Energy Star On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law the “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.” This bill extended tax credits for energy efficient home improvements (windows, doors, roofs, insulation, HVAC, and non-solar water heaters). Tax credits for these residential products, which had expired at the end of 2007, will now be available for improvements made during 2009. However, improvements made during 2008 are not eligible for a tax credit. The bill also extended tax credits for solar energy systems and fuel cells to 2016. New tax credits were established for small wind energy systems and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles…. read more.

End-of-Year Tax Savings Tips Six money-savings strategies to employ before December 31st By Steve Kopff, CPA December 12, 2007 Would you like to reduce your tax payment this April? If so, December is the month to take steps toward that goal. Most of the tax-savings tips you’ll want to employ in December center around “accelerating” payments and expenses, and “deferring” certain types of income. In other words, when you can, pay bills and incur expenses before December 31st, and claim income after that date. Of course, this strategy doesn’t actually eliminate your tax liability, it simply defers it. But as you may recall… read more.

Tips on deductibles, claims, cash value vs. replacement cost By Robert Bruss Inman News Smart homeowners know how to save on their homeowners insurance policies. Here are the primary ways to reduce your homeowners insurance premiums: DON’T INSURE FOR THE AMOUNT OF THE MORTGAGE. Many homeowners blindly insure for the amount of their mortgage balance. The result can be either too much insurance coverage or not enough. The mortgage balance has absolutely nothing to do with how much insurance you need. Over-insurance usually occurs when high land value (which won’t be destroyed in a fire) is included in the homeowners insurance policy. A better approach… read more.

By Dana Dratch Bankrate.com Why wait until after a disaster to discover your homeowners insurance doesn’t really have you covered? Here are 10 things to do so you can have peace of mind — and full protection — right now: Buy the right insurance. “You should know what you have, and you should know ahead of time that you are covered,” says Jeanne Salvatore, vice president for consumer affairs with the Insurance Information Institute, a nonprofit industry trade group. She recommends looking at your insurance coverage in four key areas: the structure of your house, your belongings, your liability to… read more.