DEDUCTING ADVENTURE
Ways to Write Off Your Fun
Whether you are preparing for or are currently in retirement, managing
toilet facilities, a boat or RV qualifies as a second home. You’ll be able to deduct the interest you pay on your loan, saving you plenty of money.
money to ensure that your nest egg lasts. At the same time, you should make the most of life by enjoying the activities and adventures you never had time for in your working years. For those willing to put in the effort, there are ways of making your dreams more affordable. BOATS AND RVS Whether you love taking a trip out on the water or into the wilderness, doing it in comfort is always a plus. While boats and RVs can have a high sticker price, there are tax deductions you can use to make the dream of ownership a reality. If the vehicle is equipped with sleeping, cooking, and
TRAVEL Seeing the world is a great way to enrich your life, but it can be tough on your bank account. However, under certain conditions, Uncle Sam may be willing to lend a hand. Most people think the only way to deduct travel expenses is by planning a business trip, but this is not the case. Write-offs also exist to help people who are traveling for knowledge or to do good in the world. If you write for a blog, need to do some regional research for a novel, or want to volunteer in a disadvantaged part of the world, your expenses incurred for these purposes can be deducted. EDUCATION For lifelong learners, continuing your education can be just as much of an adventure as sailing the open seas. Unfortunately, feeding your brain can cost an arm and a leg. Thankfully, the IRS offers a Lifetime Learning tax credit, which can take off as much as 20 percent of the first $10,000 you spend for education after high school. There is no age limit for this credit, so go learn the subjects you’ve always been passionate about!
THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
Tales of Sneaking Out and Sneaking In
Trying to slip out a window after Mom and Dad have gone to sleep is nothing new; kids have been trying to sneak out since the invention of houses. These three stories are sure to bring back memories of your own clandestine adventures and close calls! JESSICA: ‘GRAND THEFT MINIVAN’ My parents’ 1985 Ford Aerostar was something of a hot commodity because you could pack seven crazy teenagers in it and go for the best joyrides. As my parents were getting
how far we could make it in one night. One time, we went too far, and I couldn’t fill up the tank before getting back home. I was sweating as my mom got ready to take me to school in the morning. She turned the key, saw that the tank was almost empty, and muttered, “Your father told me this would be good on gas ...” JAMES: ‘WISH I HAD A GRAPPLE GUN’ One night, I snuck out to see a girl. My room was on the second floor, and my parents had noise sensors that went off every time a door opened or closed. I popped out the screen on my window, figuring I could find a way out from the roof. The only option was to jump to an adjacent tree that was just out of reach. I went back to my room, grabbed a belt, and tried to use it as a whip, like Indiana Jones. It didn’t grab the branch tightly enough, though. I ended up with three bruised ribs and a sprained ankle, and I was grounded for a month. REBECCA: ‘SNEAKING IN’ Sneaking out was never my forte, but sneaking people in sure was. There was an entry to my basement from the garage, so I would leave the back door to the garage unlocked, and my friends could slip in. One night, we had the bright idea to sneak in some boys. After one of them tripped and knocked over our canned food collection, my parents came running downstairs. When my dad took two steps toward his gun safe, the boys high-tailed it out of there.
ready for bed, I’d run our air compressor to pretend I was pumping my bike tires, but I was actually using the noise to disguise the sound of the garage door opener. Once they were asleep, I’d pick up my friends, and we’d see
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