One of the problems of paying off credit card debt and cleaning up one's credit rating is the number of pre-approved credit card offers that begin arriving in the mail. In order to stop these offers write to: Equifax Options, P.O. Box 740123, Atlanta, GA 30374-0123. Include your name, full address, social security number, and signature. Equifax is one of the three major credit reporting agencies. They will remove your name from the lists they provide and will also share your request with the other two agencies, Experian and TransUnion.

Interest on earnest money

When purchasing a home, make sure you will earn interest on your deposit during the escrow period.

Homeowner's Insurance

Ask about homeowner's insurance discounts for security systems, smoke alarms, and good driving records. Always ask! The agent or company may not volunteer the information.

IRA Contribution

Try to contribute to your individual retirement account as early in the year as possible. The difference between making your contributions each January 1 rather than December 31 of the same year can spell thousands of dollars of additional earnings in your account over the decades.