By now, your taxes may already be filed.  However, that doesn’t mean it’s time to forget them.  Now is the best time to do some financial planning for next year. Do it right and the tax bite won’t be nearly as painful. What can you do now?  Here are a few suggestions to get you thinking ahead:

1.  Start contributing to (or increasing) your 401k contribution. Not only is a 401k a terrific way to save for retirement, it also gives you an immediate tax benefit. Plus, most employers match a portion of your contribution.

2.  If you qualify, start an IRA. Put away a set amount every month. This is much easier than coming up with the entire amount at tax time plus you have the advantage of dollar-cost-averaging.

3.  If you just finished having that garage sale and you're not sure what to do with the rest of your junk, donate it.  Make sure to get a receipt.

4.  Take advantage of your employers flexible spending account. This plan allows you to pay for certain medical and dependent care expenses pre-tax. Check with your employer for limits and make sure you use all the money in your account by year-end. If not, you lose it.

5.  Check your withholdings. If you received a big refund last year, you may want to adjust your withholding to have less taxes withheld. Don’t let the government have your money for the year. It’s just like you giving them an interest-free loan. Or, if you had to pay in, you may need to increase your withholdings to avoid a penalty next year.

6.  Start a file for next year's tax return. Anytime you have a receipt or document that affects next year's taxes, place it in there.  Then at tax time, grab your file and you are ready to go.