Air Conditioner Sizing

If you're buying a new central air conditioner, be sure that it is properly sized. Get assistance from an energy auditor or air conditioning contractor. Buying a unit that is oversized will mean you are consuming more energy than necessary to cool your house. A unit that is too small will run almost constantly and never seem to get the climate comfortable, also resulting in wasted energy. Also, look for a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating above 12 to ensure your unit isn't an energy hog.

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• Vehicle Donation

  If you donated a vehicle to charity in 2011, good for you! The charity will benefit and you'll get a nice tax deduction, but be aware of the tax implications. If the vehicle had a claimed value of more than $500, your deduction is limited to the gross proceeds from its sale by the organization. In years past, some taxpayers abused this deduction by overstating the value of vehicles they donated to charity. The IRS scrutinizes these deductions more closely now.

• Don’t Ignore Mortgage Trouble

  If you are having trouble making your mortgage payments, it’s important to contact your loan servicer right away. The longer you wait, the fewer options you will have. To find out what some of those options might be, the government offers free information about options and eligibility on the website maintained by the Department of the Treasury & Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

• Take Advantage of Post-holiday Price Cuts

  Many retailers offer steep discounts after Christmas to rid their shelves of excess inventory. When planning your holiday budget, you should try to set aside some money to take advantage of these sales to purchase items you truly need. An additional word of advice though, some of the best deals won’t be available until several days after the holiday, because many retailers have learned that people tend to spend gift cards they have received the first few days after Christmas.

• Gift of Music

  A home-burned CD mix is a fun gift idea. Put together favorite tunes of the recipient or pick songs around a theme. For a baby shower for a girl, give a CD with "girls" songs. For a housewarming, look for songs that talk about houses or homes. Have fun with it and don't spend a fortune, because you already own the music.

• Cross-Promotions

  Sign up for promotional e-mails from your credit card company to stay current on special discount offers. Many credit card companies offer special discount promotions when you purchase airline tickets for specific airlines using their credit card partners or a retailer.