Functional Family Elements

family

familyFamilyFunctional Family Elements

At one point in my life I had the following 12 ideas taped to the wall in my bedroom. I had each one printed on a tacky colored paper. It was definitely an eyesore…but I read them frequently. There is so much value in each thought below.

1. There is an inviting, comfortable, loving atmosphere in the home and in the company of the family. HAVE A HOME THAT FEELS GOOD.  You know those homes the kids friends want to be in.

2. Parents offer their children all of their love and support without worrying about the outcomes of their parenting.

3.Parents in a functional family, parent consciously and intentionally.

4.Parents are very aware of the impact they have on their children.

5. Parents understand that the family is the best place to address basic human needs.

6. In functional families, relationships are of supreme importance.

7. In functional families parents are teachers.

8. Functional parents have clearly defines rules and responsibilities that they mutually agree upon.

9. Functional parents exhibit strong and confident leadership and are passionate about their responsibilities as parents.

10. Functional families realize that they do not need to be perfect.

11. Functional families like to play and have fun together.

12. Functional families make their home a gospel school.

(The ideas listed above came from a family life course I took from BYU.)

 

 

 

 

NONCASH Charitable Donations –tax info–

Tax Tips

Tax TipsNONCASH Charitable Donations –tax info–

We live in a “throw away” society. I personally feel satisfaction when I can donate something of value that can be used by someone else. I usually take between a $1000 to $2500 deduction per year for non-cash donations.

 

When I was in high school, my friend’s grandpa was the manager of the Ogden Deseret Industries. My friends and I were able to get part-time jobs driving trucks and picking up appliances. That job gave me a first-hand witness of the blessing of this organization in providing work to handicapped people.

 

Remember, the donations need to be to qualified charities and no deduction is allowed for a charitable contribution of clothing or household items unless the clothing or household item is in good used condition or better. The IRS is authorized by regulation to deny a deduction for any contribution of clothing or a household item that has minimal monetary value, such as used socks and undergarments.

 Planning Tip: Most cell phones today can take pictures. Take a picture of all items donated.

Keep the electronic pictures for proof the items were in good or better condition at

the time they were donated.

 

Recordkeeping Rules for Charitable Contributions

To help substantiate a deduction for the fair market value of used items donated to charity,

make a list of each item donated on a separate sheet of paper along with the following

information.

 

• Name and address of charity.

• Date items were donated to the charity.

• Description of each item donated.

• Fair market value of each item at the time they were donated (email me and I can send you a guide).

• Date each donated item was originally purchased or acquired.

• Cost or other basis of each item donated.

Ron

ron@the-tax-coach.com

 

PS Email me if you would like to get a Guide of the Fair Market Value of Donated Items

NONCASH Charitable Donations –tax info–

NONCASH Charitable Donations –tax info–

Tax Tips

We live in a “throw away” society. I personally feel satisfaction when I can donate something of value that can be used by someone else. I usually take between a $1000 to $2500 deduction per year for non-cash donations.

 

When I was in high school, my friend’s grandpa was the manager of the Ogden Deseret Industries. My friends and I were able to get part-time jobs driving trucks and picking up appliances. That job gave me a first-hand witness of the blessing of this organization in providing work to handicapped people.

 

Remember, the donations need to be to qualified charities and no deduction is allowed for a charitable contribution of clothing or household items unless the clothing or household item is in good used condition or better. The IRS is authorized by regulation to deny a deduction for any contribution of clothing or a household item that has minimal monetary value, such as used socks and undergarments.

 Planning Tip: Most cell phones today can take pictures. Take a picture of all items donated.

Keep the electronic pictures for proof the items were in good or better condition at

the time they were donated.

 

Recordkeeping Rules for Charitable Contributions

To help substantiate a deduction for the fair market value of used items donated to charity,

make a list of each item donated on a separate sheet of paper along with the following

information.

 

• Name and address of charity.

• Date items were donated to the charity.

• Description of each item donated.

• Fair market value of each item at the time they were donated (email me and I can send you a guide).

• Date each donated item was originally purchased or acquired.

• Cost or other basis of each item donated.

Ron

ron@the-tax-coach.com

 

PS Email me if you would like to get a Guide of the Fair Market Value of Donated Items

Don’t forget the mouthwash

Mouthwash

MouthwashDon’t forget the mouthwash!

The last several years I have insisted on the children using mouthwash after each time they brush their teeth. Wow, does that make a difference in their dental check-ups!! I needed to teach them not to swallow it, which wasn’t much of a problem. Sometimes they would be walking out the door for school and couldn’t say goodbye because they wanted to swish that stuff on their way to school..haha. There seems to be several benefits to daily mouth washing:

1. strengthens teeth

2. Seems to whiten teeth

3. Helps with bad breath

4. Fights plaque

Not all mouthwash is created equal, so that is worth looking into. For such little time, mouth washing pitches a major punch to your dental health.  Don’t forget to floss!

“The benefits of mouthwash, sometimes referred to as mouth rinse, include the ability to freshen one’s breath, kill bacteria that may contribute to tooth decay and gum disease, and loosen debris on and between teeth. In some cases, a mouthwash may also be formulated to provide additional benefits, such as tooth whitening. It should be noted that the benefits of mouthwash vary according to its formulations. Some mouthwashes primarily act to freshen breath and may not include the ingredients needed to protect a person’s teeth and gums. Those who are concerned about receiving the full benefits of mouthwash should consult the primary professional organization for dentists in their jurisdiction to find out which mouthwashes it has approved for maintaining oral health.” Wisegeek

Great kid friendly websites

Great kid friendly websites

Try these great kid friendly websites to help beat the summer time boredom that seems to find its way into our homes as the heat zaps our kids which ends up zapping us! Whew!  That was a mouthful.

Great kid friendly websites

 

                               Websites for kids

The Internet Schoolhouse

http://www.internetschoolhouse.com

Windows to the Universe

http://www.earthsky.com

States Online

http://www.50states.com

Ancient Sites

http://www.ancientsites.com

Egyptology

http://www.kv5.com

Early America

http://www.earlyamerica.com

Crayola

http://www.crayola.com

E-Greeting Cards

http://www.sendgreeting.com

The Puzzle Depot

http://www.puzzledepot.com

Ultimate Origami

http://www.origami.vancouver.bc.ca

Animal Adventures

http://www.jackhanna.com

Disney Online

http://www.family.com

Great kid friendly websites

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