Pivot.

by Rachel Ivanovich

Really people? Toilet paper? Walking through the aisles of the grocery stores you would think the end is drawing near as basic supplies like water are completely sold out.
It is easy to get sucked into the news and the gloom and doom, however I encourage you to RISE ABOVE and look for the opportunities that are going to present themselves out of these times, in other words, PIVOT! Turn the other way – if you are in business for yourself, rethink your skill set. What other product or service can you offer that will become even more valuable as times change. When your thoughts get dark, call a friend, family member or
fellow business owners, let them know that they are not alone! Get involved in positive online community groups. Play music and dance with your kids. We are all stronger and better together. Let’s let the social distancing bring us closer together as we refocus on what is good and on the new season that is coming.
Have a wonderful Friday and know that I am thinking about you all.

Rachel

ELM INC HOME

 © 2019. All rights reserved. Easy Life Management, Inc.

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Stirring up your creative juices-the interesting effect of changing things up!

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by Rachel Ivanovich

Do you ever find yourself STUCK while working on a project or trying to carve out a new idea in your life or for your business? I think we get so busy with the routine and mundane that we cannot see beyond the here and now.

So here I am in ANCHORAGE ALASKA! Very strange to think you can just hop on a plane and in a very short period of time find yourself in a completely different environment.

I’ve been thinking about blogging for some time now – actually had it added to my website at the beginning of the year – but as it goes for so many of us, we just don’t START! I even wrote a blog on Just Starting….so then I started wondering WHY, why do we not get going on the things we say we really WANT to do.

This morning it dawned on me: I needed new inputs and it doesn’t even have to be so extreme as flying from San Diego CA to Anchorage AK!! What if I just changed up my routine? What a concept?

Do you find yourself doing things the same way, day in and day out? I asked myself, “What if I drove to work taking a different route?” and “what if I parked in a new parking spot today??” or “what if I went to a new grocery store?” – changing a simple thing such as the scenery as we drive to work will trigger new ideas and fresh thoughts.

So as you go through your day today, change things up and watch as new ideas and inspiration flood into your life.

Beautiful Alaska.

ELM INC HOME

 © 2019. All rights reserved. Easy Life Management, Inc.

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Just Start

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Why is it so hard to start anything new?

by Rachel Ivanovich

Why is it so hard to start anything new? What is it that keeps us from doing something that we say we really want to do?

“Oh, I really want to write a book,” I’ll say — “or someday I will really learn to play the cello or will run the Great Wall of China Marathon.”

When is that illustrious SOMEDAY?

What is it that YOU want to do, to accomplish in your life that continually gets put on the back burner?

So, today I challenge you — to Just Start. Whatever that is hidden deep in your heart — you know what I’m talking about.

Just Start by taking your first step into action and reawaken that glorious vision you hold in your heart.

ELM INC HOME

 © 2019. All rights reserved. Easy Life Management, Inc.

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Filing an Extension?

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Important things to consider before deciding to file an extension.

by Rachel Ivanovich

I’m not going to lie, after 20 years of doing taxes, there are no sweeter words to me than those of a client who says on April 1st, “Yeah sure, I’ll go on extension!”

Tax season is a roller coaster ride for all of us.

Do I owe?

Am I getting money back?

Where the #!?* did I put my W2?

Tears, joy and all the rest – clients come in and dump their pent-up emotions onto my desk. So, thank-goodness they made me take Pysch 101 back in college!

I see your tax return as the end-product of the past year. There is a lot of information I can learn about you simply by glancing over your Form 1040.

So, the question is, —“To file an extension or to not file an extension?”

The next question is how close are you to your tax advisor, and did you plan ahead?

If you did, and you have paid in enough to cover your taxes, well, bravo, you qualify for an extension!

Because as you hopefully know, it is simply an extension of time to file, not to pay. Naturally the government wants your hard-earned dough. But if you didn’t plan ahead, have no fear, your tax lady is here!

We are here to help guide you through the intricate maze they call The Tax Code and yes, to help you file an extension.

 © 2019. All rights reserved. Easy Life Management, Inc.

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Can I count my dog as a dependent?

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Thinking outside the box.

by Rachel Ivanovich

Believe it or not, people ask me this question all the time! I think it’s in our nature to push the envelope a little bit, especially when it comes to filing taxes.

Hey, come on, you say, I must look professional for my job! Why can’t I write off my Gucci purse and Jimmy Choo shoes? Haircuts are expensive, can I deduct those too?

It boils down to ordinary and necessary business expenses.

That being said, as an accountant, you wouldn’t expect me to need a dog to run my business (although our office dog, Frank, certainly makes the day more enjoyable!).

So, if you don’t have a business yet, it’s time to start one (we can help here too!).

What is ordinary and necessary, you ask? It’s basically any expense that a person with half a brain would expect to be required to run their business.

However, if I were to own a large nursery and bought a guard dog to patrol day and night in order to keep people from stealing my plants — aha, now we’re talking! Hello deductions of food, vet bills, etc.

So, the next time you’re wondering how you can write off those classic cars you keep wanting to buy, re-frame your thinking to a new business mindset…and then call our office!

 © 2019. All rights reserved. Easy Life Management, Inc.

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