Spare Change

Money Tip

An Employee Benefit Research Institute survey says people enrolled in high-deductible health plans paired with health savings accounts are more likely to spend a significant amount of money on out-of-pocket health care expenses than those who opt for traditional coverage. They also delay or skip health care because of high costs. Consumer Reports suggests opting for traditional comprehensive coverage if you can.

Tax Watch

Consumers can claim a standard $30 to $60 refund on their 2006 returns for a tax on long-distance telephone calls that the government declared invalid, the Internal Revenue Service recently said. The standard refund starts at $30 and increases by $10 for each additional exemption claimed on a tax return, up to $60.

Net Nugget

A CareerBuilder .com survey of hiring managers found that 60 percent leave room in the first job offer for salary negotiations, so clearly it pays to negotiate starting salary. To do so successfully, arm yourself with information from sites such as Salary.com, CareerInfoNet.org or Jobstar.org.

Market Tip

Homebuilding stocks have fallen by more than 40 percent in the past 12 months, but Morningstar believes some companies are well positioned to survive the downturn, including Toll Brothers, DR Horton, Lennar Homes, Centex Homes and Pulte Homes. Look for a high proportion of fixed debt on the company’s balance sheet, adequate land inventory and operations in multiple geographic regions and among multiple demographics.