Holiday Etiquette 5 Tips for Not Being a Lousy Guest

by Molly Milroy

The holiday season is almost upon us and we all know what that means. Parties. Invites. Gatherings you may or may not want to attend. Your Aunt Alice’s fruitcake. With all of the hype happening around us, it can be easy to dismiss some age-old etiquette. As we roll into the busy season of holiday planning and partying, here are five tips to remember:

RSVP

Have manners gone out the window? If someone sends you an invitation with an RSVP date, by all means, it’s only courteous to reply. The host needs to know the number of guests to plan for seating, parking, and food quantity, just to name a few. Do the right thing. RSVP. Bonus points, RSVP before the designated date.

Arrival and Departure Times

The host will be running around getting things done last minute and the last thing he or she needs is for someone to ring their bell 10-15 minutes before expected arrival. Be on time; just don’t come too early or too late.

The same goes for departing. How do you know when it’s time to leave? Look for social cues. Is your host yawning? Is the host saying, “Thank you for coming, it’s been a great night.” These are all ways for a host to politely tell you, “Get out of my house, I want to go to bed!” Many parties can have long-winded guests who overstay their welcome. Don’t be that guy. In addition, be sure to greet the host when

by Jenny Miller

The number one question that individual income tax clients ask me is “What deductions am I missing?” My answer is always noncash charitable contributions. How often do we clean out the garage, closet, basement, or kids’ toys and run the boxes to Goodwill or Salvation Army? Usually we get a receipt but may overlook the documentation needed.

For any noncash contribution, you must keep written records including the organization’s name and address, donation date and location, description of property, and fair market value and how you determined it. Before you take items to Goodwill or similar organizations, always prepare a list of the items you are donating and their condition. Clothing and household items are deductible only if they are in good condition or better. You can find tools online to help you determine value and track donations.

The amount of the donation determines the documentation required. If the contribution is under $250, you need a receipt including the name of the organization, donation date and location, and a description of the property. However, a receipt is not required if obtaining one is