Sears Home Services

Because I have better things to do

Today is Friday, and is often the case by the end of the work week, the only thing keeping me from showing up at the office in my pajamas is fear of public humiliation (come to think of it, the same is true of Mondays).

So once the weekend arrives, low on the list of Things I Want to Spend My Last Remaining Shreds of Energy On is domicile upkeep. Oh, I'm fine with the vacuuming and grocery shopping and litter-box changing, but when it comes to household maintenance that eats up a goodly chunk of the weekend (especially because I spend so much time figuring out how to do things), I'd rather pay someone to do it. In the long run, it's worth it to me to have the work done quickly and right the first time.

Fortunately, I don't have to do a lot of asking around to find people to take on the jobs I don't want to take on. Sears Home Services does a lot of what I need done, like cleaning grout and sucking the lint out of the dryer vent. I don't even have to take time to dial the phone (do people still use the word "dial"?), because I can schedule online.

That frees up weekend time for other things, like shopping for new pajamas. Just in case.

Erin Hynes, managing editor, Manage My Life

Posted at 08:28AM Mar 12, 2010 by Admin in Politics  |  Comments[3]

It's income tax time again!

When I was younger, I dreaded filing my income tax return every year. Not because I owed a lot of money or hated the government, but because the only way you could file your taxes back in the 1980s was with a pencil, a tax form, an envelope and a postage stamp.

Those days, thankfully, are nothing more than a bad memory. Sure, you can still file your income tax return the old fashioned way, but why would you? Filing online with one of the major service providers like H&R Block is quicker, easier and darn near foolproof.

Nowadays, the most difficult part of filing your income tax return is keeping track of all the new tax law changes each year. Especially this year. In an effort to right the economy, the government has instituted more income tax breaks for people than at anytime in my lifetime. The first-time homebuyer tax credit, home energy-efficiency credits and cash for clunkers credit are the most publicized of them, but there are many more that may apply to you. Our article, Save Money on Your 2009 Income Tax, covers them all. Do yourself a favor and make sure you don't miss out on the one-time savings. It'll be April 15 before you know it.

-Mike Morris, editor, Manage My Life 

Posted at 04:44PM Mar 11, 2010 by Admin in General  |  Comments[0]