Tax Season "Prepper"!

Continuing education classes have been completed, our tax software is installed and running, client appointments are on the books, we've hired extra staff, IRS is now accepting returns. Yes, the 2014 tax season is upon me.  For nine months of the year I have a pretty leisurely schedule.  I work 3-4 days a week, come and go as I please. But come the first week of February until April 15, I work 7 days a week, long hours each day. My poor office staff has to listen to me whine for a few days as I adjust to my increased work schedule but I eventually quit whining and focus on the work ahead.

With such a hectic schedule (and the fact that my Hubby is also a CPA with a crazy tax season schedule) I have learned that being as organized as possible at home is the key to my sanity. To keep things as smooth as possible I've developed an organization system that works for me.  It takes some time and effort to do these things but saves me time and stress later on.

 I go through our calendar and buy the gifts I will need for every birthday, Valentine's Day, showers and weddings from now until May 1.  I wrap them and tuck them away for when they're needed.

I buy greeting cards for the same period, address them and set an electronic reminder on my computer for the days I need to mail them.

I've bought enough household supplies to last us through the filing season, things like shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, laundry and dish soap. If you run out of anything, come by, I probably have it!

Our freezer is stocked with homemade spaghetti and pesto sauce, chicken breasts and other meats, some frozen casseroles. I have crock pot recipes waiting to be used.

Safeway has a grocery delivery service and I've used that service on more than one occasion.  They deliver the groceries right to my office! I don't mind cooking but the last thing I want to do after a long, stressful day is grocery shop!

Of course, I don't forget the animals.  I buy extra dog food and bird seed to tide us over. I schedule a few extra days for Harley to go to doggie day care as he gets a little lonely with me away from home more.

I have a housekeeper that I use periodically throughout the year.  During tax season she is on a bi-weekly rotation.

I've seen the TV reality shows about Doomsday preppers and always thought they were kind of crazy.  I'm afraid I may have more in common with them than I first thought. The nice thing is that they are prepping for the end of the world, whenever and if that may be.  I'm only prepping in order to survive to April 15!

This is my 35th tax season.  I'm hoping my advance preparation helps keep the stress at bay! But, ready or not, tax season is here!