Staff: Liz Scharf and Maureen Dougherty Phone: 479-1053 or 800-639-1053 Email: cedinfo@capstonevt.org

Address: 20 Gable Pl. Barre, VT 05641 Website: www.capstonevt.org Fax: 802-479-5353

Savings and Credit Program VT Matched Savings February 2020

Feb. 3-8—Tax prep starts in many locations, days and times vary; visit our website or call the tax line for details 477-5148. Feb. 4 & 18—Savvy Speakers, 6-7:30

Feb. 17—President’s Day, office closed Feb. 21—Business Building Workshop, 9-10:30 Mar. 3 — Town Meeting Day, office closed

Barre: 316 North Main St., 05641; PH: 476-6565 Hours: M-F, 8:00-5:00; Sat, 9:00-12:00

Montpelier: 95 State St. (POB 1437), 05602; PH: 223-0598 Hours: M-F, 8:00-5:00; Closed Saturday

Morrisville: 116 VT Route 15 W (POB 309), 05661; PH: 888-4633 Hours: M-F, 8:00-5:00; Closed Saturday

Community National Bank Information Calendar of Events

Workshops

Business Building Blocks: As a small business owner you want to be pre-pared to file your Schedule C when you file your 2019 tax return.

Join us for this FREE, informative “Getting

Ready for Taxes” workshop on Friday, Febru-

ary 21st from 9:00-10:30 at Capstone.

Looking ahead, the next three ses-sions are March 20, April 17 & May

15, 2020. We’ll feature a different business topic each month.

Savvy Speakers: Learn to communicate more effectively in any set-ting—home, work, interviews. These Toastmasters workshops will continue on the first and third Tues-day of every month from 6:00-7:30 at Capstone in Barre. Free and open to all!

For more information, contact Barre Business Coun-selor about any of the above, contact Margaret Fer-guson: 477-5214/mferguson@capstonevt.org

Free VITA Tax Prep Has Started!

In Barre, you can have your tax return prepared on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3-6 and Thursdays from 9-2 at the Capstone office. Saturdays are at the Aldrich Li-

brary from 10-1. Walk- ins welcome!

In Morrisville tax prep is by appointment only on Tuesday mornings, Thursday afternoons and three Wednesday mornings. Call their office at 888-7993 for an appointment.

VITA tax preparers will also be in Montpelier at Kellogg-Hubbard Library on Wednesdays from 2-6 pm; in Northfield at Brown Public Library on Thurs-days from 5-7:30 pm; and in Waitsfield at the Town Hall on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3-5 pm. These 3 location are walk-in only.

We will prepare schedule C returns (for small busi-ness) in Barre by appointment only, please call.

VITA services are completely free and open to all with annual incomes up to $56,000. Everyone needs a photo ID and social security CARD. Be sure to have all your income documents with you when you come, including Landlord Certificate if you’re apply-ing for a Renter Rebate and your current property tax bill if you own a home.

Additional VITA information and locations can be found at our website: www.capstonevt.org. Or call our tax line at 477-5148 and leave a message. We will get back to you.

FREE Winter Clothing

There’s lots of good condition winter coats, boots, hats, scarfs, gloves, and mittens in a variety of sizes for kids and adults in the Capstone lobby. Come browse during business hours.

Boost your tax refund by saving some! It’s a great opportunity to “catch up” or “leap ahead” on your savings goal!

These affordable winter activities can help you have maxi-mum fun with minimal budget. Winter days are perfect for staying warm and toasty curled up by the fire. But spend-ing all of your time at home could leave you feeling a little stir-crazy and craving more sunshine. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors when the temperature drops. The chal-lenge is finding affordable winter activities. “Winter is a tricky time for budgeting because it starts during the busy holiday season,” says shopping and trends expert Sara Skirboll, “and your budget may al-ready have been stretched”. Colder months can also bring unexpected expenses. You may spend more money at the doctor’s office or you may need to spend money on your car or home due to

winter weather woes. And, of course, utility bills may be higher during the coldest of months. While you explore cheap things to do dur-ing the winter, consider giving some of these winter activities a try:

1. Have a snow day The most affordable winter activities are sometimes ones you can enjoy in your own backyard. There are plenty of snow-centric ways to spend a winter weekend. How about sledding, tubing, building a snow fort or having an epic snowball fight? Even shoveling snow with the kids or your significant other can be a fun budget-friendly winter activity and get the job done faster. 2. Swap the ski resort for a national or state park Maybe you love skiing, but not ski resort prices. The solu-tion? Take advantage of public parks, says Erin Kirkland, author of an Alaskan travel blog. Kirkland’s winter travels with her family routinely include national parks and forests. Theses places often feature a more rugged landscape for skiers, but the entry fees can be much lower than what you’d pay at your traditional winter resort. Plus, you can do more than just ski while you’re there, including cooking over a fire and looking for signs of wildlife. 3. Visit the zoo, museum, or aquarium Zoos and aquariums tend to see more traffic in the spring and summer months. If you want to avoid the crowds, winter is a great time to check them out. You can save even more if the attraction offers discounted admission prices during the off-season. Look for days when activi-ties might be discounted, and check for coupons and discount codes.

4. Host a potluck A potluck get-together can easily warm up cold winter days. Micah Klug, owner of lifestyle blog Home Faith Family, says one of her family’s favorite budget-friendly winter activities is hosting hot cocoa parties. Klug’s family warms up the hot chocolate in a slow cook-er, and “everyone else brings their favorite toppings,” she says. The cost is minimal, but the fun factor is high. If you’re opting for a potluck dinner, Skirboll suggests sticking with low-cost dishes you can make in a large batch, such as chili and cornbread. 5. Try a winter festival Visiting a winter festival can be one of the best affordable winter activities if admission is free or minimal. You can take in the event sights and sounds and enjoy some cold-weather snacks, especially if free samples are on tap. If you think you may do a little shopping, set a firm budget beforehand so you’re not tempted to overspend. 6. Enjoy the sparkle of holiday lights Yes, they are still out there! While most people have tak-en down their lights, there’s still a surprising number who haven’t. Plan an evening or two cruising around in town to see the holiday lights before it’s gone for the year. 7. Feed the birds When snow is covering the ground and trees, your feath-ered friends may have a harder time finding food. A bag of bird seed only costs a few dollars, and scattering it in your local park is a leisurely way to spend an afternoon. 8. Have a bonfire night Who doesn’t love gathering around a fire and roasting marshmallows? If you’ve got room in the backyard to set up a fire pit, you can host a bonfire with friends. Encourage guests to bring hot dogs and marshmallows and offer hot apple cider or cocoa to help beat the chill. 9. Budget for winter activities and use apps to save Deciding in advance what you want to spend on winter fun can make choosing winter activities even easier. Re-view your regular budget and extra spending. Then, de-termine how much you can set aside for winter activities each month. Don’t pay full price if you don’t have to. If any of your outdoor plans require special equipment, such as skis or ice skates, rent, borrow, or trade, don’t buy (unless you do them frequently). Finally, use coupon and deal apps. You can pair these discounts with a rewards checking account or rewards credit card to double dip on cash rewards.

Budget-Friendly Winter Activities to Beat the Cold-Weather Blues