As someone who is now officially in my 30s (31, in fact!), imparting wisdom upon 29-year-olds about to make the plunge has quickly become one of my favorite things.
Most of us probably had (or currently have) a mental list of things we wanted to do before we turned 30. From sky diving to spending a year traveling around the world, that early 20s bucket list is one we all know and love. But, we’re not just about bucket lists here at Brit + Co. We’re about keeping it real, creative and smart. So with that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 30 things you should be able to make by the time you turn 30. From poached eggs (get fancy with that break, yo!) to martinis (I guess fancy things are a theme?), here’s our list.
<b>Eggs in Every Style, Including Poached</b>
We know you know how to scramble an egg. You even know about adding shredded cheese and a tablespoon of salsa to give that batch of scrambled eggs extra oomph. But it’s time for an egg upgrade. Learn to fry (over easy, over medium and over hard), learn to hard boil and learn to poach. Soon enough, you’ll be making your own eggs benny from scratch! (Oh and psst, our book Homemakers has our tried-and-true tricks for making perfect eggs, every time.)
<b>An Animated GIF</b>
Though animated GIFs tend to skew on the younger side, you best make sure you know how to make one if you want to take your photo game to the next level. There are apps that make this extremely easy, even from your phone. But if you really want to be a boss, you’ll learn how to make one in Photoshop, even if you didn’t shoot photos specifically for animating. Case in point is the GIF you see above from my wedding. Once I scrolled through those photos, I knew a GIF had to be born ;) GIF pronunciation is still up for debate, but I stand by the hard G.
<b>A Martini</b>
Whether you like your martinis dirty, extra dirty and/or with a twist, it’s time that you learned how to make one yourself. (Photo: Sarah Culver via Style Me Pretty)
<b>Cookies from Scratch</b>
A homemade batch of chocolate chip cookies goes a really long way. And here’s the thing: They are really easy to make and even easier to customize to give ’em your special touch. Throw in a few walnuts, a peanut butter chip or two or even a handful of crushed up Oreos. And don’t forget to sprinkle sea salt on the top! Love cookies but hate the cals? Check out this batch of Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies made with a totally crazy cookie ingredient: CHICK PEAS. What?! Yes.
<b>An Entire Apartment Out of IKEA Furniture</b>
By the time you turn 30, it’s pretty likely you will have amassed a formidable collection of IKEA furniture. At this point you should be able to build all that on your own. From there, the key to taking your collection to the next level is hacking all of those IKEA pieces, so your apartment doesn’t look like it’s 100% IKEA. Check out our archive of clever IKEA hacks to get inspired.
<b>Your Halloween Costume</b>
Togas need not apply. Whether you’re going creative, pop culture, funny or punny, making your own Halloween costume is the only way to go. And yes, sourcing a bunch of elements and hacking them to create a costume totally counts as DIY.
<b>Your Entire Thanksgiving Dinner</b>
Or any multi-faceted meal, for that matter. If you’re hosting friends and family for a big dinner, forget the takeout and frozen stuff. Take the time to try out a few new recipes and prep them accordingly for your meal. We’ve even got a handy how-to for cooking an entire Thanksgiving dinner in 60 minutes flat.
<b>An Updo</b>
Lifetime member of the #longhairdontcare club? I’m personally guilty of going the “I’ll just let it air dry” route every single morning. Though a fancy updo isn’t a must for every day, mastering a few key styles will make the art of getting ready more fun and creative. And if you’re in the near-30 age group, we’re guessing you’ve been invited to a wedding or 10 this summer and fall — bring your A-game with a fresh new ‘do!
<b>Your Bed, Correctly</b>
I have to admit, I’m definitely one of those over-30s who is still fake-making the bed. There’s no excuse, and it literally takes only a couple extra minutes to do right (and there are even sheets that make it easier). Maybe it’s time to splurge on a dust ruffle and headboard while you’re at it ;)
10. A Killer Playlist: Putting on three Girl Talk albums in a row does NOT count! A killer playlist has a different definition for each occasion, and it’s up to you and your years of dancing-your-face-off experience to know how to read the situation. Musts include throwbacks to the ’60s and ’70s as well as the obvious ’90s, obscure tracks by musicians your artsy cousin told you about and never forget those crowd-pleasers as well.
<b>A Plain T-Shirt Better</b>
In search of the perfect graphic tee? Make it yourself! You can use iron-on transfer paper, stencils and fabric paint or even your phone (hello Snaptee!) to customize your tee. And don’t forget, Sharpies are WAY more difficult to wield on a t-shirt than they were on your high school study hall desk.
<b>A Layer Cake</b>
Even if you still use cake mix, the days of poorly frosted cupcakes or a cake that doesn’t pop out of the pan need to be behind you. Stock up on a couple round caking pans and check out our Spring Lemon Cake for inspo.
<b>The Perfect Centerpiece</b>
At this point, you should know your way around a grocery store flower section or, better yet, a flower market. A little bit of this and a little bit of that, and you’re on your way to the perfect floral centerpiece in a matter of minutes. No idea where to start? We’ve got a Flower Arranging E-Class for that! :)
<b>A Website</b>
We’re not asking you to learn code (though you should probably add that to your list as well), but we are imploring you to make a personal website using one of the hundreds of easy and beautiful tools that’s already out there. WordPress and Tumblr are solid go-tos and don’t always have to look like a straight-up blog.
<b>The Time to Exercise, Because It’s Good for You</b>
Gone are the days of exercising like crazy for a month just to look bangin’ for spring break. Making the time for exercise can feel totally impossible, especially with balancing work, your social life and necessary trips to the ASPCA to see if you’re ready to adopt a puppy. But here’s the thing: Regular exercise will actually help you find that balance, and you’ll feel more energetic and self-confident as a bonus. Keep in mind, finding the best form of exercise for you can definitely involve some trial and error — so go into the task with an open mind. And never underestimate the power of an ’80s aerobic video.
<b>A DIY Statement Necklace</b>
To DIY enthusiasts, this may seem like a no-brainer. Those of us who love to make tend to see necklaces at places like Anthro and J.Crew and scoff at the high price tags and opt for the DIY version instead. Of course, that’s often easier said than done. Find a necklace you love, and task yourself with hacking it. You’ll be surprised by what a little patience, flat-back gems and E6000 glue can do, and you’ll probably end up with something even cooler than what inspired you! Creep on our archive of DIY necklace tutorials and stylish necklace roundups for inspiration.
<b>Beach Waves</b>
Unless you’re heading to a holiday party, wedding or black tie event, there’s NO reason to hit up your stylist for beach waves. There are SO many ways to get this look on your own in as little as 10 minutes! From flat ironing your braids to using a diffuser to sleeping with cut-up t-shirt strips in your hair, try a few different methods to find one that works for you.
<b> A Knitted Scarf</b>
It’s finally time to learn to knit, just like your grandmother tried to teach you back in the day. We teamed up with Jade Harwood, founder of WOOL AND THE GANG to create a Knitting 101 E-Class that’ll teach you everything you need to know. You’ll even come out of the class with your very own hand-knit infinity scarf.
<b>A Family Recipe You’ll Pass on to Your Kiddos</b>
You have your dinnertime staples, but are they heirloom-worthy? We’re talking modern shepherd’s pie, veggie-packed skillet mac and cheese, a mean pot of chili and the like. Try your take on one of these recipes and we’ll get you one step closer to your new favorite dish.
<b>A Gorgeous Cat Eye</b>
Still have no idea how to do anything except a sort-of-passable smokey eye? Cat eye to the rescue! Our tutorial on graphic eyeliner is a great place to learn and experiment with more extreme versions of the everyday winged look.
<b>Party Decor (Without Leaving It Up for Weeks After the Party): </b>
DIY decorations so much, you decided to leave them up for a few days… weeks… wait, months? Really? While we fully support parties on any day of the year, take that decor down the next morning, people!
<b>Classy Nail Art</b>
Nail art is a thing, and it’s not going anywhere. An accent nail on each hand is a good start, but it’s time to go full on in the nail art department. Half moons, stripes and polka dots should all be fair game.
<b>An Accurate and Awesome Photo to Put on Your Online Dating Profile</b>
Yes. Accurate and awesome can be best friends, even when it comes to your online dating profile. We’re too old to be faking any aspect of our personalities or looks at this point. Be confident, and that confidence will come through, even over the interwebs!
<b>A Piece of Clothing</b>
Never had home ec in high school? That’s what we’re here for. Basic sewing skills are essential, whether you need to mend a piece of clothing or make something from scratch for a costume ;) Taught by Brit + Co DIYer Roxy Taghavian, our Sewing 101 E-Class will have you sewing up pillows, tote bags and tea towels in no time. And your very own maxi skirt!
<b>A Salon Wall</b>
You’ve seen ’em, you’ve swooned over ’em and now it’s time to make one for yourself. We’ve laid out four simple steps for creating your own salon wall, from curation to installation. If you don’t know what a salon wall is, it’s time to get in the know. “Salon” or “gallery” describes a certain way to hang art, photos and other wall pieces in your home. It embodies the art of ordered chaos because it’s all about mixing and matching the different shapes you’ve collected. It’s a great way to combine photos, art and other random things you deem frame-worthy.
<b>Breakfast for More Than Two People</b>
Breakfast in bed is sweet and all, but getting breakfast right for an entire house of family, friends or roommates is downright amazing. We recommend fluffy scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes (fry ’em at the last minute if you want more flavor), bread or pastries that don’t need to be toasted and plenty of bacon. I also always whip up a veggie hash with a mix of peppers, onions, carrots, broccoli, potatoes and whatever other veggies I’ve got in my fridge. (photo credit: Food52)
<b>A Consistent Signature</b>
Does your signature still look different every time? Like different enough that people look at you funny when you sign receipts? Stop that. Commit to the perfectly cursive sig or the straight up squiggle and call it a day.
<b>A Pom Pom</b>
Sure, this may be a summer camp throwback, but you’d be surprised just how far your pom pom skills can take you, even as a thirty-something. You can use pom poms on beanies, to create wall hangings and rugs or to decorate for your entire wedding!
<b>A Handmade Card That Looks Totally Professional</b>
Handmade cards are not just for kids. Learn yourself some calligraphy skills and you’ll be hand-lettering your own profesh-looking cards in no time.
<b>The Decision to NOT Take that Lemon Drop Shot</b>
And last but not least, turning 30 means it’s finally time to be able to make the decision to NOT take that lemon drop shot. Can’t say I’ve fully subscribed to this item on the list, but the photo above is from when I was 29 :)
Welcome to Selfmade Finance School, our new money series with Block Advisors to help small business owners with their tax, bookkeeping, and payroll needs year-round. This week, we explore the tax implications of bringing family members into your business.
The question for today is this: Does hiring your family members make sense for your business? Let me be clear. This is not a piece about whether hiring your family members makes sense for your relationships with those family members. As someone who is part of a family business, I could fill up a lot more than 600 words on my opinions about that. For today's purposes, we focus on whether it makes sense from an overall "good business and tax implication" perspective. As it turns out, there is a decent amount of tax nuance when it comes to employing your family. Let's break it down based on relationship to the employee:
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Spouses Who Are In Business Together
Personally, if I had to be in business with my husband, it would not go well. However, many couples build viable, strong businesses together and I say, good for them! Depending on how you have your business entity structured, it will make a big difference on the tax treatment of you and your spouse working as partners. Because a business jointly owned and operated by a married couple is generally treated as a partnership for Federal tax purposes, the spouses must comply with filing and record keeping requirements imposed on partnerships and their partners. The election to file two Schedule C (Form 1040) forms, (one for each spouse) permits certain married co-owners to avoid filing partnership returns, provided that each spouse separately reports a share of all the businesses' items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit. Under the election, both spouses will be subject to self-employment tax and on net earnings from self-employment and receive credit for Social Security earnings.
One Spouse Employs Another
If you have a dynamic where your spouse is an employee of your business, then your spouse's wages are subject to income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes. If you are self-employed (not a corporation or a partnership), your spouse's pay does not have to be included in your federal unemployment tax account (FUTA) contributions and payments. However, if your business is a corporation or a partnership you must include that spouse's pay in your unemployment tax contribution calculation.
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You Employ Your Child
First, let's be clear. I work in my family business, but I am an adult, so I am treated just like a normal employee. However, if you, for example, run a family restaurant and want to hire your children under 18 to work for you, there are some tax benefits. But first, you should check with your state for rules on how many hours minors can work (in non-agricultural jobs) and reference the Fair Labor Standards Act for information on limitations on the kinds of work children can perform.
"This is an often overlooked or under-utilized strategy. Paying your children for true services they provide in your business can be a powerful tax-saving tool," says Cathi Reed, Block Advisors Regional Director. "If you are a sole-proprietorship or single member LLC, and the child is less than 18 years of age, the business is not required to withhold FICA or payroll taxes. The child can use his or her standard deduction against income you pay."
You Hire Your Parent
Oh dear. If you are brave enough to do this, know that you will need to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your parent's wages and make the appropriate withholdings, but you don't have to pay unemployment taxes. Now all you have to do is convince your parent that you are the boss. Have fun with that!
Is Hiring Family Members Worth It For The Tax Benefits?
"There are some positive tax advantages to hiring family members. It's important to treat a family member like any other employee. Hiring your children can result in substantial savings for businesses. Make sure your child has real, age-appropriate work to do and a reasonable pay rate, comparable to other employees. Consult with a Block Advisors small business certified tax pro to ensure that you are complying with all requirements," advises Reed. "Block Advisors, a team within H&R Block, is dedicated to meeting the tax, bookkeeping and payroll needs of small business owners year-round. To start working with the tax experts at Block Advisors, visit blockadvisors.com."
In my opinion, you should not hire a family member solely because of the tax benefits. You should always hire based on whether that person is right for the job and keep in mind how this hire could materially impact your relationship with that person and others in your family. Finally, as I mentioned, make sure you have a tax professional on your team when making these determinations. As you can see, things can get a little tricky!
*All details were sourced from IRS.gov and blockadvisors.com
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regards to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. O'Keeffe Financial Partners and any other entity listed herein is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures