I love libraries, always have. Now I'm finding they are increasingly useful for the Road Warrioress. Local libraries can be a big help to the solo woman traveler in numerous ways.
First, of course, they have a wealth of local information. Whether you are a foreign correspondent who needs to find local sources for a story, a business traveler who needs data on local companies and their personnel, a PT trying to find your way around town to settle in for a month or two, or anyone who needs "boots on the ground" quick information, the local public library probably has a lot of what you need. More likely, everything you need from local telephone directories to contacts for every local organization, flyers on local events, and local history - customs - culture.
Growing numbers of libraries have gone wifi. Before you hit some high-priced, often noisy, and sometimes too-nosy!, internet cafe, check out local library resources. Chances are, especially in larger cities, that the library has gone internet-savvy, even providing free or low-cost wifi you can access as a guest with your laptop. If there are wifi hot spots in town, chances are the library is one of them.
If all else fails, they are still usually conveniently located, and they provide a quiet spot to read, study, work, and find local info. When the hotel's business service center is crowded - or pricy - or shy on local info, check out the library.
You may be surprised at all you can find there.
May your road rise to meet you!
Ann
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
My Wheelies Died!
Phooey-ptui! I need my little "office on wheels" - and the wheels died. Just gave up the ghost, shredded to bits.
It has not - to my mind, at least - seen excessively heavy or hazardous duty. Neither TSA nor baggage handlers have gotten their mischievous mitts on it. Yes, it gets used daily, but hardly any excessive duty or rough handling. It goes from car to library, car to home, and has run over nothing rougher than carpet, flooring, concrete sidewalks and asphalt parking lots. Not all that far for any trip, either.
So I'm very disappointed with this wheeled computer bag. Granted, it was used when the previous owner gave it to me. The zipper enclosing the retractable handle had broken, but that was no problem as far as I was concerned. The bag itself showed little to no wear at all. The wheels looked fine - and sturdy.
I love all its little fitted pockets. The front compartment holds all my "diddlies" - both phone rechargers, pens, recharger for AA batteries and a pack of 4 AA batteries, a small notebook for photo captions when I'm on a photo shoot, a deck of 3" x 5" index cards. The center section is padded for my 'puter, and I keep a portable CD player, power supply for the laptop, and the computer security cable on the other side of the computer cushioning. The back compartment holds a couple of slim file folders, a pair of legal pads, and odd papers.
It just holds the essentials - your basic business equipment on the road or to the office. It's not some big legal briefcase laden with massive legal briefs and petitions for a court.
But after only six months of daily use, the wheels have absolutely shredded. I'm dragging it on the metal bearings inside the rubber (or whatever substance they use for wheels).
This is not a durable bag. This is really unacceptable for any Road Warrioress who needs a traveling office. It does not compute! So I'm very unhappy with the makers, Western Pack, and sorely disinclined to choose any sort of bag from this maker.
The Road Warrioress needs bags which are durable and stand up to their heavy travel usage. A bag which cannot make it to the office or library every day for a few months is not worthy of the long-haul traveler.
May your road rise to meet you - and long may your bags endure!
Ann
It has not - to my mind, at least - seen excessively heavy or hazardous duty. Neither TSA nor baggage handlers have gotten their mischievous mitts on it. Yes, it gets used daily, but hardly any excessive duty or rough handling. It goes from car to library, car to home, and has run over nothing rougher than carpet, flooring, concrete sidewalks and asphalt parking lots. Not all that far for any trip, either.
So I'm very disappointed with this wheeled computer bag. Granted, it was used when the previous owner gave it to me. The zipper enclosing the retractable handle had broken, but that was no problem as far as I was concerned. The bag itself showed little to no wear at all. The wheels looked fine - and sturdy.
I love all its little fitted pockets. The front compartment holds all my "diddlies" - both phone rechargers, pens, recharger for AA batteries and a pack of 4 AA batteries, a small notebook for photo captions when I'm on a photo shoot, a deck of 3" x 5" index cards. The center section is padded for my 'puter, and I keep a portable CD player, power supply for the laptop, and the computer security cable on the other side of the computer cushioning. The back compartment holds a couple of slim file folders, a pair of legal pads, and odd papers.
It just holds the essentials - your basic business equipment on the road or to the office. It's not some big legal briefcase laden with massive legal briefs and petitions for a court.
But after only six months of daily use, the wheels have absolutely shredded. I'm dragging it on the metal bearings inside the rubber (or whatever substance they use for wheels).
This is not a durable bag. This is really unacceptable for any Road Warrioress who needs a traveling office. It does not compute! So I'm very unhappy with the makers, Western Pack, and sorely disinclined to choose any sort of bag from this maker.
The Road Warrioress needs bags which are durable and stand up to their heavy travel usage. A bag which cannot make it to the office or library every day for a few months is not worthy of the long-haul traveler.
May your road rise to meet you - and long may your bags endure!
Ann
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Sick to Death of Taxes? Relief Here!
Sick to death of taxes? Aren't we all? And US has to be the grabbingest taxman of all. Especially considering the numbers of non-US residents, even non-US citizens, who are trapped in the IRS Tax Net. So this post - like others of tax-related ilk - is hardly limited to a US-citizen readership!
Ta-Da! Welcome to the list of countries with NO Personal Income Tax!
* Andorra
* Anguilla
* Bahamas
* Bahrain
* Bermuda
* British Virgin Islands
* Brunei
* Cayman Islands
* Kuwait
* Maldives
* Monaco
* Oman
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* St Kitts & Nevis
* Turks & Caicos
* United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, et al.)
* Vanuatu
So, if you're looking for a job overseas, look to these. If you're trapped in the US Tax Net, you won't get out of that, but at least you have no other income taxes (or filings) to deal with. Foreign Earned Income Exclusion for 2013 is $97,600. So you could live tax-free (if not totally paperwork-free). Those outside the draconian IRS net will be truly tax-free and paperwork-free.
For retirees eager for a simpler lifestyle, these could be worth considering!
Some of these, I would not want to visit, no less attempt to live there as a Road Warrioress. But there are several nifty ideas here!
May your road rise to meet you!
Ann
Ta-Da! Welcome to the list of countries with NO Personal Income Tax!
* Andorra
* Anguilla
* Bahamas
* Bahrain
* Bermuda
* British Virgin Islands
* Brunei
* Cayman Islands
* Kuwait
* Maldives
* Monaco
* Oman
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* St Kitts & Nevis
* Turks & Caicos
* United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, et al.)
* Vanuatu
So, if you're looking for a job overseas, look to these. If you're trapped in the US Tax Net, you won't get out of that, but at least you have no other income taxes (or filings) to deal with. Foreign Earned Income Exclusion for 2013 is $97,600. So you could live tax-free (if not totally paperwork-free). Those outside the draconian IRS net will be truly tax-free and paperwork-free.
For retirees eager for a simpler lifestyle, these could be worth considering!
Some of these, I would not want to visit, no less attempt to live there as a Road Warrioress. But there are several nifty ideas here!
May your road rise to meet you!
Ann
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Quick Note on Foreign Pensions - the US Tax-Grab
Just a quick note while Tax Season rages onward. We've mentioned the dread Form 8938, wherein "US persons" - not just US citizens - must annually report foreign assets. This form is in addition to and far more broadly based than the FBAR report on foreign bank and other financial accounts.
Americans have gotten used to certain tax exemptions for IRAs, 401k's and various types of pensions and retirement savings. We won't waste your time on all the ins-and-outs of those here.
What you do need to worry about is any foreign pensions! Foreign pensions are NOT tax-exempt from US taxes! Unlike various types of IRAs or 401k's, etc, foreign pensions are fully reportable and fully taxable. So foreign pension funds must be reported, just like foreign bank accounts, stockbrokerage accounts, and other financial accounts.
Don't fall afoul of the IRS on this one! Penalties take up to 50% of your pension fund if you fail to report it as required.
May your road rise to meet you!
Ann
Americans have gotten used to certain tax exemptions for IRAs, 401k's and various types of pensions and retirement savings. We won't waste your time on all the ins-and-outs of those here.
What you do need to worry about is any foreign pensions! Foreign pensions are NOT tax-exempt from US taxes! Unlike various types of IRAs or 401k's, etc, foreign pensions are fully reportable and fully taxable. So foreign pension funds must be reported, just like foreign bank accounts, stockbrokerage accounts, and other financial accounts.
Don't fall afoul of the IRS on this one! Penalties take up to 50% of your pension fund if you fail to report it as required.
May your road rise to meet you!
Ann
Saturday, April 20, 2013
US Expats Tax-hell Commences
Monday was Tax Day for residents in the US and most "US persons" trapped in the US Tax Net. But for Americans Abroad, expats' own tax-hell is about to begin. June 15th is the deadline for filing US income tax returns for non-residents caught in the US tax net. Worse, June 30th is deadline for RECEIPT (not mailing!) of the dread FBAR and Form 8938.
Time to get your financial records in order and get going on your filing requirements so you can meet these deadlines.
Remember! It's not just US citizens who are subject to US tax laws. IRS defines "US persons" more broadly than any other country in world stretches their tax boundaries. Legal permanent residents, even if they are outside the US, are still subject to US tax laws. So are a host of others. If you have any US income or any kind of US connection, beware! Make double-sure you're not trapped.
Many foreigners delivered their babies in the US, thinking they were giving the "gift" of US citizenship to their offspring. For example, it was quite popular in the 1990's for Koreans in an attempt to keep sons out of Korea's military service requirements. Backfire! All these kids, who have been living back in their and their parents' countries since infancy or childhood, now are be hunted down by IRS for their income tax payments. Failure to file and failure to pay, as required, are both felonies. With FBAR and Form 8938, penalties are downright draconian.
Exercise extreme caution! If you are a US citizen residing outside US, or if you have other ties to US which might trap you in the net, make sure you verify whether you have to file, what you have to file, and get it done on time!
May your road rise to meet you,
Ann
Time to get your financial records in order and get going on your filing requirements so you can meet these deadlines.
Remember! It's not just US citizens who are subject to US tax laws. IRS defines "US persons" more broadly than any other country in world stretches their tax boundaries. Legal permanent residents, even if they are outside the US, are still subject to US tax laws. So are a host of others. If you have any US income or any kind of US connection, beware! Make double-sure you're not trapped.
Many foreigners delivered their babies in the US, thinking they were giving the "gift" of US citizenship to their offspring. For example, it was quite popular in the 1990's for Koreans in an attempt to keep sons out of Korea's military service requirements. Backfire! All these kids, who have been living back in their and their parents' countries since infancy or childhood, now are be hunted down by IRS for their income tax payments. Failure to file and failure to pay, as required, are both felonies. With FBAR and Form 8938, penalties are downright draconian.
Exercise extreme caution! If you are a US citizen residing outside US, or if you have other ties to US which might trap you in the net, make sure you verify whether you have to file, what you have to file, and get it done on time!
May your road rise to meet you,
Ann
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