The holidays will soon be here and most of us are shopping for gifts for family and friends. Surveys have shown that many of the people on your list would truly like to receive a gift card for the holidays. This affords them the opportunity to pick out their own present and know that they will truly have something that they want and need. Unfortunately, the current economic crisis makes this a bad time to purchase these cards. If you buy from a favorite retailer, you have no way of knowing if they will be going out of business soon. Stores are closing everywhere and leaving gift card holders with little or no value. The gift card holder has no right to funds in a bankruptcy until all creditors have been paid. At that time there is seldom any money left for distribution.

If you do decide to purchase gift cards this year, or you are the recipient of cards, consider these tips:

Try to purchase your card from a popular and successful retailer.

If you have an old gift card from a troubled store, cash it in immediately before it no longer has any value.

Some bankrupt retailers will still redeem your gift cards at full or half value. You must ask if this is the case.

You can purchase general gift cards from American Express, Master Card, Visa, or Discover. These can be used at any one of hundred of businesses, but they do charge an extra fee to the purchaser.

Always inquire about fees and expiration dates when purchasing gift cards. Many cards do not have either, but some still do and you want to be certain that you are aware of these.

Check with the company if you can use their card online. Many cards cannot be used online and this is something you would certainly want to know before making a purchase.

When filing your income tax forms with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), many people wonder if they are doing the right thing by filing jointly with their spouse.

It is almost always to your advantage to file your tax return Married Filing Jointly.  In general, you will pay more combined tax on two separate tax forms than you will on the one joint form.  This statement is true for the majority of taxpayers but there are, as always, exceptions.

In the case of a two income couple where one of them has encountered very large medical expenses during the year, while the other has had minimal medical costs.  Medical expenses are generally deductible after they surpass 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.  By using the smaller figure on a separate return, you may well benefit greatly from this deduction.  On a joint return, however, you may see a reduced benefit or none at all.  Under these circumstances it would always be a good idea to compare the results of both filings.

Another good reason for filing separately is if you believe that your spouse is cheating on your tax returns.  If caught, you can both be held liable on a joint return.  If, however, you file separately, you have no liability for your spouse’s actions.

It is such a general practice to file jointly that, in 2006, the IRS received 53.2 million returns filed jointly, and only 2.5 million returns filed separately by married people.

If you are in doubt, work up both scenarios for comparison.  Most tax preparers have software that automatically checks on this issue.

It is important to properly maintain your fireplace and keep it clean and safe to use.  The following is a checklist of things you should do to be certain that your fireplace meets the necessary safety requirements.

It is important that you have your fireplace cleaned annually by a reliable chimney sweeper.  A fireplace that is not maintained properly can cause fires or contribute to air pollution.

Choosing the right wood for your fireplace is very important.  Hardwoods such as hickory, oak, or ash burns cleaner than softwood such as fir or pine.  Manufactured fire logs burn much cleaner than ordinary firewood.

Use only seasoned wood with a moisture content of less than 20%. 

Be certain that the fire gets enough air to burn properly.  Always check that the damper is closed after the fire has been extinguished.

Creosote buildup can cause chimney fires. 

A fire should fit the size of the fireplace.  One that is too large or too hot wastes fuel and can possibly crack your chimney.

Fireplaces must be kept in good working condition.  Cracks in the chimney or loose mortar or bricks should be attended to at once.

When using firelogs, read and follow the label.  Use only one firelog at a time and do not poke or break manufactured logs.

Leave the glass doors open on your fireplace while burning a firelog to allow proper draught and cleaner burning.

We are really somewhat helpless when it comes to the economic problems our country is currently experiencing.  If you are feeling exceptionally stressed by these issues, try to minimize your stress by following some of these thoughts.

One of the first things you should do is to take control over the things you can change.  This may take some effort but will be worthwhile in the long run.

Review all of your discretionary spending and evaluate the necessity of the items.  Begin challenging yourself by seeing how long you can go without using your credit card.  If you give up eating in restaurants, calculate how much money will be saved.  Try to avoid paying full price for anything.  See if you can do it.  Another thought might be to include your spouse in this project and turn it into a competition.  Who can save the most relative to their expenses?

After a specific period of time, calculate yours savings from this extra effort and you might be amazed at how substantial they will be.

Another way to relieve the stress in your life is through physical exercise.  Establish a routine that is simple and consistent.  Find a time of day when you can set aside some time for exercise in whatever form you choose.  The key is to be faithful to whatever schedule you establish.

It is, once again, that time when the holidays are approaching and we are thinking of gift giving for our friends and family. This year, however, finances are tighter than ever and we all must think twice about money spent. A little extra thought can help us to find the right gift for a person at the right price.

Make notes about the person you are giving a gift to. Consider their hobbies, passions, upcoming events in their lives – anything that would add the personal touch. Decide on something that seems appropriate for this person and it will surely be a well-received gift.

Create a holiday budget with a spending limitation for each person on your gift list. Be sure that you do not exceed this amount. It is important to stick to your budget but still find an appropriate gift for each person on your list.

One of the best things you can do is to shop early. Items are available at this time and introductory offers are often available as pre-holiday sales.

Consider checking online availability for items you wish to purchase. Many are discounted on individual websites and sometimes better deals can be had online even if you have to pay shipping charges.

Online coupon sites often offer free shipping or discounted prices for similar merchandise and give you the opportunity to save money. Try shopping from the comfort of your own home.

After saving money on most of the gifts on your list, consider rewarding yourself with a special gift. Use some of your savings to treat yourself to something special.

In the world of business, women are sometimes expected to be more sensitive with co-workers and business associates than men.  The focus of a recent seminar for women is to follow this advice to be successful:

Communication is the most important part, so that you can learn to speak to people in a friendly, yet informative, manner and they will reciprocate in kind.  Always emphasize the advantage to the customer of a specific purchase and most will be persuaded.

Another important skill is to use candor when approaching others.  Be sincere, provide only truthful information, and people will respect you.

Concern is the next skill to be evaluated.  This includes empathy for those you are dealing with and the passion you feel for your product or service.

Competence is extremely important as people must feel confident in your ability to resolve their problems.  Continue to improve this skill through education and you will have positive results.

Establishing a connection with the people you are dealing with is extremely important.  They must feel the connection and be comfortable with you and all that you represent.

Accomplishing all of the above should be a great advantage in the business world and enable you to become very successful.

The holidays are rapidly approaching and it will soon be time to visit family and friends for a celebration. It is always nice to unite with family members over a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, or at Christmas time to enjoy the festivities. If you are planning a flight to visit relatives or friends this holiday season, you may want to consider the following information. If you are traveling far from home, consider checking with your health insurance plans about coverage availability should you become ill.

Fares are rising rapidly and are currently approximately 35% higher than they were last year at this time. Non-stop travel is even more costly than ever. How can you find a better rate? Timing may be everything when it comes to saving on holiday travel.

The best day to travel at the lowest cost is Thanksgiving Day itself. Of course, a delay could make you miss the big event you are planning to attend. The Saturday and Tuesday before the holiday are the least expensive days to travel and the return trip will also cost less if planned for the following Saturday or Tuesday. Another consideration which may help to reduce your costs is the time of day you choose to travel. The least expensive flights are the first flight of the day and the first flight after lunch or dinner. The main thing to remember is to avoid booking connecting flights at major airports in New York, Atlanta, or Chicago. Hopefully, following this advice will allow you to enjoy your holiday without spending more than you can afford.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The cost of flying is increasing on almost a daily basis. Fuel surcharges, additional fees for baggage, and ticket increases are causing many companies to wonder if it is worthwhile to fly employees around the world for conferences, etc.

Here are a few ideas that could possibly save on costs:

Before booking a flight, confirm travel plans with those you will be meeting. Changes in itinerary often incur charges of $150 per flight or more.

Consider possibly sending presentation materials overnight rather than checking in baggage as it may be more cost-effective.

Passports should be current and be certain to have any visas required for foreign travel.

When checking local airports, investigate flights to airports in the area rather than just the local airport. Some of the others may offer great bargains.

If several company employees are flying in for the same conference, attempt to coordinate transportation to save on expenses.

All flights should be booked for the lowest fares available. If you later see a price lower than the one you paid, ask for a discount.

Consider the possibility of extending a midweek trip over a weekend to reduce airfare costs.

If you are making the plans, consider off-season locations to save money.

Smoke alarms should be an important part of your home and you must be diligent when installing and testing them so that your family will be alerted to any possible dangers of fire.

Remember to purchase only Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed equipment. This information will be listed on the package.

Every level of your home should be protected with smoke alarms, including the basement. Also confirm that there is an alarm near every bedroom.

Always mount the alarms high on the walls or on the ceiling remembering that smoke rises.

Do not install near bathroom doors or cooking area as smoke will cause frequent false alarms.

Do not place smoke alarms near windows or doors where drafts might interfere with their performance.

Push the test button each month to be sure that all alarms in your home are in good working order.

Install new batteries at least annually. It is a good idea to associate this chore with a particular time of year (such as when the clocks are changed) so you will not forget.

If you have smoke alarms that are more than ten years old, replace them for the safety of your family.

Following the above guidelines should insure that your family will be well protected and warned if a fire should occur in your home.