The 2015 Federal Budget will cause endless political arguments, but there's a more important question for most people: how will it affect the money I take home and the amounts I have to spend on essential services? Here's what you need to know about HELP repayments, the "Netflix tax", FBT for mobile devices and more. A reminder: many of these changes will be dependent on new legislation to enable it passing through Parliament. With no one party controlling the Senate, that's far from guaranteed. We'll update this post as new information emerges. One of the most heavily-previewed aspects of this year's budget is the so-called "Netflix tax": ensuring GST is applied to digital goods purchased from overseas. We may be waiting a while for the detail on this: the government says it is anticipating OECD guidelines on how to implement this before taking action, and those guidelines aren't expected until the end of the year. Legislation has been drafted but doesn't offer a lot of detail on how offshore entities will be forced to apply GST, and the rules won't apply until July 1 2017.

A key quote for technology lovers from treasurer Joe Hockey's budget speech: In a further new policy initiative which is just common sense in the digital age, we are abolishing Fringe Benefits Tax on all portable electronic devices used for work, like mobile phones, laptops and tablets.the tortilla curtain racism quotes There are, however, plenty of conditions: the exemption doesn't kick in until April 1 2016 and only applies to businesses with a turnover under $2 million.made to measure curtains st neots Currently, if you work overseas there is no obligation to repay any HELP debt you run up studying at university. beaded door curtains dunelm mill

That loophole will be closed from 1 January 2016, requiring repayments once you hit the repayment threshold (currently $53,345). This approach is already used by a handful of countries (notably the UK and New Zealand) but will be applied more broadly. Bad news if you're working in Australia temporarily: the tax-free threshold will no longer apply. ingerlise curtainsYou'll have to pay 32.5 per cent tax on all your income up to $80,000 (and higher rates on income above that).kohls shower curtains hookless For unincorporated small businesses with a turnover under $2 million, such as sole traders, there will be a 5 per cent tax discount, capped at $1000 per individual. rio ready made eyelet curtains chocolate

The discount will apply to business income (as distinct from personal income), and will be delivered as a tax credit when you submit your return. That means it reduces what you'll owe, but you won't see the money until at least July 2016. Small businesses that are incorporated and have a turnover under $2 million will see their tax rate drop from 30 per cent to 28.5 per cent. Both changes are scheduled to kick in from July 1 2015, legislation permitting. Small businesses with less than $2 million in turnover will be allowed to immediately write off any purchase valued at $20,000 or less. Currently, that limit is $1000; any purchase above that has to be depreciated over a number of years. That concession will be in place from July 1 2015 through to the end of the 2016-2017 financial year — that is, two years. There's no limit to how many items can be deducted under this arrangement, though you'll need to demonstrate business relevance. The highly controversial proposal to force people under 30 to wait up to six months to receive unemployment benefits has been canned.

So too have proposals to force a co-payment when visiting doctors. Plans to allow universities free rein in setting fees haven't officially been cancelled, but it isn't clear that these have any chance of passing the Senate. Lifehacker's Loaded column looks at better ways to manage (and stop worrying about) your money.Washed BelgianBelgian LinenLinen WashedDécor WashedBelgian DrapesTexture WashedTexture SolidStrong TextureBelgian DecorForwardRestoration Hardware»Washed Belgian Linen»Washed Belgian Linen Drapery Black curtain rods with neutral curtains. Belgium's oldest and most honored mill looms our linen fabric from the finest native-grown flax, yielding the rich look and texture that only Belgian linen can impart. Repeated washing enhances the soft feel, creating a casual yet sophisticated look with an elegant drape.IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY CONNECTED BETWEEN POSTS FOLLOW ME ON Instagram (fortheloveofahouse) ! My heart is full...  thank you! This is the view as you walk into the kitchen from the entry.

The antique French wood chandelier was found in pieces in a field at Brimfield. The antique pedestal table was originally found with a leaf in it that made it oval, which I loved, but ultimately, I felt it worked better in the room as a round table. The fireplace was added during our renovation, the original fireplace (which only opened into the formal dining room behind the kitchen)  had major repair issues and was taken down to make a see-thru fireplace between the kitchen and the dining room. The bricks are from the original fireplace. The mantel board was found in the barn. The 19th c. French painting (in its original frame) above the fireplace was found at Porte de Vanves (a weekend street fare) in Paris. A 1913 Biltmore hotel tray (one of a pair that I have) holds hotel flatware and an antique ironstone pitcher in which I always keep some kind of white flowers. The doorway to the left of the fireplace takes you to the dining room. The black door takes you outside to the back porch.

The cupboard to the right of the fireplace is original to the house, and has its original iron bin pulls on the drawers. I adore the small panelled door! On the door is an unframed antique bovine painting hung with antique chain and an antique square nail found on the property. I researched the old iron bin pulls hoping to find replicas for the island. I was thrilled, yet they were slightly smaller and the detailing was slightly different. And, then I found exact replicas- exact size and details, but they were in solid brass. I purchased them, and spray painted them a mat black to match the originals. The two iron handles on the island that you see in this photo are from Restoration Hardware. The wire basket found in France sits on the large hotel silver tray that is the mate to the hotel tray on the dining table. It holds an antique English ironstone ham stand with a small fern, and two topiaries.... one from Snug Harbor Farm in Maine, and the other I have been growing for nineteen years!

The marble on the island is honed Bianco Venatino. I had originally thought I wanted Carrara, but found the slabs at the time of the renovation to be very creamy (instead of white) and to have very little veining. When I spotted this slab at one of the many stone fabricators that we visited I fell in love! I loved the veining and the movement of the piece. I felt the island at a little over 3 feet x 7 feet needed to have a presence, and the movement of the veining gives it that importance in the room. (To read my post on marble click HERE.) The countertops are soapstone. They have a small amount of green veining which I find beautiful. In my research I read that soapstone can be soft depending on where it is quarried. I have not found that to be true of mine, as it is very durable. For the first month I mineral-oiled it once a week, then for the first year once a month, and now just occasionally. If anything scratches it the oil covers the scratch. And, nothing stains it which is really nice.

It is also very heat tolerant, so you can sit hot pots/pans directly on it. (To read my post on soapstone click HERE.) The hardware on the drawers is polished nickel from Restoration Hardware.  I used bin pulls (Gilmore) with handle pulls (Aubrey) in two different sizes (6" and 8", depending on the drawer size) to vary the look. I designed the kitchen using all drawers. Years ago I found this idea in a magazine and thought it was brilliant! I have one corner cabinet and a cabinet for sheet pans and cutting boards; every thing else is a drawer! I can not tell you how easy it is to just pull open a drawer to find what you are looking for, and to lift up the heavy pots. Glass front refrigerator is Sub Zero. The island pendants are turn of the century mill lights found at Smith-Zukas Antiques in Maine. The light above the sink is from Circa Lighting. The wood ceiling is 6" v-match tongue-and-groove which I paint with a gloss; a little trick I use all over the house-  it makes your ceilings look taller by reflecting the light.

My backsplash is real beadboard, and the floors are random width Eastern white pine from Carlisle which happens to be a local company located 35 minutes from our house. We loved knowing that just as the original floors,  the new floors were also from New Hampshire!  All the floors in the house are finished with tung oil which is what was used a hundred years ago. The wood brackets under the glass front cabinets, the large polished nickel silver cupboard clasps (these are much larger than Restoration Hardware's) and the exact replicas for the bin pulls on the island were all found at House of Antique Hardware. Ella's bed was purchased years ago (actually for her sister Kelsey) and I do not remember from where... sorry. The glass in the cabinets is original to the house! We took the antique wavy glass from windows which were removed during the renovation and had it cut for the cabinet doors. The glass front cabinets are filled with ironstone, hotel silver, green yelloware, hotel and vintage bamboo flatware, drinking glasses and crystal, and white everyday plates.

While some things, of course, get used more than others I do believe in using all my pieces;  I open and use the cabinets daily! The sink bridge-faucet is a Perrin and Rowe, and the farmhouse sink is a 36" Shaw. I removed the doors I had originally had made for under the sink to soften the long line of cabinets with a linen skirt. All of the rugs are antique. The one in this photo was found in Portland, Oregon some 20+ years ago for $5! I love the wear on them, and the softness they give a room. For reference, the kitchen measures 14 feet by 30 feet, and I have 9 foot ceilings on the first floor of the farmhouse (8 1/2' upstairs)  which is very rare in antique homes here in New Hampshire!  The church window frame came from Fredericksburg, Texas and was given to me by my sister Susan after she could no longer use it. In the right side of this photo (currently closed off) under the transom window is the entry into the barn room!  There are about 4 steps down to get to the room.