Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

My taxes are still giving me fits. The tax people are saying I can contribute X amount into my Roth but the program is saying I can't. It sucks. I don't have an accountant so I can't just pickup the phone and ask questions. I've been writing back and forth to a rep from HR Block and their program and their rep are both saying something different. It's driving me nuts!

That does sound frustrating. I've used Turbo Tax for years and haven't really had any issues with it. A friend of mine uses the H&R Block software and one year he loaned it to me so I could do a comparison. I ran our taxes on both programs, and the results were very, very different. The H&R Block program got us a much smaller refund than Turbo-Tax did. Needless to say, I filed the return via Turbo Tax and haven't looked at another program since. I really would recommend it. Its an upfront cost (although depending on how you file, there is a free version available online) but includes a free state and free e-File.

The first year you use it, it will be more complex as you'll have to enter everything. But in subsequent years, as soon as you start a return it will ask if you want to transfer last year's return. When it does that, it imports a lot of the information - name, address, filing status, dependents, where you got W-2's from last year, what banks paid you interest last year, and so on. If you changed jobs, you just tell it "no I don't have that W-2 this year" and it will allow you to delete that employer and add a new one, but if not much has changed, many of the forms will be pre-filled and all you have to do is add in the current figures. It will even import directly from some institutions. If an employer has it set up to allow importing, you can import the whole W-2, and you can also import banking info. They're really made it so easy. They also have a forum where you can search for answers to your questions, or ask one of your own if you don't find anyone else has asked it already.

 

[chicken danz]

Ivy I can't find info on the Rusty Barn doing an internet search. Where are they located? Or do you have a phone number?
Karen sorry about your chick. Did you check its bottom to see if it was pasty? Just a thought.

 

[Ivywoods]

Danz-I will PM you the numbers I have for them.

 

[Trish44]

MarcAustin, congrats on your chicks, enjoy!

Sapphire, it looks like your new pup is very happy in his new home, what a cutie!

HeChicken, We have always used the H&R block software, I may have to look at Turbotax & see what the difference is, I've been working on our taxes today.

It's so cold & nasty today, ugghh, I hate it. Why can't it just be spring, I'm so ready for it. There are so many things I would love to be outside doing, but it's too cold. Even my chickens weren't that thrilled once they got out today to really be out there. We had sleet on the ground today when we got up.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Tweety, cute blog!! It was fun to read.

HEChicken, we use TurboTax every year too. We've used other programs and had too many problems. We went back to TurboTax and decided we'd never switch again.

Ivy-- sorry you are sick. About the towels, I would wash them the same way I do diapers. And trust me-- cloth diapers get lots of YUCK on them. I would shake them out best I could. Run a cold rinse (or prewash) in your machine to just dislodge most everything before you wash. Then wash on HOT--- a cold wash will not disinfect them and leave your washing machine in bad shape for normal clothing. When ever I wash anything that has poop in it, I ALWAYS add Tea Tree Oil (pure essential) to the wash load (after the prewash/rinse). It is an antibacterial, antifungal, and anti virus. It's amazing stuff and will disinfect both your laundry AND your washing machine. I have like 3 or 4 bottles of Tea Tree Oil on hand at all times for washing when ever there is something questionable going into my machine. (I like to be prepared) HOT water is your friend when it comes to anything poop.

And if it's really bad, I run another wash same way. And I always use a double rinse. Yeah, it's a lot of effort, but it was cheaper than paper diapers when the kids were babies. Now I use this method when the kids have an accident or just don't clean up well. Also, when it gets warmer and sunny, the sun is the best disinfectant on the earth. Putting those towels outside on the line will further bleach them out and finish "cleaning" them. Always made a stubborn stain come right out in the sun. I sure don't miss the 6 years of diaper laundry I did. Whew!!! LOL

Danz, did you check out the companies in your Cooperative magazine? Sounds like you got the same one I did. Hope you find someone to come out and do it for cheap.

HATE this weather. I wish it could rain and be sunny at the same time. Sigh.

 

[HEChicken]

HOT water is your friend when it comes to anything poop.

And if it's really bad, I run another wash same way. And I always use a double rinse. Yeah, it's a lot of effort, but it was cheaper than paper diapers when the kids were babies. Now I use this method when the kids have an accident or just don't clean up well. Also, when it gets warmer and sunny, the sun is the best disinfectant on the earth. Putting those towels outside on the line will further bleach them out and finish "cleaning" them. Always made a stubborn stain come right out in the sun. I sure don't miss the 6 years of diaper laundry I did. Whew!!! LOL

Hmmm...interesting info. I must confess I've never used the hot water cycle on my machine. Ever.

I've always just relied on the sun to do the disinfecting and haven't had an issue yet. I also used cloth diapers on my kids but even then, washed on cold and line dried. The sun does an awesome job of bleaching and the diapers always smelled fresh and clean, and the kids never had any issues with diaper rash.

I do love tea tree oil though. I have some toothpicks that were soaked in it and after using them, my mouth feels lovely and fresh and clean.

 

[Ivywoods]

Hawkeye-I used clothe diapers, too, on all 3 of my kids. The only time I used disposable was when we were traveling and I wasn't going to be able to wash. I've never used tea tree oil in my wash. I've never heard of using it for that. I've used it for other things, though. I used hot water, borax and line dried them.

I'm still a little squeamish about putting chicken poopy rags in my wash. I guess I may just have to pick up some boxes of rags at an auction or something. I've seen big boxes of used towels etc. sell for $1 or $2 at auctions. Those make great, cheap rags. I just haven't picked any up lately. I have several boxes of towels I don't use right now, but gee. I hate to turn them into rags. They are still in great shape. I just have more than I use. Some of them have hand crocheted edging on them that my grandmother did. I would never use those for rags

Well, I'm still puny. I went out to the barn to check on the new babies while DH was out there. I just didn't feel like doing anything. I took care of the chickens that needed immediate attention, but I'm gong to have to go back out later and take care of the rest. I'm hoping a nap will help.

 

[Hawkeye95]

oops-- it tired to double post on me-- so odd!!!

 

[chicken danz]

Well I got eggs taken to town and visited my parents. I guess I stumped HR Block. She hasn't answered me back. Bet she had to take it to advisement.
I've used Taxcut for years but last year it all became HRBlock. Rather than spend hours inputting information I just keep loading the previous years. I've never had a problem with them before. I pay on average about $35 for the program but I can file up to 5 free taxes on line for that. Up until the past 2 years I filed my kids and families taxes. I've filed taxes for many people for many years because it has always been an easy thing for me to do. I did taxes for an accountant 30 or so years ago before they had tax programs. I just did some of the over run of some of the simpler stuff. I let him do the business and farm taxes. I wasn't interested in getting headaches for a few dollars.
I think my circumstances might be a bit of unique because it is retirement income and I pay taxes on it but at the same time am contributing to a Roth account. Things are a bit more complicated when you are early retired and legally single.
I went out to check my injured hens and the girl I thought might die from her injuries yesterday, is still alive but the one who was simply caged to heal from the roosters spurs passed away. So once I got home from town, I brought the hen with the broken legs in the house and just put her in a shallow plastic storage bin. She can't jump out. She is really a sweet hen and just makes soft noises and doesn't seem at all stressed by my messing with her. I just hope she can heal enough to be able to walk again. Depending on how much internal injury she has if she could walk she might make it.
My Mom tried to get out of bed to go to the bathroom night before last and her legs wouldn't work. She has lost all her muscles as she lost weight, gets so little oxygen into her lungs that she just can't seem to make the muscles work any more. So my Dad got the walker out of storage and she is doing ok with it. While I was there today she got up, went to the bathroom and made it into the front room with it. It is very hard to see her these days. Her mind is working but she just kind of goes into a daze and forgets what she is doing. My Dad is trying to ride herd on her to just get her to eat and go to bed. It is very hard on him because he isn't well either. It breaks my heart.
I use towels under chopper and have used them under chicks. I wash them in hot water, with bleach, oxyclean, borax, or whatever I see fit.
As far as diapers go I always used vinegar in the rinse and sometimes in the wash. It is a natural disinfectant, clothes brightener, and fabric softener. My kids were like their Mom and allergic to perfumes and stuff so my doctor said to use vinegar for a fabric softener and disinfectant. It is wonderful stuff and the smell goes away once they are dry.
I've got to dig out some medical expenses to finish the taxes. Oh geez. That will take hours. Normally I throw all of the current years stuff in a manilla envelope and put it in a file. This year I just put it in the file and now I have tons to sort through.

 

[tazcat70]

Thanks for all the well wishes.

Tonya