Ok, for all you people that are neat freaks (i.e. most of my family), this may be a post that you read and think, "So? What's the big deal? Isn't everyone like Dave?". But for the rest of you, (I'm hoping there are a few of you out there who are more like me) here's a level of organization at which we can only scratch our heads and wonder how the neat freaks do it.
Last night was another great example of why being married an extremely organized person IS very helpful. We went to have our taxes done, by a guy that Dave has used for years. Glen is well-qualified (MBA/CPA) and is a really nice guy, albeit a bit eccentric. His office is in a little hole in the wall near Commercial/Glenstone, and he has stacks of files throughout his office. But apparently there is a method to his madness; he seems to know where everything is, and takes copious notes should there ever be an audit.
Dave brought his laptop and briefcase full of folders with all of last year's receipts, expense reports and everything else that had anything to do with taxes. He had it all broken out into categories on a spreadsheet on his laptop, with totals for each category. As Dave and the CPA went through and completed each category of deductions, Dave changed the number to red on his spreadsheet, and made notes out to the side on what amount we claimed for deductions and how we came to that figure, etc. And I was just sitting there thinking, "Oh my god, what have I got myself into!?!?" This sets the bar WAY too high for me, if I am supposed to keep up with this kind of organization... Ack!!
So, in large part because of all of his work and organizational skills, we did get a nice big refund back. Most of it was because of his business travel, so we will certainly not see that again next year, now that he is working here in town. But it is a tradeoff that is well worth the money, I'd much rather have him here--after all, who will keep things organized if he's gone? :)
