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Getting ready to file your income tax return?By Times staff writer© St. Petersburg Times published January 26, 2003 Kiplinger's Personal Finance's February edition offers tips on making sure you get your share of the $200-billion the Internal Revenue Service will return to taxpayers. For instance, don't forget deductions such as Hope and Lifetime Learning credits for tuition bills in 2002. Maternity benefits vary widely around the world, but Sweden leads the way, giving moms up to 96 weeks off. For more than half that period, Swedish mothers also receive the equivalent of 80 percent of their salary, according to a survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. In the United States, there is no federal law requiring a minimum amount of maternity pay, although mothers may get short-term disability or sick leave benefits. A global grape glut and competition from imports are driving down wine prices. The latest buzz in California wine circles is over "Two-buck Chuck," the little wine priced at $1.99. The Trader Joe's chain of grocery stores is the exclusive distributor of Charles Shaw Wine, nicknamed Two-buck Chuck because of its price. Shopping for a new phone service? Finance.yahoo.com offers a survey of 100 different plans. You type in your calling habits and phone number, and it offers suggestions on various choices. Ditto for deals on credit cards and checking accounts. Do you have enough insurance to cover your family if the breadwinner dies? The National Association of Insurance Commissioners offers a brochure on coverage at www.naic.org/gsw. The site has special tip sheets on buying life, auto, homeowners and long-term care policies as well as links to member states' sites. The sites help you check out an agent's credentials before you buy. But we certainly have enough windows. The National Association of Home Builders estimates that windows are at least an $8-billion-a-year industry. Fifteen years ago, the average American home had 12 windows. Now, as homes get bigger and windows become more popular, the average home has 16 windows. Upscale houses of between 4,000 and 5,000 square feet have about 20 windows. -- Compiled from Web sites and Times wires.
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From the Times Business report
From the AP
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