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Part 1
I sold my tax business 3 seasons ago, the year I turned 70, or as I often refer to it, the 30th anniversary of my 40th birthday. Besides the volunteer tax prep I do with AARP, I still prepare a dozen or so returns for friends and family. I don’t want to take money for my efforts, I will work for food. So far this season I have been compensated with burgers, steaks, chicken, pizza, salad, shish kabob, tacos, beer, wine, and margaritas.
There’s the friend I played with before I could even walk. The guy I used to work for back in the 70s. The girl who’s cut my hair for the past 50 years. My x-wife’s sister and husband; I didn’t divorce the family okay. There’s Chrissy’s siblings, though her brother slipped $160 in the envelope with his tax documents; I got him back by picking up the tab at dinner the other night.
I could go on, but I’m sure you get the picture. More important than the money is the time spent with people I love. But after 4/15…. I’m back on my diet.
Part 2
Some grateful in-laws bought me and Chris lunch at the Longhorn Steak House for doing their taxes. I could have had nice salad, but what the heck, I can go back on my diet tomorrow. Today I had a juicy burger with cheddar cheese and fries, washed down with a couple cold beers.
What else might I do tomorrow?
What important things might someone else consider doing tomorrow?
Many ask our advice, and we are always happy to help. Sadly, few hear our answers.
Dan, where do you enter shish kabob on the 1040? Schedule 1? Schedule C? Some of the best “payments” I have seen at AARP: Philly soft pretzels, fresh hot croissants, cookies, chocolates, and a bottle of bourbon. Sometimes folks leave cash or gift certificates. We gave anything monetary to a local food bank/kitchen. The other contributing factor is that tax prep is inherently a seated activity. I try to get up and move a bit, but it can easily lead to bad posture and a sore back.
Rick, well stated. The sedentary nature of the job is a physical strain. I become so focussed on taxes I’m like a dog with a bone. Can’t tear me away. Always said I’d take little breaks but seldom did. Maybe when Ed Marsh retires we could recruit him as a volunteer for mini massages.
I totally agree with you both regarding the back pain. My office was set up so that everything i could possibly need was within reach of me, without the need to ever rise from my chair. I’m only partially joking when I say that my Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia – BPH helped me to move by forcing me to make frequent rest room trips.
Oh man, all we got were some cookies! Big soft pretzels would have been awesome!
Oof, I’m 2/6 on your list. Should I be worried? 😂
Dan, I also give out free professional advice–in my case physical therapy–to family and friends. I worked hard to learn it, but many others lent me a helping hand. I’m just paying it back.
Wish I had a tax knowledgeable person like you near me. In return, I’d help you with your projects.
You might clean your car’s interior. Right now in Raleigh, NC that would be a futile gesture, as we are deep into pine and oak pollen season. As usual, it’s a mess and rain only washes down what’s fallen so far. It’ll be like this for another week or two. In the meantime, I barely wear my contact lenses when I’m outside. I don’t like biking with my glasses, but I have no choice right now.
Update: today’s News and Observer says it will be safe to wash your car next Monday, April 7th. We’ll see….
I’d guess NC is about 3 or 4 weeks ahead of NW Ohio for pollen. Our cars have a nice garage to live in. Our outdoor furniture will soon be yellow like Kathy’s.
Fellow feeling. Someone suggested today that it’s worse than usual. My balcony furniture is now yellow: I won’t be sitting outside for a while. My car is fairly clean, but it lives in an under building parking area. Maybe I should only drive it in the rain….
Kathy – people say that every year – usually the quote is something like “this is the worst I’ve ever seen”. Our memories fade as soon as the visible pollen is gone. My car is parked on the street. My wife gets the garage as her car is much newer than mine. Even with the rain yesterday afternoon and last night, I’m sure my windshield is coated again this morning.
I’m with you both living in the south. Worst pollen we’ve had in 40 years. A good strong rain today helped.
When the spring rain washes the pollen away my dandelions appear. I am sitting here with mud on my jeans from digging them out for about an hour in my yard. A good rain gives me the best odds of getting an entire weed out but I am typically fully successful on only about fifty percent of my attempts. Attacking dandelions early helps mitigate their compound growth. The best part is a little exercise for me and frequent breaks getting to talk to neighbors on their early evening walks.