09:40 – Well, someone just did to me what I sometimes do to other people. I just tried to order, among other things, 300 5/10/15X folding pocket magnifiers from one of my regular vendors. As of a week ago they had 2,000 of them in stock, but as of this morning they’re back-ordered on them. Someone swooped in and ordered all 2,000 of them, and it’ll be a couple months before the vendor can get another batch from their factory in India. Fortunately, I have enough remaining in stock to hold me for a couple months, I hope. One of my other vendors also carries them, but at more than twice the price.
I’m still working on taxes. One bright spot is that North Carolina still has a huge small-business deduction in effect. It goes away starting this year, but for 2013 taxes small businesses can still deduct up to the first $50,000 in profits for an individual or $100,000 for a married couple. In other words, a married couple whose only income is from the business can earn up to $100,000 without having to pay any state income tax. That’s $100,000 net, not gross. I still can’t believe this deduction exists, but it does. Alas, it was too good to last. The legislature repealed the deduction for tax years 2014 and after.
Several people have asked if I planned to publish the contents of our vehicle emergency kits. I’m still working on the list, but if people who’re interested send me their email addresses I’ll send them a PDF of the list once I’ve finalized it. You can download the current version of the list here.