No one likes to think about what would happen to them if rational decision making was no longer possible. An accident or the evil march of time can steal more than our physical mobility. At Bourke Accounting, everyone has a plan to make sure that their wishes are honored in a worst-case scenario (except for me, but I’m still pretty sure that I’m indestructible). While having a will is an important first step, it’s not the only step. Documenting what you want to happen after you’re gone is great, but what if you haven’t quite left the building yet?
Recently, I came across a weird article about the “Free Britney Spears Movement.” I assumed that Ms. Spears was facing arrest after maybe attacking another car with rain gear, but it’s more complicated than that. Beginning in 2007, Spears started to lose the thread – divorce, publicly shaving her head, losing her kids and ending up in rehab/psychiatric hospitals made for a few bad years. Because of her erratic behavior, Spears has been “held under a conservatorship since 2008,” with her father, Jamie Spears, originally appointed as sole conservator (Elle.com). Her father, who petitioned the court, has testified that she is suffering from early onset dementia (Yourtango.com), which, of course, could be a side effect of being sold to the Disney Channel at age 11.
If you don’t know, a conservatorship is a “form of legal guardianship of an adult” (Smartasset.com). These are granted when the courts decide that a person no longer understands what’s going on, can’t take care of basic needs and might harm her/himself or others. While there are a few different types, Spears is under a temporary (yeah, 12 years temporary), financial conservatorship, meaning that it’s meant to last for a specific time period and that she has no control over her estate or financial and personal assets (Businessinsider.com). As she is worth millions, Spears’ fans believe that the fair princess is being held captive by her nefarious and greedy father.
So now, as the stunning result, there are fans brandishing “#FreeBritney” signs outside of courthouses. As the internet is pure logic incarnate, fans are convinced that Spears is begging for help using hidden messages in her social media posts; they are decoding them and many have come to the conclusion that she is being held captive, as well as being trafficked (Yourtango.com). In one TikTok post, Spears twitches in and out of frame, twirls around and looks somewhat unhinged. Seriously, at any time, you expect her to turn into the scary little dead girl from The Ring. I’m sorry, Britney, but the others will have to save you – I’m just not understanding your message.
The Spears Saga is indicative of the importance of future planning. As Spears is experiencing, someone she wouldn’t have chosen has had power over her daily life for years. Don’t think this couldn’t happen to you if you fail to make decisions now (you know how your little brother spends all of his money on Hot Wheels cars? Yeah, he could be making your stock picks). Before the court makes a choice for you, it’s important that you have Power of Attorneys in place. A Medical POA will allow someone to decide how your medical treatment goes; likewise, a Financial POA will give a certain sober someone the authority to handle your cash and assets. And remember, you must be of sound mind to sign a POA, so avoid the rush and plan your future today!
Your life is your own. If you want to be extra-special sure that it stays that way, plan ahead. Not only will this protect your interests, it will ease the burden for your loved ones – no one wants a knock-down drag out in the emergency room.
Bourke Accounting experts can’t protect your from falling anvils, but they can offer you financial guidance. Besides being extraordinarily knowledgeable, Bourke Accounting pros have the sensitivity and time to act as a sounding board. Bourke Accounting specialists won’t make up your mind for you, but they will make all of your decisions a lot clearer.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
By the time you read this, Bourke Accounting will be welcoming Phil and Bill back (with socially distanced and virtual open arms) from vacation. I am a little wary about traveling right now, but I’ve come to learn that my Bourke co-workers aren’t as insanely, overly cautious as I am. Since there are a lot of you swashbucklers out there, I figured it was a good time to talk about airline etiquette.
We aren’t savages, but sometimes, we forget ourselves and allow our baser natures to take over. Oddly enough, this happens most often when the repercussions are greatest. So, in order to avoid federal charges and annoying your fellow travelers, here are a few tips to remember while flying:
1. Take a shower. It doesn’t matter how red-eye your flight is, someone will be sitting next to you. Once the smell of your mocha wears off, the aroma of your unwashed pits will insidiously poke at your row mate’s nostrils. Likewise, don’t douse yourself in perfume/cologne; a subtle scent in the office will become a headache-inducing icepick to the brains of those sharing your enclosed space. Finally, keep your shoes on (experience has taught me that this advice is needed). While plane air is pretty clean – a Boeing’s cabin air is “completely refreshed in under five minutes” (Thedrive.com) – those can be a long five minutes if you’re forced to inhale the nervous sweat of exposed piggies.
2. The person in the center seat gets both armrests. End of discussion.
3. Be kind if a larger person is sitting next to you. Obviously, we don’t like our personal space to be invaded. Ken Friedlander hates it so much that he invented a plastic little partition called “Create-A-Space” that fits on the armrest and ensures that everyone stays on their side. Most larger travelers are aware of their size and will purchase two seats. However, I’ve flown miserably on account of someone not quite so self-aware. Yes, I hated it, yes, I thought nasty thoughts and no, I did not create a disturbance. I took the attendant aside and, quietly, asked about a seat change, which was impossible on the packed flight. The man beside me was visibly embarrassed and attempted to make himself smaller. It might not have been fair to me, but I finally convinced him to just relax. Being squished for two hours wasn’t worth eviscerating a stranger’s self-esteem.
4. Don’t be that lady. Recently, three women attacked Spirit Airlines workers because their flight was delayed. They threw things, kicked, punched and stole one employee’s phone. The victims were basically the equivalent of restaurant greeters, with no control over delays. No matter how stressed you are over your itinerary, striking the person behind the counter is not going to end well for anyone. Keep your hands to yourself and remember delays aren’t forever.
Adventure and travel are good for the soul. However, you don’t want your adventure to start before you leave the state and you don’t want to travel to the county lock-up. When roving in these weird times, remember that everyone is on edge. I’m not saying that we should be scared of each other – I’m just saying that, in these days, an elbow armrest war could end in an unanticipated way.
Whether it’s tax deadlines or travel, Bourke Accounting pros know the importance of keeping a cool head. No matter what sort of calamity you are experiencing, your Bourke Accounting expert can lead you through it with the calmness and knowledge of a seasoned Sherpa. And when you’re done getting the best of Bourke Accounting’s advice, you can swap vacation pictures!
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
At Bourke Accounting, one of Bookkeeper Christina’s hobbies is playing bingo. She goes to a bingo hall, has bingo pals and even attends bingo pals’ birthdays parties. The entire thing is just so wholesome. She has invited me to go, but without cocktail servers, I think it might be a little too wholesome for me. I’ll probably change my mind, though. Right about now, I could use some innocent pastimes. I think we all could.
Please allow me to present three harmless hobbies:
1) Reborn Doll Collectors. A reborn doll is a freakishly realistic looking baby doll (pictured above). These things look so much like real kids that police officers have broken windows in order to save them from hot cars (Sheknows.com). They can run from about a hundred bucks to anywhere in the thousands; the most expensive was sold on eBay, a limited edition named Joelle, for $22,600 (Oddee.com). Those in this specialized subculture change their dolls’ diapers, talk to them, dress them and cuddle them. It could be argued that it’s bizarre for grown (mostly) women to play with dolls, but I still read comic books, so I’m not one to talk. Also, these people don’t actually believe the dolls are real (TheGuardian.com). Of course, there are those who pretend to be pregnant while they wait for their custom-made dolls to arrive, but that’s not the norm (Sheknows.com). Finally, they might be sort of creepy, but they’re so lifelike, they really are works of art. I wouldn’t want one in my house, but I can appreciate the workmanship.
2) Coupon Clipping. If the amount of Youtube.com videos are any indication, there are a lot of people who find coupon clipping very relaxing (seriously, these videos just show people clipping coupons. Sometimes while whispering about the savings). Also, there are a lot of websites dedicated to the frugal. For example, one, called CouponsintheNews.com, offers sneak peaks into the coupons that will be available soon. This site also speculates whether or not drone delivery services will accept coupons. Another site, TheKrazyCouponLady.com, invites readers to share “shopping successes” using pictures of items and the coupons. They also encourage readers to brag regarding how much they saved. I don’t want to be condescending, but this is just too cute!
3) Dungeons & Dragons. If you’ve never played this, it’s really fun. This is a game where all of the players create their own characters and then one person (“The Dungeon Master” – hey, mind out of the gutter) invents a storyline. Then, everyone sort of wanders around in this made up world. Your success on different missions depends on the roll of the funny looking dice. This game is reliant on a lot of imagination, which, obviously, is cool. You can play D&D in Billy’s mom’s rec room or, if you happen to be very adventurous, you can go out into the real world and act things out (also known as LARPing – Live Action Role Playing). I was never good at LARPing, though – keeping a straight face while pretending to be a 4,000-year-old vampire sorcerer elf was too much for me.
The world isn’t all bad. Sometimes, we can find pretty neat things to distract us from the distress of reality. I’m not saying that everyone should play D&D, while cooing to fake babies and clipping coupons, but find what gives you solace and do it.
Bourke Accounting pros have hobbies outside of work and Bourke Accounting experts just so happen to like numbers, too. Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers understand the importance of a good work/life balance. Let a Bourke Accounting specialist share their hobbies while keeping you in a stable financial place. And then we can all go LARPing in the parking lot!
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
No one has student loan debt at Bourke Accounting. This is especially nice for me, as I’d feel kind of stupid spending 10-21 years paying off the ability to write a paper on Beowulf. Oddly enough, that’s not a talent most 9-5 jobs are really clamoring for (I know! I’m surprised, too!). Even though the current talk regarding the cancellation of student loan debt doesn’t affect us Bourkers outright, I think we’re all curious to see what happens.
Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley is a big fan of cancelling student debt. She feels that this will help to both “address racial inequalities and stimulate the economy” (Forbes.com). If every student debtor could stop chucking monthly payments down a well worth $30,000, of course, that would ease a lot of stress. Considering that student loan debt now exceeds $1.6 trillion (Forbes.com), that erasure would free up many and many dollars to rebuild the economy. All right, I’m with you so far.
College educations are good for Americans. Not only does one learn critical thinking, time management and responsibility, there’s also a lot more money to be made after graduation; the Federal Reserve reports that “college graduates earn 80% more than high school graduates” (Marketwatch.com). Obviously, an educated populace, blessed with financial solvency, would benefit the entire country. So yes, loan cancellation and free college educations would be beautiful things.
You know I hate to be the malcontent in the back of the room, but I see just a few problems with these lofty goals. Perhaps I’m puritanical, but I think debt cancellation really amounts to theft of services. So, you go to a good school, you’re taught by good teachers, you receive a good degree and then say, “Oh, being in debt is hard!” And then, the government says, “There, there, we didn’t mean to hurt your feelings! All is forgiven!” Of course college is expensive! A Tesla is, too, but I don’t hear anyone knocking on my door to hand me one.
Another problem with cancellation is the fact that school tuition is used for many things, not just a professor’s salary. When you consider utilities, security, insurance, maintenance – well, these expenditures add up. Who is going to pay for the cafeteria ice cream machine when it breaks down? And, isn’t it possible that professors would be laid off indefinitely, if that $1.6 trillion in debt just goes “poof”? Now Bernie Sanders (whom I have a mild crush on) suggests what he calls a “speculation tax, a small levy on every stock, bond or derivative sold in the US” (NPR.com) to pay for all of this. I swear I’m not pals with Ayn Rand, but wouldn’t this be penalizing those who have made solid choices? Also, this sort of seems like investors would be taxed twice. Is that fair?
Finally, as I’m petty and jealous, it would annoy me that all these people are entitled to a free education when I wasn’t (yes, yes, my parents helped a lot, but that’s not how I’m remembering it). I think people should pay their own way, within reason. For example, in Australia, student loans aren’t repaid until the borrower reaches a certain income level and there’s no interest involved (Marketwatch.com). It could be argued that some will never reach that level, leaving the debt unpaid anyway, but if Australia is still doing it, it must work.
While education is important, it’s hard. Those who would be educated must be willing to sacrifice. Much like free medical and free housing – I would love to see both – it’s simply not possible yet.
Bourke Accounting knows that education benefits everyone. However, until your student debt is erased, Bourke Accounting also knows how difficult it is to make ends meet. While your Bourke Accounting bookkeeper or tax preparer doesn’t have a magic word to make your life easier, they do have a lot of knowledge and a lot of advice. Why not make your world a better place by sitting down with a Bourke Accounting expert?
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
According to Bill over here at Bourke Accounting, I am one of those artsy-fartsy types. I believe this is a fair assessment. I read a lot, I write a lot, perceived “bad” art angers me (I once broke up with a guy because I couldn’t stand his poetry) and I believe that art, no matter the medium, is essential to life.
Just so you know, my people are everywhere; in fact, I would go so far as to say that art deeply affects all people. While I like a good painting and while I may play with the written word here and there, honestly, my heart really belongs to music.
Like I said, I’m not alone. Take, for example, the night of April 5, 1968. A day earlier, Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered. Riots and protests were erupting in over 100 cities across the country (En.wikipedia.org), people were devastated and the terrible times were getting a lot worse. And over in Boston, James Brown had a concert scheduled.
Boston’s mayor, Kevin White, felt that the best possible course of action was to cancel the show all together. Boston had seen rioting the night before and White felt that, since the venue was located at the city’s center, the level of violence and damage would be greater (History.com). That’s when Tom Atkins, “the lone African-American on the…city council” (WGBH.com) stepped in. Atkins argued that not having James Brown perform would cause even more damage. Atkins pointed out that, since the people were already enraged over the death of King, the cancellation of the show might just be the thing to push them over the edge (WGBH.com).
Instead, Atkins suggested something better than genius. He recommended allowing the show to go on AND finding a way to broadcast it free and live, “in the hopes of keeping most Bostonians at home in front of…TV sets rather than on the streets” (History.com). After a mad scramble to find a station that had the capabilities to do it – they were only a few hours from the proposed start of the show – they settled on WGBH, part of the Public Broadcasting Service (History.com).
After only a 45-minute delay, James Brown hit the stage. At one point, as some kids tried to get up on stage with Brown, the cops moved in with billy clubs. Brown quickly averted brutality by instructing the kids to act like gentlemen and telling the cops to step back because he had it all under control (History.com). Both groups listened! Tell me, would you ignore the Hardest Working Man in Showbiz! And whereas other cities faced rioting that night, Boston was relatively quite. Did James Brown save the city of Boston? I’m going to say “yeah.”
As a side note, after the concert, WGBH realized that they should expand their programming to include more diversity. They introduced Basic Black (originally Say Brother) a weekly show that “reflects the concerns and culture of African Americans” (En.Wikipedia.org) that’s still running today.
Call me artsy-fartsy all you want. I’m in good company.
I think there’s a reason that music is always playing at Bourke Accounting: even in the most stressful of times, art calms a wounded spirit. If the music doesn’t blow your anxiety away, just sit down with one of our Bourke Accounting experts. And if our soothing Bourke Accounting specialists don’t make you feel at ease, then you just don’t want to feel better.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
Just when I thought I could no longer be surprised by shady people and the shady things they get up to….ARRRRGGHHH!
Let me rewind. As you know, I like working for Bourke Accounting. My co-workers are cool, the boss is…interesting and I like the job. I also like the steady schedule: 8 AM to 5 PM (we even get to leave at 3 PM on Fridays). I know that if I come to work and do my job, my paycheck is going to be the exact same from week to week. Call me boring and I will gladly agree.
I received a text from someone I hadn’t spoken to in years. Within a few exchanges, she attempted to sell me lipstick. I politely declined. She then told me of her success and wealth and invited me to join her in the great and lucrative business adventure of direct sales. When I, again, declined, she subtly shamed me for being anti-woman and little more than a tool of a capitalist, patriarchal society. I never thought it would happen to me, but it did. I had narrowly escaped evil – A.K.A. “The MLM (Self-Proclaimed) Boss Babe”.
Since then, I’ve done some reading only to find that I am not alone. First, MLM stands for Multi-Level Marketing. An MLM is a “business strategy where revenue is generated from both product sales and the recruitment of new distributors” (TheGuardian.com). When a person (the “upline”) recruits someone (the “downline“) to sell a product, a portion of the money from every sale is kicked up from the downline into the upline’s pocket (Huffpost.com). While this looks like a pyramid scheme, since an actual product is being sold, an MLM is considered a legal business model (TheGuardian.com). Obviously, MLMs can’t be bad, right? Even that person staying in the White House bunker had his very own MLM!
MLMs target stay-at-home moms, single women and single mothers with the promises of sisterhood, empowerment and, of course, lots of money (QZ.com). Recruiters gush with pretty stories of the pride that comes with financial freedom and owning your own “business.” Sadly, this isn’t quite the experience of many who try. A consumer advocate group study showed that about 99% of participants either don’t make money or actively lose money (Huffpost.com). This is because a “consultant” is forced to buy a certain amount of product every month or risk being kicked out of the scam (Huffpost.com), even if they currently have tons of unsold product. Since these people are trying to recoup at least some of their losses, they fall further into debt.
If you like heartbreaking stories, simply Google “MLM Horror Stories.” Former “Boss Babe” testimonials include being pressured to lie to partners about money spent and eventual divorces. Some women have been coerced to open secret credit cards, sell cars and forgo needed surgery to buy more product. Well, of course, the uplines are trying to recoup their losses, too. Another problem is that a lot of these products are not easy to sell. For example, as of 2018, the haircare company Monat had over 550 customer complaints and lawsuits filed against it (MLMnewsreport.com). This is because Monat has burned scalps and, in extreme cases, caused permanent hair loss. Consultants are advised to tell customers that this is the normal “one-month detoxing” period (MLMnewsreport.com). I’m not making this up.
Hard work and entrepreneurialism are great things. However, empty promises and taking advantage of desperate people are not. Generally, companies that offer thousands of dollars a month for minimal work should not be trusted. Going further, companies that take advantage of the downtrodden should be held accountable and punished severely. We have enough to worry about right now, don’t we?
Bourke Accounting is not an MLM and I am not a Boss Babe. When your Bourke Accounting expert makes a promise, you better believe that they will follow through. Your Bourke Accounting bookkeeper or tax preparer will never betray your trust and they will never make excuses. Honesty and integrity are not mythical beasts, they are attributes deeply ingrained within every Bourke Accounting specialist.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
Most people, including myself, keep repeating the same mistakes – William Shatner
Bourke Accounting associates are fairly civic-minded. We tend to drive the speed limit, recycle our metal and clean up after our pets. We hold doors for people, sneeze into the crook of our arms and wear masks when venturing out into the world. Of all the things that Bourke workers do, I am constantly surprised that our mask habit has proven to be the most provocative.
At this point, you can’t help but notice that masks have become politicized. Honestly, I’m a little confused; when I walk into the corner store to buy my coffee, I rarely get angry that the sign on the window warns: No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service. I simply put my shirt back on, get my large drip, 2 sugars, and go about my day. For some Americans, the mask controversy, and isolated acts of violence, is difficult to understand. And, by the way, it’s also a complete and total re-run.
Welcome back to 1919, everybody! Many comparisons have been made between the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and our own current situation: how transmission occurs, infection rates in heavily populated areas and, yes, even the mask controversy. While the Spanish flu was raging, the city of San Francisco “enforced the wearing of masks” (Businessinsider.com) and, while most people complied, it was by no means unanimous. Starting in January of 1919, an “Anti-Mask League” (calling themselves the “Sanitary Spartacans”) formed to protest masks (Businessinsider.com). The Spartacans argued that the masks were “unsanitary, useless and a threat to their constitutional rights” (Businessinsider.com).
Interestingly enough, when the Spanish flu first made the scene, the populace didn’t really have a problem wearing masks. Since World War I was still being fought, officials and health organizations reminded Americans that wearing masks was “patriotic” in nature and helped to protect the health of soldiers who might have to return to the frontlines (History.com). The Red Cross even released a public service message labeling those who failed to wear masks as “dangerous slackers” (History.com). Since red-blooded Americans didn’t want to be responsible for a lost war (or thought of as a slacker, dangerous or otherwise), the masks were an easy sell.
However, when the war ended in November of ’18, local administrations lost their primary bargaining chip. Without the fear of infecting soldiers, citizens bristled at the continued mask requirement (History.com). Much like today, individuals gathered to protest the perceived heavy-handed command. Also, much like today, some Americans did not like being forced to protect themselves and others; they argued that a “free” country should be just that – completely and unequivocally.
Obviously, mask wearing is a personal choice. I won’t shame anyone for not wearing one, just as I hope no one will shame me for sporting my stuffy face covering. While it is a choice, it must be noted that, after mask-wearing became enforced during the Spanish flu, San Francisco’s death rate was reduced by 25% (Businessinsider.com). So, you know, just saying.
As with everything else, Bourke Accounting is even making the mask-debate easy for you – we’re open for drop-offs and mail-ins exclusively. Since Bourke Accounting professionals want to see you again next year for a proper visit, we can only hope that you’re taking care of yourselves and your loved ones. And remember: as sad and as frustrating as this re-run is, it won’t last forever!
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
The cool thing about humans is that we are good at improvising. For example, sitting at my desk at Bourke Accounting, I looked down and noticed that I had a small hole in my pants. This did not pose a problem. I colored my knee with a black Sharpie (it’s helpful that I wear a lot of black) and the hole was no longer noticeable. This is not the first time I’ve done this. It occurs to me that I should really check my clothes before I leave the house.
This little bit of improv is low on the spontaneity ladder, but it worked. Because of this instance, I started thinking of 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark and movies in general. So, here are a few times that ad-libbing paid off in the moving picture shows:
1) Raiders of the Lost Ark. I’m sure you remember the scene where Indy is running through the streets of Cairo and, all of a sudden, a guy dressed in black starts whipping a big sword around. Then, Indy, cool as all get-out, pulls out a gun and simply shoots the guy. That’s not how it was supposed to happen. Harrison Ford was suffering from dysentery (I had always heard it was a hangover, but whatever) and using the bathroom a lot. He decided it would be a lot easier if he didn’t engage in a drawn-out fight pitting sword against whip and came up with the pistol angle. Steven Spielberg probably realized Ford didn’t have much in him and, to avoid an icky trip to the laundromat, allowed the ad-lib to stay (Businessinsider.com).
2) Midnight Cowboy. So, there’s that scene where “Ratso” Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) is walking down the street and a cab almost hits him. Hoffman bangs on the hood of the taxi and yells out: I’m walkin’ here, I’m walkin’ here! A very iconic scene and a total accident. Since director John Schlesinger was making the movie on a teeny tiny budget, he didn’t get a permit to block a busy New York City street. They were shooting “guerilla-style with a hidden camera in a van” (Bestmoviesbyfarr.com) and, even while almost being hit, Hoffman stayed in character. Honestly, I don’t know how much “in character” it was – if you spend any time in NYC, trust me, you will hit the hood of a cab at least once.
3) Goodfellas. Right, you know the scene with Joe Pesci’s rant, “I’m funny how? I mean funny, like I’m a clown? I amuse you?” During the scene, everyone at the table looks visibly uncomfortable. That’s some good acting. No, that was everyone’s legitimate response because they had no idea what was going on. Earlier, Pesci had told director Martin Scorsese how, while working at a restaurant, he had inadvertently offended a “connected” man by telling him he was funny. That entire tantrum was what the man had screamed at Pesci. Scorsese loved it and told Pesci to run with it, only informing Ray Liotta (Mentalfloss.com). Scorsese wanted genuine reactions and it worked.
The human animal is good at adapting and improvising. This is useful in day-to-day living, but absolutely wonderful in art. There are, I’m guessing, thousands of examples just like the ones above that are responsible for turning a good movie into a classic. As Bob Ross said, “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.”
Your Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers are champs when it comes to improvisation. You know that when you sit down with a Bourke Accounting pro, they already know about new laws and changes to old ones. However, there is nothing you can possibly do that will throw your Bourke Accounting expert. Bourke Accounting specialists know how to amend a return and know how to make sure damages are kept to the minimum. They are that good – rehearsed or not.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
Among my Bourke Accounting colleagues, the number of homeowners and home-renters are about even. Naturally, I might be a bit envious when a co-worker mentions what color she’s going to paint her bedroom, as my landlord doesn’t allow redecorating. However, it sort of balances out when another co-worker is forced to replace an air-conditioning system, since my landlord is responsible for all of the big things at my place. And, whether owner or renter, 100% of Bourke Accounting employees are still working.
It made sense to me that, in most states, landlords aren’t allowed to evict tenants during the lockdown. Obviously, putting more people on the street during a pandemic would do absolutely nothing to stem the flow of infection. Also, homeless shelters, during the best of times, are not ideal; whereas tuberculosis was the lurking threat in communal living situations, now the homeless must deal with Covid, too. And, just to up the stakes, Nature.com cites projections that show that “21,300 homeless people in the US will need to be hospitalized for Covid-19 and 3,400 will die.” So, of course, creating a new wave of homeless people would not be a great idea.
Also, as a renter for my entire adult life, the thought of landlords being stiffed made me vindictively happy. When I say I’ve encountered some slumlords…seriously, I have met the worst! I once went eight months without an oven because my slumlord dodged my calls. He only fixed it when I started paying less rent. Regarding rent moratorium, my mentality was very much: Ha, Ha! Evil landlord! No new Benz for you this year!
Then, I started speaking with unemployed friends. Unemployment for my friends has proven to be way more lucrative than their jobs ever were; economists at the University of Chicago estimate that, for some people, unemployment is paying them two to three times more than their former jobs did (NPR.org). Most of my friends are paying rent and are happy that they have a little extra money. However, some of my friends have told me that they’ve stopped because, “What’s my landlord going to do? Throw me out?”
Between that asinine question and a New York Times article, I started feeling a little bad for landlords. Craig L. Price, a real estate lawyer, pointed out that, because “real estate is considered a ‘passive’ industry, landlords do not qualify for a small-business loan or paycheck protection under the…CARES Act” (NYTimes.com). Well. I didn’t know that. So, if these landlords aren’t getting paid by tenants or the government, how are they supposed to pay for essentials – like medicine – let alone mortgages and taxes? Leave it to me to feel bad for a vague enemy.
If you have money, pay your rent. If you don’t have money, speak with your landlord. There are a lot of decent ones out there and, if you don’t try to dodge, they’ll probably be understanding. I hate to admit that my wayward friend is right, but it’s not like your landlord can throw you out right now – however, it’s always best to keep things civilized.
Your Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers are working, even if you’re not. While they can’t give you extra money, they can help you save the cash you have. In addition, all Bourke Accounting employees are pretty good decorators and, whether you rent or own, we can give you neat little pointers to make your place a bonafide home. See! You receive full service with Bourke Accounting.
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.
As I’ve said numerous times, Bourke Accounting denizens try to keep healthy. Whether it’s taking a morning multi-vitamin or drinking plenty of water, we want to feel and look good. We’re not attempting to cheat Death, we only want to roll out of bed – without body parts screaming in protest.
Bourke Accounting workers don’t really subscribe to esoteric practices; we generally land on the boring side of the wellness spectrum. However, some of you out there are using home remedies that are anything but boring:
1) Kratom. Note: I’m a liar. I use kratom. Kratom is an herbal extract that “comes from the leaves of an evergreen tree” (MayoClinic.org) and is available in pill or powdered form. It’s used for pain relief, anxiety and as a mild mood elevator. I have difficult lady times and have found that a teaspoon of kratom in a cup of Green Apple Gatorade affords me hours of relief. There are a few drawbacks to using this, of course. First, the powdered form is hard to completely dissolve, so you end up drinking something akin to wet sand. Second, if you use too much, it will make you jittery. The Mayo Clinic also points out that, since kratom isn’t regulated, there is a chance that it could be “contaminated with salmonella bacteria.” Finally, because some people are incapable of reading instructions, poison control centers have documented 1,800 reports centered around the use of kratom between 2011 and 2017 (Mayoclinic.com).
2) Essential Oils. A lot of people use oil diffusors around their homes for aromatherapy purposes. Hey, lavender smells nice! However, some people are applying these oils directly to the skin and even swallowing them. If it is diluted enough, small studies have shown that dabbing oils like peppermint to the forehead can relieve headaches (Healthline.com). However, if not properly handled, these oils can burn the skin and ingestion of oils is almost never recommended. In a scary trend, some parents are foregoing antibiotics in favor of oils to treat their children’s illnesses (Parents.com). While using aromatherapy may lead to reduced levels of stress, a parent shouldn’t expect basil oil to cure their kid’s cancer. I have personally read horror stories on Reddit.com of parents replacing their epileptic offspring’s seizure medication with Eucalyptus oil and wondering why authorities would like to have a word.
3) Urine Therapy. Uh, yeah. This. Since ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, “drinking or the local application of human…urine for medicinal purposes has been practiced all over the world” (NCBI.nlm.nih.gov). People who believe in pee claim that it cures acne, whitens teeth, protects against infections and even fights cancer (Health.com). Kayleigh Oakley, a British Youtuber, says that, since she’s started practicing Urine Therapy, she’s no longer in pain, her skin has cleared up and she has a lot more energy (Health.com). Doctors are less than excited. As it turns out, urine isn’t really sterile and “modern research has found virtually no benefit” (Health.com) in chugging pee pee. And, urine left outside of the body develops bacteria, so rubbing it on yourself invites a slew of infections (Health.com).
I have no problem with people trying new remedies for age-old illnesses. However, I think we must keep certain things in perspective and do proper research before trying radical new regiments (and by “research,” I don’t mean following the advice of CaptainSparklePants223 on Facebook).
Bourke Accounting professionals are very openminded. Your Bourke Accounting bookkeepers and tax preparers want you to live the best life you can, even if it involves urine. However, if you do espouse some of the more exotic medical practices, please make use of our strategically placed bowls of mints. There’s no judgement at Bourke Accounting, but fresh breath is a gift to everyone!
Come see us any time. Our number is 502-451-8773 and don’t forget to visit our website at www.bourkeaccounting.com. See you soon!
Written by Sue H.