Tax Counseling for the Elderly

You may feel good about completing your 2013, 2014 or 2015 Taxes to the best of your ability, but nothing may compare to the satisfaction that can come from helping others do the same. You can make a big difference in the lives of the people in your community by volunteering with programs such as Tax Counseling for the Elderly and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance this tax season.

TurboTax 2015 is a wonderful tax preparation guide, but a lot of people may prefer or need additional assistance. Sponsoring organizations such as TCE and VITA encourage volunteers to join in and assist the elderly and individuals of all ages who may be looking for tax help. You can complete your training online or in a classroom, and tax sites have flexible hours for volunteers and individuals seeking help with their taxes. Here are some great reasons to get involved:

  • No experience required since training is provided.
  • No charge for training materials.
  • Flexible hours.
  • Numerous sites to volunteer.
  • Support programs for military personnel.
  • The satisfaction of knowing that you are making a genuine difference in the financial lives of others.

Tax Counseling for the Elderly

You can sign up at [email protected] by submitting Form 14310 (VITA/TCE Volunteer SignUP) by email and start giving back to your community today through Tax Counseling for the Elderly.

 Tax Counseling for the Elderly
Photo by stevendepolo

Planning For Early Retirement

Retirement planning is something that people usually do to prepare for old age. But did you know that it’s also something that you can do early on? Early retirement is an option for some but not many fully grasp its concept. Even though it seems impossible, do note that many have made this happen. Expatriates are among those that have retired early and are now enjoying life.

Before you opt for early retirement, think hard and ask yourself – do I really want to retire at an early age? For those of you who find it impossible to achieve given your circumstances in life, don’t push it. Maybe early retirement isn’t for you and you can always retire at an early age anyway, like most people do. But if you feel like it’s right for you and that it’s achievable at the same time, you can consider it as an option.

Once you have set your mind for early retirement, the next thing you have to do is plan for it. Early dream retirement planning starts with managing your finances properly. Try to live a minimalistic life and only buy what you need. Do not indulge too much on things that you want because that would be detrimental to your plans of retiring early. Living a minimalist life doesn’t mean taking your health for granted though. You must try to keep your body fit and healthy at all times to prevent most illnesses associated with poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle. The last thing you want to happen is waste away all the money you saved for retirement on medical care.

If you have kids, instill in them the value of saving money and being independent early on. Along with early retirement, save money for their education as well. If you want to retire early, your kids should also develop a sense of personal responsibility and independence at an early age. Besides, you will be more at peace with yourself if you are able to raise kids that aren’t too dependent on you finance-wise.

Also part of early retirement planning is deciding what you’ll do by the time you retire. Decide whether you’re staying in your home country. Most early retirees, however, leave their country and migrate to countries with lower costs of living and have higher value for the money they saved. There, they can set up their own businesses or simply enjoy the rest of their lives free of burden.