Yesterday, a story about a dad’s daycare wardrobe fail went viral. I found myself laughing out loud as I read not because I was being judge-y (ok, I was, a little) but because I’ve been there, too. I’ve tried to send my kid to school in soccer cleats when the sole of his sneakers fell off just before the bus came (we ended up switching to sneakers wrapped in duct tape). When it comes to our kids, we’ve all been in those moments where we just wing it. There’s no manual.
But just like kids don’t come with a “how to parent” manual, tax returns don’t come with a “how to make sense of kid-related provisions” primer. That’s why earlier this year, I launched my ebook, Ask The Taxgirl: Everything Parents Should Know About Filing Taxes. The book is intended to help you figure out the basics like filing status, claiming dependents, and determining exemptions. You’ll also find helpful information about how to deduct expenses associated with raising kids, including the costs of medical care and child care. I’ve also tackled some of the most common questions parents have submitted to me as part of my “Ask The Taxgirl” series.
To celebrate the launch – as we did with our #100MoneyTips ebook – and to say thanks, we’re offering 20 free copies to our readers. And who doesn’t like free? Remember, kids are expensive.
To enter to win, post one (or more) of your best or most useful parenting tips or lessons learned in comments below. It can be super short like “Neatness counts” (one of 11 Things I’ve Learned About Tax From My Mom). It can be very specific, like “Plan early for summer camp” (something I still haven’t mastered despite the fact that my kids go to summer camp every year). It can even be wacky but practical like “When you have an empty box, you can turn it into a time machine” (one of many things I’ve learned from my kids). Your tip or lesson doesn’t have to be money-related. It can be serious or light, lengthy or brief, practical or emotional. It’s up to you.
Entries must be posted in the comments section for this blog post by July 5, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. EST. It’s just that easy. I’ll choose 20 winners randomly (using a number generator) out of all of the qualifying entries.
Be sure and read the fine print for more rules because, as you know, I’m a lawyer and I like rules:
- Post your best parenting tip in the comments section below. I love those of you who follow me on Twitter and Facebook but for this particular giveaway, tweets and likes will not be counted.
- Don’t panic if your comment doesn’t show immediately. If it goes to moderation because, for example, you’re new here, the time stamp on your comment is what counts.
- Pingbacks and trackbacks, while appreciated, won’t count for purposes of the giveaway.
- Enter as many times as you’d like but you must leave a different tip/comment each time.
- No offensive language, no trash talk, no spam. I have standards, you know.
- I will notify the winners after July 5, 2016, via email. I must be able to contact you. That means you have to register with Forbes.com using a valid email address.
- To claim your prize, you must respond and redeem your prize code by July 15, 2016. After that time, the code will expire.
- Prize codes will only work for iBooks and can only be used one time.
- One free eBook per person – let’s spread the love around.
- The giveaway is open to those over the age of 18 (what kid wants to read about taxes anyway?).
- By entering the giveaway, you agree that I may post any part or all of your submission including your name as a part of the giveaway announcements or promotions with the exception of your email address.
- I love my international readers but this giveaway is restricted to United States residents only. And of course, it is void where prohibited.