Check out our December newsletter!
NORTON NEWSLETTER
THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
NortonAccountingServices.com 985-690-4498 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com DECEMBER 2023
EASE OF MIND • AVAILABILITY • FLEXIBILITY • INDIVIDUAL APPROACH • EXPERIENCE • TAX SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES
Planning for Success Through Time The Goal of Achieving a Happy New Year
Our lives are made up of many milestones and times
short-term, tax-saving strategy for you. It’s important to remember that you can’t fully deduct a new house. You can depreciate it, but that won’t lower your taxable income by the full amount of the purchase price.
when we take a step back, look at where we’ve been, where we are, and where we can go in the future. Of course, this time of the year is one of the best times to do that. We apply that mindset professionally to the work we do as a team on your behalf. Once we complete a tax season, we begin preparing for the next tax season that kicks off with the start of the new year.
“Setting goals and achieving them are actions we can take all year.”
One tool we offer to clients and customers for tax planning is our “12 Days of Tax Savings” email. We send 12 daily tips in December that offer a variety of ideas for saving on your taxes. To be sure you’re on our list to receive it, please send an email to Info@nortonaccountingservices.com. Additionally, setting goals and achieving them are actions we can take all year. I’m continually monitoring where I am compared to the goals I want to meet. I’m also constantly thinking about things I can do better next year and about the changes I can make so when I get started on the new year, I’m ahead of the curve. I think it’s important to write down your major objectives and monitor them. Each week, I monitor several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) — the 3–5 things that ensure we are moving toward our overall goals.
We help our clients with this planning as well, since most of the people we work with are business owners or investors.
I think it’s beneficial to look at your numbers for the year. In turn, you can look ahead to what you think your tax situation will be. With that in mind, December is the last chance to spend money for deductions to reduce your taxes. I don’t think it’s a wise strategy to spend money just to save on taxes, though. The way I look at it, spending a dollar on something is only going to save you 35 cents on your taxes, while you are still out that dollar. However, there are plenty of items you might need for your business that are sensible purchases. A good rule of thumb is to look out over the next few months to see what you know you will be spending money on. If you know you’ll need something for your business, then you could go ahead and make that purchase to take the deduction in the current year. The bottom line is that if you are spending money just to save on taxes, you could probably invest your money in other ways.
As we near the end of the year, we wish you the happiest of holidays. In the process, we are here to assist you as you set your goals, plan for the future, and assess where you are on your path to achieving them during what we hope will be a happy new year!
–Bob Norton
Many people ask me about buying real estate. While real estate is a fantastic long-term investment, buying a property may not be a good,
985-690-4498 • 1
Winter Travel Tips, Hacks, and Reminders! Make Your Journey Merry and Bright
Now that Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, we can turn our attention toward Christmas and New Year’s Day! Over the next few weeks, many of us will travel across the country to visit loved ones to celebrate the holidays. This is easily one of the busiest times of year for travel, as AAA estimated that more than 112 million Americans traveled during last year’s holiday season. This year looks to be equally busy. Traveling during the holidays can be hectic and frustrating. It takes planning and a little luck to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. You might need to deal with more traffic or longer lines at airport security, but you can make this situation easier by implementing some helpful strategies.
precheck, but there’s no guarantee it will be faster during the holidays. Your best bet is to arrive at the airport early enough to check your bags, make it through TSA, and board your flight with ease. One of the most frustrating situations any frequent flyer can experience is lost or damaged luggage. Suitcases aren’t cheap! If you ever grab your luggage from the carousel and notice it’s damaged or scuffed, do not leave the airport. Instead, go to baggage services and explain the situation. They will gather your information before directing you to a link where you can choose a new suitcase to replace the broken one. If the bag is lost, you will need to fill out a claim as well, although it will likely be a couple of weeks before the airline considers your bag truly lost. Traveling by Car For many families, it’s tradition to pack the car full of gifts and visit the grandparents for the week or a long weekend. It’s a family road trip! Driving in the winter comes with more challenges than any other time of year. Before leaving the house, pack an emergency kit to keep you and your family safe if you get caught in a blizzard. Stock your vehicle with blankets, flashlights, water bottles, basic car maintenance tools, and kitty litter to help free your car from the snow. If you get stuck, turn on your ignition every hour for 10 minutes to warm up the car, and switch on your lights for visibility. Do not get out of your vehicle to look for help! You could get lost and end up in more danger. Brighten Someone’s Day Traveling during the holidays isn’t only stressful for the travelers but for everyone working as well. Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile, consider purchasing some treats or gifts to give to those who are working the holidays. Sharing them with your flight crew or the attendant at the terminal will bring a smile to their face and could even result in them doing something nice for you. Hotel workers, gas station attendants, and retail employees are some of the many people who work diligently throughout the holidays and could use some extra recognition.
Here are some tips to help you reach your destination with as little stress and trouble as possible, regardless of your mode of transport.
Heading to the Airport There’s no secret strategy to help you get to your terminal quicker or ensure you make your connecting flights on time. You could enroll in TSA
The holiday season is full of joy and excitement. Don’t let traveling take the fun out of your experience!
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The Guard Squirrel Who Went Nuts on a Burglar
Anyone robbing a house must know they’re getting into a dangerous situation. But the teenager who burgled Adam Pearl’s Meridian, Idaho, home had no idea what consequences were in store. Many homeowners have a guard dog, but Pearl got his home security from Joey, his pet squirrel.
you know, a squirrel come flying out of nowhere at him,” Officer Turner said. The thief reported that leaving was the only way to stop Joey’s aggression.
After learning of his bravery, Pearl rewarded Joey with his favorite
candy, Whoppers. But he then had a difficult choice ahead. When Joey was still a tiny baby, Pearl and his wife had taken in the abandoned squirrel. They had intended to release Joey back into the wild when spring came, but they were no longer sure.
One day in 2017, Pearl came home and saw that something seemed amiss. Joey was excited, and the doors he’d left closed were now open. After finding scratches on the lock of his gun safe, Pearl knew there’d been a robbery and called the police. Officer Ashley Turner couldn’t help but notice Joey’s presence in the house but didn’t believe he was connected with the case — at first. A few hours later, Turner returned to Pearl’s house with his missing belongings and a story to tell. She’d partially identified the perpetrator by the suspicious scratches on his hands. During questioning, Turner said the burglar confessed to the home invasion and explained why he’d left sooner than intended: Joey attacked while he was attempting to break into the gun safe. Unsurprisingly, the rodent’s violence was frightening. “He wasn’t expecting to have,
Ultimately, they let Joey decide. After he started playing with other squirrels through the home’s sliding glass door, the Pearls installed a cat door so he could come and go as he pleased. Joey spent several weeks outdoors with other squirrels by day and returned to the Pearls by night. Eventually, he requested one final scratch behind the ears before disappearing into an apple tree and leaving the Pearls’ house behind forever.
Though Joey returned to the great outdoors to live with his kind, his legend is a warning to humans. When you break into someone’s home, you never know what you might find.
TAKE A BREAK
HOMEMADE EGGNOG Inspired by AheadOfThyme.com
Ingredients
• 3 cups whole milk • 1 tbsp vanilla extract • 3 eggs, room temperature • 4 egg yolks, room temperature • 1/3 cup sugar • 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups heavy cream • 1 1/2 tsp nutmeg For topping • Whipped cream • Ground cinnamon • Extra nutmeg
Directions
1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine milk and vanilla, swirling occasionally until it starts to steam. 2. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt for approximately 5 minutes until the mixture is thickened. Slowly add milk and whisk to combine. 3. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring for about 6 minutes. 4. In another large mixing bowl, place heavy cream and nutmeg. Strain egg mixture into the cream and cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours. When chilled, fill a glass with eggnog and top with whipped cream, cinnamon, and extra nutmeg!
Chimney Christmas
Mistletoe Ornament Parka Reindeer
Sleigh Snowman Wreath Yuletide
Gifts Igloo
985-690-4498 • 3
Norton Accounting Services, LLC
THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
NortonAccountingServices.com 985-690-4498 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com
1527 Gause Blvd. Ste. 132 Slidell, LA 70458
INSIDE 1 Here’s How to Plan for Success 2 Your Ultimate Holiday Travel Guide 3
Guard Squirrel on Duty: The Rodent Who Sent a Burglar Running Homemade Eggnog From Your Heart to Theirs: Handcrafted Christmas Cards for Loved Ones
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Deck the Halls With Handmade Cards 3 Easy Ideas You Can Make With Kids!
Sending Christmas cards is a great way to tell people you’re thinking of them during the holiday season. However, like everything lately, buying enough Christmas cards for your loved ones is expensive. Store-bought cards can also feel too stiff and formal for our friends and family. That’s why you should consider making Christmas cards this holiday season! It is more cost-effective and a great way to give your cards a personal touch that lets friends and family know you care. The best part is that making holiday cards doesn’t have to be laborious or stressful — it’s quick, easy, and fun! Don’t believe us? Check out these three easy Christmas cards you and your family can make at home. Each card idea is built upon plain white cards! Washi Tape Cards All you need for this card is a roll of washi tape with any design you wish. Simply cut strips of the washi tape, starting with a longer piece (about 2—3 inches), and place it horizontally across the
card near the bottom. Then, build upward using gradually smaller pieces of tape to make a triangle — and that’s it! You’ve successfully created a washi tape tree! You can also draw a tree stump under the longest strip or a star on top. Handprint Cards This Christmas card variation is a favorite for kids to make and family members to receive. Have your child place their hand on the blank card stock and trace their hand with a pencil. Then, cut out the shape of their hand using scissors. Finally, with the cut-out hand facing down (fingers to the ground), have your child decorate it as if it were a tree, drawing ornaments, lights, candy canes, or other decorations. Pipe Cleaner Cards For this card, you need green pipe cleaners and gold stars (like the ones you’d earn in school). Simply twist a pipe cleaner into a tree shape using a zig-zag pattern to form the widest branches at the bottom to the smallest boughs at the top. Glue the pipe cleaner to the card. Finish with a gold star as a tree topper!
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