Need to File US Taxes? I've got NEWS you need to know!

If you're an American ex-pat like me, you know all about the yearly headache of filing your overseas tax return. Currently, this is something we all MUST do, even if we don't like it. There's just no getting around it for now. And because of the complexity of navigating tax documents issued to comply with Israeli tax law (as opposed to US tax law), it is usually NOT recommended to use automated software for filing your overseas tax return.

Until now, that is. I'm so excited to let you know about SimpleTax – the first ever U.S. tax software for Americans living in Israel. I've had a long chat with the founder of the company, and they've worked so hard to make this service available (it's designed to work in a way that standard tax software doesn't) and I'm super excited about this development. 

SimpleTax will walk you through a friendly and intuitive interface to prepare your U.S. taxes on your own, find your highest possible refund and save money on fees - starting as low as 299₪ for a tax return + FBAR.

If your taxes are more complicated, you will most likely pay a higher rate, but still MUCH lower than the quotes I've gotten from accountants recently.

This is going to change our lives. Mostly because staying tax compliant will now be so much simpler and cheaper!

I invite you to find more details at SimpleTax. If you use my referral link (the links to SimpleTax on this site are referral links), you'll get 10% off your first tax return! If for some reason you can't open the link, simply copy-paste this link to go to their site: https://simpletax.co.il/register?referral=KOFRU. Or go to their site on your own and be sure to enter my referral code (KOFRU)

SimpleTax is also on Facebook and has plans to help US citizens in Israel navigate financial issues better. You can be sure I'll be following them and waiting for more helpful developments.

So spread the word that in 2022 we'll be doing our taxes smarter and cheaper! Use my referral code to get a great 10% discount: 

MY-CODE: KOFRU

OR CLICK HERE

I know I've referred many of you to a CPA in the past, but you've probably heard that he's closed his practice. I hope you'll check out SimpleTax as an alternative, now that we've all been left hanging. Questions? Drop me a note at ester@kosherfrugal.com 

מידע חשוב עבור אזרחים אמריקאים שגרים בארץ: הגיע פתרון שיחסוך לנו הרבה כסך!

החל מהשנה, אפשר למלא דו"ח מס אמריקני עם חברת סימפלטקס - ונראה חסכון אמיתי!

אפשר לחסוך עוד יותר עם מכניסים את הקוד שלי בעת ההרשמה. ההרשמה ללא עלות - רק תצטרכו לשלם עם משתמשים במערכת לדווח. השתמשו בקוד KOFRU ותקבלו 10% הנחה.

או הקליקו כאן: https://simpletax.co.il/register?referral=KOFRU

8 books for $8 for Chanukah!

This post is for those of you who live in, or have shipping addresses in, the United States.

For a limited time, you can get 8 books from Kar-Ben Publishing for just $8 (shipping is extra)!

These books are hardcover books, and your little ones will be thrilled with their new collection!

Hope you enjoy!

(I'm considering buying these in order to have some "emergency gifts" on hand - my kids are all too old for these.)

I'd love to hear about other great deals you've found!

For those of you who don't have US shipping addresses, note that you can get FREE international shipping when you order books from Better World Books, Book Depository, and Wordery. (these are affiliate links - thanks for using them and supporting my blog!)

Sabra Hummus Recall

Readers in the USA, please take note of this HUGE hummus recall!

Sabra Dipping Co, LLC has announced that a large number of their hummus products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.


The affected products were produced prior to November 8, 2016 and include the following popular varieties:

Hummus Classic
Hummus Garlic
Hummus Jalepeno
Hummus Olive
Hummus Pine Nut
Hummus Red Pepper
Hummus Supremely Spicy
Hummus Spinach and Artichoke
Hummus Lemon
Hummus Tuscan Herb Garden
Hummus Carmelized Onion
and others

For the full list of recalled products, including barcodes and packaging information, click here!

Some shopping thoughts

When someone offers to bring something from the USA for me, I have to think VERY carefully before making requests. Luggage space has become so precious that I really don't want to waste the opportunity on something that won't feel is significant!

I currently define significant (for this purpose) as: 1. A noticeable savings on something relatively expensive, and 2. Things that are very difficult to find here or not available at all.

As I'm organizing my thoughts for the latest person who's offered to transport stuff, I decide to write a list of items I think are worthwhile bringing over from America. This is a pretty long list, and I'm REALLY trying to keep it short, but even so, it is obvious that this list cannot be gotten all at once. Thankfully, I don't need everything on the list every time someone comes!

List 1 (Noticeable savings on expensive items):

Shoes for everyone in the family (I love finding deals on 6pm!)
Probiotics
Lego sets/pieces
Baby Gifts
Vanilla Beans
Maple Syrup from Costco
Dancewear
Athletic Equipment
Deodorants
Small electronics and accessories
Underwear 
Sunscreen (usually we get the generic ones from Target)

List 2 (Hard to find in Israel):

Neosporin
Lactaid pills (preferably Ultra-Lactaid) ge
Benadryl tablets, liquid, and cream
Aquaphor
Odor Eaters products
Roach and Ant Control Products
Sudafed
Good food containers - disposable type
Good food containers - thermos type
Cayenne Pepper
Good Raisins
Canned Salmon
Ziploc bags 

I've left a bunch of things off this list that I DO find are cheaper in America, but I can easily order them from online stores like iHerb or Vitacost or Better World Books so I don't need to use valuable luggage space for them. You can see my iHerb list in my post dedicated to that! I also left off some really heavy or bulky items that ideally I would get, but their size or weight makes it impractical.

So now that you know what I'm mulling over, I will let you chime in with your ideas -- and I'm going back to trying to really hone in on the most important parts of this list! (I am definitely ordering shoes for nearly everyone!) Please leave a comment below with your favorite items to buy abroad!

And since this time, the offer is to bring a whole piece of luggage over for us (at no extra cost, how awesome is that?!), I've got my handy 1 lb duffel bag waiting for them!

*this post contains affiliate links, thanks for your support!

Zomick's health violations

Ok, this is not about an Israeli product.

I just happen to have lots of relatives and friends and readers in the USA who are in the habit of buying challot. And I KNOW a lot of people do this... and a lot of people buy Zomick's challah.

So when I read this story about health violations at Zomick's plant, I felt like I needed to share it.

I have eaten Zomick's challah.

And I was not happy to hear about beetles in the cornmeal, rodent nests in the plant, mouse droppings in the flour bags... not to mention cockroaches and assorted other creepy crawlies were found.

Shudder.

Please family and friends, make time to bake some homemade Challah!! You'll be happy you did.

I have a great recipe here.

Post-Pesach Grocery Stock up!

For my friends in the U.S., who live in a Peapod grocery delivery area, here's your chance to do your grocery shopping from home and have it delivered! AND save money!

First time customers will get $15 off! Happy restocking, with savings and convenience!

Israeli food

Some of you live in Israel. And that's great! And some of you don't live here, at least not yet!

So if you live in the U.S. and you miss some Israeli products, I just stumbled across a website for you to shop at - israelisuper.com !

I know there were times when I lived in the U.S. that I missed things that were quintessentially Israeli. And when we lived in S. Florida, it felt really warm and fuzzy to be able to go into one of the "Israeli" markets there and buy all sorts of products with labels in Hebrew! Not to mention just sending my then 10 yr old in with some money to pick up whatever was on my list, while the baby slept in the car! Not sure how that would have gone over at Publix, but at the Israeli store, they were totally fine with it!

(Although, now that I live in Israel, I have a whole other set of "I miss" products. I mostly miss health-foodie type products or junk-foodie type products that we used to get in the U.S...)

It's also perfect for those of you who live in the U.S., but don't have a great selection of kosher food available locally. They deliver all over the country! Could be JUST what you needed right before Pesach! (I remember when I was a child going with my parents on a 3 hr drive to the nearest city with enough of a Jewish community to have a substantial selection of specialized products for Pesach...)

I'd love to hear about it if you give it a try!