All posts by Mrs. Accountability

Why I Don’t Need a SmartPhone

frugal
My son keeps trying to convince me that I need to upgrade my little slide phone to something more sophisticated like a SmartPhone.  I usually hear this suggestion when I call him for help with directions in finding a store or if I'm in an unfamiliar part of the big city. He needs a SmartPhone because his job requires him to be able to check his email and to be able to log into their server around the clock. But… Read the rest
Hand Picked Roses

I Wanted to Buy My Mother Some Flowers for Mother’s Day

holidays
I know I shouldn't even think about it, since we're really not doing well financially, but when your mom says to you on the phone that she just saw a flower delivery truck go by, and wishes they were stopping for her, because she's never had that happen before… well, it makes you want to do that for your mom, even if you shouldn't. So when I heard a commercial on the radio for ProFlowers for 100 blossoms for $19.99,… Read the rest

Tracking Your Mileage For Business Purposes

automobiles
If you are a self-proprietor, and driving is part of your business, you have a choice to either deduct your mileage, or to deduct the portion of the cost of your vehicle expenses. From the IRS: To use the standard mileage rate, you must own or lease the car and: The car must not be used to transport persons or property for compensation or hire, for example as a taxi You must not operate five or more cars at the… Read the rest

We Should Shop Like This Even When We Aren’t Short on Money

budget
Ever since the financial crisis hit us, which I first mentioned in this post: Tough Times at the Accountability Household, things still haven't eased up. Mr. A's business is bringing in enough to cover business expenses, and pay some extra toward the business credit card, but not enough to take a draw for our household. This is quite frustrating for me, but there's not too much I can do about it. And to add more frustration, his cell phone is… Read the rest