Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Journal.
You May Be Able to Claim a Relative You Financially Support (Other than Your Child), on Your Tax Return
Some taxpayers are of the perception that they can only claim their own children on their tax returns, as legitimate dependents. Taxpayers, however, can also claim on as dependents, other persons who they support financially. Under tax law, these persons may qualify to be their “Qualified Relatives.” This person has to be someone who you actually supported financially for the tax year in question, but there are four basic tests that must be satisfied, to determine if you are eligible to claim that individual as your qualifying relative.
By Milton G. Boothe8 years ago in Journal
The General Rules for Claiming a Child on Your Tax Return
Claiming a child on your tax return can yield quite a few benefits for the taxpayer, and some of these can be significant. Taxpayers will be able to claim the personal exemption for the child, the child tax credit, and the child and dependent care tax credit. For unmarried taxpayers, claiming a child will qualify them for the Head of Household filing status. Taxpayers may also be eligible to claim the earned income credit if their income falls below a certain amount.
By Milton G. Boothe8 years ago in Journal
10 Awesome Writing or Journal Topics
Once again you find yourself looking to write. It's the one time of the day that you really get to let it all out. Furiously, you look back at the pages of old writings and realize you are all out of ideas. For hours, you consider topics that you truly do not care about. You try to take your hand at different techniques and genres and eventually, you give up. Time wasted, and yet the most "you" part of the day has now been spoiled. Well, do not worry. The following will be 10 awesome topics for your journal or writing needs, and hopefully one will release the inner writer for you!
By Daylon Granillo8 years ago in Journal
First Year: My LA Retrospective — Part 1
Howdy y'all. Today, I'd like to divulge into a topic that is always pecking at a brain. I mean 24/7, you're about to lose hours of sleep type of thinking. Even as I’m typing, I’m finding myself rifling through moments upon moments of glee, moments of despair and ample amounts of everything in between. So, to keep these at reasonable lengths, I’ll probably be shaping the story into multiple parts. But without further a due, let’s talk about my first experience trying to “break” into LA and Hollywood.
By Matthew Snyder8 years ago in Journal
My Time in the Pennsylvania DHS as Part of the TCP
Over the summer, my mother insisted that I get a job, and she suggested a ride operator at an amusement park, so I applied and I got it. Not too long after that, she suggested that I get a job in the Pennsylvania Temporary Clerical Pool because it paid more than the other one. I politely declined, saying that I already had a job. However, my mother is the kind of person that, when she suggests that I do something, won't stop suggesting it until I actually do it. So, I applied, took the typing exam, and got in. (For the record, when this happened, she said I could quit my first job, but I hadn't even started yet, so why would I quit without at least trying it first?)
By A. Alexis Kreiser8 years ago in Journal
The Entrepreneur Lifestyle
Waking up in the morning is a blessing because no day is promised to us. Every day that I wake up I feel great and I love that. Being an entrepreneur has given me a chance to find out what it is like to run my own little work world. From the moment I get up until the time that I go to bed, I am in control of my life! I start each day with a few personal moments but then I start my workday. There is always a movie on when I write my itinerary for the day. I tend to loosen up when I watch a movie first, so I do. It is then onto business: petty cash check, phone calls on projects, email returns, app usage and what projects to start or finish. I always try to remember to do the most important project first then, but that does not always happen. There are many times when I will choose the project not finished from the day before instead. Being in control of what I want and need to do is a thrill for me. It was not always like this as I have worked for others companies.
By Arlene "Candi" Brown8 years ago in Journal
Work Flow
Everyday I get up at the same time. I drink the same sort of coffee. I get in the same car. And I drive the same route. It all leads up to the same place I work. Don't get me wrong. I love the people I work with. Well, most of the people. I try and make everyday seem better then the last. It's never enough. I find myself day dreaming of a time where I was contributing something more to society. A time where I woke up extra early, and skipped breakfast just so I could get to work and create something new to teach. Oh yeah I'm a teacher by the way. Well teacher adjacent. I sound like I'm bitching. And maybe that's exactly what I'm doing. But so what?! Who doesn't bitch? Out of the billions of people in this world, black, white, American, European, we all bitch about our jobs. Even if we love the job.
By Griff Originals8 years ago in Journal
A Flight Risk?
If the answer to this question for you, is "yes, duh", please let me explain. A little background first. I'm a late-twenties woman who is still trying to figure life out (I know, no one is supposed to have all the answers). I went to college, graduated in 2013 with my Bachelor's in Law/Justice and held my fair share of crappy jobs like serving, cashier, retail, you name it after graduating. However, I still live at home, never had a full-salaried-401k-2-weeks-paid-vacation job. You're probably thinking that I'm a whiny, ungrateful, self-absorbed person for even thinking that I should have all of those things I mentioned. You want to know the truth? I haven't exactly earned all of those things just yet because I haven't been somewhere long enough to be able to earn all of those things. There's no shoe that's been the right fit, no porridge that has been exactly right, there's been no easy way into the field I chose to study all those years ago. And that's what is so incredibly daunting and humiliating for me. I paid how much to get this degree and still haven't been successful in finding a career? Why is it that I can't seem to feel happy about the choices I've made so far? All I've done is get stuck in this black hole that I can't seem to get out of.
By Erin Leahy8 years ago in Journal
The Author in Me
First off, I have to say my world is in parts (family, friendships and work) and each part is very important to who I am. Defining who I am is complicated to me because I am a little of everyone in the lifestyle that I lead. Woman, daughter, wife, mother, entrepreneur, author and so on are just some of the titles. I wake up in the morning, lay in bed and listen to the bird's chirp while I meditate. I get up, kiss my mate. and go off into the kitchen to make his lunch for work. I have gotten into the habit of checking out a horror movie before working for the day. I always drink my coffee and write my notes because I map out my workdays to get the most out of the day. I like hardcore work as in phone calls, filing data, building websites, creating ads for people, and even doing the business flatlays. I still, however, found that I had something to say and wanted to express it to help people or just entertain them.
By Arlene "Candi" Brown8 years ago in Journal
Five LinkedIn Tips for Entrepreneurs
Reach and exposure are key factors for any entrepreneur looking to scale their business or their brand and social media has become the defacto way to go about it. While Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are all viable and acceptable channels for this growth, a lot of people overlook LinkedIn. I meet a lot of entrepreneurs who overlook the value that LinkedIn can bring to their business and their brand.
By dana blouin8 years ago in Journal
