While it might not be on your radar, now is the perfect time to starting thinking about taxes. You may be thinking you just wrapped up tax season but April 15 will be here before you know it. The end of the year is the perfect time to make a few financially savvy moves to help trim down your tax bill.

While not all of the ideas below apply to everyone, they can help you fund your retirement account or even put you in a charitable mood.

Contribute the maximum to your retirement account(s) – If you have a tax-advantaged retirement account (meaning your contributions aren’t taxed), contributing the maximum lowers your taxable income, meaning you pay less on your tax bill. Even better? You’re helping contribute to your retirement savings fund!

Give to charity – As long as you have over $250 in costs directly related to helping a charity plus their acknowledgement (a receipt, statement, etc), you’re in good shape. Just be sure you also have the receipts from making all those meals or purchasing supplies. Remember, donations to individuals doesn’t count when claiming a charity deduction.

Job-hunting costs – If you were job hunting at all this last year (and have the receipts on hand), these costs can be deductible. Eligible expenses include transportation costs, food, lodging, cab fare, employment agency fees, costs of printing resumes, business cards, etc.

Give to family or friends – This category is a two-for-one! Not only do you give the gift of money but you reduce your tax burden. You can give up to $14,000 without having to file a gift-tax return, which lowers your taxable income, thereby reducing your tax bill.

Energy-saving home improvements – Made some energy-saving modifications to your home this year and have the documentation and receipts to prove it? You can claim a credit up to $500. While this isn’t a tax deduction, you can use the credit to help pay your tax bill if need be.

This list is just a start of tax deductions you can start planning for. For more information or questions, you’ll want to talk to your tax professional or an Iowa State Bank to help guide you. We hope this list provides you with a little inspiration to find some deductions this tax season!

Let’s face it, Black Friday—and Cyber Monday—aren’t for everyone. You rise at the crack of dawn and either have to fight the crowds or hope you have faster WiFi than other shoppers.

Luckily, these aren’t your only options when it comes to getting deals around the holidays. We have compiled this list of online resources to help you stretch your gift-buying dollar:

1)            Use Coupon sites.

The most popular site is Groupon, but there are other online coupon sites that can save you money as well! Sites such as Couponcabin.com, coupons.com and RetailMeNot.com all have thousands of deals and coupons for online retailers.

2)            Buy discounted gift cards.

Places such as Sam’s Club have gift cards for restaurants that are up to 20% off, and can make great stocking stuffers. If you don’t have a membership, there are other places where you can buy retailers’ gift cards at a discount, such as Gift Card Granny and Card Cash.

3)            Free shipping offers.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you’ll already be able to take advantage of this. But if you’re not a Prime member or are shopping elsewhere online, FreeShipping.org has coupon codes for free shipping on some 4,000 stores.

4)            Cash back.

If your credit card offers cash back, the holidays are a great time to rack up points. We would caution that you have enough cash on-hand to pay off everything you charge to the card, as you don’t want to start the New Year with debt.

Credit cards aren’t the only way to earn cash back. Sites like Ebates.com and Extrabux.com offer cash-back for online purchases at certain stores.

5)            Buy used.

Sometimes, a new iPad isn’t in the budget. If that’s the case, you can buy gently-used electronic equipment at Glyde.com. You can even set up price alerts for certain items. Another gently-used online retailer is Swap.com. Items such as toys, games and DVDs still in the original box can be purchased for a fraction of the original cost.

6)            Deals on electronics.

Online retailers such as NewEgg.com and Fry’s Electronic are well-known among IT and tech professionals for their steeply discounted prices on everything from laptops to component computer parts. If you’re looking for a reputable place to buy inexpensive electronics, these websites are worth checking out.

Remember, the holiday season doesn’t have to break the bank! Next year, you can start planning ahead by starting a Christmas club account. This special savings account makes it easy for you to put aside the money you need to check off everyone on your list!

Whether you’re a football fanatic who’s happy that your favorite team is finally back on the field or you can’t tell the difference between a quarterback and a punter, football can actually teach you a lot about managing your finances. Don’t believe us? Check out the Iowa State Bank game plan that can help you get a financial win.

It’s Important to Win on Offense, Defense and Special Teams

Good teams need to play well in all three aspects to win games. In your finances, your offense is your income. If you think of dollars as yards, the more money you generate, the more secure you can be. If income is your offense, then spending is your defense. Coaches don’t want their defense to be on the field too long, so keeping the spending to a minimum is the best way to keep your finances in check. Your special teams are items like investing. You only need them a few times per game, but you need them to perform well when they’re on the field.

Defense Wins Games

If spending is your defense, controlling spending is the best way to ensure your defense is successful so you can get a financial win. Taking a defensive approach to your finances that controls spending and saves a little each and every month may not seem like the most exciting thing, but it will get you a win. Slow and steady saving can help you be successful for a long time.

Understand the Game Clock

The game clock can dictate how a team plays. At some times, you can be aggressive, while other times may call for a more conservative approach. Taking an aggressive approach, such as making a smart investment, can help you improve your financial situation quickly. However, a more conservative and steady saving approach can help you accrue wealth, too, it may just take a little longer.

Surround Yourself with Good Coaches

A good coach trusts others to develop players and game plans. There are a lot of financial experts that have a wealth of knowledge that you can take advantage of by providing a unique perspective, including right here at Iowa State Bank. Trust these financial experts to use their experience to help you get a win.

Just as a good game plan can help your favorite team on the gridiron, it can help you with your finances. If you have any questions, contact Iowa State Bank and we’d be happy to help you develop the right game plan.