Tips For A Stress-Free Tax Season

How to make driving in inclement weather more safe

Impaired visibility can be a safety hazard while driving. Everything from sun glare to hail can affect a driver’s ability to see the road and navigate it effectively. Before drivers get behind the wheel, they should make note of their local forecast and make a plan for what to do if rain, snow or other conditions make it challenging to drive.

The International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences indicates that, based on an examination of crash test data conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the “likelihood of a crash increases during periods of low visibility, despite the tendency for less traffic and for lower speeds to prevail during these times.”

Drivers can take several steps to improve their visibility when driving in poor weather conditions.

• Inspect and change windshield wiper blades. Wipers are instrumental in clearing precipitation away from the windshield. If they’re not functioning properly, wipers cannot do their jobs. Drivers should replace their wipers at the first indication that they are no longer effective. In some conditions, wipers can freeze or stick. Drivers should then pull over and clean the wipers manually.

• Clear obstructions. Always make sure the windshield is clear before driving. This can include removing ice and snow in the winter and cleaning off mud or bug splatter in the spring and summer. Use

the front and rear defrost if condensation fogs up windshields and windows.

• Slow down. Foul weather can reduce drivers’ ability to see far into the distance. Drivers should always drive slower in inclement weather in order to improve reaction time.

• Top off fluids. Always keep the windshield washer reservoir full and keep extra fluid in the trunk. In addition, look for a fluid that does not freeze in very cold temperatures.

• Learn how to drive in fog. Each year, more than 38,700 vehicle crashes occur in fog, states the Federal Highway Administration. Travelers Insurance recommends slowing down, staying focused and using regular headlights and not high beams when driving in fog.

• Go out only if necessary. In snowy or icy conditions, drive only if it’s absolutely necessary, as snow and ice can impair visibility and make roads slick, says AAA.

• Avoid driving at dusk and dawn. The human eye can have trouble adjusting to rapidly changing light and darkness conditions, which are common at dusk and dawn. If possible, drivers should make trips during the heart of the day, especially if poor lighting conditions typically make it difficult for them to drive.

Drivers can take steps to improve visibility when inclement weather makes roadways hard to navigate.

Tips for a Stress-Free Tax Season

Taxes are an unavoidable fact of life. Unfortunately, they can be somewhat overwhelming, which can cause people to put the task off and miss the deadline. Use these tips for a stress-free tax season:

Get It Over With

The sooner you get your taxes filed, the sooner you can stop worrying about them. Early filing also means an earlier refund -- if you’re due one -- or time to plan to prepare to pay any owed taxes. To ensure it all happens on time, actually block out time in your calendar to sit down and work on your taxes. Be sure not to underestimate how much time is needed. If your situation has gotten more complicated over the last year, figure that into the equation.

Check Your Work

The last thing anybody wants to hear is that they are being audited. You can avoid this anxiety by having the right tools on hand. Start by keeping your records filed in an organized way – both digitally and on paper with a filing cabinet that locks. As you do your taxes, it is a good idea to take your time, and do a practice run. A printing calculator is a good way to keep records of all necessary calculations. Be sure your printing calculator is up to the task. The two-color ink printer of Casio’s HR-170RC allows you to quickly see both positive and negative numbers to avoid reading errors, and its 12-digit LCD display showcases crisp, sharp numbers for easy viewing. A must-have tool for tax season, its functions include a grand total key, cost/sell/ margin buttons, sign change, tax calculation, decimal selector and more.

Maximize Your Refund

While many people look forward to their tax refund and view it as a windfall, it is important to keep in mind that this money is simply your own income that you overpaid to the state and federal government throughout the year. That said, you should have a smart plan for your refund wisely so that is not wasted on an impulse purchase. A few good ideas for tax refunds is investing the money into a retirement account, using it to pay down debt or padding out your rainy-day fund.

This tax season, don’t get overwhelmed. For stress-free filing, stay organized and give yourself plenty of time. (StatePoint)

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How local businesses give back to their communities

Small businesses are booming. Information from the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs says that small businesses, or firms with fewer than 500 workers, accounted for 99.7 of businesses. Firms with fewer than 100 workers accounted for 98.2 percent of companies. Thanks to their influence and reach, small businesses have the potential to impact local communities in numerous ways.

• Small businesses employ local residents. According to the SBA’s Office of Advocacy, small businesses accounted for 61.8 percent of net new jobs in the United States between 1993 and 2016.

• Small businesses are innovative. The SBA notes that small businesses represent about 96 percent of employer firms in high-patenting manufacturing industries. That suggests that small businesses are full of new ideas.

others may offer their professional services or event spaces, each of which can be particularly helpful to local communities.

• Small businesses contribute to community identity. They contribute to the charm and character of a town or city. Many local businesses make up the fabric of Main Street, and towns are known and loved for the businesses that have endured.

• Small businesses help the environment. Shopping locally means consumers do not have to travel far to get their goods and services. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s research report on walkable downtown centers found small businesses encourage walking and cycling, helping to reduce air pollution from vehicles.

• Small businesses support local charities. Many local businesses give to charity, particularly local charities. Some donate money while • Small businesses keep money in communities. Local businesses keep disposable income and tax money within their communities. Business

tax money remains local and can support schools, roads and municipal services.

Local small businesses are the life force that keeps cities and towns prosperous and humming along. Such establishments help build a sense of community and forge lasting relationships.

Resolve to Green Your Grocery Shopping

In our grab-and-go culture, plastic is pervasive at the grocery store. But as more supermarkets worldwide adopt smart strategies for reducing single-use plastic packaging, experts say that these same changes are possible here in the U.S., so long as retailers, companies and individuals commit to making them a reality. • Bulk staples: Smart dispensing systems for such shelf-stable foods as rice, beans and lentils, allow customers to buy the quantities they need and can afford. And when customers dispense products into reusable containers they’ve brought from home or are supplied by the store, the system can eliminate single-use packaging.

“It’s time to build smarter supermarkets,” says Kate Melges, plastics campaigner, Greenpeace. “We’re starting to see examples of retailers moving away from throwaway packaging, but not at the urgency and scale needed to address this crisis.”

A new report from Greenpeace, “The Smart Supermarket,” travels through a hypothetical grocery store to explore how single-use packaging-free initiatives can be implemented in every aisle, as well as details the benefits each change would have on consumers and retailers.

As you head into a new year and possibly resolve to reduce your environmental impact, consider these report insights:

• “Nude” food: Plastic-wrapped produce creates needless packaging waste and potentially leads to wasted food, as consumers are required to buy portion sizes they may not need. “Nude” food lets you buy exactly what you need. For those products that do require packaging, stores and consumers should consider natural alternatives, such as banana leaves tied with bamboo twine.

• Refillable personal and home products: While the public is becoming aware of the need for reusable shopping bags and coffee cups, there’s less awareness about alternatives to single-use plastics for beauty and cleaning supplies. Refill stations on favorite shampoos, dish soaps and more can substantially reduce plastic waste.

• Smarter takeout: Many grocery stores have togo options like salad bars and hot food counters. At a smart supermarket, takeout will not mean throwaway. Technology is at the heart of the concept, with customers using an app to collect rewards when they return reusable cups and containers. This is great for stores who want to establish brand loyalty, and great for customers who want kickbacks and to reduce their plastic use.

• Sustainable checkout: Five trillion single-use plastic bags will be used this year alone -- that is 160,000 bags per second. Providing durable, reusable bags at checkout through a rent-a-bag scheme is an easy way for stores to reverse this trend.

• Mindful online shopping: Buy your groceries online? A number of online retailers are already dropping off and collecting reusable containers via more sustainable transport. A smart supermarket can follow the same model.

For more information on how to help build a smarter supermarket, visit: greenpeace.org/usa/ research/report-the-smart-supermarket.

Without decisive action, plastic production is set to quadruple by 2050. This new year, advocates say that everyone can resolve to do their part to stem the tide, with retailers and consumer goods companies cooperating to create eco-friendly solutions, and consumers demanding these alternatives and opting for them when they become available. (StatePoint)