- Remember Homestead Exemption Deadlines for 2008
- Let's Get Organized - New Year, New Plan
- Don't to Charity - Do's and Don't

1. It prevents the forced sale of a home to meet the demands of creditors;
2. It provides the surviving spouse with shelter;
3. It provides an exemption from a portion of the property taxes which can be applied to a home.

Upcoming Deadlines (this information has been provided via the websites for each county, as always, be sure to check with each tax center to ensure accuracy of this information)

• Dekalb County:  Homestead exemption applications are accepted year-round, but current-year exemptions must be applied for between Jan 2 and March 1 (click here)
• Fulton County:  Homestead exemptions are due by March 1, 2008 and can be completed online (click here)
• Cobb County:  You can apply for exemptions year-round by mail or in person; however, you must apply by March 1 to receive the exemption for that tax year. (click here)
• Gwinnett County:  Application deadline is March 1.  (click here)

• Garden Tools
• Sporting Goods
• Holiday Decorations
• Automotive Supplies, Tools, Paint
• Garbage

Let's look at the Sporting Goods zone for example. Like everything in the zone system, items should be organized based on what it is, who uses it and how often it is used. Kids' bikes and other sports gear should be placed near the garage door so they can easily access them without banging and scratching the car. For frequently used gear like bats, balls, gloves, helmets, skates and sticks, a sports equipment organizer is the best way to go. You can find these any most large sporting goods stores.

If you store your holiday decorations in the garage, here are some helpful tips. Pack up the gift wrapping, tissue paper, bows, tags and any gifts you might have bought at a great after-Christmas sale in a bin marked "Open at Thanksgiving!" Store this bin as the most accessible of the holiday bins so you can open it as soon as you are ready to start holiday gift-wrapping. Consider storing all types of holiday decorations in clear plastic tubs with color-coded tops (orange for Halloween, green for Christmas etc.).

There are many storage systems that attach to the ceiling and create remote storage space, making them ideal for seldom used items like Christmas lights and camping equipment.

For more tips on getting organized - visit About.com - they have a great section on this topic - just click here!

Have Items to Donate to Charity?  Donating Do's and Don'ts

• Do make some calls to find out where your items are most needed; you'll feel better and have more incentive to purge. Check beyond widely known charities. A local church may have a family in need of furniture, a women's organization may be seeking office attire for women entering the workforce, or a nursing home may be in need of blankets.
• Do schedule an appointment if a charity calls to say it will be in your neighborhood — even if you're not sure what you might donate. Pickup services are an ideal no-cost way to get rid of large items, such as an old sofa or dresser. Even if you donate only a few boxes of clothing, you'll have cleared some clutter. The Atlanta Alliance for Developmental Disabilities even has the ability to schedule a pickup yourself online. http://www.aadd.org/newsite/schedulepickup.html
• Do ask for a receipt, which is needed for tax-deduction purposes. Put all charitable receipts in a folder so they are easy to find at tax time. Get a receipt even if you're not sure if you'll deduct the donation. Don't donate items that are in poor condition. Otherwise the charity will have to waste its resources in discarding the items.
• Don't drop off items that the charity might not accept. Find out in advance if the organization takes old computers, treadmills and other unconventional items. Also ask about clothing restrictions; some groups take only in-season clothing.
  
  Click here for a list of Goodwill centers in Atlanta where you can drop off your donations.

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