Money management: working at home
What person who has nudged along
in rush hour traffic day after day
hasn't dreamed of working at home?
No clock to punch. No office politics
to contend with. And, no daily com
mute. As appealing as that may
sound to you, the North Carolina As
sociation of CPAs cautions that
home-based businesses, like all other
business ventures, have their own set
of rewards and perils, many of which
have to do with your personality. And
starting a home-based business,
according to CPAs isn't all that dif
ferent than starting any other busi
ness.
First, let's look at the bright side.
Many home-based business owners
are quick to cite the freedom and
flexibility they have. If you're the
type that works best in the late eve
ning hours, you need only walk down
the hall to execute that absolutely
brilliant idea that strikes you at 11
p.m. Starting a business at home re
quires less capital, alowing you to
test a business idea with a minimum
investment. And it should come as no
surprise that many people decide to
start a business at home because
that's where their children live. The
home-based business provides the
comprise between work and family
responsibilities that many parents
with young children are seeking.
As good as this may sound, there
are some serious drawbacks you
should consider before starting a
business in your home. Are you a
self-starter and creative problem
solver? In a home-based business,
you are alone at the top? there is no
boss to oversee what you get startd
and whether you're a self-stopper.
People who work at home sometimes
have a problem letting go of their
work and tending to other personal or
family maters. They find it difficult
to ignore a business problem that is
sitting in the next room.
The isolation of working at home
presents a problem for others. They
miss the opportunity to gather by the
water cooler to bounce ideas off col
leagues. To succeed at working at
home, it also helps if you're the type
of person who is not easily distracted.
It can be difficult to concentrate on
business when you know the kitchen
is a mess and the lawn needs to be
mowed. And both you and your fam
ily must be willing to sacrifice some
of your personal space. One craft de
signer admitted that for two years
her family couldn't eat off the dining
room table.
The major drawback that concerns
many established home-based work
ers is the fact that they are just not
taken seriously.
Somehow they lack legitimacy in the
eyes of others, regardless of how
much they're earning or how suc
cessful they may be. Often even fam
ily members and friends who know
you work at home don't take your
work seriously. They think nothing
about stopping by your home to
chat? something they wouldn't
dream of doing if you were off in a
corporate office somewhere.
If working at home seems !ike it
would suit you, the first thing you'll
have to do is decide on a product or
service or service. The best kind of
business for you is based on your own
knowledge, skills and interests. Do
you like shopping? Travelling? Gar
dening? Foreign languages? Al
though the fastest-growing segment
of home businesses is tha area of
computer data and word processing,
almost any business can be done out
of the home. There are bridal cosul
tants and calligraphers, elderly-care
specialists and children's entertain
ers, investment counselors and mes
senger services? all run by entrepre
neurs working out of their homes.
To get started, no matter how big
or small you see your business plan
down on paper. Your local library
can provide you with hundreds of
sources to guide you through this im
portant exercise. Writing a business
plan helps you to organize your
thoughts and focus on your objec
tives.
In brief, you'll want to open your
business plan with a description of
your businesses plan with a descrip
tion of your project or service and the
market you hope to attract. You
should identify the competition and
why you think people would prefer to
buy from you. Questions like how
much space, equipment and supplies
you'll need will have to be addressed.
And, of course, the financial needs of
your business and how you plan to fi
nance them will need to be included.
Don't overlook the need to consult
with professionals. You might first
want to check with local officials re
garding licensing, zoning and other
regulations that may a ply to your
businesses. You will have to decide
what legal form (sole proprietor,
partnership, corporation) your busi
ness should take. A certified public
account can help you determine bow
to set up your books and recordkeep
ing systems as well as how to select
the appropriate tax status for your
business. You will also need advice
on the complexities of home office
tax deductions.
This is an area where the Internal
Revenue Service is very strict. But
as a general rule, to take a tax deduc
tion for using a part of your home for
business, that part must be used ex
clusively and regularly as:
1) the principal place of your busi
ness, or
2) a place where you meet or deal
with your clients or customers in the
normal course of business.
If you live in a house with 2000
square feet of living feet, you are as
an office measures 200 square feet,
you are entitled to deduct 10 percent
of certain expenses of maintaining
your home. To be deductible, the ex
pense must be realated in some way
to the part of your home used for
business. Examples of these ex
penses are real estate taxes, mort
gage interest, rent, utilities, insur
ance, repairs and depreciation.
Those expenses that benefit only the
part of your you use for business ( like
painting or repairs) are fully deduct
ible. The tax laws governing home of
fice deductions are complicated and
closely scrutinized by the IRS so be
sure to consult with a knowledgeable
tax professional.
It has often been said that anyone
can start a business? the hard part is
staying in business. CPAs suggest
that if you give careful thought and
planning to starting your home-based
business, you stand a better chance
of succeeding. And, if anyone tries to
minimize your business because you
work at home, remind them that the
President of the United States does,
too.
Telephone rates discounted
ELIZABETH CITY-Because July
4th falls on the weekend this year,
Carolina Telephone customers who
make long-distance calls can get a
larger discount than they normally
get for this holiday each year.
When five annual holidays? Christ
mas, New Year's Day, July 4th, La
bor Day and Thanksgiving? fall on a
weekday, customers get 25 percent
off the normal day reat for in-state
long-distance calls and 40 percent off
for out-of-state calls.
Because July 4th this year falls on
Saturday, customers will pay the
lower weekend discount rate (except
that the usual discount applies on
Sundays between 5 and 11 p.m. De
tails are in the phone directory's Call
Guide Sections.)
The weekend rate is at a SO percent
discount for in-state calls and 56 per
cent for out-of-state calls.
"By placing the calls themselves.
customers can save additionally by
avoiding the operator service
charge," said T.F. Daniels, district
commercial manager.
Mr. Daniels reminded customers
that other reduced long-distance rate
periods are available and that an ex
planation can be found in the Call
Guide Section in each Carolina Tele
phone directory.
Academic ail-American named
The National Secondary Education
Council announced to day that Kei
sha J. Dobie has been named an Aca
demic Ail-American.
The NSEC has established the Aca
demic All-American Scholar Award
Program in order to offer deserved
recognition to superior students who
excel in the Academic disciplines.
The Academic All-American Schol
ars must earn a 3.3 or better grade
point average. Only Scholars se
lected by a secondary school instruc
tor, counselor, or other qualified
sponsors are accepted. These schol
ars are also eligible for other awards
given by the NSEC. These are
awards few students can ever hope to
attain.
Keisha, who attended Elizabeth
City, Jr. High was nominated for this
National Award by Miss Dianne
Hawkins? Science teacher. Keisha
will appear in the Academic AU
American Scholar Directory, which
is published nationally.
The Council selects Academic Ail
American Scholars upon the exclu
sive recommendations of teachers,
coaches, counselors, and other qual
ified sponsors. Once awarded, the
students may be recognized by the
NSEC for other honors.
Keisha Dobie is the daughter of Mr.
& Mrs. Phillip N. Dobie. The grand
parents are Mrs. Thelma E. Felton of
Hertford, N.C., and Mrs. Ella Jud
kins of Oxen Hill, Maryland.
Keisha will be attending Northeast
ern High School.
Recreation department news
The Perquimans County Recre
ation Department releases its
Softball records with Albemarle Mer
chants leading the Men's League
with a 9-0 record. The rest of the
standing are as follows: McPherson
7-1, Ready Mules 6-3, Bandits 5-3,
Spoilers 2-5, Demons 2-6, Towe 3-7
and Hurricans 0-9.
A top the Women's League vs
Stone's Concrete 5-0, and American
Legion 4-0 who wil battle on Monday
night, June 27 for first place. A&A In
surance is 1-3 and Apricot is 0-5.
T-Ball has gotten underway and
the games are played on Monday and
Wednesday evenings. The teams are
Jimmy's Barbecue coached by Ed
gar Robinson, Hertford Hardware
City Marina coached by Mike By
rum; Stallings Funeral Home
coached by Susan Harris and White's
Barbeque-Bob and Sharon's coached
by George Cooper.
Couple celebrates anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shelton, of
Winfall, were honored on the occa
sion of their 40th wedding anniver
sary. A buffet dinner was served at
Anglers's Cove on June 13, 1987.
Hosting the party were their sons,
Mr. Thomas L. (Skip) Morgan of
Monroe of Monroe, Connecticut, Mr.
Donald B. Morgan of Oakton, Vir
ginia, Mr. Steven K. Morgan of Ra
leigh, North Carolina. A hundred and
thirty friends and family were in at
tendance.
A special toast was offered to the
couple:
"Let's salute a couple which had:
enough happiness to keep them
sweet; enough trials to keep them
strong; enough hope to keep them
happy ; enough failure to keep them
humble; enough success to keep
them eager; enough faith and cour
age in themselves, their business and
their country to banish depression;
enough wealth toi meet their needs;
and enough determination to make
each day a better day than yester
day."
| Um Cl?ttlfl?d AtU |
Trip scheduled to
hall of fame in July
The Perquimans County and Rec
reation Depart ment is sponsoring a
trip to Cooperation, New York, on
July 25-27, 1987 for the induction of
Jimmy "Catfish" Hunter into the
Baseball Hall of Fame. Also while in
Coopertown, we will tour the Farm
ers Museum, The Fenimore House
and the Baseball Hall of Fame and
Museum. Tour package includes
transportation on a deluxe motor
coach, 2 nights lodging at Hobday Inn
and ariintaaioM to muaeums.
Coat of the trip: Single <335; Dou
ble IMS; Triple $165; and Quad. $160.
For more information or to make
QUALITY NEW &
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US 17 Hertford 426-3843
i
reservations call 426-5695. Deadline
wil be July 10.
&urindell JHonument
Compano
Monuments
Markers
Mausoleums
Available in granite
(of vorious colors) or marble
We Are Direct Factory
Representatives
Call Larry Swindell
509 Dobbs St. 426-7311
4
The Perquimans County
Board Of Elections
i
Will conduct a waste treatment system infor
mal referendum on August 1, 1987 for the
Town Of Hertford. Absentee ballots will not
be allowed in this election. Voting for this
election for the entire town will be at the
courthouse. Polls open at 6:30 am to 7:30
pm.
July 13, 1987 will be the last day to register
for the referendum ? Persons that are al
ready registered do not have to re-register.
W. L. Til ley ? Chairman
Perquimans County Board of Elections
photo by Gina Jepson
Above Pete Mansfield is seen as he carries the torch info town on Sunday from Union Hall Road.
Perquimans Central School honor roll
Principal Morris Kornegay of Cen
tral Elementary School announces
the honor roll students for 6th six
weeks grading period.
Mrs. Stallings First Grade class:
"A" Honor Roll : Stacy Downar, Cris
tin Harrell, Berry Mallory, Bobby
Stallings. "A-B" Honor Roll: Devin
Gregory, Javon Griffin, Jamen
Mitchell, Tasha Oliver, Melissa Ro
berson.
Mrs. Foskey's First Grade class:
"A" Honor Roll: Laura Matthews,
Clif Stallings, Ingrid Higgins, Tracy
Johnson, Kim Cullipher, Millicent
Whitehurst, Patrick Gregory,
Amanda Winslow, and Carson Stal
lings. "A'B" Honor Roll: Diana
Luke, Nicole Holowell, Crystal
Owens. "B" Honor Roll: Brad
Winslow, Adam Stevenson, Tynesha
Wilson.
Brenda Winslow's 2nd Grade
Class: "A's": Andrew Byrum, Kelli
Cooper, Kineta Holley, Christina
Houtz, Beverly Russell, Joey Colson
and Joey Colson (all "A's for 86-87
school year). "A-B" Honor Roll: Jo
var Stallings Romni Whidbee, Me
lissa Elliott, Laura Perry, and Tim
Applegate.
Mrs. Tunnell's 2nd Grade class:
"All A's" : Debra Odar, Crayton Mat
thews, Kesha Harrell. "A" students
for 86-87 are: Crayton Matthews, Ke
sha Harrell, and Debra Oder. "A's &
B's": Christina Bland, Crystal Tay
lor, Danita Whidbee, Kimberly
Turner, Michele Thomas, Nicky
Stokley, Heidi Paul, Joseph Lothian,
De'Mon Jennings, Dean Jarvis.
Mrs. Barclift's 2nd Grade class:
"All A's" for the six weeks and the
whole year were: Wesley Nixon and
Matt Tunnell. "A-B" Honor Roll:
Torrey Bailey, Karen Long, Jamie
Lassiter, Shannon Ward, David Pet
taway, Spring Elsbury, Heather
Ivey, Angela Hewitt and Deanna
Morring.
Mrs. Modlin's 3rd Grade class: "A
B" Honor Roll: Nina Arnesen and
Cristina Homa. All "B's": Antonia
White.
Mrs. Nelson's 3rd Grade class: All
"A's" Jackie Downar and Susan El
len Roberts. "A-B" Honor Roll:
Nancy Ann Harrell, Jerral James,
Josh LeRoy, A.J. Miller, Kelley
Thomas, Amy Whitehurst and Jen
nifer Williams.
Mrs. Hoggard's 3rd Grade class:
"A students for the sixth weeks
were: Shelby White, Tina Turner,
Ann Stallings, and Aaron Phelps.
"A" student for the 86-87 school
year: Ann Stallings. "A-B" students
are: Washuri Woodard Shilonda <
Whidbee and Christopher Burke.
Ms. Katie Lightfoot's 4th Grade
class: "A's" for the six weeks: Nic
ole Baker. "A-B" students were:
Daniel Fowler, Chemise Overton,
and Ashely Williams.
P. Keith's 4th Grade class: "A" for
the 86-67 school year: Beth Homa.
"A" for the six weeks: Tracey Col
son, J.J. Wiese, Dawn Stallings, Beth
Homa, George Simpson, Gregory <
Whidbee, and Chiquita White. "A-B"
Honor Roll: Neil Ambrose Hugh
Caddy. Lynn Trueblood, Buddy
Meads, and Anita Wilson.
Mrs. Thomas' 4th Grade class:
"A" students for the year: Christo
pher Gregory, Troy Higgins, and
Buddy Hollowell.
"A's" for the 6th weeks: Keri
Drozdowski, Christina Godfrey, Troy .
Higgins, Buddy Hollowell, Jamie
Hudson, Donald Markham, Chenelle
Moore. "A-B" students were: Justin
Berry, Tatisha Spruill and Hope Stal
lings.
Leadership seminar scheduled in July
"Minority Women on the Move:
Being Involved" is the topic of a day
long-seminar which will be held Sat
urday, July 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
un Smithfield. The leadership devel
opment seminar for rural minority
women and female youth is being
sponsored by the North Carolina Ar
gricultural Extension Service.
"We are working to unite rural and
urban minorities in a joint effort to
promote personal and professional
advancement. Special sessions have
been designed for women and female
youths (aged 12 and older)," said Dr.
Brenda F. Allen, extension lead
ership development specialist and di
rector of the state Leadership Devel
opment Program for Rural Minority
Women. The seminar, which will be
held at Smithfield Junior High
School, is open to the public.
Keynote speaker will be the Rev.
Yvonne Beasley, correctional cha
plain at C.A. Dillon School in Butner.
Dr. Allen will discuss the topic "Be
ing Concerned and Involved: Where
Are You?" Participants will also at
tend "Foods with Finesse," which
will be taught by Jennifer S. Walker,
Haraettt County home economics ex
tension agent.
Adults will attend sessions enti
tled: "How Big is Your World," Ullie
D. Jones; "Linking Values and
Goals," Mrs. Willie Parker; and
"Juggling Family and Work," Alice
Freeman.
Young women will attend: "Invest
ing in the Future," lead by Yvonne
Mitchell; "Progress Through Prepa
ration," lead by Carolyn Ennis; and t
"Reaching for Knowledge," by the
Rev. Beasley.
Funding for the semintu- and
workshop materials is beta;* pro
vided by the Z. Smith ReynokL; Foun
dation and RJR Nabisco Inc. A $5 fee
will be charged to cover the cost of
the luncheon and refreshments. Reg
istration will begin at 9 a.m., and the
seminar will adjourn at 3 p.m.
For further information, contaot
Dorothy Johnson, Johnston County
home economics extension agent in
Smithfield, phone 934-5003, or Dr. Al
len at NCSU, phone 737-2770.
Motorists urged to drive with care
RALEIGH? Deputy State Health
Director Dr. Thad Wester is urging
all North Carolinians to be cautious
and follow some safety tips to make
their July 4th holiday healthier and
more enjoyable.
"With all of the family picnics,
neighborhood get-togethers, concerts
and fireworks displays, July 4th is
one of the most festive celebrations
of the year," said Wester. "But it can
turn into tragedy for some if we don't
exercise a few precautions. Last year
for example, 28 people were killed on
highways in this state during the 78
hour July 4th holiday."
He offered the following safety
tips:
Use your car seat belts ;
stop periodically for a rest if travel
ing any distance;
don't drink and drive. The same ap
plies to water activities such as
swimming or boating;
don't drink after taking medicine;
don't leave bottles, glasses and cups
containing alcoholic beverages sit
ting around where children can
reach them. The remnants can poi
son a child;
attend public displays of fireworks
rather than creating your own. In
North Carolina, fireworks are ille
gal unless they are properly per
mitted by local county commission
ers on public displays;
be careful with gasoline when refil
ling a hot lawn mower and with
charcoal lighter fluid when starting
a grill fire. Both burn very quickly
and fire can race up a stream of the
liquid causing an explosion before a
person can drop the container.
keep any picnic food appropriately
hot or cold to avoid the growth of
possible disease? causing bacteria
that might lead to food poisoning for
anyone who eats it;
never swim alone? take a buddy i
with you;
supervise children carefully when
they're near water;
avoid going into deep water if you
can't swim well, and don't dive into
water if it is shallow or the depth is
unknown; - ?'
wear a lifejacket if boating and fol
low the safety rules;
"If everyone will take these pre-;
cautions, we can all enjoy a happier, ?
safer July 4th weekend," Wester* 1
said. !
CHOICE IN CONTACTS
If on* type of contact lens wot superior to all others, then that
kind would probably be the only on* ?till on th* mork*t. It just
isn't to. In fact, there or* mor* choic*t in contract* today than
ever b*for*.
Sur*. torn* of th* n*w*r contacH hav* tup*rior qualities in com
fort, wearability, optic*, but ultimately It d*p*nd* on th? *p*cific
needs of th* individual. That It th* bottom I in*. Th*r* or* th* to
call*d "conventional" or "hard" l*n***, th* *oft l*n**t mad* from
a mor* pliabl* plottic. and a mor* r*c*nt Introduction i* th* "wet"
lent, which I* o conv*nitional l*nt that f*atur** a highly moittur*
r*t*ntiv* turfac*.
A numb*r of p*opl* consider toft l*nt*t to b* **p*cially com
fortabl*. Other* cannot do without th* convenience of the long
wear. wet lente*. other* find rgular "hard len*e*" perfectly totlt
factory. The doctor of optometry who fits your lenses can help you
decide which type suits you best.
Dr. A.F. DOWNUM
103 W. Ecton St.
Kdsnton, N.C.
22 A
_ .