Sunday Stroke Survival ~ Recumbent Bikes

With the weather getting nicer, I've been thinking of alternative modes of transportation. A motorcycle is out, even though I have a totally restored 1950 Indian Chief Black Hawk sitting in my garage. It's destined for my #2 grandson in a couple of years. I haven't been able to ride it in a decade but it's in top shape.

I bought it and restored it back in the early 70s. It is cherry! Oh the fun I used to have riding it. Imagine being teenager or twenty-something and tooling down the road on it. But we all age.

The plan for golf carts sort of fizzled when I put our property up for sale and my husband entered hospice, home based services. We have to do something to get our upside down finances right side up. *Sigh* Tough decisions.

But still with the weather being nicer and gasoline being close to $4.00 a gallon, I want to be getting out in the fresh air more. The exercise is an added perk. With continuous pressure sores on my AFO clad foot being a constant worry, walking is out of the question. A bicycle seemed a logical choice.

At my age and medical constraint, an actual bicycle was out. I thought about a trike. Yes, I'm regressing. From three-wheeler, to two-wheeler, and back to a three-wheeler. It's just more stable. But with rack and pinion steering in my back, the bounces in the road cause pain. It's just too much for the muscles over immoveable joints to handle.This was the main reason I no longer ride my Indian too. *tear, tear*

Last year The Stroke Tattler ran a series of articles on recumbent bikes or trikes. That got me thinking
of how to alleviate a lot of problems I faced. I toyed with the idea of getting one.

I could see cars running over me not paying attention to the flags. Believe me, I'd put huge flags on mine to prevent this from happening. Of course that wouldn't stop some people. There's always the "Oops factor." It just sits so low to the ground for aerodynamics sake. *Bump, bump* "Oh, Jo was there on a trike. That's the end of Jo."

They come in all different models and some even have shock absorbers. That would handle the problem with my back. Of course, it comes with a hefty price tag too. Starting at $600 and going up to several thousands of dollars.  I imagine I could Velcro a strip on a pedal to hold my bum leg similar to what they use in PT.

It all comes down to money and me not working per se. I didn't earn enough from writing last year to have to pay quarterly taxes and for the first time in decades I qualified for low income credit. That's how dire our situation has become. As much as I've griped about having to pay Uncle Sam in past years, our taxable income this year is zero. Sad! I just ran the figures for my tax preparer. The amount we paid in medical was astounding that's with good insurance! When it goes out little by little over twelve months, you don't really see it but at the end of year...yowser!

This would be a dream purchase at best. Although, it definitely has added perks like better health and exercise. I'd be able to transport myself a mile down the road to the grocery store and dollar store. I wouldn't be burning fossil fuels. I'd be out in the fresh air with a little alone time. A doable dream purchase for sometime in the future. It's definitely on my list for future purchases when the strangle hold of finances ease up some.

Nothing is impossible with determination.

Monday Mailbox~ Self Employment

Today is Monday and time to answer your questions.

Jo, You came from a business background. I got a shock when I took all my 10-99s to a tax professional this year. I am a business! How do I prevent my sticker shock when filing for 2013? JG

Good question! I wrote a guide on the business aspects of indie publishing. Originally it was free at Smashwords and I gave away the first 2,000 copies. Now it's priced at $.99. Eventually, I will get around to completing the full book when my mind heals some more. This guide now has a 5 star rating.

Most indie authors and traditionally published authors have the problem of not looking at themselves as a taxable business operation according to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). AND if you are lucky enough to live in...

• Alaska
• Florida
• Nevada
• South Dakota
• Texas

There is no state income tax to worry about. You lucky dogs. <G>

The 10-99 gives a specific amount you earned from your publisher(s). This amount is the taxable income you have to pay taxes on if its over $500. Believe me, I've prepared and gotten a few thousand of these every tax season for 15 years.

Think you can just not claim them, nope a copy is mailed to the Social Security Administration and sent to the IRS before the middle of January each year. They will send you a nice letter, at first, reminding you that you forgot to claim this income and they want their money. If the government OWES YOU money, they don't care, but if you OWE THEM money, they'll hound you about it and even seize your bank accounts.

I always thought it was wrong that you could only file 3 years worth of back taxes for returns, but they can demand payment for up to 7 years on back taxes. This year, I finally disposed, shredded and composted the last of my business consulting records from when I was in business. I was required to keep all documents for ten years!

I live in Georgia and I know my tax rate. Between state income tax and federal combined, the percentage is roughly 13.7%. Find out your state's tax percentage. Now for 2012, the federal tax rate changed taking a bigger chunk out of everyone's pocket. We found ourselves in a larger tax bracket. Higher bracket equals higher tax rates. So much for Obama's campaign promise of only taxing the rich. <sigh>

That's why as a general rule, every time I get a royalty check or payment for services rendered I withhold 20% of that income. It gives me a cushion for increases. I put it in a savings account to draw interest but I do not withdraw any until tax time. I'll round it up to the nearest dollar if need be. For a simple wedding I may have gotten paid $25, but $5 went into this account religiously.

As a published author, I am self employed. I run a business. Whether you use your Social Security number and set up as a DBA (doing business as), in other words, a sole proprietor or LLC (limited liability corporation), or S Corp (incorporated under sub-chapter S of IRS code). There are various tax advantages for each LLC or S Corp that don't apply to a sole proprietorship.

Why am I talking about this now that tax season is almost over? To give you time to plan for 2013 tax season, of course.

Keep writing and loving the Lord.