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TAX TIME!
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Cut and paste:
http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2007/01/deductions.html
A list by Kiplinger of the 13 most overlooked tax deductions. The head of the IRS said that he figured millions of taxpayers overpaid their taxes by missing one of these deductions.
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During winter months, levels of radon in homes can increase since windows and doors stay shut and we spend more time indoors. Make sure your home is safe by testing it for radon levels. The test only takes a few minutes and will alert you to whether or not you're at risk for exposure to this dangerous gas. As many as one in 15 homes have high levels, so make sure you change the odds by testing your home and acting on the results. There's no better time to take such precautionary steps than during National Radon Action Month.
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Conduct Seasonal Maintenance
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To keep your home in sound, working order, keep a checklist of standard seasonal maintenance tasks. For example:
Winter: Check caulking around doors and windows, check gutters and downspouts, place insulation around pipes and water heaters.
Spring: Inspect paint, asphalt, masonry, and roofing. Examine the attic and basement for signs of dampness or leaks.
Summer: Attend to lawn and garden areas. Clear broken tree limbs, brances, and debris. Inspect for wood-destroying insects and other destructive
pests.
Fall: Change batteries in smoke detectors, have boiler and heating systems cleaned and inspected.
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Some Ideas For Child Safety
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Post emergency numbers on the refrigerator and by the telephones. (Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222)
Use outlet covers to help prevent electric shock.
Use corner and edge bumpers on furniture.
Install window guards to help prevent falls.
Install both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors near bedrooms and on each floor level.
Use doorknob covers and locks to prevent access to outside or other possibly dangerous areas.
Place safety gates at stairways.
Install latches and locks on kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
Set the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees.
Cut window blind cords to help prevent children from strangling.
Securely store household cleansers, detergents, and pesticides.
If possible, use only the back burners when cooking.
Use antiskid pads and tape underneath rugs.
Use a rubber mat in your bathtub to prevent slipping.
Keep plants, poisonous or otherwise, out of the reach of children.
Keep syrup of ipecac for use as directed in poisoning emergencies.
Keep a well stocked first aid kit.
Store medicines in their original, childproof containers and out of reach of children.
Store matches and lighters in a safe place.
If your home was built before 1978, have a lead-paint inspection.
Cover pools when not in use and fence in with self-locking gates.
Be sure to have fire extinguishers in the house.
Don't forget to keep flashlights with fresh batteries on hand in case of a power outage.
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Going on Vacation? Ideas For Securing Your Home
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Some security tips compiled from insurance companies, homeowners and law enforcement agencies:
Stop all deliveries such as mail and newspapers -- this is a very simple thing to do, but it is frequently overlooked by homeowners. When they're gone papers pile up indicating that no one has been home for a while.
Set indoor and outdoor lights and even TVs on timers to come on and light up rooms of your home and exterior surroundings. Nothing says nobody is home like a dark house. A television or radio that's set to come on periodically makes anyone lurking around think that someone is home.
Turn down the telephone ringer on your phone and the volume on your answering machine.
Unplug automatic garage door openers. Burglars can sometimes figure out the code and gain easy access to your home. Also lock any doors from the garage that give access to the house.
Do not close all the blinds, shutters of curtains, leaving them partially open gives an everyday-lived-in look.
If you have a willing neighbor, ask him to occasionally park in your driveway. Burglars will often survey a home at different times and on different days to study traffic patterns.
Keep your landscaped trimmed back. Overgrown trees and shrubs are not only a fire hazard but also a great hiding spot for burglars. While you're gone have a gardener maintain the landscape.
Install extra safety fastening devices on sliding doors, windows and other openings.
Use your security system. If you don't have one, buy one. A good security alarm system that is connected to a dispatch center usually will qualify you for a discount on your homeowner's insurance.
Put a "beware of dog" sign on your fence; even if you don't have a dog, this can be a good deterrent.
Never leave a key under the mat, in a nearby planter, etc. -- or any other common, well-known hiding places. Many burglars don't have to force entry into a home; instead they enter through open/unlocked doors and windows or even with a key, if it's left out for them!
The vital element to keeping your home burglar proof is making it as difficult as possible to break into. Burglars look for easy targets -- leaving a home unattended for a long period of time can put your house in the easy-target category. However, if you take precautions to secure your home before you leave, you'll have greater success keeping a burglar out of your house.
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