Here are some of the better travel tips that I’ve run across.

I found a new website (well, new to me) that is not only fun but very informative.

For those of you that do not take the newspaper, you are missing out on some of your local ads. This website allows you to view ads for many of the stores in your area. You can shop and compare prices at home. Check out ShopLocal.com today!

Consider the following tips when shopping for groceries:

• Shop with a well planned list.

• Eat before you leave for the grocery store which prevents impulse buys.

• Carry a small calculator with you to figure unit prices. Bigger is not always better—it may not be the best price.

• Check the dates on perishable foods. They usually place the freshest towards the back of the case.

• Before taking the first item from the shelf, check behind for lower prices and newer expiration dates.

• Reweigh produce and meat that have been pre-packaged. You may find a discrepancy in weight that will affect the price. Request that it be remarked with the correct weight and price.

Are you using the old shoebox method for storing your medical receipts? Do you have to rummage through a pile of receipts, tally them up and hope you didn’t miss anything at the end of the year to prepare for taxes? It can be tedious and time consuming. If you have a dispute with your insurance company, do you know where to find all your records and proof of payment?

Take a few minutes now to organize your medical receipts and records. It is well worth the investment of time. Be sure to read my blog on Organize Your New Year—Taxes.

Christmas is over and we have ushered in a new year.  January is the time to get down to business and get ourselves organized.  With very little effort you can have everything running like clockwork. Are you still using the proverbial shoebox to organize your taxes?  There is a better way!  It is easy to maintain and at the end of the year most of your work is complete.  Remember that your accountant charges by the hour, so the more work you do for them, the more money you will save.  If you do your own taxes, you will have saved yourself time.