Love Your "Now"

Okay, I'll admit it. I have had a self-diagnosed bad case of the post-vacay-blues this entire week. If you don't know what I am talking about, then you haven't been on a really good vacation (and by all means, stop reading this post and go book yourself an incredible trip). You know, that sitting at the desk at work dreaming of laying on that St. Croix beach.... bragging about your scuba diving abilities..... purposely picking outfits that will highlight that newly found tan (the one your coworkers have probably never seen, because, well.. you have a desk job) feeling. That was me this week. (if you add in "talking at nausea about the gorgeous island and the flavored rum to anyone who will listen")

I find myself at frozen yogurt (anyone who knows me is probably not surprised at this typical statement) with Ashlyn talking, once again, about our desire to do something adventurously fabulous. We want to be "those people" who pick up and follow our hearts. This isn't our first time to talk about it... seeing as we are both accountants.

And then it hits me.

I am not that person NOW. Sure, I always have the option to become a FatTireBike Tour Guide in Italy at any moment (not-so-secret dream), but that is not my life Now. And if I spend my days/nights thinking about what I might do in the future, I am going to wake up one day and  have completely missed the Now.

Let me elaborate. If I woke up tomorrow and went to Italy, I would miss out on those weekly girl dates with Ashlyn. (I would also blow my budget on a flight to Italy the day of, but lets not even go there). I would miss not going to my brother's graduation in a few weeks. I would miss the beautiful weddings that I am attending/participating in this fall for my closest friends. I wouldn't get to fly to Houston next weekend to have a girls weekend. If you spend all your time with your head somewhere else you will miss out on the great things in your life today.

One step farther? I think somewhere, deep, deep down I am glad I have a sell-out-to-the-man job (for 3-5 years max) so that I can prove to myself that I can do it. I'm not ready to win the lotto or take off to Italy tomorrow.... I want to live in my Now and know I can make it on my own. (However, if any of you just won the lotto and want to send me a couple million, then disregard the above post). A savvy twenty-something knows that great feeling of putting on her favorite stilettos and sassy work skirt and knowing that today you can tackle that corporate ladder (with the upmost style of course).

In Conclusion: If you aren't going to go to Italy tomorrow? Enjoy your Today. Because someday you might just end up in Italy missing what you have Now.

Just the three of us: Me, my Honey, and my Money.

Yes, I know I am single. (No need to comment on the bottom of the post. I get it. And if I didn’t get it? Valentine’s Day always makes sure to remind us single people out there.)

In honor of the holiday I want to shed some light on a topic that has become near and dear to my heart. The psychology of couples and their money. Here is why: I have a ton of friends getting married (and many that are not accountants). The divorce rate is over 50% and rising. The majority of marriage end due to money related reasons. How many friends could I help if I simply encouraged them to talk the money talk before the wedding/baby talk? People simply have different views on money. (I honestly think that this may be finally what I decided I may want to do with my life – so feedback is much appreciated)

Happy Valentines Day – Feel free to take my mini-test with your honey. Ideally I would be curious to have each person take the quiz separately and then compare answers and discuss (although, maybe you should take it on the 15^th?)

1. How do you feel about joint checking accounts vs. separate checking accounts?
2. Do you share credit cards?
3.  If your honey spends $100 for a new pair of shoes, do you get the spend $100 for a new pair of shoes?
4.  If your honey spends $1000 in car repairs, do you get the spend $1000?
5. At what dollar value do you need to run your purchase through your spouse? $10? $100? $1000? $10,000?
6.  How do you plan to save for retirement? Kids? A house?
7. Do you think its important to pay for your kid’s college? Do you want them to go to private school?
8.  Do you believe in investing conservatively with lower pay out? Or would you rather take a risk and invest with a chance of a higher payout?
9. If you can’t have everything: Would you rather have an expensive house, clothes, car, or vacation?
10. How do you manage and maintain a “fun fund” – is it fair for one person to go on vacation without the other? Do you keep track? How do you make sure the other person doesn’t hold a grudge?

Food for thought. And really? This food for thought has way less calories than that chocolate you intend to eat tonight.

(Oh yea, and please feel free to email me with comments/questions/ideas – or to let me know how the conversation went with the test. malloryspigel@gmail.com. I can also put out a fire if this post caused one- OR LEAVE A COMMENT - If you are brave)

Love where you live

When I travel to another city (in the US, or outside the states) I imagine what my life would be like in that city. I think of how amazing it would be to wander the Louvre on a Saturday, or take run by the ocean before work.

I had drinks with a guy who truly loved where he lived (the city that is) I mean truly, deeply, loved everything about the city and its culture. Of course this made me want to sell Dallas, so I thought of every positive I could possibly think of to share about the Big D. Turns out excitement can be contagious and I realized I liked the city I lived in. (But again, not as much as this guy liked his hometown)

It is important that you love the city you live in. You do, after all, spend way more time in that city than you do on vacation. Have you ever stopped to think that some people actually go on vacation to see your home town? What draws them there? I have no research to back this up, but I think you are happier overall if you love where you live.

How do you do love where you live?
1. Play tourist for a day- go to all the sites that you think an outsider would go to if they were visiting. (Frommer's is actually free online - try to knock off every "To Do" on the list)
2. Always root for the home team - (unless they are playing the spurs) I can't help but think there isn't some sort of bonding a city goes through when the home team wins. They honk at eachother, drink with eachother, and are generally united in city pride.
3. Appreciate the view. Whether its a skyline, a beach, a forest, a quaint neighborhood... every city has something. (guilty. I live by the skyline and forget to really appreciate it unless I am showing it off)
4. Enjoy a dinner out. We forget that we might live in a city fabulous restaurants (because we are cheap) and then go on vacation, splurge, and think other places have WAY better food. Guess what? A night out where you live to experience a good meal is cheaper than a whole vacation. On vacation we try to "eat like the locals"... in your own town, don't you think you should BE that local?

I challenge you to try one (or all) of my random ideas to work on loving where you live. You just never know when you may have to move. Any other ideas? Open to suggestions, ideas, or any research to back up my hypothesis!

Tax Tuesday: The big move

The only constant is change -Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher. (Yes, I had to wikipedia the quote so I could correctly cite the right person. I honestly don't know who that guy is. But hes pretty smart and his saying is famous)

This is true when it comes to jobs. When I look at most of my college friends they have graduated college, spent so much time looking for just any job due to the economy, built up their resume, and then switched. Or started with a job, decided they never should have picked their major, and switched. Many times friends have left the city, state, and country to do so. (Not that either of these apply to me and I'm not looking to leave my job, I am simply noting the trend). 

Yes, we are in a world where people change their jobs more than they change their hairstyles. It only makes it that much more important to uncover the hidden tax treasure of "The Big Move".

New Job? Same Job? Your First Job? Doesn't matter. You have to pass two tests to deduct your moving expenses:

1. Is your "New Job" and "Old Home" commute 50 miles greater than your old commute? If yes? continue. If no? You did not pass go and you do not collect a tax deduction.

2. Did you work 39 weeks out of the first 12 months of your move? This stops those government-money-stealing people who are looking for a tax break, so they move to Hawaii and work at starbucks for a week just to quit and have some of the moving expenses deducted. (really? who does that?)

And what do you win? For playing "The Big Move" you win the following deductions:

1. 16.5 cents per mile driving to your new home. which doesn't work so well if you want to drive to Hawaii, don't try it. 16.5 cents is nothing really

2.The cost of packing and shipping your possessions. AWESOME for Hawaii. and for those pack rats out there

3. The cost of travel to your new home- lodging, not meals. 5 star hotels with mcdonalds fries please

4. The cost of disconnecting your utilities and setting up your new ones. Yes, you can still use your blowdryer in Hawaii. Sweet.

What is the best advice? Save your receipts. You never know when you will discover that you can deduct certain items in your move... or defend yourself to the IRS. But don't worry, you can deduct the cost of moving your receipts with you to your new home. (or be practical and scan them into your computer, but whatever works for you)