Connie Hamilton

IT'S OPEN SEASON ON ID THEFT. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America, and the average victim spends 175 hours and $1,000 repairing the damage. Tax time presents an even greater risk for ID theft because your personal information is everywhere. Below are tips to avoid becoming a victim this tax season.

Watch Your Mailbox: When income tax forms start coming in the mail, a potential ID thief can easily gain access to personal information such as your Social Security number and how much you make. You should consider dropping your tax returns into a USPS collection box or taking it directly to the post offfice.

Destroy Sensitive Material: Use a cross cut paper shredder to ensure that your documents are properly destroyed. If you use your computer to prepare any part of your tax return, a savvy identity thief could recover this information from your hard drive, even if you seemingly deleted the file. There is software available that will perform a "secure delate" of your sensitive files to ensure that they cannot be recovered.

Choose The Right Tax People: Find a tax preparation service that is dedicated and you can trust to provide year-round financial services to its clients. This way, you can ensure your personal information is in the hands of professionals.

Be Careful Online: If you plan to use an online tax service, ensure the site is reputable. Ensure all information is sent via a secure connection. Look for their security information and what other measures do they take to ensure added security.

These are just tips to follow, you can find other helpful information on identity theft at www.myidfix.com/identity-theft-cases-statistics.php

KEEP YOUR FAIR SHARE ON TAXES THIS YEAR! Tax season is approaching. Each year, additional tax deductions and credits are available to people who know where to look. Here are a few tips:

1. A first-time home buyer's tax credit is available until July 1, 2009. The credit is up to $3,750.00 for qualifying individuals and $7,500.00 for eligible joint-filing couples.

2. Deductions for hospital bills and doctors visits are well-known, but tax relief is also available for medical expenses ranging from insurance premiums to precription eyeglasses and contacts.

3. Capital losses on stocks deemed worthless-generally, those that are not longer traded-are deductible.

4. Un-reimbursed losses incurred due to theft, fire and another form of casualty can be claimed if the sum is more than $100 and more than 10 percent of your adjusted gross income.

5. Educators can receive a $250 above-the-line deductions for classroom expenses.

These are only a few tips about saving on taxes. Please consult your tax accountant or the IRS for more helpful tips on saving on your taxes this year.

5 ways to $ave Money on your next Remodeling project

1. TIME YOUR REMODEL RIGHT. Many projects can be done in the off season to take advantage of lower rates when contractors aren't as busy. For example, have an air conditioning unit installed in late winter or a heater installed in late summer.

2. GET PLENTY OF BIDS. To find the best price, shop around and get multiple bids. Start this process well in advance of the start time of your project.

3. PLAN AHEAD FOR FUTURE UPDATES. Having a contractor who is working on a current project do a little prep work for a future project will save you money in the long run. For example, an electrician can pre-wire a room for a home entertainment system, a plumber can run a gas line for a new appliance or a landscaper can add water values for an irrigation system.

4. PITCH IN. Even, if you are not an expert handyman, there are plenty of tasks you can perform yourselve to save some money. These may include demolition, hauling, painting and finishing, digging or cleaning up the job site after the work is completed.

5. USE THE INTERNET. Your best options aren't always found in your local home improvement warehouse. Do some comparison shopping on-line to see if you can find a better deal for your needed materials, supplies and tools.

Be sure and check back on my blog for upcoming blogs on Increasing your Home's value on a limited budget.

POSSIBLE, despite what your pet might try to tell you!

With people moving worldwide for work or pleasure, boxes are going bi-coastal and pets are clearing through customs on a daily basis. Moving isn't just stressful for people, it's equally stressful for pets. So when it comes to moving pets, pre-planning is very important as animals can be very sensitive to changes in their surroundings.

Here are 3 tops tips to keep in mind as you are moving with your pets.

1. MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE TRAVEL CRATE-whether you travel by car or by air, the crate your pet travels in will be his "Home" during the trip and it's crucial that they feel comfortable in it ahead of time. As soon as you know you're moving, it's a good idea to get the crate, that way, you can start getting your pet used to it well in advance. This will help your pet's stress levels on your move date. Additional you can try feeding your pet in his crate on a daily basis to help ease the transition.

2. PICK A FREQUENT FIDO FLIER-select an airline that offers first-class accommodations for pets traveling in the cabin or under the plane. This ensures that every pet will arrive safely at its destination.

3. ARRANGE A JET-SETTER CHECK UP WITH YOUR VET-If you're making a move across state lines or international borders, you'll need a health certificate issued the week before the flight. and for international trips, the documentation for importing or exporting pets can be even more complex. Planning ahead and consulting a professional pet company can ensure that your trip goes smoothly

No Matter if your move is big or small it is important to do your research and make plans accordingly when moving pets. This can make all the difference, resulting in a well transition pet and a less stressed pet owner.