Way-too-creative tax deductions:

Taxes make me nauseous. While I am all for them, and value their contribution to society, I simply hate doing paperwork and accounting.

That said, MSN Money published a very funny piece about some very creative tax deductions some certified public accountants nixed much to their client’s chagrin. Their “do not try this at home” stories included:

• a client who wanted to deduct the toilet paper he bought for his household;
• another business owner whose $2,000 check to her gynecologist was listed as “repairs and maintenance”;
• a woman who not only tried to expense her Jacuzzi hot tub as an expense, but the mood lighting, underwater speakers and stereo system that came with it;
• and the pet owners who claimed their pet dog as a dependent, and tried to write off dog food as a part of their “home security system”.

Uncover little-known tax deductions:

Self-employed and independent workers might want to have a peek at a neat blog post over at Freelance Switch.

It details some of the little-known expenses freelancers and small businesses can deduct come tax time, including: unpaid invoices, niche research, morning meetings at Starbucks, PayPal fees, long-distance calls via Skype, and payments to non-profits. While tax time is still weeks away, it never hurts to get organized, especially when things are a little slow.

Incidentally, this website is full of nifty things, including: innovative ways to generate new business, 101 freelance resources, a job board and forum, and podcasts about the freelance life.  

Print unique cards with MOO:

I used a local print shop to make my business cards, but as they are running low and my printer has sold his business, I might consider using MOO this time around.

Based in the U.K. (but delivering internationally), MOO is an online print shop that prints business cards, postcards, and greeting cards for a reasonable price. But what sets them apart from similar websites (VistaPrint) is the ability to upload your own pictures and designs, or browse their library of unique artists for some truly gorgeous designs that range from cartoon-like images to spectacular photographs.

They also have a vast collection of “ready made” cards. Here are a few samples:

Find cheap gas with GasBuddy:

If you drive around your neighborhood in search of the best gas prices, visit GasBuddy before you leave your home. This website collects real-time pump prices from its 750,000 volunteers who help alert visitors to this site where they can find the best savings.

For example, gas prices in Chicago this morning range between $2.15 and $2.39 USD per gallon, while prices in Los Angeles range between $2.13 and $2.69 USD a gallon.

The site lets you zero in on your area (both in Canada and the USA), and lets you sort through its data by gas type (regular, premium or diesel), and by station if you happen to be brand loyal. It also offers a number of graphs and trending data, and lets you know where prices are the highest.

Are third-party hotel vendors risky?

While I’ve never had a problem after I booked a hotel room through a third-party vendor (Hotwire, PriceLine) for a really great rate, a night auditor who works for a hotel in a major American city warns against doing so.

This anonymous blogger suggests most hotels will match the lowest price on a third-party site because they would rather have some of your money than pay a commission. However, I know a few people who have tried this with very little success. What’s more, sites such as Hotwire and PriceLine will only let you know what hotel you’re staying in once your booking is complete, so there is no way to haggle a hotel down to their very low room rates beforehand.

This blogger also says that should you run into a problem and require some kind of refund, you will have to deal with the site you booked your stay with, but booking with a hotel directly might result in comped nights or room upgrades. Booking with a hotel also offers more flexibility should your plans suddenly change.

I still think that budget-minded travelers might want to opt for the better prices available on third-party sites, and if you keep all your booking information and check your reservation before you leave, there should not be any problems. I was able to snag a Burbank, California hotel room for just under half price through Hotwire this week, and found an amazing packaged trip (airfare/hotel) to Las Vegas the week before. I was also able to get a free upgrade for my Vegas accommodations (a deluxe room in a newer building) following a tip I saw online that suggested most front desk hotel clerks will happily move you into a better room or suite for a $20 gratuity.