Bulk Shredding Made Easy

If there is a Top Foods in your neighborhood and you are attached to seeing your confidential documents reduced to tiny strips of paper…..run, don’t walk to their new Shred Stop Kiosks.

I am not sure where else these machines are located, but if you are fighting with a personal shredder you might consider this alternative: They take 50 sheets at once, with staples and plastic included. You use a credit card to set up an account, and start feeding the thing. If you get done before your account is empty, it will hold the info until your next box of paper is ready to dispatch.

Shred your documents, not your nerves

Personal Organizing at North Seattle Community College

2  Thursdays, May 2012 the 3rd and 10th  7:00 – 8:30PM

OR

2  Thursdays, July 2012 the 19th and 26th  7:00 – 8:30PM

Find that letter, reclaim the counter tops and feel at home in your world! Come and create strategies for change and discuss concrete methods for tacking clutter and chaos. Learn clutter clearing and simple organizing principles to help you break old patterns, learn new skills and develop filing systems that work for YOU.

 

North Seattle Community College

Personal Organizing and Clutter Clearing – Bellevue College

2 Thursdays  August 2012, the 2nd and 9th  7:00PM – 8:30PM

Find that letter, reclaim the counter tops and feel at home in your world! Come and create strategies for change and discuss concrete methods for tacking clutter and chaos. Learn clutter clearing and simple organizing principles to help you break old patterns, learn new skills and develop filing systems that work for YOU.

Bellevue College 

To register please go to:

http://bellevuecollege.edu/

Tax Documents Checklist

Excerpt from an article by Ronald Robson, an author specializing in management and small business tips. You can visit his site at Tax Filing Resources

If you itemize your deductions when you file your tax return, you might have wondered where

you can find a list of tax deductions. You can go through the IRS website or sit for an hour long consultation with a Tax pro. Most people do not take advantage of all the Tax Deductions that they are eligible for – this can make a huge difference in how much of your money you keep for yourself versus paying Uncle Sam in taxes.

Here is a list of deductions for reference – use it as a starting point for further investigation. Only your tax preparer or tax professional can tell you for sure if any of these deductions apply to you. You can use this list of deductions to see if you might have missed out on some valuable tax deductions.

This is by no means a complete list of deductions- its only the most common deductions, and, that could apply to a wide range of individuals.

Auto registration fees: Tip: If you don’t remember how much you paid, see your auto registration card

Real estate expenses

·  Mortgage interest

·  Mortgage prepayment penalties

·  Points paid for mortgage on primary residence

·  Real estate taxes

Charitable contributions

·  Cash contributions to US charities

·  Non- cash contributions made to U.S. charities

Investment expenses

·  Tax Preparation fees charged by accountant.

·  Online tax Preparation fees

·  Brokerage fees

·  Margin interest paid in investment accounts.

·  Investment fees

·  Legal fees

·  Safe deposit box rental

Taxes

·  State & Local Income tax

·  Property taxes for Condo or Coops

·  Disability insurance tax (certain states)

·  Occupational taxes

·  Personal property tax

·  Real property tax

·  State transfer tax

·  Withholding taxes

Casualty and Theft Losses

·  Losses to your home / property(Theft or acts of nature)

Books and Publications

·  Books, journals, newspapers and publications you paid for that are used in your profession.

Dues and Fees

·  Dues to a professional organization for your profession

·  Union dues, initiation fees

·  Regulatory fees for your profession

·  Dues to chambers of commerce, etc

·  Licenses paid to state or local governments

Education and Research

·  Educational expenses if its related to your present work that maintains or improves your skills.

·  Research expenses

·  Equipment and Supplies

Business use of Home computer & Internet

·  Supplies and tools you use in your work

·  Internet connection must be for the convenience of your employer and required as a condition of your employment.

Job search expenses
To deduct job search expenses, you must be looking for a job in your present line of work (not for a new job)

·  Resume preparation: drafting, typing, printing, mailing,

·  Employment agency fees

·  Recruiters’ fees

·  Career counseling for improving your position

·  Legal and accounting fees for employment contract negotiations and preparation

·  Advertising for job search

·  Transportation costs to job interviews

·  Long distance calls to prospective employers

·  Newspapers you purchase for classifed sections

·  50% of your meals directly related to your job search

·  Travel expenses while looking for a job lodging, meals (50% of the cost), etc. are deductible only if the primary purpose of your trip is to look for a job

·  Keep a log for your travel expenses incurred

Conclusion
Standard disclaimer: This list of deductions is not to be construed as tax advice. Tax laws change every year, always consult the IRS and a qualified tax pro for up to date changes in tax laws and tax advice. …….

Opt out of Catalogs!

Here is another way to reduce your unwanted mail AND you can give the service as a gift!

Less mail, fewer offers from companies you’ve never done business with, better control over personal information, less waste, and a greener home.

A one-year subscription to the Unlisting Service costs just $20 and will stem the flow of unwanted mail and protect your personal information. To learn more, click the button below.

I have not used the service myself so I will welcome any comments on it!

Link to Catalog Choice

Hazardous Waste Removal

Seattle Area collection Sites for Hazardous Waste:

North Seattle:

12550 Stone Way North

Sunday – Tuesday 9:30AM – 4:30 PM   

South Seattle:

8105 Fifth Avenue South

Thursday – Saturday 9:30AM – 4:30PM

Bellevue Factoria:

13800 SE 32nd St.

Tuesday – Sunday 9:00AM – 5:00PM

Household Hazards Hotline: 206.296.4692

How to get Rid of It?? A Master List

We start with a great site from King County that will get the ball rolling:

http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/wdidw/index.asp

Shredding:

http://www.groupestesrealty.com/client.events.ihtml?cet_id=9

http://shredit.reachlocal.com

http://www.datasitenw.com/seattleshred/residential-shredding-seattle.html

Clothing and Household Goods:

http://www.nwcenter.org/how-bins.asp

http://jwcenter.org/index.php/how-you-can-help/donate-clothing

http://www.goodwill.org/

http://www.salvationarmynw.org/donate.asp

(http://www.saintmargarets.org/ministries/thrift.asp

South County Senior Center / Edmonds

220 Railroad Ave / 425-774-5555

Computer Recylcing:

http://www.repc.com/recycling.html

Electronics in General and Appliances:

http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/takeitback/electronics/index.asp

http://www.geappliances.com/service_and_support/donation.htm

Building Materials:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/salvaged_and_re.php

Books: http://www.halfpricebooks.com/

You can get more $$ from Third Place, but they won’t take everything.

Half Price will donate what they won’t pay for.

Gold, Silver, China, Jewelry:

http://soundgoldbuyers.com/

I had a lovely experience here with Ben Robbins, who quickly confirmed that my silver plate was not going to earn me anything  and I happily dropped it off at the Value Village just up the street! It’s worth checking though, he said that a large silver tray can be worth as much as $400! Find him at:

8008 15th Ave NW – Seattle, WA 98117

(206) 660-0899

http://www.northgaterarecoin.com/

http://www.classicreplacements.com These people buy and sell your missing or extra china and silver patterns.

Antique Appraisers:

http://www.alexandriarossoff.com/services.html

http://www.singergalleries.com/

http://www.stutevilleantiques.com/

Cars:

http://www.donateacar2charity.com/

http://www.charitycardonation.org/wcb-google

Various Resources for Hoarding Issues,

ADD Resources, including therapists, elder services and more:

http://www.childrenofhoarders.com/WA.php

http://www.nsgcd.org/

http://www.seniorservices.org/

http://www.choiceadvisory.com/

http://w3.addresources.org/

These sites offer more creative ways to offload things, some are exchanges, and others involve choices about privacy and community:

Freecycle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleSeattle/

Craig’s List: http://seattle.craigslist.org/

Online Materials Exchange: http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/exchange/index.asp

Estate Sale Services: http://www.estatesales.net/estate-sales/WA.aspx

And Finally JUNK removal:

These places will often take appliances.

Use small, local companies!

The big GotJunk trucks will cost a LOT MORE!!

http://www.happyhauler.com/

http://www.buzz-bee.net