14 KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE^ 02/
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02/MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Flu infection in the U.S. typically
peaks between December and
February, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention,
so if you haven’t had your annual flu
shot, get it now. Take the opportunity
to make sure you’re up-to-date on
other vaccinations, such as tetanus
and diphtheria (every 10 years) and
shingles (adults over 50). Most in-
surance plans are required to cover
vaccinations, so you shouldn’t have
to pay out of pocket to protect your
health.▲ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14
It’s Valentine’s Day and the begin-
ning of the weekend, so restaurants
will probably be packed. Here’s an
idea: Wait until another night to
dine out and have a “money date”
instead to ensure that you and your
sweetheart are making the most
of your combined incomes. To get
started, turn to page 38.MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Presidents’ Day. Look for big saleson winter clothing, electronics
and home goods. Last year, some
big-box retailers slashed prices on
bedding by up to 50% during the
holiday weekend.FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Tax Day is less than two months
away, and by now you should
have received your 1099-DIVs,
1099-MISCs and other tax state-
ments from your financial institu-
tions, along with your W-2. If you
do your own taxes, this is a good
time to start checking out tax soft-
ware. Taxpayers with 2019 income
of less than $69,000 can prepare
and e-file their taxes free at IRS
Free File. Find it at http://www.irs.gov.- DEAL OF THE MONTH
Phony CDs. Low interest rates have deci-
mated returns from certificates of deposit—
the average rate for a one-year CD is just
0.74%—creating opportunities for huck-
sters claiming to offer a better deal. The
bogus CDs offer interest rates that are
much higher than average, with no early-
withdrawal penalties, and require high
minimum deposits—often $200,000 or
more. Steer clear of any website that asks
you to send money via wire transfer to an
account outside the U.S., or to one with a
different name than the financial institu-
tion claiming to sell the CD.
Everything must go! If your favorite store is
going out of business, you may think you’ll
get a great deal on its
inventory. But many
retailers sell their
merchandise to third-
party liquidators,
which may charge
more for some items
than they cost before
the sale, says the Federal Trade Com-
mission. Use your smartphone to compare
prices online before you buy.
Binary options. Binary options allow you
to make a bet on the direction of a stock,
currency or other asset. Even when they’re
legitimate, you can lose a lot of money. But
fraudulent online platforms promoting bi-
nary options often take the money and run.
A consistent theme of these platforms is
they almost always show investors making
a big profit, according to the Better Business
Bureau. But when investors try to claim
their gains, they’re told they need to deposit
more funds, or the scammers vanish. If you
are interested in trading options, check with
the Commodity Futures Trading Commis-
sion (866-366-2382) to be sure the trading
platform is a “designated” market, as well
as with the SEC (800-732-0330) to see if
the offering is registered. SANDRA BLOCK
SCAMWATCH
LOOK OUT FOR
THESE RACKETS
Check out your grocery store’s
fish and meat department
on February 15 for potential
discounts on steak and lobster
tails. Many stores stock up on
these items for Valentine’s Day,
according to DealNews.com.AAHHEAEADD
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