Blessed

I am having such a great life at the moment... Although I just need those people who have been invoiced to a actually pay for the work done.


As mentioned previously, I have started my own tax and accounting firm. After all... What's the point in being a tax specialist and accountant if you're not going to use it?


What makes it more special is that I can fetch the Bunny right after school. I can see what's going on in the school work. I can join the wretched PTA! (Which I've done)


And I cry out to God for work, and He stretches me!!! I'm doing things I never ever thought I would do. I am blessed exceedingly abundantly in all that I do. Just like He promised.


Never give up on God. He never gives up on us.

A Sharpie Christmas... maybe

I'm going "homemade" this Christmas.

This leads me to ... Sharpie mugs.

Pinterest is full of them.  Beautiful designs. Amazingly clever phrases.  His and Hers love mugs...

Seems easy enough.  Mugs are cheap.  I can draw.  I have an oven.  How hard can it be?

I'll keep you posted.

My only problem is that here, in the good old R.S of A...  we don't work in Fahrenheit.
Everything says Fahrenheit... some say 350 degrees, others say 400 degrees.  One post I read said 450 degrees... but still Fahrenheit.
Obviously I can convert the temperature to Celsius easily enough, but what I want to know is...

• Who here has done this? 
• What worked best for you?

I'm super excited to get started, but want it to be right the first time.
Any help would be most appreciated.

What do you have planned for Christmas this year?

Blog Title

I'm not often confused.... I think it's because I don't pay enough attention.  But lately I have been, regarding this blog.

I've started a facebook page called The Tax Lady where I offer tax advise every now and then, and remind people about impending deadlines, but my blog has taken a knock.

Since I'm no longer a student (and God willing will never be again) I feel A Student Mommy is inappropriate now.  Specifically because I don't blog about my children.

So I'm considering turning this into a tax blog linked to my FB page.

What do you think?

New Years Resolutions

I don't ever do New Years Resolutions.  Ever.
Except this year.
This is my first time.
So far I'm right up there with everyone else... erp....

What I've decided to do is make two home-made Christmas gifts each month to cover all the people I have to make for.  I have chosen to make scarves, beanies, hats slippers and loafers - all crocheted.
I found some amazing patterns online, only to discover that they cost the flipping earth in dollars, when I'm a rand earner.  Sucks so badly.  The loafers I want to make are these:

Guess what?!  Cost a fortune.

Then I want to make this for the girls:

And.... it's a blooming dale sales thing... not something with a recipe... or even a pattern.
It's like I'm doomed before I even start.

On the upside, I'm officially and Accountant in Business Practice and can sign off Financial Statements.

So... does anyone have a loafers pattern that I can have?

Doing it for myself

I have recently taken to doing my own gel nails at home. I weighed up the cost of a mani and pedi every month vs buying a kit and doing it myself, and it pays itself off in  3 months.

Admittedly my first attempt was horrible, but I tried to do it like they do at the salons - one super thick polish application and dry and you're done.  Then I watched this video on you tube!
Changed my life!  Seriously! Who knew it was as easy as painting your nails?!

I had bought a UV lamp from Planet Nails, with a base and top coat, the prep stuff and gel wipes, and of course, acetone.  But after it took me two hours and some change to do my hands and feet I had the Handsome buy me an LED lamp from China Mall for R600.  at the one store the little LED lamps cost R250, but the sales lady gave me a long story and put me off, but the big lamp cost far too much there, so I went to another shop down the passage and got the bigger lamp for R400 cheaper.  So much for long stories.

Anyway, I gave the UV lamp to my sister for Christmas.

Tonight it took just over half an hour to do my hands!

Yay!
I recommend it. But go to China Mall, the middle aisle. They're reasonably priced and negotiate discounts.

I Passed

I'm so excited.

I honestly believe God got me through this exam.  Literally.  I got exactly the right amount to be entered into the exam, and then again, exactly the right amount to pass it.

What does this mean for me going forward?  Nothing really.  I am officially a Tax Specialist, but that doesn't really mean I know any more than before.  I have an inkling now... and I sort of know where to look.  Sort of.  Google is still my friend.

However, it does mean I'm more employable.  Which is great, now that I've found a place I like and don't have any intention of moving from.

I have applied to have my status upgraded from General Tax Practitioner to Master Tax Practitioner with SAIT and await their approval.

And The Tax Lady seems to be rolling along.  I'm not doing anything amazing just yet, but it's coming.  My one client, who has jumped at taking me on board without actually telling me (seems everyone in the company knows this secret but me), looks like a good steady stream of income, and I'm excited about that.  My other two little streams of income are paying for my hair appointments.
This is good.  I have never been able to afford monthly hair appointments.  God really is good. Sometimes we just have to allow Him to get on with it.  I've had several consulting matters to attend to, which have been wonderful lumpsums, but steady is what we're looking for.  But if I have to add up my income so far this year, since I was retrenched, I've been blessed exceedingly abundantly beyond all I could dream of.
And now I must calculate the tax...

Good night friends.
And may God bless you and keep you through any trials you may be facing.

Calling All South African Sole Proprietors & their entrepreneur friends

Avon has this thing called 'Power of Three'.  Essentially how it works is that the person who buys from you recommends you to three other people, who then (one hopes) buy from you too.  They, in turn, recommend you to three more people.  It's awesome when it works.

So... here goes.

Please would each of you (who are South Africans) recommend my services to three people you know who are work from home Moms, or entrepreneurs in anyway.  I will, should I receive business from your recommendation, do your tax returns for the next financial year, for free.  This is clearly limited to South African Residents as I can't complete returns for any foreign countries.

In order to receive your income tax return pro-bono for an extended period (to be discussed) your recommendation would need to result in a client that enlists me as their out-sourced bookkeeper - handling their montly PAYE, bi-monthly VAT and monthly account processing.

I am a registered Tax Practitioner with both SARS and SAIT (South African Institute of Tax Practitioners) with 19 years experience, and a bookkeeper to balance sheet with distinction.  I have my Advanced Professional Qualification in Governance and Administration from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries South Africa.  In addition I should have my Certificate in Advanced Taxation through the University of Pretoria by the end of the year, which will give my clients the competitive edge when it comes to tax planning, as well as negotiations with SARS.

While I am aggressive in my approach to SARS, I firmly believe that they are NOT the fearful creatures we think they are.  Believe it or not, they do have compassion, and they are willing to help the taxpayer as best they can, within he scope they are entitled to act in.

I, as the Student Mom, have kept myself completely out the blog, but now I need your help to get my business off the ground, so this is Jennifer - The Tax Lady, asking for your help.

I have tax returns clients in the Cape, in Gauteng, in good old KZN, but I need more, and I need monthly processing work in order to work from home so I'm here for my family, like you are for yours.

Please contact me if you need any additional information.
I'm excited to partner with you if you will have me.

Jennifer

The Tax Lady
The Student Mom