7
วันจันทร์ที่ 14 เมษายน พ.ศ. 2551
Cold and Flu Season Are Almost Here!
Author : Brenda Hoffman
Cold and flu season are almost here! These truly are the most common illnesses in humans because of how easily they can be spread (both through the air and through touch). Now is the time to strengthen your immune system (the shield that protects your body from germs, bacteria and viruses ) so that you are able to protect yourself. This is important because if you have a weak immune system, you're more vulnerable to getting sick. This doesn't mean that you'll never catch a cold, but when you have a strong immune system you'll be better able to fight off any illness, that you do get, faster. So, here are several things that you can do to make sure that your immune system stays healthy and becomes strong.The first thing that you need to do is take care of your nutrition. There is truth in the old saying: "garbage in, garbage out." If you have bad eating habits, you'll have poor nutrition, which means that your body won't get the appropriate vitamins that it needs in order to stay strong. This doesn't mean that you can't have an occassional cheeseburger or ice cream cone, but moderation is the key. Even when you do eat healthily, you will still need to take nutritional supplements (ie vitamins, minerals and immune boosters) in order to help fill in the blanks.You're also going to need to exercise properly in order to build yourself a strong immune system. Now this doesn't mean that you need to go out and join a gym or hire a personal trainer. What it does mean is that you should take nice long walks, regular bike rides, get up and do some housework or gardening. It's simply a matter of not being sedintary... Get up and move!Of course there are also some things which you should avoid. For instance, excessive stress (especially emotional stress) and smoking can really compromise and weaken your immune system. Studies have shown that cigarette smoke can irritate the airways and increase susceptibility to colds and other infections. Even exposure to passive smoke can make you (or your children) more vulnerable to colds.You should also be certain to wash your hands often and always avoid touching your face, especially the nose, mouth, and eye areas. This is especially true if you've been around someone with a cold or if you've been touching surfaces in a public area. Frequent hand washing can destroy viruses that you have acquired from touching surfaces used by other people. Of course, carrying hand sanitizer with you will also help.You're not going to be able to do these things overnight either. It's going to take work, time, effort, and concentration on your part. It is something that we must continuously strive for throughout our entire lives. I urge you to go ahead and get started today! However, if you still do get a cold or the flu there are some things that you can do to help keep the rest of your family from getting sick.Use disposable cups so that your children won't accidentally drink after someone else. Keep the rest of your household surfaces clean too. Viruses especially love hiding in your door knobs, drawer pulls, keyboards, light switches, telephones, remote controls, countertops, and sinks. These surfaces should frequently be disinfected. Your child's toys should also be frequently washed whenever he/she is ill. It is also highly recommended that you use paper towels in the kitchen and bathroom for hand washing since germs can live for up to several hours on cloth towels. An alternative is to have separate towels for each family member and provide a clean one for guests. If you choose to use paper towels, they should be immediately thrown away after use, as should tissues. (Used tissues are sources of virus that can contaminate any surface where they are left.)Reverend Brenda Hoffman, is ordained by the Universal Life Church, and has been delivering holistic health and wellness advice for over 7 years since receiving a BA in psychology. As a home-based professional and mother of 1, she operates a holistic wellness network. She invites you over to http://www.yourhealthyfamilyhome.com/ to learn how to improve you and your family's health.
Category : College
Cold and flu season are almost here! These truly are the most common illnesses in humans because of how easily they can be spread (both through the air and through touch). Now is the time to strengthen your immune system (the shield that protects your body from germs, bacteria and viruses ) so that you are able to protect yourself. This is important because if you have a weak immune system, you're more vulnerable to getting sick. This doesn't mean that you'll never catch a cold, but when you have a strong immune system you'll be better able to fight off any illness, that you do get, faster. So, here are several things that you can do to make sure that your immune system stays healthy and becomes strong.The first thing that you need to do is take care of your nutrition. There is truth in the old saying: "garbage in, garbage out." If you have bad eating habits, you'll have poor nutrition, which means that your body won't get the appropriate vitamins that it needs in order to stay strong. This doesn't mean that you can't have an occassional cheeseburger or ice cream cone, but moderation is the key. Even when you do eat healthily, you will still need to take nutritional supplements (ie vitamins, minerals and immune boosters) in order to help fill in the blanks.You're also going to need to exercise properly in order to build yourself a strong immune system. Now this doesn't mean that you need to go out and join a gym or hire a personal trainer. What it does mean is that you should take nice long walks, regular bike rides, get up and do some housework or gardening. It's simply a matter of not being sedintary... Get up and move!Of course there are also some things which you should avoid. For instance, excessive stress (especially emotional stress) and smoking can really compromise and weaken your immune system. Studies have shown that cigarette smoke can irritate the airways and increase susceptibility to colds and other infections. Even exposure to passive smoke can make you (or your children) more vulnerable to colds.You should also be certain to wash your hands often and always avoid touching your face, especially the nose, mouth, and eye areas. This is especially true if you've been around someone with a cold or if you've been touching surfaces in a public area. Frequent hand washing can destroy viruses that you have acquired from touching surfaces used by other people. Of course, carrying hand sanitizer with you will also help.You're not going to be able to do these things overnight either. It's going to take work, time, effort, and concentration on your part. It is something that we must continuously strive for throughout our entire lives. I urge you to go ahead and get started today! However, if you still do get a cold or the flu there are some things that you can do to help keep the rest of your family from getting sick.Use disposable cups so that your children won't accidentally drink after someone else. Keep the rest of your household surfaces clean too. Viruses especially love hiding in your door knobs, drawer pulls, keyboards, light switches, telephones, remote controls, countertops, and sinks. These surfaces should frequently be disinfected. Your child's toys should also be frequently washed whenever he/she is ill. It is also highly recommended that you use paper towels in the kitchen and bathroom for hand washing since germs can live for up to several hours on cloth towels. An alternative is to have separate towels for each family member and provide a clean one for guests. If you choose to use paper towels, they should be immediately thrown away after use, as should tissues. (Used tissues are sources of virus that can contaminate any surface where they are left.)Reverend Brenda Hoffman, is ordained by the Universal Life Church, and has been delivering holistic health and wellness advice for over 7 years since receiving a BA in psychology. As a home-based professional and mother of 1, she operates a holistic wellness network. She invites you over to http://www.yourhealthyfamilyhome.com/ to learn how to improve you and your family's health.
Category : College
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 13 เมษายน พ.ศ. 2551
Secrets Of Happy Moms
Author : Carrie Lauth
Have you ever noticed how some Moms seem to be very contented and confident in their role as Mothers, and others seem chronically stressed and approaching burnout? Why are some Moms unflappable and able to keep their sense of humor, while others overreact to the slightest stressors in their day?
I"m currently observing and interviewing these happy Moms as I conduct research for an upcoming book. While all Moms are different, these women usually have several of the following traits in common.
1) They keep it simple.
I know one Mom who grocery shops every two weeks and buys the exact same thing every time to prepare the same menu of 14 dinners. Why does she do this? She"s picked the family"s favorite meals for her menu to save herself time and arguments at the dinner table. Anyone with kids knows they like to eat the same things over and over! This Mom has decided not to reinvent the wheel twice a month. This is just one example of keeping it simple.
2) They teach their kids to be independent.
This doesn"t mean they leave them to their own devices all day. But a smart Mom knows that a 2 year old can put a dish in the dishwasher, a 4 year old can prepare his own peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a 7 year old can sweep a floor (albeit imperfectly!). Call it "outsourcing" for Moms.
3) They drop the SuperMom complex.
Not sweating the small stuff seems to be a common trait of happy Moms. They learn to pick their battles. Getting buckled into a car seat? Not negotiable. Pink paisley pants with the orange plaid shirt? Fashion creativity.
Happy Moms also realize that being an awesome Mom doesn"t mean being a perfect Mom. "Nuff said.
4) They can often be overheard repeating the phrase "This too shall pass".
It doesn"t mean that bothersome behavior in kids should be overlooked, for discipline is a huge time saver in the end. It means that Moms realize that children are...well, uncivilized creatures, and that much uncivilized behavior will simply go away on its own as the child matures. Smart Moms are also keenly aware of their child"s development and don"t expect more of them than they are able to give.
5) Smart Moms take care of themselves.
They don"t blame the baby for their extra weight when the baby in question is potty trained! They put emphasis on good nutrition, avoiding too much by way of stimulants (caffeine, sugar), they get adequate rest, and daily exercise. They realize that you can"t pour from an empty bucket.
6) They live in the moment.
Happy Moms realize that the days are long but the years short. It"s not that they are impervious to stress, it"s that they have learned to lower their expectations and be in the moment when things get difficult. When your toddler is puking all over the house, this is not the time to reorganize the hall closet. A sick day then turns into a time to create sweet memories of hours spent reading and cuddling on the couch.
7) They don"t worry about what others think.
Whether it"s the disapproving glare from the old lady in the checkout line, the Mother in law who is convinced you"re starving the baby by breastfeeding, or the Pediatrician whose medical advice strays into parenting advice, happy Moms learn not to give too much weight to the opinions of those who don"t live in their home.
8) In other words, they trust their instincts.
Whether it"s taking the baby to bed with them so they can get more sleep or taking a bullied child out of public school, smart Moms know that they are the expert of their own babies.
9) Happy Moms have "something else"
It may be a part time home based business or a hobby like belly dancing. These Moms know that some day their babies will fly the coop, and they make sure they have a passion that will give them purpose when that happens.
About the author:
Carrie Lauth is the author of the upcoming book: "Awesome Moms: 187 Years of Mothering Wisdom". Take a sneak peak at http://www.momswisdom.comFor more great articles and resources for Moms doing things the natural way, visit http://www.natural-moms.com
Category : Women
วันเสาร์ที่ 12 เมษายน พ.ศ. 2551
Cricket world cup 2007 will bring the series of action-packed thrill
Author : Ella Wilson
World cup is one of the biggest tournaments that every cricket team fights for. It is, in fact, the target for which all the teams practices hard on the net. Cricket is in air with the approaching cricket world cup 2007 and lots of preparations have been made in this regard. As the present world cup is scheduled to take place in West Indies, teams are gearing up to enhance their overall performance. After all, it is the reputation of their country that is at stake and they will surely try hard to maintain it. In recent times, West Indies have scored good amount of runs and its players are enhancing their performance. Cricket World Cup 2007 is one tournament that no cricket fan can afford to miss it at any cost. The approaching world cup includes 16 teams, along with some that are participating for the first time such as Bermuda and Ireland. Though, these teams will have to face tough competition from the strong ones; still they will get to experience the strategies being adopted by other countries. Cricket world cup 2007 is an important tournament and fans start adjusting their scheduled much before the event starts. After all, their favorite team or player would be playing and they need to watch their performance. The importance of being a part of that action has rose to such a height that a variety of companies have started taking out schemes, so that fans can go to the stadium to watch the matches and support their favorite team. Cricket world cup 2007 schedule tells about the various venues that have been selected for the matches to take place. Port of Spain, Kingston, Gros Islet and Basseterre are some of the famous venues. Cricket world cup 2007 is the tournament that is the target of every playing nation. In fact, the question is in the air that will Australia be able to score a hat trick or will be beaten by the hosts or some other nation? West Indies is hosting the cricket world cup tournament for the first time. So, it becomes a matter of prestige and reputation for them to give their best performance and win the cup. It is for this reason that cricket world cup 2007 has become more interesting. The tournament will commence from March 13th and first match will be held between the host nation and Pakistan. Whenever the world cup tournament comes, the excitement is all the more increased with every tournament. It is because of this excitement that fans try to have access to some or the other kind of medium to catch up with the upgraded information. Cricket is a game of immense interest and it is this interest that has made it a widely acclaimed sport. Its popularity is such that fans either leave their work or make some adjustments in the daily schedule to catch the action. Cricket world cup 2007 is a much talked about event recently. Every other fan has some or the other question in their mind as to who will win the world cup or will India is able to break the monopoly of Aussies? Nothing can be said as of now, as we all have to wait for the time to come and see that the results. Still, every other nation is carrying out schemes and ways to boost the morale of their players. It is only in the later that we get to have answers to our questions. Ella Wilson is a cricket fanatic. She simply loves the game and tries to catch live action no matter where she is.At Stickiewicket she works on Online cricket score,Cricket World Cup 2007, Fantasy cricket and Cricket News among other things.You can see her works at www.stickiewicket.com
Category : General Sports: Outdoors
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 10 เมษายน พ.ศ. 2551
Philosophy and Cancer Treatment
Author : Simon Mitchell
1000 years ago in Europe pre-Christian tribes originally had a Goddess culture - a matriarchy where the earth and nature and their cycles and secrets were revered. In pre-industrial societies illness was not seen as a 'random assault from outside' but as a deeply significant life event integral to the sufferer's whole being - spiritual, moral, physical and life course - past, present and future. Dis-ease was interpreted as packed with moral, spiritual and religious messages as one of the many ways through which 'God revealed his will to mankind'. Other philosophies of medicine such as Ayurvedic or Tibetan think similarly, in these, dis-ease has a karmic aspect.Around the tenth century in Europe - after the so called 'Dark Ages' - women, the original stewards of the land (men did ‘animal husbandry’), were dispossessed of it by the new patriarchies of the Church and State. This male hierarchy hid the things they were most afraid of, namely the fact that it is women who hold the key to the processes and powers of life. They took them as their own, decreeing laws about how we should behave to impose control and inventing 'original sin'. Allied to this there came a prolonged persecution of women, especially any of those involved in healing. Some sources estimate about 5 - 9 million women were destroyed across Europe during this persecution. Essentially the role of women as healers and midwives was discouraged and ‘home-making’ and its many associated skills is still regarded as a ‘worthless’ career according to our primarily fiscal values based on GDP.When a patriarchy takes over a matriarchy as a fundamental paradigm shift, one of the main things that happens is that 'healing' and 'spirituality' are separated out as an instrument of control. The world of spirit and physic were separated and became even more so during the great male 'Age of Reason' that began with Descartes and continued with Newton, the tail-end of which many are presently clinging to in desperation and a degree of applied self-interest.Rene Descartes (1596 - 1650) was a central influence on the 17th century revolution that began modern science and philosophy. His ‘Method of Doubt’ was published in 1637:
"I resolved to reject as false everything in which I could imagine the least doubt, in order to see if there afterwards remained anything that was entirely indubitable".The philosophy of ‘Cartesian dualism’ became part of our science, where the mind and the body are seen as essentially separate. The ‘self’, the conscious being that is ‘me’ was seen as essentially non-physical. Misguidedly (it was not Descartes intention) this philosophy contributed to the mechanistic and rational philosophy of the universe adopted by our culture. Descartes was one of the first people to suggest that phenomena could be understood by breaking them down into constituent parts and examining each minutely. His view of the human body as a machine functioning within a mechanistic universe took prevalence within the ‘Age of Reason’."Consider the human body as a machine. My thought compares a sick man and an ill-made clock with my idea of a healthy man and a well made clock".This attention to analytical detail is still at the heart of our scientific research methodologies. As a result Western medicine has produced ‘World saving’ vaccines and antibiotics. It has created drugs and surgical techniques that do utterly amazing things. It has virtually eliminated all the serious communicable diseases (in the First World) such as leprosy, plague, tuberculosis, tetanus, syphilis, rheumatic fever, pneumonia, meningitis, polio, septicaemia. There are very few women dying in childbirth compared to the past. Western medicine has been, and is, a triumph in the face of these problems which worried us back then the way cancer and heart disease worry us today. Even the big medical problems of the of 1930’s and 40’s have literally vanished.The age of infectious disease has given way to the age of chronic disorders. The major killers today are heart and vascular disease, chronic degenerative diseases and cancer, largely incurable and increasing in incidence. The strategies that worked so well for all but eliminating acute infectious diseases just don’t seem to work for chronic and degenerative conditions."The prevalence of asthma, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, immune deficiency syndrome, HIV and a host of other debilitating conditions is increasing. Conventional biomedicine - so strikingly successful in the treatment of overwhelming infections, surgical and medical emergencies and congenital defects, has been unable to stem the tide of these conditions".
James Gordon M.D., Washington, D.C.Even during the time of Sir Isaac Newton the human body was viewed as an intricate biological machine. The Universe was an orderly, predictable but divine mechanism, a ‘grand clockwork’. Although hundreds of years have passed, Western scientific medicine still holds the same basic philosophy, but are more sophisticated in studying biological mechanisms at a molecular level.The first Newtonian approaches were essentially surgical. The body was seen as if it were a complex plumbing system. If it went wrong the offending piece was removed or bypassed. These days instead of using knives, drugs are often used to do more or less the same things.Humans though are far more than walking sacks of chemicals. The animating life-force central to other medical systems is an energy that is not addressed by modern scientific methodology and there are no Western medical models that explain what it is and what it does. It is misguided by the concept that all illnesses are cured by physically repairing or eliminating abnormal cells. This is partly due to a conflict between ‘Western’ and ‘Eastern’ philosophies and has its roots in the division of science and religion along with the destruction of folk medicine in both U.S. and Europe.Cancer cannot be treated effectively under a philosophy of reductionism. Scientific cancer research has failed to find a cure because it is looking in the wrong places with the wrong tools. Cancer needs to be understood as a ‘whole’ disease in relation to each individual’s experience and the culture of which they are part. It has multiple causes that vary with each patient. The strategies that worked so well for tackling acute infectious diseases are inappropriate for dealing with chronic and degenerative conditions. Cancer patients can be at best increasingly ‘patched up’ by orthodox treatments but at spiralling health care costs.This is an extract from 'Don't Get Cancer'a new ebook available only at: http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/don'tget1.html
Category : Psychology
1000 years ago in Europe pre-Christian tribes originally had a Goddess culture - a matriarchy where the earth and nature and their cycles and secrets were revered. In pre-industrial societies illness was not seen as a 'random assault from outside' but as a deeply significant life event integral to the sufferer's whole being - spiritual, moral, physical and life course - past, present and future. Dis-ease was interpreted as packed with moral, spiritual and religious messages as one of the many ways through which 'God revealed his will to mankind'. Other philosophies of medicine such as Ayurvedic or Tibetan think similarly, in these, dis-ease has a karmic aspect.Around the tenth century in Europe - after the so called 'Dark Ages' - women, the original stewards of the land (men did ‘animal husbandry’), were dispossessed of it by the new patriarchies of the Church and State. This male hierarchy hid the things they were most afraid of, namely the fact that it is women who hold the key to the processes and powers of life. They took them as their own, decreeing laws about how we should behave to impose control and inventing 'original sin'. Allied to this there came a prolonged persecution of women, especially any of those involved in healing. Some sources estimate about 5 - 9 million women were destroyed across Europe during this persecution. Essentially the role of women as healers and midwives was discouraged and ‘home-making’ and its many associated skills is still regarded as a ‘worthless’ career according to our primarily fiscal values based on GDP.When a patriarchy takes over a matriarchy as a fundamental paradigm shift, one of the main things that happens is that 'healing' and 'spirituality' are separated out as an instrument of control. The world of spirit and physic were separated and became even more so during the great male 'Age of Reason' that began with Descartes and continued with Newton, the tail-end of which many are presently clinging to in desperation and a degree of applied self-interest.Rene Descartes (1596 - 1650) was a central influence on the 17th century revolution that began modern science and philosophy. His ‘Method of Doubt’ was published in 1637:
"I resolved to reject as false everything in which I could imagine the least doubt, in order to see if there afterwards remained anything that was entirely indubitable".The philosophy of ‘Cartesian dualism’ became part of our science, where the mind and the body are seen as essentially separate. The ‘self’, the conscious being that is ‘me’ was seen as essentially non-physical. Misguidedly (it was not Descartes intention) this philosophy contributed to the mechanistic and rational philosophy of the universe adopted by our culture. Descartes was one of the first people to suggest that phenomena could be understood by breaking them down into constituent parts and examining each minutely. His view of the human body as a machine functioning within a mechanistic universe took prevalence within the ‘Age of Reason’."Consider the human body as a machine. My thought compares a sick man and an ill-made clock with my idea of a healthy man and a well made clock".This attention to analytical detail is still at the heart of our scientific research methodologies. As a result Western medicine has produced ‘World saving’ vaccines and antibiotics. It has created drugs and surgical techniques that do utterly amazing things. It has virtually eliminated all the serious communicable diseases (in the First World) such as leprosy, plague, tuberculosis, tetanus, syphilis, rheumatic fever, pneumonia, meningitis, polio, septicaemia. There are very few women dying in childbirth compared to the past. Western medicine has been, and is, a triumph in the face of these problems which worried us back then the way cancer and heart disease worry us today. Even the big medical problems of the of 1930’s and 40’s have literally vanished.The age of infectious disease has given way to the age of chronic disorders. The major killers today are heart and vascular disease, chronic degenerative diseases and cancer, largely incurable and increasing in incidence. The strategies that worked so well for all but eliminating acute infectious diseases just don’t seem to work for chronic and degenerative conditions."The prevalence of asthma, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, immune deficiency syndrome, HIV and a host of other debilitating conditions is increasing. Conventional biomedicine - so strikingly successful in the treatment of overwhelming infections, surgical and medical emergencies and congenital defects, has been unable to stem the tide of these conditions".
James Gordon M.D., Washington, D.C.Even during the time of Sir Isaac Newton the human body was viewed as an intricate biological machine. The Universe was an orderly, predictable but divine mechanism, a ‘grand clockwork’. Although hundreds of years have passed, Western scientific medicine still holds the same basic philosophy, but are more sophisticated in studying biological mechanisms at a molecular level.The first Newtonian approaches were essentially surgical. The body was seen as if it were a complex plumbing system. If it went wrong the offending piece was removed or bypassed. These days instead of using knives, drugs are often used to do more or less the same things.Humans though are far more than walking sacks of chemicals. The animating life-force central to other medical systems is an energy that is not addressed by modern scientific methodology and there are no Western medical models that explain what it is and what it does. It is misguided by the concept that all illnesses are cured by physically repairing or eliminating abnormal cells. This is partly due to a conflict between ‘Western’ and ‘Eastern’ philosophies and has its roots in the division of science and religion along with the destruction of folk medicine in both U.S. and Europe.Cancer cannot be treated effectively under a philosophy of reductionism. Scientific cancer research has failed to find a cure because it is looking in the wrong places with the wrong tools. Cancer needs to be understood as a ‘whole’ disease in relation to each individual’s experience and the culture of which they are part. It has multiple causes that vary with each patient. The strategies that worked so well for tackling acute infectious diseases are inappropriate for dealing with chronic and degenerative conditions. Cancer patients can be at best increasingly ‘patched up’ by orthodox treatments but at spiralling health care costs.This is an extract from 'Don't Get Cancer'a new ebook available only at: http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/don'tget1.html
Category : Psychology
วันพุธที่ 9 เมษายน พ.ศ. 2551
Tax Tips for Home Buyers and Sellers in 2005
Author : Mark Nash
Primary residence buyers and sellers understand the fundamental tax benefits of owning a home. Many though aren't aware beyond the typical deductions of mortgage interest and real estate taxes what and when other home buying or selling expenses can be deducted. The second step in determining the timeline for claiming an expense is separating deductions that can be taken now or costs that must be deferred that are considered part of the basis of owning a home.-Basis is the starting cost for figuring a gain or loss when you sell your home. This starting cost is also used to determine depreciation if you use part of your home for business. Basis must be fair market value. Certain costs can be added to your basis or subtracted, which are called adjustments. Increases to adjustments are: putting an addition on your home, paving a driveway or installing central air-conditioning. Decreases to adjustments are: Casualty loss not covered by insurance, payments received for an easement granted, or depreciation if home is used for business or rental.If you sold a home in 2005 the first step in deciding which column a home buying or selling expense goes under is to take a good look at the RESPA or Real Estate Settlement Proceedures Act form you received at closing or escrow. Take your RESPA and other home buying or selling expenses that you feel might apply to an experienced tax accountant, so they can organize and separate deductions from costs and eliminate non-deductible items. Deferred costs that figure into the basis of a home benefit sellers in the tax year they sold. Some of the out of pocket costs incurred by buyers in the purchase of a home might have to be delayed, which can come as a surprise to buyers.To claim deductions you must itemize on Schedule A form 1040 and under IRS rules if you itemize you can't claim the standard deduction. To see more tax information for first-time homeowners pick up Internal Revenue Form 530 for 2005. Many deductions or costs have exceptions that you must meet to claim a deduction or cost basis expense. Here are some basic guidelines that buyers and sellers should be familiar with before entering a contract to purchase or sell a home.Deductions-Mortgage interest. Your main or a second home must secure mortgages.-Late payment charges on a mortgage. Only deductible if it wasn't for a specific service in connection with your loan.-Mortgage prepayment penalties. Only deductible if it wasn't for a specific service in connection with your loan.-Real estate taxes. Property taxes actually paid in the tax year.-Home improvement, mortgage and refinancing loan origination points. You must meet set guidelines or spread costs over life of the mortgage.Costs-Transfer taxes. State, county or local. Charges you paid charged by governments when a home is bought or sold.-Owner's title insurance.-Recording fees. Fees charge by governments to have mortgages, satisfactions, deeds and other legal documents registered into databases.-Legal and Abstract fees.-Property surveys.-Real estate brokerage commissions.-Local assessments that increase the value of your property. New sidewalks, streets, sewer and water systems are costs.-Special homeowners association condominium assessments that cover capital improvements such as a new roof, not roof repairs.-Charges for installing utility services for new construction.Don't plan on taking as a cost or deduction.-Mortgage principal payments.-Mortgage insurance premiums.-FHA and VA funding fees.-Credit report fees.-Loan application fees.-Loan assumption fees.-Notary fees.-Mortgage note preparation costs.-Appraisal fees by mortgage lender.-Home inspections.-Moving costs. Unless you relocated to a new job, restrictions apply.-Cleaning costs when moving in or out of a home.-Condominium homeowner association assessments.-Condominium homeowner association application, move-in and move-out fees.-Rent for occupancy before closing.-Homeowner's insurance premiums.-Wages for household help.-Depreciation.-Contributions to a tax escrow accounts that were not paid to a taxing authority.-The cost of cable-TV, electricity, gas, telephone or water.-Charges for services such as trash collection or periodic service charges for lawn mowing or snow shoveling when in violation of local ordinances.-Repairs. An expense that keeps your home in ordinary and efficient operating condition such as fixing gutters leaks, broken windows and cracked drywall.-Gifts to buyers or sellers such as flowers, gift baskets or entertainment.-Your own labor for an improvement. An improvement is based on the actual costs of material labor except your own.Cooperatives offer many tax benefits for homeowners, but they do have special tax rules. Consult a qualified tax accountant who specializes in cooperatives.The IRS requires that you keep records that affect the basis cost and deductions until the limitations for income tax returns expires, typically a set period of time after you sell your home.Mark Nash's fourth real estate book, "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home" (2005), and working as a real estate broker in Chicago are the foundation for his consumer-centric real estate perspective which has been featured on ABC-TV,CBS The Early Show, Bloomberg TV, CNN-TV, Chicago Sun Times & Tribune, Fidelity Investor's Weekly, Dow Jones Market Watch, MSNBC.com, The New York Times, Realty Times, Universal Press Syndicate and USA Today.
Category : Finance:Taxes
Primary residence buyers and sellers understand the fundamental tax benefits of owning a home. Many though aren't aware beyond the typical deductions of mortgage interest and real estate taxes what and when other home buying or selling expenses can be deducted. The second step in determining the timeline for claiming an expense is separating deductions that can be taken now or costs that must be deferred that are considered part of the basis of owning a home.-Basis is the starting cost for figuring a gain or loss when you sell your home. This starting cost is also used to determine depreciation if you use part of your home for business. Basis must be fair market value. Certain costs can be added to your basis or subtracted, which are called adjustments. Increases to adjustments are: putting an addition on your home, paving a driveway or installing central air-conditioning. Decreases to adjustments are: Casualty loss not covered by insurance, payments received for an easement granted, or depreciation if home is used for business or rental.If you sold a home in 2005 the first step in deciding which column a home buying or selling expense goes under is to take a good look at the RESPA or Real Estate Settlement Proceedures Act form you received at closing or escrow. Take your RESPA and other home buying or selling expenses that you feel might apply to an experienced tax accountant, so they can organize and separate deductions from costs and eliminate non-deductible items. Deferred costs that figure into the basis of a home benefit sellers in the tax year they sold. Some of the out of pocket costs incurred by buyers in the purchase of a home might have to be delayed, which can come as a surprise to buyers.To claim deductions you must itemize on Schedule A form 1040 and under IRS rules if you itemize you can't claim the standard deduction. To see more tax information for first-time homeowners pick up Internal Revenue Form 530 for 2005. Many deductions or costs have exceptions that you must meet to claim a deduction or cost basis expense. Here are some basic guidelines that buyers and sellers should be familiar with before entering a contract to purchase or sell a home.Deductions-Mortgage interest. Your main or a second home must secure mortgages.-Late payment charges on a mortgage. Only deductible if it wasn't for a specific service in connection with your loan.-Mortgage prepayment penalties. Only deductible if it wasn't for a specific service in connection with your loan.-Real estate taxes. Property taxes actually paid in the tax year.-Home improvement, mortgage and refinancing loan origination points. You must meet set guidelines or spread costs over life of the mortgage.Costs-Transfer taxes. State, county or local. Charges you paid charged by governments when a home is bought or sold.-Owner's title insurance.-Recording fees. Fees charge by governments to have mortgages, satisfactions, deeds and other legal documents registered into databases.-Legal and Abstract fees.-Property surveys.-Real estate brokerage commissions.-Local assessments that increase the value of your property. New sidewalks, streets, sewer and water systems are costs.-Special homeowners association condominium assessments that cover capital improvements such as a new roof, not roof repairs.-Charges for installing utility services for new construction.Don't plan on taking as a cost or deduction.-Mortgage principal payments.-Mortgage insurance premiums.-FHA and VA funding fees.-Credit report fees.-Loan application fees.-Loan assumption fees.-Notary fees.-Mortgage note preparation costs.-Appraisal fees by mortgage lender.-Home inspections.-Moving costs. Unless you relocated to a new job, restrictions apply.-Cleaning costs when moving in or out of a home.-Condominium homeowner association assessments.-Condominium homeowner association application, move-in and move-out fees.-Rent for occupancy before closing.-Homeowner's insurance premiums.-Wages for household help.-Depreciation.-Contributions to a tax escrow accounts that were not paid to a taxing authority.-The cost of cable-TV, electricity, gas, telephone or water.-Charges for services such as trash collection or periodic service charges for lawn mowing or snow shoveling when in violation of local ordinances.-Repairs. An expense that keeps your home in ordinary and efficient operating condition such as fixing gutters leaks, broken windows and cracked drywall.-Gifts to buyers or sellers such as flowers, gift baskets or entertainment.-Your own labor for an improvement. An improvement is based on the actual costs of material labor except your own.Cooperatives offer many tax benefits for homeowners, but they do have special tax rules. Consult a qualified tax accountant who specializes in cooperatives.The IRS requires that you keep records that affect the basis cost and deductions until the limitations for income tax returns expires, typically a set period of time after you sell your home.Mark Nash's fourth real estate book, "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home" (2005), and working as a real estate broker in Chicago are the foundation for his consumer-centric real estate perspective which has been featured on ABC-TV,CBS The Early Show, Bloomberg TV, CNN-TV, Chicago Sun Times & Tribune, Fidelity Investor's Weekly, Dow Jones Market Watch, MSNBC.com, The New York Times, Realty Times, Universal Press Syndicate and USA Today.
Category : Finance:Taxes
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