Dear Family,

We had such a good time at this week's life conference.

Heck, even those who didn't come had a great time laughing at me, trying to get the date and time right in the messages on Wednesday and Thursday. My apologies to those who showed up at eastern time. I am SO sorry. Read - Tax Conference, below,

And speaking of your questions...please, please, PLEASE, if you want an answer - use the form on the site.

You can find from any page on TaxMama.com by simply clicking on the 'Ask' button on the aqua navigation bar across the top of each page. There were a couple of urgent questions I wanted to answer during the next free moment...but they got lost in the garbage that comes in. Using the FORM on the site will put your question into a special folder on my computer where I will find you. So, please, help yourselves. Do something novel - follow instructions.

What a kick! Barry Pinsky from Merrill Lynch's Encino office mailed me Shalach Manot - Purim treats.

This is such a beautiful tradition. I know, I've talked about it in past years, but, still, it's lovely. This is the reverse of Halloween. When Jewish children go out in costume on Purim and knock on doors, they are bringing treats, not asking for them.

I was looking at some of the Purim sites to arrange to send some things out to family or friends far away. It didn't occur to me to just put a plate of goodies together and mail them. And why not?

What do you think? Should we create our own, secular day or week to send people we care about tokens of our love? Not things we buy online - but things we package with our own hands and enclose a personal note? Kind of like Kwanzaa...only sooner.  Got it!

Let's target August to do that. On Thanks for all the Gifts Week. Mark your calendar!

Do you want to keep up with the Joneses? Well, then make a point of using your refund to pay down your debt and add to your savings.

That's what most people who responded to this survey said they'd do.

TaxMama's advice? If you have a large refund - yes. DO pay down debt or save some of it - if you have no debt. But DO reserve a part of that money to do something fun, outrageous and wonderful! Start turning tax time into a celebration!

Speaking of celebration - the book cover looks so red and hot...I just had to put the logo on everything - even a doggy t-shirt. Doncha love it!

Anyway, lots of good questions and humor today.

More next week...time to go speak with Humaira at MuslimRadio.com ... a nice Jewish girl like me? Absolutely!

Remember to spring forward this weekend.

And please, don't play any mean pranks on anyone!

Best wishes,
Eva Rosenberg, EA
Your TaxMama is watching...out for you.

President Bush and Social Security
If you want to express your own opinion on Social Security to President Bush and your legislator's, please feel free to use the link at the bottom of this letter.