Business Tip: Keep good records

This is one of those obvious things, but it bears repeating. Keep good records!

Keep a record book in your purse and write down EVERY trip that has business related mileage. Even a two mile trip to the post office a couple of times a week adds up.

(Remember that medical miles are deductible on your tax return, too.)

Write down all stamp and postage purchases.

Keep receipts. File them in a SIMPLE, logical manner. I file only about four times a year. Until then, all receipts go in a box. My file system has fewer, but larger categories because I find that I rarely need to actually dig out a receipt. There's no reason to have a hundred file folders when ten will do!

My big categories include:
Insurance
Homestead receipts
Medical receipts
Office expenses
One folder for each of my rental properties
etc.

After the taxes are done, those folders go into a box with the year label, and I make new folders for the new tax year.