According to a recent report prepared by Clean Metrics and based on data from from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, each American household throws away an average of $130 to $175 worth of food each month.

      Which is certainly a waste of food and money, but still better than the health risks and unpleasant experience you might endure by eating something that’s past its prime.

      However, a little bit of pre- and post-meal planning can make sure that you can safely eat and enjoy almost everything you buy, without eating too much.

      Last week we went over the changes that were most likely to affect retirees, and this week we’ll cover what should be done by those who would like to one day join the ranks of the retired.

      The new year bring some new personal finance numbers that could affect your income, income taxes, and general financial future—mostly for the positive.

      Knowing what the changes are and how to make the most of them can ensure you keep more of what you have in 2012, and beyond.

      Today we’ll cover the numbers that concern retirees, and next week we’ll address which adjustments will most affect those still working for a living.

      Not many people feel like they are overpaid, but for the time being almost all workers’ paychecks are a little bit larger than they otherwise might be.

      This extra money comes courtesy of the President and Congress, who recently agreed to extend the Social Security tax break for the first two months of the year—for better or worse.

      Whether you view this as a welcome boost to the economy, or an acceleration toward fiscal failure, here’s how you can make the best of this temporary tax cut.

      Even the jolliest old soul cherishes the days after December 25^th almost as much as the time leading up to it, if only because there seems to be a lot less work to do after the holiday than there is to do before it.

      But if you’ve recently been on the giving or receiving end of a gift on or around the 25^th, you still have some tasks ahead to make sure your presents don’t become lumps of coal.

      Here’s an after-Christmas list of things to do sooner, rather than later.

      ‘Tis the season for giving and receiving among friends, family members, and other loved ones.

     But there is another group of people in your life who could use a little cheer during this particular time of year.

     “Tipping time” is upon us. And although hardly anyone will reject a few dollar bills (or more) as a sign of gratitude, there are a few customs and practices that make the sometime-awkward process a go as smoothly as possible.

     Here’s some help on to whom, how much, and how you can express your appreciation during the year-ending holiday season—and beyond.