Let's Celebrate Christmas with Joy, Peace and Love

At this special time of the Christmas Season, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate with you, your family and friends. Let us partake in sustaining Peace, Love and Joy among one another. 

Thank you for all your partnerships, support and the many opportunities that we have shared during the Year of 2012.  We look forward to engage again with you next year.

We wish you more Successes, Happiness and Prosperity in the New Year of 2013. 

Wishing Everyone with the Spirit of Christmas

Holidays & the Frills of Gift Giving

Holidays & the Frills of Gift Giving

It’s ten days before Christmas Day and the doors of every retail stores are wide open to welcome each and everyone for their holiday shopping.  All sorts of coupons and marketing campaigns are everywhere to be found.  Shoppers are somehow challenged on which items are great for gift giving for their family members, dear friends or for special someone.

The internet is full of ideas, bloggers provide various perspectives, all forms of media have their share in providing consumers with some ideas that may be useful.  

Globally, the  Christmas Holidays are the most commercialized events across the globe. Regardless of location, there is something unique and ways in celebrating Christmas Season. Every culture around  the globe celebrates Christmas in different forms but the real message is Peace on Earth and the Joy of celebrating with family and friends.

Of course, we do not forget that during this Holiday Season besides the Christmas Day, there are many other festivities and cultural holidays that each one partake.  These holidays like Thanksgiving, Yule, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Black Friday, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and other globally celebrated days  are equally interesting to note of their importance. 

In the USA,  gift giving has always been a tradition among family members and friends. Corporate world has also embraced the practice of the tradition at certain level.  Some organizations provide Christmas bonuses while others give ‘Gift Certificates’, basket of goodies and in the modern world the ‘Gift Card’. 

“The Gift Card as a Taxable Gift”   

When I was in my morning read time. I come across the article “Don't be a Scrooge by Giving a Gift Card”, written by Jason Fell, Senior Online Editor of Entrepreneur.com in New York City. It is interesting to note of the benefit and disadvantage of giving a Gift Card as a gift to employees. 

Jason's article indicated some facts on gift giving including how the IRS view the ‘gift card’ as a taxable gift to an employee. Jason Fell granted us permission to re-publish and quote parts of his article here at JNTC Articles so that I can share to our readers. A dedicated link to the entire article was provided below so keep on reading.

“Giving gift cards to your employees for the holidays may be convenient for you, but not so simple, or desirable, for the employee."

“And while gift cards seem like a quick and easy alternative to more personalized gifts, what you might not know is the Internal Revenue Service considers gift cards to be additional compensation, so it's taxable income. That's right. Employees will have to declare money, gift certificates or gift cards -- pretty much anything that can be converted into cash -- with their usual taxes. "You can give $5 or $500, it doesn't matter," says Gary Grush, partner at audit, tax and advisory firm Grant Thornton Ltd. "No matter the value, you have to tell your employees that their W-2 form will include the value of the gift as taxable income."

Perspectives:

For any organization’s manager who may be thinking of giving ‘Gift Card’ as a gift to their employees. It may be useful to note the implications of such gift towards the burden of taxable income to your employee. The article of Jason has illustrated some examples as alternatives in making your best choices when giving a gift to your employees. 

During this economic times, a taxable income of  $25.00 in a Gift Card is a burden if not treated properly.

To all of you, we wish you the moments of Joy, Peace and Love during this Holiday Season. Merry Christmas.

While it is easy to pick one of your credit cards and purchase whatever that you like to give as a gift to anyone you like.  Be mindful of the fact that spend only what you have instead of spending what you will anticipate to receive from your hard earned income.  The latter is not a good strategy when considering the current economic conditions and uncertainties of jobs everywhere.

There are many ways to demonstrate love and care to special people in your life without spending much that you don't have.  Spending quality time together is the best option and this cannot be replaced by any items that will add clutter to your home.

To read the entire article of Jason Fell please click on the link “Don't be a Scrooge by Giving a Gift Card”

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US Culture: A Family Celebration for the Thanksgiving Holiday

"Our heartfelt greetings to everyone in your Family and Friends during this 2009 Thanksgiving Day"

What is Thanksgiving Day that we celebrate?

"This harvest meal has become a symbol of cooperation and interaction between English colonists and Native Americans. Although this feast is considered by many to the very first Thanksgiving celebration, it was actually in keeping with a long tradition of celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops."


The Thanksgiving Story

"The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect). They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America."

In the Modern American Society:
Every Thanksgiving Holiday, it has been passed through in American generations that it is time to visit families and friends across the globe.  This is the time of the year when many Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving Day with foods and revelry and most particular having a Turkey at the center of the festive table. 

Although some members of society, they do not celebrate Thanksgiving Day.  This is an optional celebration to some cultural clusters like celebrating Christmas Day or Hanukka and other cultural celebrations.

Planning your Thanksgiving Party?
We wish you the best of  fun and enjoyment ...  how about experimenting a dish with an 'organic apple butter'! that will complement your Turkey. And then report to us how was it and what did you cook?


Planning for your Thanksgiving Holiday Travels?
Be safe always

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