Time to start the new year~~~

Well Dahlings, once again it’s Tax Time---how awful and how boring, but it must be done.

The first thing I do recommend to all you wonderful Diva’s is always get a very good tax preparer, it really is worth it to have someone do the taxes for you, and it saves you the head ache and worry about putting things off, then racing at the last minute to do it.

Now if you are starting out in life to make the Diva bucks, if you are buying stocks, bonds, mutual funds etc. and are receiving some dividends from them either profit or loss, then you may want to consider someone with more experience than H. & R. Block.

But, if right now you are working to earn the money to invest, then H & R Block is just fine to start with. If you are renting, even sharing an apartment you still must make sure that you know exactly where your deductions are. Even if you think all you can fill out is a 1040 EZ form, it doesn’t hurt to discover what deductions you can take. You maybe surprised.

Each year the tax laws change either a little or a lot, so it pays to keep up with any possible changes and ask your tax preparer about them if they would apply to you.

Barron’s January 9, 2012 issue is well worth a very serious read about Mutual funds and how to keep your cash safe and still earn a return.

It also mentions one of my favorite investment funds, Sequoia Fund (ticker: SEQUX) it has been thriving in this depressed market, and when they shifted into pharmaceuticals I realized they were operating the way I liked. I mean Darlings everyone needs medicine.

For an interesting read about the future of office work read the January 16, 2012 issue of Fortune, is shows the way how in the future technology, energy, banking, offices, education etc. will operate, and read it very, very carefully darlings for what you should consider as future investments, I think I would not be amiss in suggesting Bio-fuels.

The AARP magazine (yes Darlings I am of an age) for Dec. 2011/Jan. 2012 includes an excellent article about how to boost your retirement nest egg, one that I think all Diva’s should take to heart.

I’ve been enjoying reading the Jan/Feb. 2012 issue of Money magazine, the investor’s guide issue. One thing they do talk about is how to set up your portfolio for retirement, the article is titled “The easy way to stay on track.”

Darlings it is always wise to see if your investment portfolio is doing what you want it to do, especially in these roller coaster times.

But this issue includes not only retirement but good and bad ideas for home remodeling, health and other issues in one’s life. Definitely something to read cover to cover and keep on file for reference.

Now another thing I’m going to mention is this, insurance, I’m not talking about car, house, rental or medical insurance although all of those are very, very important. I’m going to briefly mention life insurance, yes Darlings, Life Insurance. Look for an insurance plan that will cover you both alive and dead and do not look into a Term Life Insurance even though they sound good and inexpensive, part of that problem is that if you need to cash it out early, you can’t…it is money lost, and it’s only for a limited amount of time, in most cases only up to the age of 80. But with the milestones they are making in health care, and you take very, very good care of yourself you could easily live till your 100 or beyond and still be having a Diva Life, but a term life insurance will not go past the age of 80.

Look for an insurance that will be for your full life time and that will pay you back should you need to cash it out, it may cost more, but it’s like money in the bank.

And if you get it while you are young and healthy it is so much cheaper.

Until Annon, Kisses Darlings.