Today on MyMoneyLife with Chuck Bentley

Do you own a home?  Have you been making your mortgage payments on time?  If so, I’ve got good news and bad news.

First, the bad news.  Washington’s giving away billions in mortgage bailouts and now you’re paying for your mortgage and some others, too.

Now the good news.  You can take advantage of newly expanded tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements—and these are the kind of improvements that keep on paying in reduced energy costs for the long haul.

So here are the top 3 eligible home improvement credits from a recent MarketWatch article:

1. Tankless water heaters.  I know they’re kind of pricey—but a tankless unit saves a fortune because it only heats water when you use it.  You can take $1500 credit or 30% of the cost of the unit, whichever is less.



2. Energy-efficient windows and doors.  Labor is not included, but the credit for new windows and doors is still a great deal because these items dramatically cut your home’s energy costs long term.



3. A heating and air conditioning system.  The credit’s good for up to 30% of the cost, including installation, so that’s a big incentive to swap out that old energy hog for a new high-tech heating and cooling system.

These tax credits won’t last forever, though.  Some are scheduled to be phased out by 2010, so don’t wait too long.

Now, we know it’s a tough economy, but we want to help you manage your money wisely, so that you can be free to advance God’s Kingdom.  Find out more by visiting Crown.org.

10 Ways to Save Money

We need to make saving money and debt freedom top priorities in lives.

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The Need for Emergency Savings

The common biblical attitude is to save on a regular basis, and it is important that Christians develop good habits to replace bad habits.

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Develop a Saving Lifestyle

God can change our attitudes towards material things and help us to learn to be contented with what we have.

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Ideas for Funding an Emergency Account

One of the best ways to break out of the debt cycle is to have an emergency savings fund to cover unexpected expenses.

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Other Resources:

• ABCs of Money Package
• Career Direct
• God's Principles for Operating a Business
• Business By the Book
• Crown Mvelopes