One thing HGTV's house hunters always get wrong

Dear Good Life readers,

December is all about giving, and not just because it’s the holidays. While some folks may be feeling extra generous, others are scrambling to secure tax deductions before the end of the year. In 2015, for example, a whopping 20 percent of donations made through the platform Network For Good happened on Dec. 31.

That doesn’t mean that last-minute contributions aren’t as well intentioned or important as those made at any other time of the year. But whatever you do, don’t just sail off a check to some random charity you saw in a telethon, as Suzy Strutner reports: There is a slew of wonderful organizations that tend be overlooked during the holidays.

These causes include groups that deal with wildlife conservation, stigmatized diseases and non-medical research, as well as smaller local organizations like public libraries, according to Sarah Nason of Charity Navigator. Putting a little extra thought into your charitable contributions can make a big difference on several levels, experts told us.

And wherever you donate, make sure it’s a cause that’s important to you personally. You’ll be more likely to continue your support, and science says giving can actually make you happier.

Quite possibly, your heart might even grow three sizes.

Love,
Janie
Senior Editor, HuffPost Life

Take back your life

It’s end-of-year bonus season — if you’re fortunate enough to get one — and by now you’ve probably also seen the news that Congress is poised to pass a “reform” bill that includes tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Although the bill won’t mess with your 2017 taxes, it will likely affect your 2018 return if it’s passed by the end of this year. One thing you can do now to possibly maximize savings later is consider deferring any company bonus you get until next year, when you may be in a lower tax bracket, according to tax expert Cindy Hockenberry. Check your tax bracket here, then read the advice she shared with HuffPost’s Ann Brenoff.

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If you love peeking into the spending habits of people living at your income level or beyond, you should definitely check out Refinery29’s Money Diaries. Women all over America reveal their salaries, rent, bills and so forth, describing how they live and manage their finances. From “A Week In Miami, FL, On A $46,000 Salary” to “A Week As A Legal Sex Worker In Mound House, NV, On A $267,000 Salary,” there’s a fascinating wealth of lifestyles and income levels to explore. Glean tips for saving money and cry over how low rent can be in certain cities. (Moving to Atlanta, BRB.)

Pro Tips:

When you’re buying a home for the first time, you want everything to be perfect. After all, it’s a huge commitment and a ton of money. This is obvious on shows like “House Hunters,” when buyer after buyer rejects a house because, say, their dining room table won’t fit in the new space.
Newsflash: That is one of the last things you should be worried about.
Ann Brenoff dove into the five things that don’t matter when you’re buying your first home. It turns out that even if you don’t have or plan to have children, kids are one of the things that matter most. That’s because resale value is usually tied to the quality of the local school system. Learn what you should and shouldn’t pay attention to when picking a property.