Discovery Toys $75 kit -- join today

There's never been a better time to join us in our mission to teach.play.inspire. every child.

Visit me at www.discoverytoyslink.com/billieelias
and click on Enroll Now.


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Discovery Toys August 2010 specials

Click on the image to enlarge.

August is around the corner and things are happening at Discovery Toys.

Customers can receive a 10% discount on select toys.

Our party hostesses will have an opportunity to purchase $102 dollars of toys for $50 when their party reaches $500. And that's on top of our already RICH hostess plan that gives you $90 in free product!

New consultants can join us for a limited time at $89 for our $400 intro kit. This offers you a home-based business with lots of coaching and support.

Ask me how!

Discovery Toys opportunity comes to Chicago

Chicago Opportunity Blitz! Join our team April 21-26th

Discovery Toys, the foremost direct sales / network marketer of educational toys, is offering an opportunity for those passionate about children and education and a desire for extra income. The goal: to help parents help their children learn through play, and help parents, grandparents, and teachers supplement their current income or even start a new career.

We are going to be in Chicago from Wednesday April 21st until Monday the 26th. The purpose of our trip is to grow the Chicago area Discovery Toys team. We'll be exhibiting our products and marketing materials in a swank Oak Brook hotel. Easy access and parking for everyone.

Advance RSVP required: email Billie -- billietoy@gmail.com
Please email for additional details.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
Who do you know in the Chicago area who you think might be interested in a fabulous home based business they can do around their family's needs? Contact them and invite them to attend or give us their info and we'll do it for you.

OUR PART
You may have your prospects contact us directly, if you prefer, or we would be happy to contact them, answer any questions and invite them to our showing. When they decide to join, they will, of course, become YOUR team member. We are sharing this with all of you because if you have any connections with people in the Chicago area who might consider joining Discovery Toys, please let us know! We have teamed up with Sherre B. (longtime leader in our family from Chicago) and are available to meet and greet, show prospects our fabulous toys, answer any questions--and schedule Success Start trainings for those who are ready to go.

We will schedule a time all day Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday morning that is convenient for them.

THE BACK STORY
We started brainstorming about building up the Chicago area -- especially with the Discovery Toys Convention being in Chicago this summer. This is an area that has supported many huge organizations in the past and is ripe for growing. The opportunity to "success start" a lot of folks this spring and early summer who could then quantum leap their business by attending Convention in their backyard just made sense!

We are really excited about this trip! We hope to hear from you so we can help you build your teams. Call your Chicago area prospects today!

Discovery Toys enrollment now online

It's official! You can now sign up online to be a Discovery Toys consultant! We're going paperless, and streamlining the process for you. Feel free to ask me about joining; you may have questions before you "sign on the dotted line."

New Year's Resolutions

On January 1st many of us make our resolutions for the year ahead: lose weight, write a book, learn to drive, start a business. If starting a work-from-home business is something you've been dreaming of doing, this is the perfect time to take a look at Discovery Toys. Starting at the beginning of the year will certainly help you to earn the fabulous incentive trip to Costa Rica in early 2011. The sales you make between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 will help you qualify. The earlier you start, the better the chance you have!

Many legitimate home-based businesses involve direct sales. The Direct Selling Association tells you who are the established, ethical companies. You need to do your homework before joining one. I’ve personally been associated with Discovery Toys, one of the DSA members, since 1995. We have an unparalleled product line of educational toys for children, birth to age 10, making us an ideal company for stay-at-home moms (or dads). What’s great about us is, you get everything you need to run your business at a nominal start-up cost ($99, presently) … catalogs, product, packaging, bookkeeping, order forms. It would cost someone a fortune to start even a small business from scratch and be able to offer 200 products, many of which have won awards. If you’re interested, and you’re reading this, you need to contact me!

Discovery Toys start-up kit reduced to $99

Have you been debating for years about whether the time is right to join us? This special offer won't last long. Our $125 kit is reduced in price to $99 until 1/31/10. You only need a $35 deposit to get started. Fill out an easy application and email me at billietoy@gmail.com for further information.

Start the New Year off earning income and working towards our incentive trip to Costa Rica in 2011.

How to join Discovery Toys

Are you looking to earn some additional money this holiday season? Despite the downturn in the economy, things are rocking at Discovery Toys. My sales were way up in 2008, and 2009 has been strong, too. This is no surprise. Babies are born everyday and birthday parties still require gift-giving. Parents make children their priority and will buy quality learning materials for their kids even in tough times. You may know people who have lost jobs or need a second income. We offer something special.

When you join the company ($125 plus shipping + tax) you'll get a sample kit of toys, catalogs and order forms worth over $390. You'll want to use these as samples to gather orders. If you sell $500, for example, you would earn a commission of $125 (plus an extra $75 if you do this in a single month during your first 3 months in the company). Read more about Success Start below. You'll also have the ability to sponsor others, and earn a percentage on their sales.

Besides sample toys, you receive catalogs and the Sourcebook, which explains the policies of the company, its compensation plan and more. A private area of our website becomes available to you, as well. The company has been around for 31 years, and has a compensation plan that is competitive with other direct sales companies.

People who host Discovery Toys parties for you will earn free products of their choice equivalent to about 16% of what's sold, while you're earning cash!

Host a Grand Opening party. Anytime you host your own party, you earn free toys just like a hostess, in addition to your commission! For example a $500 party gets you $90 in free toys plus your $125 commission.

Success Start
There are bonuses galore in your first 3 months...Success Start rewards range from $75 (when you sell $500 in one month) to earning a refund on your $125 kit or a free New Products kit!

When you promote in rank by building your team, you earn bonuses, depending on your rank, structure and your sales goals. There are team bonuses, too, and monthly and quarterly structure bonuses. Until you're up to speed, I will always hold the hand of anyone you recruit to help them. It's in my best interest and yours to help those beneath us to flourish and grow.

Independent companies that review thousands of toys have honored DISCOVERY TOYS with many awards (Dr. Toy, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, etc) Child development experts handpick the toys that go into our catalog to be suitable for specific ages and developmental skills. The toys provide open-ended play: that is, there's no right way or wrong way to play with them...there are usually many different ways, depending upon the level of the child and his imagination. Often multiple sets of rules are provided for different ways to play the same game. We also give most info in 3 languages. As a Discovery Toys consultant you'd be provided with a wealth of information to help you better sell the toys.

If you have more questions, I'm happy to answer them. If you're ready to join, you can download the application and fax to 270-447-2656. Feel free to explore my personal site or www.discoverytoyslink.com/billieelias

website: toysofdiscovery.com
follow me on twitter: twitter.com/billietoy

teach.play.inspire.

Tough Times call for Fun & Games

"So, how's business?" I'm asked this question virtually every day, either by customers or friends. I'm happy to report, "Business is fine, despite the recession." Direct selling services usually survive tough economic times. We can provide a level of customer service that is unparalleled in retail because we're like the mom & pop store of yesteryear, small and friendly. Plus, our products are irresistible to new grandparents who want to hold that grandbaby and see them react to a rattle or soft toy. Moms still want to sit on the floor and help their preschooler assemble a jigsaw puzzle. Dads know how important it is to help their 5 year old build with a construction toy.

For those who are temporarily out of work, opportunities like ours are a godsend. There's a low start up cost (usually $125), and voila, you're in business. We'll even train and coach you.
Watch the video of the Chairman of Discovery Toys, Jeremy Hobbs, being interviewed on the ABC News affiliate in Denver. He talks about how Discovery Toys has revamped its compensation plan to give consultants more cash right up front, where they need it. Anyone concerned about separating scams from legitimate companies, can research our 30 year old company online and check the website of the Direct Selling Association, which has a tough code of ethics for its member companies.

And, by the way, playing games is a great way to take your mind off the stresses of the uncertainty of today's economy. Play on!

Discovery Toys Opportunity Session

Discovery Toys Brings Opportunity and Play to Central Jersey Sept. 12

Who:

Discovery Toys, the foremost direct sales / network marketer of educational toys, is offering an opportunity for those passionate about children and education and a desire for extra income. A refreshed company with new learning products, a new engaging website and a new compensation plan to stimulate immediate earnings, all designed to help their Educational Sales Consultants reach more consumers and create more viable job opportunities than ever before. The goal: to help parents help their children learn through play, and help parents, grandparents, and teachers supplement their current income or even start a new career.

What:

In Central New Jersey, Discovery Toys Fall Kick-Off is opening its doors to the public. All are invited to come discover an income opportunity in a friendly community environment, meet the company Chairman and others who work with DT, and get more information about becoming part of the Discovery Toys team.

When:

Saturday, September 12

Public invited: 9:30-11:30AM. Information session begins promptly at 9:30.

Where:

Clark, NJ

Public RSVP:

Advance RSVP required to: Billie billietoy@gmail.com
Please email for additional details.

Background:

For over three decades, Discovery Toys has been the most trusted and respected direct sales company for quality, award-winning educational toys. It all began when an early childhood educator first brought together a group of dedicated teachers, mothers and parents to take on the important topic of early education for children through play. Today they remain the premier home-based business for those wishing to balance family life with a fun, flexible career that encourages families everywhere to spend time playing with their children.

Details:

From President Obama to TV personalities, everyone is raising awareness on the need for parents to engage young children in the love of learning from early childhood. Discovery Toys creates a unique opportunity in the current economic climate for new income and career opportunities while it helps further the education of the coming generation.

The tagline Teach. Play. Inspire. reflects the company’s core beliefs and very reason for being: teaching and inspiring through play every day.

Lemonade from Lemons

One of the most special things about being a stay-at-home mom is not having to miss any milestone your child achieves. This concept was hammered home to me in a blog post by Hill Robertson entitled, "Which is more important - job or lemonade stand?"

As I read Robertson's post, it reminded me of the summer day 7 years ago when my son asked if he could have a lemonade stand. We live around the corner from a landmarked office building where thousands of people work. There's a bank and a health club (with thirsty weightlifters and treadmillers) on the ground floor of the building as well. Even though it wasn't right outside our front door, it was the ultimate spot for us, and I used the occasion to explain the real estate broker's motto: "location, location, location."

Our pitch was "Fresh squeezed, ice cold lemonade!" Never one to miss an opportunity to teach some math, I explained to him how to calculate the ideal price. Together we decided how many lemons and how much sugar was required, and what those materials cost. We added the cost of the plastic cups. Then we measured our pitcher to see how many cups it held. We saw that 25 cents per cup would earn a small profit. When people learned that he had made the lemonade himself, by hand, from his own recipe, they gave him $1 and said, "keep the change." I enjoyed the comments his customers made: "smart kid," "enterprising young man." People were assuming this money was going into our college fund and they were throwing $5 and $10 bills into his cup. Periodically, I'd run home to refuel and to cache the money. Each outing, we increased the price because demand was so great. He learned the concepts of "supply and demand" and "what the market will bear." (Economics 101).

Today, I am proud to say, my son continues his entrepreneurial pursuits, and I attribute this to my being there to help with his first attempt at capitalism.

No Parent Left Behind

United Way of New York reports that "New York City is home to the largest number of preschool-aged children living in poverty of any U.S. city. New York also has a high concentration of young children born of first generation immigrant parents. With poverty and lack of English-speaking proficiency at home posing major risks for school failure, New York's preschoolers are especially likely to benefit from high-quality early care and education.

Research shows that children in high quality early learning programs are better prepared for academic success when they enter kindergarten. In addition,

• They are 50% less likely to need special education and 25% less likely to be held back at the end of 3rd grade.
• They are also less likely to experience teen pregnancy or commit crimes, and they have better literacy, math and social skills than their peers.
• It is estimated that for every $1 invested in high-quality early care and education, $7 is saved in unnecessary welfare payments, uncommitted crimes, decreased use of special education, and reduced unemployment."

This last statistic is particularly startling.

It is my hope that many issues could be addressed even before a child is born...I call it, "No Parent Left Behind." We need parenting programs that will help unwed mothers, teen moms, high school dropouts and college grads alike. Isn't it strange that we get more instructions with our DVD player than our new baby? And that many parents simply don't know that they need to talk to, read to, sing to and play with their babies? It is part of what drives the work I do in helping parents and preschools acquire the types of educational toys that help children develop a love of learning through play. I meet parents everyday and am doing my small share in changing the world, one child, one parent at a time. (If you'd like to join me, contact me at billietoy@gmail.com)

About Discovery Toys

As astonishing as it may seem to those of us who have been working at building this brand for many years, there are still a couple of people who don't know us. This is for them.

Discovery Toys is an educational/developmental toy company that's been around for 30 years (I've been with them for 14, since my son was an infant). There are no stores; toys are sold by moms (and a few dads) like me who work from home. We build teams of educational consultants who we coach and train (and also earn on). There are educational consultants in all 50 states (and Canada), but we can each sell anywhere we choose. Many consultants have home parties. I, personally, sell product at church/synagogue boutiques, in hospital lobbies, private schools and daycares and wherever children, parents, occupational therapists are found. I hand deliver gift baskets (I ship, too) and also make house-calls and do personal shopping appointments for busy executives at their offices. In other words, I bring the "store" to my customers and offer unsurpassed customer service. The company stands behind each of us with their unconditional guarantee and quality safety/testing procedures.

These developmentally appropriate toys (for birth to age 10) build self-esteem, cooperative play, social and emotional intelligence, while being wholesome and fun. Many of the toys are not language specific (e.g., a French child derives the same play value as a Chinese child). They encourage a love of learning and literacy that lasts a lifetime.

Established in 1978, Discovery Toys has received over 165 awards from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Dr. Toy, and other highly recognized educators and parenting organizations, for its original products such as Marbleworks and Tangiball. In addition, many products have been acknowledged by Dr. Patricia Krantz, of the Princeton Child Development Institute, as being useful in addressing the six weakest developmental areas in children with autism.

We are having an "opportunity session" at a hotel in Clark, NJ on Saturday, September 12, if you would like to meet us. We'll be explaining how it all works and signing people up on the spot. Our starter kit, usually $125 (+shipping&tax) is only $99 right now (August). You get $370 in product and business tools, 60 catalogs, and can start with as little as $25 down. Contact Billie at billietoy@gmail.com

Why have a home-based business?

Much has been written about stay-at-home-moms. They had to make the tough choice after child birth between going back to work or putting a career on hold. Some, in fact, forgo huge salaries for the chance of a lifetime: to watch their baby crawl, sit up, walk, talk, put together a puzzle, attend school ... all for the very first time. But, this doesn't mean you have to only speak in parentese, and cease all interactions with other adults. Even the best mom, with multiple kids, who finds herself busier than she ever imagined possible, should be entitled to a little time for herself each day and a girls' night out once every lunar cycle.

Having a home-based business [like Discovery Toys, wink, wink!] enables you to toss one more glass ball into your juggling act, but it's incredibly worthwhile. Besides being available to your child, you learn skills you never dreamed possible, like getting a child to play quietly while you're on a business call, or making prioritized "to-do" lists. My list includes much more than "defrost the chicken," and "vacuuming" takes a place low on the list (sorry, Hoover). (I love this quote from former First Lady Barbara Bush, "The darn trouble with cleaning the house is it gets dirty the next day anyway, so skip a week if you have to. The children are the most important thing." She had her priorities straight.)

Starting a business in order to stay home with your children not only enables you to go on many class trips when your children are young, but it provides your children with a window into what the business world is like. They see you talk on the phone with customers, arrange events, ship packages, manage your finances, wear a wide variety of "hats." The entrepreneurial bug might even bite a child who sees it played out everyday before his eyes, and in our case, happily, it has! With the current economic situation forcing many into unemployment, it's comforting to know you won't be fired. That would certainly be an unpleasant situation for a child to witness, wouldn't it?

If this concept appeals to you, and you would consider a Discovery Toys business, August is a perfect time to start. We're offering our $125 starter kit for $99 (+ shipping & tax). We're moving into Back-to-School season followed by Holiday season, two of our busiest times of the year when people are particularly focused on children and gift-giving. This business is as recession-proof as it gets.
Babies are, after all, being born everyday, and kids are still having birthday parties. There is a constant demand for rattles and teethers, stacking toys, puzzles and other toys and games that help children reach their full potential. Grandmas always seem to have a few extra dollars to spend when the grandchildren are coming to visit. We are there for you to train, coach and help you get your business off the ground, so you're not left on your own to struggle or fail. What could be more fun or more important than playing with toys, and helping other parents help their kids get a great start in life???

The Discovery Toys opportunity

If you've ever had an interest in making money while staying home with your children, this is the ultimate time to consider selling Discovery Toys. I will help you start your own business selling award-winning educational toys that make a difference in the lives of children. Our compensation plan is changing in a few days to become the richest in the industry. New consultants can earn 45% on their sales while in their Success Start period (first 3 months), and our party hostesses get approximately 17% on top of that. There are bonuses galore under the new plan. I will help you set goals and strategize about how to earn the most you can in your own home-based business. If there's a certain amount of money you want to earn, $5oo/mo., $1,ooo or $2,ooo per month, let me show you what you'll need to do to make that a reality. Email me at billietoy@gmail.com

"Einstein Never Used Flashcards"

Although I am in the business of selling educational toys, I am proud to say that the toys I sell are DISCOVERY TOYS. If you don't know us, because we're not as big or famous as Fisher-Price or Playskool, we exemplify much of what Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and her co-author, Roberta Michnick Golinkoff talk about in their book, Einstein Never Used Flashcards: parental involvement and low-tech play leads to learning rather than memorizing. (Note: The New York Public library owns 16 copies. To put this is perspective, they have 20 copies of Albert Einstein's book Relativity).

Lane Nemeth, the founder of Discovery Toys, Inc., was also an educator, well-versed in early childhood development. In 1978, when Lane started Discovery Toys out of her garage, she complained of not being able to find in stores the kinds of toys she wanted her own child to play with: toys that were safe, non-violent, engaging, fun, able to stimulate a multitude of senses and learning styles, non-gender specific. She brought in various consultants like Dr. Mike Meyerhoff (Harvard Preschool Project) and Jim Trelease (Read-Aloud Handbook) to make sure that her sales field understood what set us apart from other toy companies. When I read about Dr. Hirsh-Pasek's research, I could almost hear Lane preaching to the Discovery Toys field years ago about what makes a good toy.

Several years ago Hirsh-Pasek visited CBS' The Early Show and talked about four simple things you can do to help develop your child's creativity and further their learning. Read more about that interview at www.cbsnews.com.

Won't you join me in helping parents and educators to get toys that will help children thrive? We need people all across America to carry these award-winning toys into the homes of others through our party plan because these toys are not sold in stores. It's a big job, with money to be made, even during a recession!

Suze Orman speaks at DT convention

Once a year DT educational consultants from across the U.S. and Canada gather to learn about our industry, attend seminars and preview the toys for the coming season.

How exciting it was to have THE Suze Orman (financial guru and 6 time Emmy Award winning host of the Suze Orman Show on CNBC) at the Discovery Toys convention in Denver, CO last week! She helped us see the importance of our mission of helping parents connect with their children through play, and told us there's never been a better time to be your own boss. Because education is being cut from state budgets, our products are more important to parents than ever before.

Discovery Toys promotions July-August 2009

Join Discovery Toys July 1-July 31 and place orders totaling $250 or more by August 31.
You'll receive a $40 coupon toward our Exciting New Fall Products coming out September 1.

Customer Appreciation July 16 – August 31
With a $40 order (at a party only), you'll receive a $10 coupon redeemable toward DT New Fall Products in September

For our Party Hostesses with parties July 16 – August 31
Choose Motor Works OR Fashion Friends for FREE with total party sales of $400 or more

Tax Time Deductions

April 15 is only 10 weeks away. Here are some things to consider as a home-based business owner, while gathering up last year's receipts and documents. (Note : I am not qualified to give tax advice. ALWAYS consult your own accounting professional before filing your income tax return.)

A Dozen Deductions for your Small Business
By Dana Dratch

Small-business tax rule number one: Don't mess with the IRS. But that doesn't mean you should cheat yourself. Take every legal deduction you can. Here are a dozen that even savvy small-business owners and entrepreneurs sometimes forget:
1. Home office
Concerned that claiming a home-office deduction is tantamount to sending an engraved invitation to an Internal Revenue Service auditor? Don't be, says Jan Zobel, author of Minding Her Own Business: The Self-Employed Woman's Guide to Taxes and Recordkeeping. "I don't agree that chances of getting audited are greater with a home-office deduction," says Zobel, a San Francisco Bay-area tax expert, who specializes in serving the self-employed. In her own practice, she has prepared more than 400 returns a year for the last 25 years. And while at least half of her clients claim a home-office deduction, only one home-based entrepreneur has been audited. The key here is that you use the term "home office" the same way the IRS does. The tax agency says it must be a space devoted to your business and absolutely nothing else. Deducting the den that houses the family computer and serves as a guest bedroom won't fly with Uncle Sam. "If you only have one computer and you have a child over four, the IRS is going to be pretty certain that the child is using the computer," says Zobel. "And the burden of proof is on you."
The deduction, however, isn't limited to a full room. Your home office can be part of a room. Just how much of the space is deductible? Measure your work area and divide by the square footage of your home. That percentage is the fraction of your home-related business expenses -- rent, mortgage, insurance, electricity, etc.-- that you can claim.
2. Office supplies
Even if you don't take the home-office deduction, you can deduct the business supplies you buy. Hang onto those receipts, because these expenditures will offset your taxable business income.
3. Furniture
When your office supplies are more than just pens and paper, you have another tax-cutting opportunity. Office-furniture acquisitions provide a couple of choices. Deduct 100% of the cost in the year of the purchase or deduct a portion of the expense over 7 years, also known as depreciation. To take the whole cost in one tax year you'll use the Section 179 deduction (named for the part of the tax code where the law appears). But keep in mind that there is a limit on how much you can claim this way. For 2001 taxes, it was $24,000. If you choose to depreciate the desks and filing cabinets, you can't simply split the cost into equal portions over the depreciation period. Instead, you must use an IRS chart to make separate calculations each year. Which is better for you? Anticipate the times that your business will need these deductions the most. Both options are reported on IRS Form 4562.
4. Other equipment
Items such as computers, copiers, fax machines and scanners also are tax deductible. As with furniture, you can take 100% up front or depreciate (this time over 5 years).
5. Software and subscriptions
To the IRS, computer programs last for 3 years and you must depreciate the cost over that time frame. You cannot deduct the full cost of most software the year you buy it. There are some exceptions. Anti-virus software can be immediately deducted since it has such a short usage life. Ditto business and industry-related magazine subscriptions. In these cases, take the total costs as a full deduction in the year spent.
6. Mileage
If you drive for business, the IRS wants to give you some of your money back. But Uncle Sam loves documentation, so keep a notebook in your vehicle to record the date, mileage, tolls, parking costs and the purpose of your trip. At the end of the year, you have two choices. You can total the mileage, multiply by 34.5 cents per mile, and add in the tolls and parking to calculate your deduction. Or you can measure your business usage against your personal driving and deduct that portion of your auto-related expenses, says Zobel. Remember to include gas, repairs and insurance. If you are leasing, include those payments. If you are buying the car, factor in the interest on your loan and depreciation on your vehicle.
7. Travel, meals, entertainment and gifts
Good news, small-business travelers. You might as well stay in a nice hotel, because the entire cost is tax deductible. Likewise, the cost of travel -- air, rail or auto -- is 100 percent deductible, as are costs associated with life on the road (dry cleaning, rental cars and tipping the bellman). The only exception is eating out. You can deduct only 50 percent of your meals while traveling. So stay at the Ritz and eat at Wendy's. Once you get home, your on-the-job meals aren't deductible -- unless you bring along a client to talk business. In this case, you might consider splurging on a fancier meal because then you can write off half such work-related dining costs. The 50% deduction limit applies to most other client entertainment expenses, too. But a direct gift to a client or employee is 100% deductible, says Zobel, up to $25 per person per year.
8. Insurance premiums
Self-employed and paying your own health insurance premiums? This year, 60% is tax deductible, says Carter. This break primarily benefits proprietorships, but there are limits. The deduction can't be more than your business' net profit. And it's not allowed if you were eligible for other health care coverage, including that offered by your employed spouse's medical plan. You're also out of luck if you are a general partner in a partrnership, receive guaranteed payments as a limited partner or got wages from an S corporation. In these instances, you can't claim this deduction. But if you are eligible for this tax break, paying your own way medically will get easier. In 2002, notes Carter, entrepreneurs, small-business owners and the self-employed were able to deduct 70% of their medical premiums, and 100% in 2003. Don't want to wait? Carter says it's possible to fully deduct your medical premiums right now if you hire your spouse. As an employee, his or her premiums will be 100% deductible, and you and the children can be added to the policy as dependents. Two caveats: 1) Your spouse's employment must be real, not in name only, and you must offer coverage equally to any other employees. 2) Failure to meet these requirements could result in a lawsuit, an audit or both.
9. Retirement contributions
Are you self-employed and saving for your own retirement with a SEP-IRA or Keogh? Don't forget to deduct your contribution on your personal income tax return.
10. Social Security
The bad news: If you're self-employed or starting a small business, you have to pay double the Social Security contributions you would as an employee. That's because federal law requires the employer pay half and the employee pay half. Self-employed workers are both, meaning the total will equal 15.3% of your net profits. The good news: You can deduct half of the contribution on your 1040.

11. Telephone charges
You can deduct the cost of the business calls that you make for business from home. When your bill comes in, circle the business-related calls, total them up and keep a copy. At the end of the year, tally your 12 bills and deduct 100%. The IRS assumes that you will have a phone in your house anyway, so Zobel cautions that regular fees and charges don't count towards your deduction. But if you have a second line installed and use it only for business, 100% of these costs are deductible.
12. Child labor
"It's always good to employ your kids," says Carter. You can pay them up to $4,550 this year before they have to pay any additional taxes. Plus, there is no Social Security tax when you hire your child who is 17 or younger and you can deduct the salary as a business expense. Make the money go even further. Have your child contribute to a Roth IRA, says Carter. Not only have you gotten a nice tax deduction from the salary and trained your youngster to save, you've also help establish a nest egg for his or her future.

I am grateful for ....

"As a new consultant I can only say I am grateful Lisa S drove from Scotch Plains to Budd Lake to do my Shop N Rock Event. I wasn't able to find anyone and wanted to buy some items myself. It was a win win for me I could have her as a vendor and shop the same day. I called her after the event to see if anyone from this area signed up because I wanted my own consultant local for personal shopping. No one had so I took the plunge thinking I would regret it. I quickly learned it wasn't a bottomless pit of expenses and my family could see the value of the business immediately. I am working my business trying to recruit, get parties and doing events for more contacts. There are many home based business opportunities out there but this one doesn't require you to tie up massive amounts of debt on the credit card or home budget to do events, parties or run the business.

I guess I am really grateful for the opportunity to bring the products into my home, have fun with my family and make some money without huge risks to our family finances.
That makes my husband very happy and supportive also :) "

Lisa K

Discovery Toys announces a pay increase!

Read about the new Discovery Toys compensation plan.