We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy! Every year, the IRS dutifully reports the most common blunders that taxpayers make on their returns. And every year, at or near the top of the “oops” list is forgetting to enter their Social Security number at the top of the tax form — or making a mistake when entering those nine digits. But think about it for a minute: Do Read more

December is always a flurry of gifting, decorating, and celebrating, and in the midst of it all, there's end-of-the-year finances to think about, too. If the spirit of giving has you thinking of donating goods or money to your favorite charity, don't forget to complete your donation before the New Year's Eve celebrations begin. We have until the end of the year to claim any contributions as a Read more

Do you have what it takes to buy a home? Consider this exhaustive guide from Kiplinger. Tired of renting? It could be a great time to buy your first home. In many cities, home prices have bottomed, and rents have risen. Mortgage rates are still superlow. In fact, homes haven't been as affordable since 1971. On the downside, in many cities, buyers have fewer homes from which to choose and more Read more

The tax man is sneaking up; with this year's deadline to file income taxes on Tuesday, April 17, don't spare one second to get your finances in order. If you're in fear of owing money, there may be some deductions you never realized were available just by being your science- and tech-savvy self! Check to see if you qualify for any of the six possible tax breaks below, and include them when you Read more

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Now that you're done with taxes, it's time to do a little Spring cleaning with your financial documents. Kiplinger advises what to keep and what to toss. It's smart to keep your tax returns indefinitely. Old returns can provide important background information in a variety of situations — for example, if you're applying for a mortgage, applying for disability insurance or trying to figure out Read more

And the countdown begins . . . four days until Tax Day, which is on April 17 this year. Seems like most of you have already filed, but for those of you who haven't, Kathy Pickering, executive director of The Tax Institute at H&R Block, names some of the most common tax mistakes that people make. Here they are: Failure to take into account new tax laws. Recording an incorrect filing status, Read more

Tax Day is nearing and when you're rushing to file, don't forget these tax breaks cited by Kiplinger for a bigger tax refund. With the tax-filing deadline coming up very soon, I'm still getting a lot of questions from people about potential tax breaks. Before you file, see if you’re eligible for the following deductions and tax credits. Tax breaks for college costs. The American Opportunity Read more

Does the topic of retirement make you scratch your head? LearnVest breaks it down for you in simple terms. You know what’s awesome? Retirement. No, really. Imagine it: Waking up every day to head to your favorite yoga/art/synchronized swimming class. Catching up with friends daily. Starting (and finishing) every book or movie that catches your eye. It’s the ultimate extended vacation, and Read more