Older boilers waste heat and money every time they fire up. This is because a lot of the heat that is generated from burning the gas is lost up the chimney or flue. Modern boilers are much more efficient because they recover and recycle a lot of this heat, and so need to use less gas. This can save you up to 40% or £200 a year off the average UK gas bill.

The most efficient type of boiler is a Condensing Boiler, which now achieves almost 90% efficiency on the fuel it burns, far higher than older boilers. They normally cost a bit more than other types of boiler up front, but save a lot of money in the long run because you spend less on fuel. The most common alternative is called a Combination Boiler, which activates on demand, which means less wasted energy and no need for water tanks or cylinders. Although not as energy efficient (at 75% efficiency) or cost efficient as the condensing boiler, combination boilers do require less of an upfront investment. Most organizations recommend that people choose a condensing boiler, and indeed building regulations in some countries now make this obligatory.

How do you know if you would benefit from a new boiler? If your boiler is old, especially if it is 10 years or older, a new boiler could well make great sense. But you don’t need to try to work this out yourself. Many large, reputable heating companies offer free, no obligation boiler and heating surveys, and they can tell you how much you will save and exactly how much the installation of a new boiler will cost. You can easily sign up for a survey on-line, through a web-site such as Downwithco2.co.uk.

Before you finally choose your new boiler you should think about a few things:

- How big a boiler do you need? How much hot water can satisfy the needs of your household?

- Even though condensing boilers are the most expensive, they are more efficient than other boiler types and in the long term, could save you the most money.

- What will the boiler be used for? Will it be used for space heating, or just hot water?

- What type of fuel do you have available? Wood, Natural Gas, Fuel oil?

- After the boiler has been installed, who will take care of it? Many companies offer maintenance contracts, and often these are a good idea.

When thinking about a new boiler, you should always make sure you are dealing with a reputable and qualified firm. Installers should be registered with an official organisation. This is especially true with gas boilers; in the UK you should always make sure your gas boiler installer is ‘CORGI’ registered.

In some countries like the UK, a new boiler can make even more financial sense because the government subsidises their installation, in order to promote energy efficiency. Your installer should be able to tell you about these subsidies, which apply to almost everyone in the UK, especially older people who qualify for even more money off a new boiler.

Finally, if you want to save energy and money off your heating bills, you should also think about having your home properly insulated if you haven’t already. This is now very good value, and pays back the up-front investment in under 2 years. Further information can be found at downwithco2.co.uk

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The worst part of all this is the IRS’ increasing use of the 6694 and 6695 penalties, which are applicable to professional preparers who the IRS has deemed as having “overstepped their bounds”. Even ethical preparers are afraid of getting hit with this penalty, so preparers are more and more reluctant to take deductions for their clients, even legitimate ones. These penalties apply even if a client doesn’t pay their bill– just the fact that a preparer intended to charge the client is enough.

The best remedy for this is just plain old good record keeping. Moving to a completely electronic method of bookkeeping is the key. Scanning receipts, entering transactions in Quickbooks, and keeping an adequate paper trail are the key to success in an IRS audit.

Deductions that are harder to substantiate, such as mileage logs, should be kept on a computer and have back-up, such as copies of google maps or Mapquest driving directions. The IRS likes to question mileage deductions because they know that people tend to keep poor records of their mileage. The deduction for mileage is such a great one, too– it is as if the IRS is giving away free gas to those who keep good records. Case in point:

If your vehicle gets 18MPG, then the 2008 IRS standard mileage deduction of 50.5 cents/mile will give you $9 in tax deductions for every gallon of gas you buy! (Just multiply 18 miles/gallon times 0.505 dollars/mile!) This means that at even the lowest combined Federal and State tax the IRS is paying for your gas! All you need for this free gas is an IRS conforming mileage log! -MileageWiz Website

I recommend a good mileage-tracking software like MileageWiz or an actual mileage tracking device like Mileage Logger.

The Mileage Logger is about half the size of a dollar bill and plugs into your vehicle’s lighter power adapter. The device uses the power of GPS to calculate and record trip distance. This information is transmitted to the company website through cellular networks. The mileage report is then accessible on the web using a secure user name and password. -SBTV.com

Keeping good records saves money, saves time, and in the case of the mileage deduction, may even pay you back! So help your business and your tax preparer by keeping good records and tracking your mileage and other business expenses. You’ll be glad you did!

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Sounds great, but starting a business is not something to jump into without careful planning and consideration. You will need to invest time and money into your venture and a solid business plan to be successful.

New businesses typically take one to three years to start making a good profit; in the mean time, there is not a regular paycheck coming in. A home business is not a get-rich-quick idea; otherwise, everyone would be doing it. The success of your business depends on you; are you dedicated? Do you have a solid plan? Does our plan include future growth and expansion? You must be committed to the business and focused on your goals to be a success. You will have to make many sacrifices as work will be your number one priority. You will have to pass up nights out with friends, vacations and maybe even family time while getting your business going.

Successful entrepreneurs know where they want to go and they are willing to do whatever it takes to meet their goals. When planning to start a business, they are focused on their objectives; they realize they will need to work long hours and be committed. It is important to be organized and dedicated to work, without being distracted by your home environment, friends, family and neighbors. If you are one who procrastinates or is easily distracted, a home-based business is not for you.

Though working at home can require long hours, you don’t have to be in the same place for a set time, like 9am to 5pm. You have the freedom to make your own hours and you get paid for doing what you like doing. If you work at home, you save money on gas and wear and tear on your car. You have less overhead cost as you don’t have to buy or lease an office or store space. The desire to live a more independent lifestyle is often the strongest motivator to work at home.

Bill Bartmann is a self-made billionaire who accepted the risk involved with business ownership. Bill Bartmann offers online business courses so people can develop the necessary basic business management skills to be successful. Bill Bartmann’s Billionaire Business Systems has helped thousands of entrepreneurs reach their goals by showing them how to strengthen their business even during times of economic uncertainty. Bring out the Billionaire in you; visit http://www.billionaireu.com/

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