Posted by Charm_AL on 1/5/06 10:41am
Msg #86237

New Year Notary resolutions...

Yes, I have some. For one, I've learned that I've gotten lazy with tracking mileage! I got busy and decided to do it later. Well, I have a stack and about a week to put into this mistake.
From now on, I will staple the mapquest to the confirmation.
Secondly, I learned through experience what is considered exempt and so on.
I will be starting this year out by filling out the new MoJo very detailed, and I'm buying a box for all my biz related expenses, they are scattered all over from last year!
Next, I do not will not accept lower than industry standard fees from this new breed of companies offering lower than minimum.
I will be using a white board now for tracking instead of a folder to check for payments due, when I feel like it, (she says sarcastically.)

Going through a year as a new NSA has taught me many things that I can improve upon. Being in business for yourself is a learning experience! I'm thinking I have all the bases covered for a prosperous year! Any other suggestions or changes you've made to improve?

It's going to be a busy month for me catching up to get ready for Uncle Sam! groan

Reply by Ilona Campbell-Mihai on 1/5/06 10:49am
Msg #86239

I feel your pain!I'm switching over to Quickbooks from my books and had to put in the whole year!Now I have very bony fingers.Next year will be great!(Promises the accountant.)

Reply by AmandaCA on 1/5/06 10:52am
Msg #86240

"From now on, I will staple the mapquest to the confirmation"

Excellent suggestion! I'm gonna steal that one.............thanks!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 1/5/06 4:09pm
Msg #86356

(I use Yahoo Maps because it seems they update more often than Mapquest and I've had better luck with it.) What I've been doing is printing the directions onto the back of the confirmation pages. It saves me paper and is right there when I need it. Also, my files don't get as crammed full, although with all the extra instructional pages some companies are now sending, it may be a wash!

Reply by PA_Notary_II on 1/5/06 11:02am
Msg #86243

Charm: Whatever works for you is always best. I have been doing this for 10 yrs+ and have always used a weekly dayminder (stock# SK48). In it I record the sequenced # of the closing,month and YTD, last name of the bwr, lender, location, TC/SS and fee. So it looks like:
6-114 - Smith - Countrywide - East Overshoe - ABC title - $125. At the end of the day I post my mileage at the end of the list. I total the #, $, and miles at the end of every week, and then total the totals at month's end. I have virtually all the info I need in that little book, and in fact without it, I would be out of business. It's all I use to prepare for my taxes, and is all the proof the IRS would need if I were ever audited. ( Naturally, I have receipts in case they requested them and I make sure I make adjustments for no pays..which has never happened)

Another benefit....it fits in my coat pocket and goes with me everywhere....also I post last year's totals in the back so I can compare.

Reply by Charm_AL on 1/5/06 11:07am
Msg #86245

Re: New Year Notary resolutions...PA

That's a great idea...however, I'd bet ya a dollar to a doughnut, being scattered brained at times, that book would be lost by March. Also a reason why I don't buy expensive pens or sunglasses

Reply by PA_Notary_II on 1/5/06 11:13am
Msg #86247

Re: New Year Notary resolutions...PA

Have enough donuts....I'll take the dollar...

Reply by rlogan_ca on 1/5/06 11:30am
Msg #86253

To Charm AL

Good luck staying organized. I say that with sincerity since I can be orgainzed challenged if I start slaking off.

As for accepting lowball fees, I'm with you. Have a prosperous New Year!

Reply by cyndi_ca on 1/5/06 11:42am
Msg #86256

Re: To Charm AL

I am not always the most organized person, but certainly not the least. I have always stapled directions to the confirmation and anything else that has to do with the appt. I also take a copy of the check I receive and staple it together with the rest of the info. It may be crude but it works for me. I then will have all the info I need. Hope that helps somebody. Hope the New Years brings prosperity to all.

Reply by SanDiegoCA on 1/5/06 11:44am
Msg #86257

For somebody who says they are just finishing their first year as an NSA, you come off polished and wise about things already!

"I've learned that I've gotten lazy with tracking mileage!"

I found a place in my journel for mileage notes, but only after hearing the FEDs upped what you can claim!! Another excellent point, lady, it will really pay off ........

Reply by B__CA on 1/5/06 12:09pm
Msg #86265

Check your mileage even if you staple Mapquest to your confirmation form. Mapquest shows 37 miles from the town I live in to another town I do signings in on occasion. It is 87-110 miles. If I was a bird maybe 37 miles. You may short yourself a lot of miles. I keep a clipboard in my car, I made up a form. It has the date, borrowers name, town, begin mileage and end mileage. A place for the total at the bottom for the month. Works great.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 1/5/06 4:21pm
Msg #86365

Good point. I only use it as a reference. I note beginning mileage, odometer reading at signing location(s) and ending mileage in my calendar, along with the other details, so I have a contiguous record of actual mileage. I heard a long time ago that the IRS wants to see that - not just number of miles - if you get audited. A clipboard with a mileage log is a great idea. I've set up an Excel spreadsheet that adds it all up for me and calculates the value in dollars, but I don't do a very good job of keeping it current. One of many things I need to work on this year!

Reply by Shane_OH on 1/5/06 12:14pm
Msg #86267

I Resolve to make more money!

I resolve to market myself more, and get into more lenders/title companies.

I resolve to try to like the Ohio State Buckeyes a little.... grrr..

I resolve to finish the spreadsheet I've been writing to keep track of invoices/earnings/and automatically calculate mileage from Mapquest without having to do anything myself.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 1/5/06 12:40pm
Msg #86273

Re: I Resolve to make more money!

I do it all on a spreadsheet. Date,Borrower name, SS or TC,Lender, Fee amt.expected, payment date, fee received and that date. I am adding mileage this year.

I get a quick glance at what my total earnings are, and what is due. It all automatically calculates! Fun watching those numbers go up!
Also have one for expenses ,separating the tax spent.

Confirmations,Support doc's, Courier receipt receipt or copy of check are all stapled together. Paid jobs in one file (actually end up in several!), Due files in another and pending in yet another.
This works for me as my office area is very small and I don't totally trust computers! I print out my spreadsheets for the paid file every month....just in case.



I just print it out for taxes

Reply by Jersey_Boy on 1/5/06 1:15pm
Msg #86285

Re: I Resolve to make more money!

For the last few months, I have been going paperless. I bought the Adobe Acrobat professional so I can creat my own PDF files.

Once an assignment is completed, I scan everything (confirmation, copy of emails, mapquest, receipts, tracking, invoices, blah, blah, blah) I name the file by the date and borrower name. When the payment comes in, I scan the check and name the file 01-01-06 Borrower Name Payment.

Once everything is scaned, I shred everything (except the check, that goes in the bank)....
LET ME TELL YOU.... IT FELT SOOOOOOOOOOOO NICE TO TRASH MY FILING CABINET!!!!

I use gmail and they give you a HUGE amount of memory. So I created a second account just for archives. Once a week, I take everything that i have and email it to my archive account. That is nice to have too, I can access my files from any computer anywhere, anytime!

Reply by Le Anne Eichmeier on 1/5/06 2:19pm
Msg #86304

suggestion- when I get a call I take my nsa log book out of case and have in hand start my vehicle and write down the mileage reset the trip (in case I do forget to write down) it has a place for your mileage and you wont have these problems at the end of the year also I invested in a couple of baskets to put receipts in and pocket folders to leave open invoices in I am ready for tax people two months ago everything wrote down and taken care of it sure made it easier