularity recently, to the point where some “traders” are seeing art as a commodity. What do you think? Time to invest in some fine art?

Tax Break Used by Investors in Flipping Art Faces Scrutiny

Time For A “Tax” Break

We are now three days post April 15th, and so I figured we all needed a break from the more serious, tax-related articles. These photographs fascinated me. The grouping entitled Alien Forest is actually of microscopic, forest dwellers who hunt and feed on other microscopic forest dwellers. Hmm, kind of sounds like a microscopic version of the business world. Happy “tax free” weekend. Enjoy the photos by Valeriya Zvereva!

Hidden Alien Forest

Charge It

Although this article is for recent college grads, there are plenty of great tips about understanding your credit score and how it works for and against you. For example, did you know that borrowing less than thirty percent of your available credit actually makes your credit score increase? Marilyn Lewis, in her article, 12 Ways for College Grads to Build Good Credit lays out basic steps to growing and maintaining your score as well as diversifying the types of credit you are using. Many believe paying in cash is an important skill to learn but a healthy credit score may be even more useful. So, every once in a while it’s a good thing to pull out the plastic and say, “Charge it.”

Job Well Done?

A four-question performance review? One that focuses on what the employee is doing currently, instead of the distant past? The consulting firm Deloitte is experimenting with this four-question review model, two of which are yes or no questions. Imagine being judged for the quality of your work, right at that moment. Novel idea.

What if you could replace performance evaluations with four simple questions?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

How often do you drive by an empty big-box store and wondere if it will ever be occupied again? One company is working to re-purpose these unused spaces as part of their expansion plan. At Home, a re-creation of Garden Ridge, has been scavenging buildings from other chains and now has their eye on JC Penney locations that will be closing in the US. One unique fact about At Home is that they do not sell their products online. Relying on foot traffic, while offering a much larger selection than most other home decor and furnishing stores. These building purchases are not made by chance, but heavily researched ahead of time so that when the sales begin, At Home is ready to bid and buy quickly. Just think of it as recycling on grand scale.