Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (so we can ski!)

We're now officially a skiing family. And we just got back from a weekend at Bear Creek in PA - great for families and beginners. But we're surpised that more people don't know about renting skis locally and bringing them with you to any mountain you're headed for.

Not only is it cheaper, it will save you time -- literally hours! In fact, on one day at Bear Creek, since the rental lines were so long, they extended their day pass by 1.5 hours for everyone that day just to be nice (I guess so many people complained about the 1+ hours it took to get rentals there at the slope). But lucky for us, we already had our skis from back home. So we just got our lift tickets and hopped on the slopes -- and get an extra 1.5 hours free that day. NICE.

Rentals are cheap and easy. Locally we've been going to Pelican Ski, which is $15/day and they give you an extra day on each side for travel. So if you're skiing ONLY on Saturday, you can pick-up the skis on Friday and return on Sunday for only $15 + tax. The savings + the TIME you save is well worth it since at the slopes, rentals are usually $25 or more ($26 at Bear Creek).

If you rent for the season you'll save even more -- we got our daughter a complete set of skis/poles/boots for only $69 and we don't have to return them till October! If you go skiing only 7 times during the season, that's $10/day!

The other thing that most people don't think about is discount lift tickets. Like everything else, you can get the same thing for less. 3 places to check for discount lift tickets:

• Local ski shops -- i.e. Pelican offers about $10 discount for some local mountains like Hunter, Blue Mountain, etc.
• Local Town/County Recreation Dept -- many local governments sell similar discounted ski tickets to the major resorts.
• Hotels -- just map your route to the slopes and call one or two hotels that are directly on the way (to make it easy for you), and ask if they sell discount ski lift tickets. i.e. One offer for Blue Mountain gave a full-unrestricted ticket from opening to closing for the price of a morning-only ticket. About $14 savings. You don't need to be a guest either to get it. Just go to the front desk and they'll sell it to you (I think they make a few bucks on it too).

Superman-like Memory Card Reading Powers

Everyone has digital cameras these days. Even cell phones now take memory cards to take photo and video clips. But I know that tons of photos and clips are held hostage in the devices and never see the light of day because there's no easy way to get them to the PC.

Enter a Universal Card Reader -- they can take any of the major memory card formats out there, so you don't have to worry about which kind of card you have. You can also be confident that you can borrow a friend's camera phone or digital camera and later download the photos to your pc -- whether their device takes compact flash, memory stick, secure digital, mini sd, micro sd, xD, etc.

All you do is plug the USB cable into your PC and then put in the memory card into the appropriate slot. Instantly the computer will recognize it and a new "hard drive" icon will show up in your My Computer window. Now all you have to do is click and drag files back and forth as if it's an external hard drive. Select All -- and then copy the files to your desktop computer or laptop's hard drive. Done in a flash!

The Card Reader Saves The Day...just like Superman!

How to be taken seriously

Image is everything. Especially for any entrepreneur, small business owner or even student / job seeker. And one of the best ways to stand out and be taken seriously is to have a professional business card.

Job hunnters should have a business card period. Not from your current or past job. One with your personal contact information so recruiters and prospective employers can see that you're serious about pursuing the job they have available.

Business owners - even if it's one where traditional sales or exchanging of business cards are not the norm in any given day, should invest the couple of dollars necessary for a professional card.

Even Moms & Dads need one with their own personal info for exchanging with other parents for playdates, carpooling, etc. In this case, the card should be focused on the children and perhaps be titled as "Parents of Jack & Jane Smith" and have the parent's name & contact info in the small text area.

These days, there are plenty of options to get business cards online - like from Office Depot, Staples, and the ubiquitous VistaPrint.com.

I just ordered a new set of cards from VistaPrint since I'm scheduled to attend some trade shows in the upcoming months. Some people create business cards specific to each conference, trade show or event to get that extra attention -- and it does get attention. Even though creating a new set of cards can be really cheap (under $10!) or even free, not many people do it. And those that do benefit from overcoming that inertia that affects the masses.

Just think about how you can use a business card more in your life. It might lead to better opportunities.

Portable DVD Players Are Worth Looking At

It's that time of year, time to plan our spring break vacation with the kids. One thing is for sure, when we get them on the plane, they'll need tons of stuff to do.

Of course, one of the standbys has been movies and it is time for us to get a new portable DVD player. Our old one is so beat up, the DVD disc cover doesn't stay shut -- we use a rubber band to keep it closed and running.






This time, I'm looking into the Philips 8.5 inch portable DVD player that also plays DivX format DVD's so that I can load up a bunch of movies onto 1 single DVD-R and let it play until the batteries run out on the DVD player.

The one feature I like about the Philips portable DVD unit is that it has TWO output jacks for headphones, so now I can plug 'em both in and no one has to fight for the earphones and/or they don't have to fight when sharing the earphones - left for you, right for you....now both kids can have a full set for stereo audiophonic enjoyment.

We'll see if that solves the problem. Now I gotta load up on movies...

I really need a Terrabyte (or part of one) for...

I've been always thinking about archiving the movies we have / watch, but doing a 1:1 archive of a DVD is VERY impractical. My friend always uses DivX, but I've been reluctant because of 2 things -- 1) I didn't have a way to play DivX movies back on my TV (vs. pc or laptop) and 2) I like watching movies with CC (subtitles) -- there's a lot that you miss without it at times.

But I finally picked-up a DivX DVD player (and ordered a portable 8.5 inch DVD player with DivX compatibility from OfficeDepot today for $130), so now I'm ready to figure out the subtitle issue and get going with archiving my movies.

The last problem is SPACE. Where am I going to store all that video data? At 2-4GB per full-length DVD movie, you can quickly fill up a hard drive. My desktop has 120GB, which I thought was huge when I first bought it, but now I see why my friend has multiple external USB hard drives totally over a couple of terrabytes of space -- for all those digital photos, video clips taken with the cam corder and camera phone, and video files.

Luckily storage is coming down so fast in price. It's quickly approaching the holy grail mark of a $0.25/gig. I found a 400GB drive for $119, which is fantastic. But perhaps I need to shell out just a little more for more space? Wow, can you believe I'm saying that 400GB is NOT enough? :-)

Get your storage here! About a Quarter-A-Gig!

Technology truely is amazing(ly cheap) these days days. 2007 is the year of storage -- with the masses finally gettin on board with watching, downloading, creating, uploading videos, photos, etc, what everyone can use is a bit more storage. Instead of going through the hassle of opening up your case, and installing another drive in an open drive bay, an easier (and somewhat portable) solution is to get an external drive to store all that newfound media. Where else are you going to dump the hundreds and thousands of photos you've been snapping in your digital camera, camera phone and even camcorders that take decent still pictures?

Nowadays, the price of storage has plummeted to about a $0.25/Gig of hard drive space -- that's amazing! For example, you can get a 320GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive for less than 100 bucks! (ok, so it's 28 cents/Gig, but that's close enough to that shiny quarter in your pocket!)



Or if you spend just a little more, you can get 1/2 Terrabyte Drive(that's 500 GIGS!) for only $150! Usually, these external USB Hard Drives provide transfer rates of up to 60MB/sec on USB 2.0 (that's pretty fast) and are fully backwards compatible with USB 1.1 (which means it will work with **YOUR** pc!). Some of these hard drives even come in a fanless design, so it's QUIET. And they can be placed either vertically or horizontally, saving space and fitting nicely into the background.

With all the new media options with Windows Vista, you'll most definitely need more storate in the future (even if you still have Windows XP, you'll be upgrading at SOME point in the future!)

Don't give a penny more than you must for your taxes, and same for tax software

Straight to the punch:

FREE TAX CUT BASIC SOFTWARE FROM H&R BLOCK

H&R Block's TaxCut is being offered free to anyone that wants it (no qualifications for anyone) right now as a download. If you've used competitors' software in the past, don't worry it has seamless imports from TaxCut, TurboTax, Quicken, Microsoft Money, H & R Block DeductionPro and ItsDeductible.

It is the full version of the software -- only restriction is that it allows you to do free federal tax preparation, not state (that's how they upsell you). But you can get that done elsewhere free as well.



CHEAPER ALTERNATIVES TO H&R BLOCK E-FILING EXIST

They are betting that SOME of the people that use the free software, and then pay the $15.95 for e-filing through H&R Block. But if you are going to e-file your taxes this year, then there are cheaper alternatives to the H&R Block e-file service for the same exact feature of zapping it to the IRS like with TaxSlayer. For example, They charge 30% less -- $9.95 for Federal and throw in State e-filing for free.

One suggestion is to register first for free and see the options available - payment is due only at the end if you checkout and send the e-file.

Perhaps you want to bookmark this page for later when you're thinking about taxes:



Here's a list of supported forms if you use TaxSlayer for e-file your 2006 Taxes:
1040
1040A
1040EZ
Sch A Itemized Deductions
Sch B Interest & Dividends
Sch C Business Income
Sch D Capital Gains
Sch E Rental and Royalty Income
Sch F Farm Income
Sch H Household Taxes
Sch K-1 Distributions Sub S, Part
Sch SE Self Employment Tax
Sch EIC Earned Income Credit
Form 1116 Foreign Tax Credit
Form 1310 Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer
Form 2106 Employee Business Expense
Form 2210 Penalty Under Estimating (Short Format)
Form 2441 Child Care Expense
Form 3903 Moving Expense
Form 4137 Tax on Unreported Tip Income
Form 4562 Depreciation
Form 4684 Casualty Loss
Form 4797 Sale Business Assets
Form 4868 Extension of Time to File
Form 5329 Tax Early Withdrawal
Form 5695 Residential Energy Credits
Form 6251 Alternative Minimum Tax
Form 6252 Installment Sales
Form 8283 Non Cash Contributions
Form 8379 Injured Spouse
Form 8453-OL Electronic Filing Declare
Form 8582 Passive Activity



Form 8606 Nondeductible IRAs
Form 8615 Tax for Children Under Age 14
Form 8812 Additional Child Tax Credit
Form 8814 Parent's Election to Report Child's Interest and Dividends
Form 8829 Business Use of Home
Form 8839 Qualified Adoption Expenses
Form 8859 District of Columbia First-Time Homebuyer Credit
Form 8862 Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC) Disallowance
Form 8863 Education Credit
Form 8880 Retirement Credit
Form W-2 Wages and Tax
Form W-2G Gambling Winnings
Form 1099-B Broker
Form 1099-SSA Social Security
Form 1099-MISC Misc Income
Form 1099-DIV Dividend
Form 1099-INT Interest
Form 1099-G Unemployment
Form 1099-R Retirement
All Electronic Resident & Non-Resident State returns
Part Year or Non-Resident Maine, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin returns cannot be e-filed with the program.

OR GET IT ALL FOR FREE (70% of USA)

And if you make less than $52,000 gross adjusted income, you can get both the tax prep and e-filing free from these companies below that work with the IRS to promote e-filing. The Free File program is a free federal tax preparation and electronic filing program for eligible taxpayers developed through a partnership between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Free File Alliance LLC, a group of private sector tax software companies. More than 15.4 million returns have been prepared and e-filed through the program since it started in 2003.

70 percent of all taxpayers – 95 million taxpayers – can take advantage of the Free File program!!!!!!!

TAX$IMPLE.com: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you live in AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, VA, WI.


FreeTaxUSA.com: Free federal online tax prep and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you live in AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, UT, VA, or WV.


ezTaxReturn.com: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you live in AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, LA, MI, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, or WI.


Free1040TaxReturn: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you are 17 years old to 51 years old.


efiletaxreturns.net: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you live in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, SC, VA, VT, WI, or WV.


TurboTax® Freedom Edition: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $28,500 or less or you are eligible to receive the Earned Income Credit, or you are Active Duty Military with a military W-2 and your adjusted gross income is less than $52,000. Extensions e-filed for free. Form 1040EZ-T offered.


TAXSLAYER.com: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you are age 25 or younger, or you are age 65 or older or you are active military with a military W-2 or you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. You also qualify if your Adjusted Gross Income is $10,000 or less. Extensions e-filed for free.


CompleteTax: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $29,000 or less. Extensions e-filed for free.


CitizenTax.com: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less, and you are age 50 or under, and live in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI or WV.


TaxEngine.com: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $30,000 or less.


Online Taxes @ OLT.com: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you are age 50 or younger. Extensions e-filed for free. Form 1040EZT available.


Liberty Tax Online: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you are age 20 through 57 years old. This program is also available in spanish. Form 1040EZT available.


H&R Block's TaxCut Free File: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you are age 50 or under.


Online Tax Pros: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is between $12,000 and $52,000. This program is also available in Spanish.


TaxACT: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you are age 20 through 56 years old. Extensions e-filed for free.


123Easytaxfiling: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you live in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, GA, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, VA, WI, WV. Extensions e-filed for free.


FileYourTaxes.com: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you live in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, VA, WI or you are age 18 and under and live in any state.


Average1040.com: Free federal online tax preparation and e-file if your adjusted gross income is $52,000 or less and you live in AZ, GA, IL, MI, NC, OH, or PA.