It is that time of the year....TAXES...

I know we have 3 and half more months..

But I am one of those who wants to get it

over with..  While I can’t file yet, I sure can

get my paper work ready..

I have a file folder (you know with the 14 slots.

one for each month and extras) full of receipts.

kind of like… yep, I got a receipt for that.. as

I look thru all my papers in the box, in years

past. About 10 years ago, I decided to buy one

of those accordion file folders..  Putting each

month tag on each slot. And put the word TAXES

on the extra slot… hoping I remember to put all

those tax related in that slot.  And at the end of the

year.. it is a like fat hog ready to be slaughtered.

This works in two ways.. I put ever single.. yes,

every single receipt in that folder.  And if I need

to go back and get that receipt, I just look thru the

folder of the month I bought.  Which is handy,

as a couple times we have had something go wrong

and have to prove we bought it at their store and

when.. and how much.   And I can do that now.

Then at the end of the year, I go thru it all, find what

is taxable information.. and put it to the side. Then I

go thru the extra pile, which is receipts for items

bought.. and I put those in the file cabinet, under

products, manuals, warranties and etc.  Just in case

I need it next year.

Then the tax able papers.. file it in order of information.

health, taxes paid (W-2 forms) and etc.   Then I type

a report of all those..  And if I am lucky to get an

appointment in March, I take it into my tax guy.

I have the report listed with each amounts on it,

in each department.. and I have the file folder with

the paper work to back up those in the report.

So today, is the day to open that stuffed pig case.

Take out each month.. making piles of each receipt.

One for utilities, one for receipts from Wal-mart, one

for North 40 and etc..  then there is the misc.

Going thru each pile making sure I didn’t miss any

taxable papers.   And after I am satified that I have

them all…. Then it is the shredding machine and I,

time… Don’t want all those account numbers and

etc. in the wrong hands.

Ah, yes, the fun of it all…but then again, what else

do I have to do on a freezing day, when the temps

are in the teens, and the wind is blowing.. and I don’t

want to think about wind chill factors.