Book Board Chat

Good morning everyone, I just want to make a few brief comments on posts here this morning. Weather is still cloudy - had heavy rain overnight but forecast for the weekend is much better. We've been fortunate in that we have had the flooding other areas in north Tx and SE Tx have been seeing all week.

Several years ago, property taxes in our city were frozen for residents over 65 so we enjoy a steady amount of about $3200 a year. I wonder how many other communities have been able to reward their older citizens with that benefit? Tx law says that property taxes cannot exceed a 10% increase in one year, so even if property values rise more than that, as they have this year at 14%, you only have to pay 10% more if you're not exempt.

One of the ways I have rewarded myself for continuing to work at an older age is to have household help. My lady comes every 2 weeks and I pay her $100. We are tidy people anyway but that way I don't have to vacuum or mop or do bathrooms. I cleaned house from the age of 12 on as my mom sewed and made all the clothes for 4 girls so we girls did the housework and washed dishes. Daddy wouldn't let us practice our cooking skills on him *smile* so mom did the cooking. I simply don't want to do housework any more. Simple laundry on the weekend, most of our workclothes go to the cleaners anyway.

DH has a lawn service come in once a week, March through November and pays them $130 a month for all service. It's nice to know that he doesn't have to do the heavy chores any more and can just play with his flowers and veggies as he chooses.