• Interest on your mortgage. Let’s be honest–interest is pretty much all you’re paying for in the first few years of owning your home.  Of course, I doubt there’s even a chance you’d let this deduction slip by, so just consider it a friendly reminder and something to look forward to when preparing your taxes.
• Health insurance premiums and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). This might not increase your tax return significantly, but it sure feels good to be able to deduct some of those expensive premiums we all have to pay for health care, particularly if you’re self-employed.  (Hint: if you are self-employed, you get to deduct more than the rest of us.)
• Student loan interest. That’s right.  Uncle Sam lets you deduct this one, too.  You should receive a statement from your bank come tax time to help you with this part, so be sure not to toss it aside or let it get lost!
• IRA contributions. This only applies to traditional IRAs.  You’re going to have to pay taxes on your withdrawals when you reach retirement age, so prior to that point in time, you get to deduct your contributions.  If you have a Roth, you don’t get to deduct, but you won’t have to pay any taxes on your withdrawals.
• Your home office. If you’re self-employed, don’t overlook this deduction.  However, do check into the specific restrictions to make sure you qualify.  For example, a room in your home that is purely used for your business counts as a home office.  Using the computer in the corner of your bedroom does not.  Once you’re certain you qualify, you can deduct not only the space itself, the mortgage/rent payment respective to it, electricity, etc., but you can also deduct your computer, business phone line, office supplies, etc.
• Charitable contributions. You probably already know this one, but did you know that it’s not just for monetary contributions anymore?  Did you donate some old clothes or used items to a place like Goodwill or your local church?  These can be deducted.  It’s best if you make sure to get some form of a receipt if possible.
• “Green” credit. If you recently renovated your home to be more energy-efficient and “green” or perhaps bought a qualifying fuel-saving, hybrid, or otherwise “green” car, the government will reward you with a tax deduction.

If you’re uncertain as to whether or not you qualify for these or any other deductions that you find, don’t be afraid to consult a tax advisor—you can deduct tax preparation services, too!  Home tax software such as TurboTax will help you catch deductions by asking you easy-to-follow questions.

The initial spark for health care reform appears to be the number of uninsured people living in America.  However, while there’s no denying that many are in fact uninsured, the number itself is up for debate.  Lately, it’s been proclaimed that 45 or 46 million Americans are uninsured.  I’m no politician or statistician, but that seems pretty hefty even to me.

How Many Are Uninsured?

First, the most recent survey conducted by the Census Bureau reports that 9.7 of that 46 million are not American citizens—another source of debate that we’ll get to momentarily.  Also, there’s always a margin of error with every survey.  Some people answer the questions asked of them honestly, some may have reported being uninsured that ended up becoming insured sometime after the survey, and others may have outright lied.

According to spectator.org, Blue Cross Blue Shield estimated in 2003 that of the reported uninsured population, 14 million were actually eligible for some form of health care including Medicaid.  18.3 million were under 34.  17.6 million were earning over $50,000 annually and 9.1 million were earning over $75,000 annually.  This leaves a high probability that some of these people could likely afford health care but chose not to buy it, perhaps believing that because of the high cost, they would do without while still young, healthy, and theoretically not in need.

From this entire study, Blue Cross determined that 8.2 million people were uninsured because they truly could not afford it, yet they earned just enough that they did not qualify for government assistance.  Granted, this was 2003—but could the true number of uninsured people jump to 46 million in 6 years, even with a recession?

Abortion Issues

The debate also seems to include some moral issues such as abortion and coverage to illegal immigrants.  Regarding abortion, the House bill has been reported to state that the government health care would have to provide one plan that covers abortion and one that does not.  Politicians are saying that people with the plan will not be paying for others’ abortions, yet every time it has been proposed to have this in writing, that version has been rejected.  No matter my or your stance on abortion, the constant waffling is what I find to be the absolute most frustrating part.

Coverage for Illegal Immigrants?

There is also no solid stance on whether illegal immigrants would be able to take part in the government health care.  Ann Coulter writes on her website that in Section 246 of the 1000-page bill, one sentence is devoted to this issue: “Nothing in this subtitle shall allow federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.”  At the same time, there is nothing requiring doctors or other persons providing the actual health care to validate citizenship.  You also run into the problem of the emergency room, where federal law requires that patients in need of immediate attention cannot be denied treatment due to lack of insurance.  Could/should medical staff be required to check citizenship in this situation?

Is the Public Option Really An Option?

Then we have the problem of the health care reform being referred to as the “public option” that doesn’t sound officially optional.  Obama has insisted that if you like your private insurance and your doctor that you may keep them both.  But an issue arises if your insurance is provided through your employer.  Employers would be given incentives to offer the government plan to their employees instead of a private plan.  I don’t know what those incentives would be, but if your employer makes the switch, you may have no choice, especially when it would likely be more expensive to keep your private insurer by yourself.

There’s talk that the House version of the bill would mandate all individuals to purchase health care or pay a penalty of 2.5% of their gross income.  So you’ll pay money for absolutely nothing until you can afford to purchase health care?  If you’re already struggling, I’m not convinced this will help anyone.  Ann Coulter also mentions that if you’re not paying either, you can be cited for tax evasion and thrown in jail.  I sure hope that’s not true, but it also makes me wonder how each and every person will actually be tracked down.  And if you’ll really be thrown in jail alongside burglars and murderers who truly deserve to be there, that’s extra tax dollars being used to fund now-overcrowded prisons.  (Oh, and if you’re a small business owner, you’d also be penalized if you don’t offer insurance to your employees.)

I don’t propose to know everything about the health care reform or to fully understand it.  There is so much out there about this subject and so many extremely strong opinions in both directions.  Pepper in the unclear nature of the bill itself in its current form and it becomes harder to decipher the truth.  Would government-provided health care be a good idea?  Obama mentions stretching out Medicare benefits to everyone in a way, but Medicare already seems to be struggling with reports of wasted dollars and impending cuts.

I believe that something does need to be done about health insurance, but I’m not sure a full government takeover is the answer, especially not in the form that it’s currently being presented.  I do agree that the “pre-existing condition” clause needs to be done away with, and that is supposedly in the bill somehow—illnesses and current health situations are the main reason people need insurance in the first place.  Perhaps simply regulating the cost of health care would be a better idea than creating an entire government health plan.  Let’s level the playing field so that an MRI no longer costs $100 at one place and $3000 at another, and the patient knows what they’re paying or what portion they’re ultimately responsible for from the get-go.

Or we could all just be included on the health care plan that Washington politicians get.  Apparently it’s the best one out there…

And while making your own meals at home is always the cheapest and easiest way to eat healthy, it’s inevitable to want to get out of the house!  That’s okay—you’re not limited to the greasy, fried stuff if you want to keep it cheap.  Even with so many fast food places staring at you, you can make cheap, healthy choices when eating out.

Where To Go

What places come to mind for you when you think of eating healthy?  Subway might be at the top of the list.  Other places like Noodles and Company, Panera Bread, and Cosi might show up, too, and Chipotle has even been mentioned as a healthy option.  The truth is, you can eat healthy just about anywhere.  The trick lies with your personal choices.

Choose the Right Drink

Let’s start with the drink.  Just say no to that almost-expected soda, even a diet one.  It’s overpriced, caffeinated, high-fructose corn syrup.  Your best bet is always water.  It’s free, it’s clean, and it makes up 80% of you.  Coffee and tea can be healthy and cheap options; just keep any additives like cream, sugar, honey, etc., to a minimum.

Plenty of Meal Options

Now for your meal.  You’re not restricted to a boring salad.  In fact, even if you do choose a salad, watch out.  You’ll want to shy away from creamy dressings, too much cheese, and any other ingredients that are notorious for high calorie and fat content.  Also watch out for salads with too much of each healthy ingredient—they may be good for you, but you still need to watch calories.  Stick with simple dressings like a balsamic or raspberry vinaigrette, or ask what their light dressing options are.  So in other words, avoid the taco salad and go with the grilled chicken salad.

If you’re looking for a sandwich, similar rules apply.  Just because you’re in line at Subway doesn’t mean that any sub is a healthy choice.  You still want to look for lean protein like chicken, shy away from the cheese (or at least don’t ask for extra cheese), and say no to bacon and creamy dressings again.  At a place like Panera or Cosi, be sure to analyze the ingredients.  A turkey and artichoke panini might sound perfect, but take a look at additional ingredients like cheese or a cream sauce or anything that could add grease and extra fat.  If you’re at a pasta place, stick with simpler items like pasta with marinara sauce.  Beef stroganoff or mac and cheese are probably not the lightest fare available.

Read the Nutritional Information

It’s a good idea to check the nutritional information before choosing, if possible.  It can help put some of the menu items in perspective—you might see something whose name implies that it’s a healthy choice, but it’ll cost you two days’ worth of calories!  Ask how certain items are prepared, if possible.  An entrée might come with vegetables, but if they’re sautéed in loads of butter and oil, they’re just as bad as the burger you avoided.  Don’t be afraid to ask if something can be prepared differently, or placed on wheat or whole-grain bread instead of white.  Most places will accommodate without an extra fee, but if they do and it’s reasonable, go with it.  This is your health you’re talking about!

If you’re simply dying for a big, juicy burger, don’t deny yourself the pleasure.  Just don’t do it everyday!  And don’t let yourself feel guilty about the times that you indulge.  If you don’t give in occasionally, you’re more likely to go on a binge and let your diet start to slide.  You don’t have to go all or nothing.  Just be sure to watch portion sizes and enjoy your indulgences in moderation.  Happy eating!

• Home office.  That’s right—you can deduct the portion of your house that you do your work in.  However, be aware that there are some tight restrictions surrounding this one.  The most notable is that this space must be solely used for your business.  The corner of your bedroom where you’re keeping the computer doesn’t count.  Once you’re down to the right specifications, you can deduct everything that goes into maintaining that space: mortgage or rent, insurance, electricity, etc.
• Office supplies and furniture. What good is a home office without a chair, desk, filing cabinet, paper, pens, and post-it notes?  Yes, this is all deductible.  It’s necessary to keep your business running!
• Phone and internet service.  If you’re able to show proof that you’re making business-related phone calls and doing business-related internet searches/emails, etc., this can be written off, too.  The key?  You may need to get a separate phone line.  And unless you’re advertising your business on Facebook, try to keep away during your “business hours.”
• Mileage.  Does your home based business require some travel?  Make sure to keep strict logs of your mileage and toll fees, as well as your destinations and the reasons for going there.  If you’re as diligent as the government requires, this can be an easy write-off.
• Travel, meals, and entertainment. If you’re traveling far for your business, you can deduct any of these expenses–your hotel, your lunches and dinners with clients, etc.  You might not have a direct boss to reimburse you when you return, but the IRS will allow you to write it off come tax season!
• Health insurance. We all know this one can be outrageously expensive when you’re paying for it with no help from an employer, but actually, this can be deducted as well for a little relief.
• Advertising/Promotions. Any expenses toward building your business may be eligible for deduction.  Did you give away some of your product for free to encourage sales?  Place an ad in the newspaper or create a tv commercial?  This may all qualify.

Of course, all of these are subject to all of the rules and restrictions set by the IRS, particularly the home office deduction.  Therefore, please be sure to check with an accountant or another qualified legal expert to make sure that you qualify and/or are keeping accurate enough records.  And don’t hesitate to ask or look for more deductions—there’s always something else hiding out there!

• “Staycations.”  You might hate the made-up word, and you were probably expecting this suggestion, but it’s true: vacationing in your own local area can be an easy and cheap idea.  I’ve found through personal experience that many people know more about far away cities than they do about their own backyard.  Do an internet search to find any local festivals or small towns you may never have heard of.  Pack like you’re traveling across the country—in other words, leave home and don’t look back!
• Go camping.  Rates are usually better than hotels anyway!  This can be a great idea for families.  Pitch a tent, start a fire, make s’mores, and tell stories.  Most camping sites will also have many sporting activities available such as swimming or volleyball or trails to go hiking, bike-riding, or rollerblading on.  And you can turn your trip into either a fun party or a relaxing experience.
• Go on a cruise!  Yes, a cruise.  You may need to take an extra day or two on this one, but airfare and cruise rates are extremely low right this very minute.  Some cruises will cost just around $200 right now, and your round-trip airfare could be even less.  If you’ve never been on a cruise (or you have and would love to go again), now is a perfect time to go.

Are you looking for a specific destination idea?  Again, with airfare low, you have many options available for your weekend trips.  Try a few of these:

• Lake Geneva, WI.  If you’re looking for a quaint little town with a bit of a city flair, this is the place for you.  You’ll find bed and breakfasts and cozy hotels, great restaurants (especially for pizza!), fun little shops, and of course, the lake, which offers a few different beach options.
• Washington, D.C.  If your favorite price is “free,” visit our nation’s capitol.  Of course, you’ll have to pay for your hotel and food, but many of the attractions are free.  This includes the national monuments, the many Smithsonian museums, the White House, etc.  Get a big piece of history for absolutely nothing.
• Los Angeles, CA.  Particularly with fall coming up, you might be looking for a warmer destination.  Just like Washington, D.C., LA offers many free attractions as well, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the California Science Center, the Getty Museum, and a free tour of the original LA area.  Maybe you’ll even come away with an autograph from a celebrity!

The Travel Channel also features a program called “Samantha Brown’s Great Weekends.”  She goes everywhere for just a weekend, including Europe.  She does a number of different activities that you might not know existed, many of them on the cheap.  If you’re looking for more ideas, this can be a good stop on your getaway search.  Happy relaxing!