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FORECAST: THE 7 BEST IDEAS FOR YOUR MONEY IN 2007 , page 104

What's on your mind? Maybe you're wondering whether all the for sale signs on your street mean your home is worth less. Or you're hoping that the fall stock market rally is a sign that your retirement savings are due for a boost. Perhaps your eyes are turned toward Washington , where a new Congress will have a chance to shake up your finances (or do nothing at all). Take your pick because in 2007, an unusual number of financial issues could pique your interest, from the state of the real estate market to the state of the union. The Federal Reserve may shift course on rates, the economy could stage a second-half rally, and there's always a chance that terrorism could send oil soaring. Read on to learn what's ahead. Here's what to do about the economy, real estate, investing, Washington , D.C. , savings & credit and energy.

PLUS: 2007 Planner Get all you have coming to you next year with a clip-and-save guide to the new laws, key deadlines and smartest moves.

 

WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THE HOLIDAYS , by Denene Millner and Charles Passey, page 145

The best gifts at the best prices at five retailers you can't avoid.

If you had unlimited time this holiday season, you'd do all of your shopping at cool boutiques with one-of-a-kind stuff. Ha. The reality: As the deadlines close in, you'll likely join most of America in hitting the biggest-name stores, where you can check off your entire list in one sweep of the shopping mall. That's why MONEY focused on the best gifts sold by some of the nation's most ubiquitous retailers including Best Buy, Williams-Sonoma, Home Depot, Tiffany and Toys "R" Us . We'll steer you to the deals each store offers and away from stuff they don't do well. Shop smart, and not only will you please those on your list, you'll also give yourself a rare gift: saving money as you save time.

 

THE COMPLETE LAYMAN'S GUIDE TO CYBER SAFETY , by Pat Regnier and Jeanne Sahadi, page 121

ID theft, pretexting, security holes in browsers, targeted Web advertising, the kids' MySpace profiles, the company's monitoring software, phishing, spyware, Wi-Fi break-ins. CAN'T A PERSON GET A LITTLE PRIVACY HERE? Sure you can. You can spend hundreds of dollars a year on credit monitoring and security software, and maybe even pay to go to a privacy seminar. But you don't really need all that. By learning a little, spending a little and applying a lot of old-fashioned common sense to new situations-from social-networking sites to the local coffee shop's wireless network-you'll do a fine job of keeping yourself and your family safe from the guys trying to peer through the blinds. This guide will get you started. Don't keep what you learn here a secret.

 

LAST CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING SMART IN 2006 , by George Mannes, page 53

These strategies will cut your taxes and prep you for the new year. But you have to act by Dec. 31.

F ace it: Time is running out. With just a few weeks left in 2006, you know you can't lose those 10 pounds, learn to play the piano or accomplish any of those other New Year's resolutions you made last January-including the promise to get your finances in better shape (save more, spend less, yada, yada). But rather than beat yourself up over what you should have done these past 11 months, get productive in the month you have left. Take these eight steps before Dec. 31 to help lower your taxes and position your family for a more prosperous 2007.

 

GIFTS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR KIDS RICH , by Karen Hube, page 56A

Five ways to present fiscal lessons without looking like the Grinch

Tired of battling hordes of shoppers for Tickle Me Elmo, the latest Xbox 360 game and other hot holiday items that feed your children's rampant consumerism? Eager for a present that gives your kids a financial jump on life and is still, well, fun? MONEY found five gifts that can help your children learn how to save and spend wisely, with payoffs that last well beyond the season.

 

LENDING A HAND TO KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS , by Jean Chatzky, page 42

Chances are you know a child who requires extra care. There's a right and a wrong way to give your support.

P arents of children with special health-care needs are all too familiar with how different their financial realities are from those of run-of- the-mill families. While most of us raise our kids from cradle to high school graduation, pay for as much of college as we can and chip in occasionally from then on, parents of special-needs kids face extra burdens as their children grow up-and may have to provide support that goes on for life. One in five American families with kids in the home has a child with special needs. Just as putting too much money in a child's name can mess with eligibility for college financial aid, putting even a little in the name of a child with special needs can muck up the works. Parents come to understand this. Aunts, uncles, grandparents and well-meaning friends? Not so much. MONEY gives tips on how to help.

 

DO IT NOW: DO THE RIGHT THING, THE RIGHT WAY , by Clint Willis, page 57

You have generous spirit, a year-end deadline and a million charities competing for your money. What's a donor to do? Vet the Group: Know what you are supporting, Eyeball the numbers, But don't obsess over the numbers;, Check with Watchdogs: See what the pros say, Piggyback on other donors; Be Tax Smart: Make sure you'll get a tax break, Keep records, Donate goods with value.

 

HARVARD OR BUST. OR BOTH. , by Ellyn Spragins, page 47

Families are spending thousands on private counselors, SAT prep and other extras to get their kid into a top college. Maybe it's time to just say no.

Is all this spending to help a child gain entry to the best possible college-the tutoring sessions and test prep classes, the private coaches and the endless enrichment programs-really worth the investment? And even if they do help your child get into a better school, where do you draw the line, ethically and financially? One thing is certain: As competition has heated up for the limited slots at elite schools across the country and the admissions process has become more frenzied, the college prep business has grown into a $2-billion-a-year industry. And the more spending that's devoted to "packaging" children for college, the more pressure parents feel to keep up. How do you stop the madness? MONEY suggests these strategies: Get Some Perspective, Start with a Budget, Make Your Kid a Standout, Find Cheaper Paths to the Same Goal, Look at the Big Picture.

 

THE RETIREMENT PLAN UNCLE SAM HAS RIGHT , by Walter Updegrave

Hard to believe but true: The government offers employees a great plan, and you'd do well to emulate it

C onsidering the mess that Social Security and Medicare are in, the federal government is probably the last place you'd look for insights about retirement planning. But I've got to hand it to the feds: When it comes to investing

their own money for retirement, they really know what they're doing. In fact, the Thrift Savings Plan-the equivalent of a 401(k) plan for members of Congress and other government employees-is one of the best retirement plans around. Alas, to be in it you must work for the government. But that doesn't mean you can't do what the feds do to make your retirement plan better.

 

ARE YOU ACTING YOUR FINANCIAL AGE? , by David Futrelle, page 56C

You're not getting older, you're getting better tax breaks. Take this MONEY quiz to see what else happens as you and your family go through the years.

 

PLUS

START: Save It Winterproof your home Spend It: Give them gift cards How to Beat Hedge Funds Good news for the average investor: You can do better than the über-rich Scam Alert Is Your Résumé Online? Watch Out. Help Strangers, Earn a Cool 15% Net Lending pioneer Chris Larsen will let you be the banker at his "eBay for money" PLAN : Medicare Rx Redux In year two of the Part D drug plan for seniors, you'll find more choices and, possibly, bigger savings The Right Way to Scratch the Six-Year Itch Too long in your job with out a promotion? Try this. Savings and Credit Debit Cards Get More Generous HOME: There's No Place Like Home, Except for Loans Pulling Cash from your house has become more risky and more expensive. Tread carefully today. INVEST: Show Me The Money! If you're starting to look for mutual funds you can live off, be careful: Some cash cows aren't all they're cracked up to be. Why You Should Ignore a Stock's Price Wall Street keeps share prices down so big gains seem easy to come by. Instead, look for a stock's value.

 

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