Lifestyle & Trends - How To

Shopping online? 10 tips to avoid ID theft this holiday season

The holidays are approaching and it's time to start shopping for those special gifts. Last year, consumers spent a holiday-season record $32.6 billion online, according to comScore. Unfortunately, with so much personal financial information out there, instances of identity theft are on the rise. Here are 10 tips to better protect your identity when shopping online this holiday season.

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Living credit smart in tough financial times

As our nation struggles to regain its footing in a recession, establishing good credit has never been more important than it is today.

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How to extend the life of your heating system

Just as regular tune-ups may extend the life of your car, performing routine maintenance to your home's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system may extend the life of your HVAC equipment. While there are some tasks homeowners can handle on their own, many HVAC projects require a professional contractor.

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Why tax time is the perfect time to plan for retirement

Every year, tax time serves as a reminder of financial progress. Before the big April deadline rolls around, most of us spend time gathering documents, reviewing accounts and meeting with financial advisors, and all of that effort is centered around getting a firm grasp on what you earn, save and invest. What many don't realize is that tax time preparation can be beneficial for more than one reason. Consider this: Many of the same documents, papers and files you go through to complete your taxes are the same documents you need for assessing your retirement preparedness.

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Slash college bills with tax benefits

Other than buying a home and automobile, a college education is one of the biggest investments Americans typically make. On average, in-state tuition and fees at a four-year public college increased by more than 8 percent to $8,244 for the 2011-2012 academic year, and room and board now averages more than $17,000 per year. Fortunately, you may be able to cut your college costs at income tax time with a variety of credits, deductions and savings plans.

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