 Cape Cod Mommies is excited to be co-sponsoring June's Giveaway with Bum Boosa Bamboo Products ! Bumboosa ws founded by fellow Cape Cod Mom, Sonja Sheasley. A few years ago, Sonja took classes at the Sandwich Village Herb Shop (now closed) in an effort to make natural lotions for her children due to their sensitive skin. As many of you may know, baby wipes and the majority of mainstream baby products contain harmful chemicals. Many times these same products profess to be for "sensitive skin" or say they will clear up diaper rash. I have found those products to be very misleading, often times finding that those products actually further aggravated sensitive skin. I can usually be found on the weekend at local Farmer's Markets trying to track down homemade calendula oil or lotion to treat my son's excema and rashes. So I was thrilled when I had the amazing opportunity to try out the Bum Boosa products! Bum Boosa Products are eco-friendly anod not filled with ANY harsh chemicals! They get their bamboo from China but are made right here in the U.S.A. and I always think it is nice to support local business, especially a Cape Cod business! Right off the bat, I was drawn to the fabulous smelling wipes! A baby wipe that actually smells good even after it has wiped an atomic size mess up is a winner in my book. The smell of lavender and citrus is beyond pleasing. In fact, at a recent family cookout, I kept receiving compliments over my scent: "Wow, you smell fantastic! Is that lavender?" Imagine their surprise when I informed them it was actually my sons' baby wipes! I even gave a wipe to my son to play with and he was super excited by it. He kept smelling it in true yogi style saying, "Mama, ahhhhh". When I first opened the package of wipes, I thought it was smaller than a standard wipe, but I realized it was just folded and shaped differently. Oh Happy Day! Bum Boosa wipes still have the same surface area as standard wipes do! And I managed to make 2 packs of 80 ct wipes last me 3 weeks! Now that is bang for your buck!  I am also totally in love with Bum Boosa diaper cream! It is 100% natural and made from bamboo powder, oils and herbs! It is completely free of any preservatives, synthetic fragrances and dyes! This is a win-win and a little goes a long way! My son is so sensitive to so many products and foods that he often gets a diaper rash especially after citrus or tomatos. Since we started using a little bit of this cream, we have been rash free and smell fantastic!!!
To celebrate Summer, Bum Boosa has generously donated a swag bag for a Giveaway to go to ONE lucky Cape Cod Mom! The Eco Baby Gift Bag comes with (3) packages of their bamboo baby wipes, a 4 ounce bamboo diaper rash ointment, and a 10 ml bottle of pure grade lavender essential oil with suggested uses and safety information. This is valued at $39.99 and will be delivered free of charge to the winner. Bum Boosa will also be participating in the upcoming debut of the Cape Cod Mommies Discount Club (stay tuned for how you can save on Bum Boosa Products!) There are lots of ways to enter and you can enter multiple days! Goodluck and Happy Wiping! 
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 It's not too late to take advantage of the American Opportunity Tax Credit, a credit that helps parents and college students offset the cost of college. This tax credit is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is available through December 31, 2012. It can be claimed by eligible taxpayers for college expenses paid until 2012.
Here are six important facts about the American Opportunity Tax Credit: 1. This credit, formerly known as the Hope Credit, has been expanded. Eligible taxpayers can claim qualified tuition and related expenses paid for higher education through 2012. Qualified tuition and related expenses include tuition, related fees, books, and other required course materials. 2. The credit is equal to 100 percent of the first $2,000 spent per student each year and 25 percent of the next $2,000. Therefore, the full $2,500 credit may be available to a taxpayer who pays $4,000 or more in qualifying expenses for an eligible student. 3. The full credit is generally available to eligible taxpayers who make less than $80,000, or $160,000 for married couples filing jointly. The credit is gradually reduced, however, for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. 4. Forty percent of the credit is refundable, so even those who owe no tax can get up to $1,000 of the credit for each eligible student as cash back. 5. The credit can be claimed for qualified expenses paid during any of the first four years of post-secondary education. 6. You cannot claim the tuition and fees tax deduction in the same year that you claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit. You must choose to take either the credit or the deduction. If you would like more information about the American Opportunity Tax Credit please call us. We're more than happy to help. Contact our office at 508-540-3683 or email me directly at gary@dellapostacpa.com  College tuition and fees are on the rise. Shockingly, the cost for 4-year private schools now tops $36,000 per year on average. But the investment is well worth it. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, individuals with a bachelor's degree earn more than double those with just a high school diploma. The two most popular college savings programs are 529 plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts. Whichever you choose, be sure to start when your child is young. The sooner you begin, the less money you will have to put away each year. Example: Suppose you have one child, age six months, and you estimate that you'll need $120,000 to finance his college education 18 years from now. If you start putting away money immediately, you'll need to save $3,500 per year for 18 years (assuming an after-tax return of 7%). On the other hand, if you put off saving until your son is six years old, you'll have to save almost double that amount every year for twelve years. Financial Calculator: College Savings Planner Use this calculator to help develop and fine-tune your child's college education savings plan. How Much Will College Cost? Based on the survey completed for the 2010 Trends in College Pricing, the average cost for tuition, fees, and room and board for 2010-11 was: $16,140 per year for 4-year public (in state) colleges and universities. This is an increase of 6.1% from 2009-10 findings. $36,993 per year for 4-year private colleges and universities. This is an increase of 4.3% from 2009-10 findings. It should be noted that, on average, full-time students receive $16,000 of financial aid per year in the form of grants and tax benefits for private 4-year institutions, $6,100/yr for public 4-year institutions, and $3,400/yr for public 2-year institutions. Gary M. DellaPosta is a CPA located in Falmouth. He has been in practice for over 30 years. Stay tuned next week to read about 529 Qualified Tuition Plans.  |
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