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New Year’s Diet Resolutions

After indulging ourselves with all kinds of foods during the holidays, we all want to lose some weight. Whether you want to lose a couple of pounds or more, the most important thing to remember is that “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step” (Chinese proverb). In other words, to reach any goal, one must begin slowly, step by step. Focus on making only one change at a time. Here are some ideas to help you make dietary and other health changes for the New Year:

1. Exchange soda for water. You can lose one pound per month. Drink water with a splash of your favorite juice and sparkling water.
2. Add more veggies to your plate and reduce the amount of meat.
3. Pick up a fruit for dessert.
4. Eat a fruit or vegetable as a snack.
5. Designate a day as “fish day.”
6. Try a new fruit or vegetable next time you shop.
7. Select yogurt as a snack or dessert and add fresh fruit to it.
8. Instead of butter on your toast or sandwiches put slices of avocado or use nut butters.
9. Use brown rice or mix it with your regular favorite type of rice. Add some cooked vegetables, herbs such as parsley, oregano, thyme, and sprinkle with olive oil and a little salt.
10.Get your body moving! Walk, dance, and play with your children.
11.Make sure you get enough sleep. It will help your body restore, stay healthy, and cope with stress.


Gift Cards

Now that the holidays are over, you may have one or more gift cards lying around and have questions on how long you can keep them.

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Five Facts about the Home Office Deduction

 

Are you operating a business out of your home? If you are, you may be able to take a home office deduction when filing your 2009 federal tax return next year. Here are five things the IRS wants individuals to know about claiming the home office deduction.

  1. Generally, in order to claim a business deduction for your home, you must use part of your home exclusively and regularly:
    As your principal place of business, or As a place to meet or deal with patients, clients or customers in the normal course of your business, or In the case of a separate structure which is not attached to your home, it must be used in connection with your trade or business. For certain storage use, rental use or daycare-facility use, you are required to use the property regularly but not exclusively.
  2. Generally, the amount you can deduct depends on the percentage of your home that you used for business. Your deduction for certain expenses will be limited if your gross income from your business is less than your total business expenses.
  3. There are special rules for qualified daycare providers and for persons storing business inventory or product samples.
  4. If you are self-employed, use Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home, to figure your home office deduction. Report the deduction on line 30 of Schedule C, Form 1040.
  5. Different rules apply to claiming the home office deduction if you are an employee. For example, the regular and exclusive business use must be for the convenience of your employer.
 

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