Take advantage of workplace opportunities

It is an employee's market right now. With unemployment at a low, businesses are offering their employees more benefits than ever to encourage job retention. In fact, when it comes to employee retention, benefits can make or break the deal. For instance, three out of four workers consider employee benefits a decisive factor when evaluating new job opportunities. As an employee, you should be sure you are taking advantage of all the benefits your company offers.

The one thing that almost every employee wants and needs is health insurance. More than 80 percent of employees say that hospital and medical coverage is the most important benefit an employer can provide. If your employer offers a health insurance plan, review it to be sure you are using it to its fullest benefit.

With the exception of health insurance, retirement plans are the benefit employees desire most. If your company offers a retirement plan, take as much advantage as your living situation will allow. Whenever possible, contribute the maximum to a retirement account. The more you save paycheck to paycheck, the more will add up years down the line. Many companies will match your contribution up to a certain amount, in effect giving you free money to invest as you desire.

Another benefit that companies may offer is a Flexible Spending Account. This benefit is often underutilized by employees who do not understand the savings they can gain. Money is taken out an employee's paycheck pre-tax and can be used by the employee for health care costs not covered by a health insurance plan, including co-pays, non-covered expenses or over-the-counter medicines. Another type of Flexible Spending Account reimburses for dependent care costs. This is money that an employee would be spending anyway, but by participating in the Flexible Spending Account program, they spend the money pre-tax.

Other employee opportunities could include professional training and seminars, professional advice and consultation, even free concert or movie passes. There is more to work than monetary compensation. If an employer has gone to the trouble and expense to set up employee benefit plans, it will appreciate employee participation.

Gift cards: A perfect gift when given wisely

The holiday gift-giving season is upon us! While some smart consumers may already have completed their holiday shopping, the vast majority of people are just beginning to chip away at the list.

For those hard-to-buy-for friends and relatives on your list — and those gift-receivers who live far away — a gift card is a perfect option. Gift cards allow consumers to purchase exactly what they want. They are easy and inexpensive to mail. With many companies, you can even e-mail your gift cards and avoid postage all together.

During the 2005 holiday season, consumers spent $18.5 billion in gift cards, and each year, their popularity soars to new heights. Ranking third on the wish list for consumers overall, gift cards are popular among receivers because they can pick out exactly what they want. Easy to purchase, wrap and deliver, they also are popular with givers. If you plan to give this popular gift this year, it's a good idea to be aware of different types of gift cards, rules and fees.

• Read the fine print. Some gift cards cannot be used for online purchases, even if you purchase them online. Some gift cards may charge a fee for checking the balance, for account maintenance or for a period of inactivity. Some come with an expiration date.
• Be sure to keep receipts and write down the card's identification number in case the gift card is lost or stolen. Many retailers will not replace lost or stolen cards, but those that do might require this information.
• Finally, don't give a gift card to someone who you think might not use it! It sounds odd, but in reality, consumers never redeem about 10 percent of the money on gift cards.