Monday, April 27, 2020
Today the stay-at-home order was lifted for the state of Colorado. The state of Colorado, for the most part, is now limited by a safer-at-home order. The city of Denver has extended their stay-at-home order until May 8th. Personally, I wanted some other states to play guinea pig for reopening, but I guess we get to be part of the test group. Today, non-essential retail stores can start curbside service and physicians and dentists can start performing elective procedures. On Friday, salons may open, and people can shop inside stores. May 4th, offices may open with less than 50 percent of their staff. Restaurants, gyms, and non-essential businesses that usually have 10 or more people congregated are still not allowed to open.
I was hoping I could schedule some family dentist appointments for cleanings, but two different news channels reported dentists are receiving mixed messages as to whether they can resume cleanings. I am sure that sticking point will be resolved in the next day or so. Another few weeks waiting will probably not make any difference in our teeth. My older daughter, Megan, has not heard back from the chiropractor she works for yet, and there has not been any specific mention of massage or chiropractors in the recent executive orders, however, I have received notices from both a chiropractor and a massage therapist that they were opening this week.
This morning, the national news reported that 12 states were relaxing restrictions this week and none of them met the first guideline for starting to reopen. I have the luxury of saying, “Yes, we should wait another week or so until we have 14 consecutive days of downward numbers.” because our income has not really been affected by the stay-at-home order. I am sure every family that has someone sitting at home waiting for their first unemployment check is thinking, “It is about time!” The people not expecting an unemployment check such as sole proprietor business owners are thinking “It was time three weeks ago!”
I know you may be thinking, “The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides benefits for freelancers, gig economy workers, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals who previously were not eligible, so sole proprietor business owners are covered.” Do you have any idea how many sole proprietors do not pay themselves? I did not have any idea until I asked several of my friends several years ago. Here is the PUA rule for self-employed individuals “If you have been only self-employed for the last 18 months and you pay taxes on that income.” Most businesses do not make a profit the first few years, incoming revenue barely meets outgoing expenses (for many businesses it does not). If your business is not making a profit, you are probably not paying taxes on any income.
The past few weeks, the morning traffic report has been pretty much the same, there has been one or two accidents a week, and my helper gets here early each day because the traffic is light. This morning, with the removal of the stay-at-home order, there were two accidents before I even got out of bed. My helper told me it took her old usual amount of time to get to my house, and the highway was packed with cars. Where were people going? I am pretty sure all the playgrounds are still closed, so parents are not dragging their pent-up children out. Very few businesses get to open for “real” business today. Apparently, we did need that stay-at-home order after all to keep us safe from ourselves.
I have a medical appointment on Friday and may stop by OfficeMax for a new shredder on my way home if the store is open. I have three large buckets of papers to shred, and my current shredder has died. I am tired of looking at those full buckets in my house. I might also break down and stop at Target for new underwear. Apparently, I outlived my last pack and need to open my wallet to spend money on myself.
My piece of advice to you is to celebrate at home. Mika and I will be going for our first walk in more than a week, and we will still be wearing masks. We will also still be staying in our own neighborhood.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.
Today the stay-at-home order was lifted for the state of Colorado. The state of Colorado, for the most part, is now limited by a safer-at-home order. The city of Denver has extended their stay-at-home order until May 8th. Personally, I wanted some other states to play guinea pig for reopening, but I guess we get to be part of the test group. Today, non-essential retail stores can start curbside service and physicians and dentists can start performing elective procedures. On Friday, salons may open, and people can shop inside stores. May 4th, offices may open with less than 50 percent of their staff. Restaurants, gyms, and non-essential businesses that usually have 10 or more people congregated are still not allowed to open.
I was hoping I could schedule some family dentist appointments for cleanings, but two different news channels reported dentists are receiving mixed messages as to whether they can resume cleanings. I am sure that sticking point will be resolved in the next day or so. Another few weeks waiting will probably not make any difference in our teeth. My older daughter, Megan, has not heard back from the chiropractor she works for yet, and there has not been any specific mention of massage or chiropractors in the recent executive orders, however, I have received notices from both a chiropractor and a massage therapist that they were opening this week.
This morning, the national news reported that 12 states were relaxing restrictions this week and none of them met the first guideline for starting to reopen. I have the luxury of saying, “Yes, we should wait another week or so until we have 14 consecutive days of downward numbers.” because our income has not really been affected by the stay-at-home order. I am sure every family that has someone sitting at home waiting for their first unemployment check is thinking, “It is about time!” The people not expecting an unemployment check such as sole proprietor business owners are thinking “It was time three weeks ago!”
I know you may be thinking, “The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides benefits for freelancers, gig economy workers, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals who previously were not eligible, so sole proprietor business owners are covered.” Do you have any idea how many sole proprietors do not pay themselves? I did not have any idea until I asked several of my friends several years ago. Here is the PUA rule for self-employed individuals “If you have been only self-employed for the last 18 months and you pay taxes on that income.” Most businesses do not make a profit the first few years, incoming revenue barely meets outgoing expenses (for many businesses it does not). If your business is not making a profit, you are probably not paying taxes on any income.
The past few weeks, the morning traffic report has been pretty much the same, there has been one or two accidents a week, and my helper gets here early each day because the traffic is light. This morning, with the removal of the stay-at-home order, there were two accidents before I even got out of bed. My helper told me it took her old usual amount of time to get to my house, and the highway was packed with cars. Where were people going? I am pretty sure all the playgrounds are still closed, so parents are not dragging their pent-up children out. Very few businesses get to open for “real” business today. Apparently, we did need that stay-at-home order after all to keep us safe from ourselves.
I have a medical appointment on Friday and may stop by OfficeMax for a new shredder on my way home if the store is open. I have three large buckets of papers to shred, and my current shredder has died. I am tired of looking at those full buckets in my house. I might also break down and stop at Target for new underwear. Apparently, I outlived my last pack and need to open my wallet to spend money on myself.
My piece of advice to you is to celebrate at home. Mika and I will be going for our first walk in more than a week, and we will still be wearing masks. We will also still be staying in our own neighborhood.
Until next time,
Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.