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Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S., and draws visitors from around the world. They come here for some of the finest health care on earth, and they also do business with some of America’s largest companies with headquarters in Houston.

Those of us who grew up following the U.S. space program will find enjoyment in a visit to the Johnson Space Center, where the name “Houston” referred to a room full of skilled and dedicated staff members arranging the successful completion of each mission.

Whatever your reason for visiting, it pays to know a few money-saving tips before take-off.

Take the time to plan a budget trip to Houston.

There are tons of budget spreadsheets available on the ‘net.  But you don’t have to go searching for a decent spreadsheet to track your budget -  I did the footwork for you.  Whether you want to use an online spreadsheet for your budget, or you’re looking for a something to work with Excel or OpenOffice Calc, you need something simple or you want to get into the nitty-gritty details of your spending, here are the best sources for free budget spreadsheets.

• The Best Budgeting Software
• The Best Online Personal Finance Apps

I noticed that a lot of people were looking for debt reduction software here on About.com Financial Software, so I decided to focus on debt reduction apps for my June, 2013 iOS apps of the month. I did some research and came up with four really good choices for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. All of these apps use the debt snowball method of reducing or even eliminating debt, which means you choose one that to pay off with additional funds while paying the minimum on other debts. To learn more about that check out my Top 4 iPhone and iPad Apps for Reducing Debt. The individual best iOS debt reduction apps for 2013 are:

• Debt Free
• Debt Payoff Pro
• Debt Strategy
• Debt HD

More Debt Reduction Tools:

• Free Debt Reduction Spreadsheets
• Free Budget Spreadsheets
• Best Budgeting Software

Image: Debt Payoff Pro and Debt HD iOS Apps

Ready for the beach? If you have a quick answer to that question, chances are good you’ve got the stretch of sand already chosen.

You might want to visit a beach locale this summer that offers more than surf and sand — and all at a reasonable price.

Take a look at 10 great beaches you can visit on a budget offering unique nearby attractions that will enhance your escape to the seaside.

America’s highest and lowest income groups benefit the most from federal income tax breaks and credits — the middle class, not so much – according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

The government calls tax “breaks,” tax “expenditures,” because they reduce the total revenue collected from taxes, and in its report, The Distribution of Major Tax Expenditures in the Individual Income Tax System, the CBO found that they are “generally distributed unevenly across the income scale.”

Specifically, the CBO found that tax breaks and credits make a larger percentage of after-tax income for households in the highest- and lowest-income groups than for middle-income households.

According to the CBO, there are now over 200 federal tax breaks for individuals and corporations. In its analysis, the CBO examined 10 individual tax breaks in four categories: exclusions from taxable income; allowed itemized deductions; preferential tax rates on capital gains and dividends; and tax credits, like the earned income tax credit, and the child tax credit.

Among the 10 largest federal tax breaks and credits for individuals examined by the CBO were income exclusions for employer-sponsored health insurance, tax deductions for home mortgage interest, and tax credits for families with children.

The CBO estimates that for 2013, the combined individual tax benefits will make up nearly 12% of after-tax income for the lowest-income households, 9% for the highest-income households, but less than 8% for middle-income households.

Also See: Top Federal Benefit and Assistance Programs

As you might expect, the CBO found that more than 90% of the benefits from reduced tax rates on capital gains and dividends will go to the highest-income households, while about 50% of the benefits from the earned income tax credit will go to the lowest-income households.

Basically, CBO’s analysis indicates a lack of federal tax breaks specifically intended to benefit middle class families and individuals.

One reason for this may be the federal government’s apparent inability to clearly define “middle class.” In a November 2012 report, the Congressional Research Service concluded that being classified as a member of the middle class could simply be a “state of mind,” based more on politics and ideology than on income.

“Most people likely have decided views as to whether they are middle class, and those who refer to the middle class have a rough idea of whom they have in mind,” the report stated. “How closely these definitions correspond is another matter.”

Also See:
Middle Class was Decade’s Biggest Loser
Most Americans Feel They Pay More Taxes Than Trump

The IRS will not be targeting – or helping – anybody on four weekdays spread out during June, July and August, as all of the agency’s offices and services will be closed due to the cost-cutting federal budget sequestration.

According to the IRS, all of its offices, toll-free telephone lines and taxpayer assistance offices nationwide will be close on June 14, July 5, July 22 and August 30.

Also See: IRS Not Really Helping Taxpayers, GAO Reports

All IRS employees – including the ones who answer questions — will be furloughed without pay, and no tax returns will be processed on those dates. On the other hand, no tax compliance activities – audits, targeting and such – will take place, either.

But hold on there taxpayers. The IRS warns that you should, as in had better, continue to file your required returns and pay your taxes as usual on those dates.

“Because none of the furlough days are considered federal holidays, the shutdown will have no impact on any tax-filing deadlines,” said the IRS in a press release. “The IRS will be unable to accept or acknowledge receipt of electronically-filed returns on any day the agency is shut down.”

So, if you have a tax return or tax payment due soon after one of the furlough dates, you need to take those dates into account. For example, returns from taxpayers living abroad and second-quarter estimated tax payments are due on June 17, and highway use tax returns for commercial truckers are due on September 3.

Also See: How Bad is This ‘Sequestration’ Thing?

Tax payments made through the Treasury Department’s online Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) on the furlough days will be processed normally.

The IRS says is will give taxpayers extra time comply with requests to provide them with documents like administrative summonses, requests for records in connection with an audit, review or compliance check, or documents related to a collection matter.

When the last day for responding to an IRS request for documents or records falls on a furlough day, the taxpayer will have until the next business day.

Don’t feel too bad about not being able to call the IRS on their four furlough days, because according to the U.S. Taxpayer Advocate Service, the IRS is only able to answer about 7 of every 10 calls it gets from taxpayers. In addition, taxpayers spend an average of 12 minutes on hold waiting for the IRS to answer their questions… or not.

Also See:
Can IRS Employees be Fired for Targeting?
Taxpayer Advocate Tells Congress, ‘It’s Still Complicated’

About 2,200 cruise passengers earned a free future trip this past week.

Royal Caribbean’s The Grandeur of the Seas caught fire en route from Baltimore to The Bahamas. No passengers were injured, but the seven-day itinerary was cut short. Everyone received a full refund and that “cruise to be named later.”

There have been a lot of those free cruise certificates circulating in the past year or so, following a sad string of cruise mishaps. Most of us don’t want to earn free travel that way, and some of us might ask how many of these affected passengers will ever set foot on another ship.

Remember: the few cruises that go wrong wind up in the spotlight. Thousands of trips that end happily receive no attention.

Cruises present some distinct advantages for budget travelers, but know-how is necessary to reap the benefits. With that in mind, take a look at a collection of articles aimed at budget cruising.

Clearly, cruising poses some risks. But don’t let all the bad publicity surrounding a few ill-fated trips discourage you from full exploration of your cruise options.

Reading success stories of people who’ve dig themselves out of mounds of debt is great motivation. Cait, a 28-year-old who runs the blog Blonde on a Budget, met her debt freedom goal this week, paying off more than $28,000 debt in just two years.

Like many others who’ve paid off tens of thousands in debt, Cait used a variety of strategies to pay down her debt: moving in with parents, avoiding shopping, getting rid of a drinking habit, walking to the grocery store instead of driving, and putting as much money as possible toward her debt.

Read a few of her posts:

• How I Paid Off $30,000 of Debt in 2 Years
• The Only Motivational Blog Post I’ll Ever Write
• How I Paid Off $17,000 of Debt in 1 Year
• 5 Things My Dad Taught Me About Money

Don’t be intimidated by that Cait’s two-year timeframe. You may not be able to pay off your debt in such a short amount of time, but if you’re diligent, you can do it in a timeframe that fits your situation. Stay motivated!

When it comes to weddings, bubbles often come to mind first.  Wedding celebrations and lofty toasts call for Champagne and other sparkling wine delights, yet pairing reception wine with everything from formal dinners to heavy hors d’oeuvres takes some palate planning.

Whether it’s budget friendly or high-end wine splurges to mark the big day, there are plenty of vinous prospects to serve.  For budget-friendly bubbles look to Spain’s Cava or Italy’s Prosecco, both offer solid food-pairing versatility and pack high quality to price ratios.  Looking for more info? Check out our Wedding Wine Guide.

Image Courtesy of Getty Images / Digital Vision

My top Android personal finance apps for May, 2013 all can help a college student save money while going to school. Whether you need to cut the cost of meals, entertainment, rent, text books or many other expenses, one or more of these apps will help you stick to your budget while you’re in college.  See my list of 7 Best Android Apps for Saving Money in College.

Image: TUNdeals for Android