Looking for tips on how to get out of debt, save your money, and wisely invest in the market? You've come to the right place! Learn how you and your man can put an end to your money squabbles, merge your money in fiscal harmony, and control your spending with our budgeter.

Q: When does it make sense to appeal the tax assessment on your home? Is it worth it?

A: In the aftermath of the housing crash, tons of homes have lost a chunk of value -- but property tax assessments don’t always keep pace. If you think your home is worth less than your tax assessment says it is, start by calling your property tax assessor-collector office to find out how to make an appeal. Typically, they’ll require docs of recent sales of comparable homes in your area. If you don’t have the energy for a financial DIY project, hire a firm to do the research. Just be sure that you compare the cost of the tax appeal to the savings.

Nestperts: Manisha Thakor, MBA, CFA & Sharon Kedar, MBA, CFA, authors of Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money With Your Honey

When do we know when we're "ready" to have a financial planner? How do we go about finding the right one for us?

Find out how!

If you have cash questions that you can't answer, it might be time to get an adviser -- and no, you don't have to be rolling in it. Your best bet: Hire an hourly fee-based CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation. To find one, check out GarrettPlanningNetwork.com or NAPFA.org. Then interview your top choices. Definitely ask about their backgrounds, availability, and payment policies.

Nestperts: Manisha Thakor, MBA, CFA & Sharon Kedar, MBA, CFA, authors of Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money With Your Honey

We know it’s only January, but it’ll be April 15 before you know it. The IRS and Congress make changes to the tax credit and deduction rules every year, so make sure to read up now on the newest deductions and credits that may help you come April. One change affects all taxpayers: The personal exemption has increased to $3,650 each for taxpayers and their dependents (this marks a $150 increase from 2008).

Also new for 2009 are a host of revisions that make filing your taxes a bit more complicated (as if they weren’t already). According to Yahoo Finance,"The standard deduction for taxpayers who don't itemize has become a little less standard. It has also increased to $11,400 for married couples filing jointly, $5,700 for individuals, and $8,350 for heads of household.� In addition to the normal standard deduction, this year for the first time, you're able to take even more of a deduction if you “paid state or local real estate taxes, bought a new car and paid sales or excise taxes and met the income limits, or were a victim of a federally declared disaster.� If you choose to increase your standard deduction by one or more of these items, you’ll have to fill out a new form: Schedule L.

Still not quite clear on the difference between deductions and credits? Yahoo Finance finally clears up the confusion: “A credit reduces the amount of tax you owe; a deduction reduces the income on which taxes are assessed.� So what are some of the new deductions and credits you may be entitled to this year?

• The Making Work Pay credit -- Introduced under the stimulus bill last year; but if you may have to pay a portion back if you are a married couple or both spouses work.
• The lifetime learning credit -- May be available for students in their fifth or sixth year of college, or in graduate school.
• The homebuyer tax credit -- $8,000 for first-time homebuyers, who are defined as those who haven't owned a home in the last three years.
• A $6,500 credit for long-time homeowners who purchased a new principal residence in 2009. To qualify, you would have had to live in your previously owned home for at least five years.
• Making your home more energy efficient can get you a maximum credit of $1,500 for $5,000 in spending on home supplies like storm windows, insulation, or an energy-efficient furnace.

When you sit down to do your taxes (and leave plenty of time to do so; the IRS estimates it takes an average of 21.4 hours to complete the infamous 1040 form), make sure to check if you qualify for any of these deductions or credits.

[ Yahoo Finance ]

Asset Class An investment category such as stocks, bonds, cash, or real estate

Bear Market A term used to describe the stock market when securities are expected to fall

Bonds A debt investment in which an investor loans money to an entity (corporate or government) that borrows the funds at a fixed interest rate

Bull Market A term used to describe the stock market when securities are expected to rise

CDs (Certificates of Deposit) A savings certificate issued by your bank for a certain dollar amount that entitles you to interest based on the rate (it also has a predetermined maturity date)

Diversified Portfolio A group of investments in a range of asset classes

Dow Jones Industrial Average An index of the top 30 highest-earning stocks that acts as a benchmark for the overall condition of the stock market

Financial Planner An agent licensed to manage your assets and/or provide investing advice, usually for a fee or for an annual percentage of your wealth

Floating Rate Interest rates that are tied to another interest rate, usually the prime rate or the Treasury Bill rate; when that rate rises or falls, your rate does too

401(k) A contribution plan offered by an employer that allows employees to set aside tax-deferred income for retirement; employers typically offer a matching plan that corresponds with either all or part of the employee’s contribution

High-Yield Savings Account A deposit account opened at your bank where the money you deposit earns greater-than-average interest

Index Fund A mutual fund that invests in stocks listed in a certain index in order to mirror its performance

IRA (Individual Retirement Account) Allows you to set aside and invest a fixed amount of money on a yearly basis; the earnings are tax-deferred until they're withdrawn at retirement

Mutual Fund A fund that many shareholders invest in managed by an investment company; it uses the money from selling shares to the public to invest in a range of stocks and bonds

S&P 500 An index of the 500 largest US stocks that's used as a benchmark for mutual funds to compare investment returns

Stockbroker An agent licensed to buy and sell stock on your behalf while earning a commission on the trades

Stock Mutual Funds A mutual fund that invests primarily in stocks

I'm considering going back to school. I want to continue to work, but my company doesn’t offer tuition reimbursement. I really don't want to take out student loans, but we make too much for me to qualify for financial aid. How can I afford this?

Start by looking into the program you want to attend. Most colleges and universities have scholarship and merit aid available. Ask your current employer if they have programs that pay for graduate school in return for your returning to work for them. Research federal government programs at the Department of Education too. A congresswoman from California compiled a pamphlet, “Paying for College: A Student Resource Guide ,� which offers ways to find available funds -- perhaps there is a professional society that offers aid. It’s also possible, although difficult, to take evening and weekend courses to work toward an advanced degree while you keep a full-time job.

Nestpert Rosalynn Hoffman is the author of the financial advice book Bitches on a Budget, published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA), Inc., and writes the blog BitchesonaBudget.com.