A new scam is floating around, sprung from the ever-fertile minds of crooks, swindlers, and scam artists. The IRS itself is warning the public about this one, so you know it’s serious – and clever. I was going to write on a different topic this month, but when I heard that the married son of a friend of mine fell for this scam and lost $5,000 in one phone call, I thought I had better cover it.

Let’s leave finance aside for one month and talk about some summer fun. I have written in the past about the great American West. I am truly sad to hear how few people have seen our fantastic national parks. Perhaps it is because many of us do not know how to choreograph trips to these far flung paradises. I would therefore like to plan a sample getaway for you.

Many people nowadays have accumulated frequent flyer miles, which allow you to fly for free. My favorite credit card for miles is the Southwest Visa card by Chase. It gives you the greatest flexibility when it comes to booking travel. This past summer, I used some of my miles to take a wonderful vacation to Arizona. This trip is not expensive when done with these free points, and collecting enough miles to pull it off is quite manageable.

Burglary is always a serious issue, but if it does happen, we all hope we are not at home at the time. In a recent rash of burglaries in our area, some of the break-ins occurred in the middle of the night while the homeowners were asleep! Pretty terrifying!

As with many problems, the main pain stems from the recognition that perhaps it could have been prevented. Let’s see what can be done to protect ourselves and minimize any damage. In this article, I will first discuss thwarting a burglar who gets in. Next, I will suggest ways to keep him

With tax time fast approaching, here is a checklist – along with my comments – of the information and documents you need to collect.

Personal info: The legal names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of everyone in the family.

Status: Married couples have to file as “married.” Single people file as “single” or “head of household,” which is tax talk for single parent. Married people can file separately, but they usually lose more than they gain.

Comment: It might make sense to file separately if you have high medical or work expenses. Planning a wedding date carefully can provide great savings. Also, if a couple is going to separate, the timing can make a difference.

People often ask me if I think that too much money is spent on shalach manos (as if I am the expert). My answer is no, I think it is money well spent. While a standard shalach manos does not have to be expensive – indeed, many people simply give mitzva cards – sometimes one owes a debt of gratitude to someone special, and Purim is a great time to express it.

You see, I normally write about saving money. I am writing this article to clarify a point to those folks who take my advice one step too far. Do you have to express gratitude with an expensive gift? Sometimes the answer is yes. This is, in my opinion, one of the situations in life that is analogous to tipping in a restaurant, a custom that is virtually obligatory.

As yet another tax season rolls around, here are some planning tips that can be critical to saving you money:

The Standard Deduction

The first decision you should make is whether to use what is called the “standard deduction.” This is a fixed amount that anyone is allowed to claim: $10,700 for marrieds and $5,350 for singles. However, if your deductions add up to more than that, it might be wise to “itemize” them. The items you can deduct are state taxes paid, real estate taxes paid, mortgage interest, charity, and, sometimes, medical and job expenses. You can only itemize these deductions that you paid before yearend.

Your medical expenses are only deductible to the extent they exceed 7.5 percent of your income. They include just about anything that is needed for your health: doctors, dentists, therapists, etc. Medical expenses can include special educational expenses for learning disabilities, nursing home expenses, long-term care insurance, and, sometimes, unusual items. One couple managed to deduct their daughter’s clarinet lessons, which were recommended to correct an overbite.