Issue Date: February 17, 2008
2007 tax-filing changes
Are you hoping to avoid the alternative minimum tax (AMT)? The biggest change is the latest AMT "patch" passed by Congress. It increases the income levels of those people exempt from paying the AMT to $44,350 for single filers; $66,250 for married people who are filing jointly and qualifying widows or widowers; and $33,125 for married people filing separately.
Do you take the standard deduction? It has been raised, too: It's now $10,700 for married couples filing a joint return and $5,350 for singles.
Do you qualify for the earned income tax credit? The maximum EITC for 2007, available to low- and middle-income workers, is $4,716 for taxpayers with incomes less than $37,783 (or $39,783 if married filing jointly) and two or more kids; $2,853 for those with incomes under $33,241 (or $35,241 if married filing jointly) and one child; and $428 for people with no kids and income under $12,590 (singles) or $14,590 (married).
Do you deduct your driving costs as a business expense? The standard mileage rate has increased from 44.5 cents a mile in 2006 to 48.5 cents a mile for 2007. Driving for medical reasons or as part of a move that's deductible is 20 cents a mile, and driving for a charity is 14 cents.
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Recover from that sports injury
Follow these 5 tips to bounce back faster.
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You've twisted your ankle jogging. Fractured your wrist snowboarding. Or strained a muscle while lifting weights. Although these are different kinds of injuries, there are some general guidelines to follow that will help put you on the road to recovery after such incidents.
"The acronym we use for treatment is PRICE," says Chuck Kimmel, a certified athletic trainer and president of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. "This stands for protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation."
Here's a short description of each step in the treatment, which is "ongoing until the injury leaves the acute stage," Kimmel says.
Protection. "This can be an ankle brace, a walking boot, crutches ... anything that protects the injured area from being aggravated further," Kimmel says.
Rest. "Recovery is trial and error," he says. "Take tiny steps and trust how your body responds. The goal is not to make big mistakes."
Ice. Ice the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes, remove the ice for 40 to 60 minutes and then repeat the procedure. "Let the area warm back up," Kimmel notes. "This will prevent any kind of cold injury, like ice burn. And, of course, see a medical professional if you have an adverse reaction to icing."
Compression. Wrap the injury in a bandage to help control swelling. "It should not cut off the circulation, though," Kimmel says. "You should be able to push the skin in and the color comes right back."
Elevation. Elevate the injured area above the heart. "Make gravity work for you, not against you," Kimmel advises. "This [also] will reduce the swelling."
Contact FitSmart editor Jorge Cruise, author of "The 12-Second Sequence," at 12second.com.
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"Green" fakers
Some products and services touted as "green" are actually far from it. Such "greenwashing" can trick consumers. Here, Ellis Jones, the author of "The Better World Shopping Guide," which "grades" companies on their eco-performance, shares how to shop smart.
1. Do your homework. Says Jones: "If a big company with a bad environmental reputation suddenly [says it's] green," review the claim (and any "proof") carefully. Don't just assume it's true.
2. Buy goods labeled "post-consumer recycled content," not just "recycled." The former tells you it actually was recycled in the way you'd expect -- from the items you put in those bins.
3. Look for certification. "Words like 'biodegradable' aren't government-assigned," Jones says, "so if it isn't followed up on the package with an icon showing certification, it's likely greenwashing."
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Blood pressure help
If you have high blood pressure, cut back on sugar (including the high-fructose corn syrup commonly found in soft drinks) and refined carbohydrates, says Harry Preuss, M.D., of Georgetown University. Many animal studies find that sugary diets induce hypertension.
Fresh tip: A new study by Preuss finds that taking chromium supplements (200 micrograms daily) helps to counter sugar's blood-pressure effect.
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Child-friendly airports
Flight delays are tough on parents traveling with young kids. Thankfully, more airports are offering diversions to keep children busy. At the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, there are two 1,000-square-foot kids' play areas, each outfitted with a mock airplane and an air traffic control tower ideal for climbing.
The airport in Orlando gives kids a place to crawl.
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At Boston Logan International Airport, Kidport in Terminal C was designed by the Children's Museum of Boston. Facilities include a baggage claim slide.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport features seven play areas for youngsters in theMcNamara Terminal.
At Chicago's O'Hare, Kids on the Fly offers a kid-sized air traffic control tower, a helicopter and a cargo plane in space designed by the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier.
Orlando's airport, recently voted most family-friendly by the American Society of Travel Agents, generates the most smiles, thanks to kid-sized chairs and tables, a 3,000-gallon saltwater aquarium and whimsical artwork.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has two play areas.
San Francisco International Airport's Kids' Spot has interactive weather-related exhibits, courtesy of the Exploratorium of San Francisco.
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