You may have read about playing sports as a family, you know- the bonding, the togetherness, the getting to learn life lessons together. But that’s for summer right? In the winter, family sports means gathering up the beer and soda, the chips, dip and popcorn along with the spouse and kids and settling down in front of the TV to watch the Super Bowl.

Well, even though it’s cold outside, there are still plenty of ways you and your family can get together for a little competitive exercise.

The first part of the list is obvious. Skiing is a popular winter activity. There’s nothing like hurtling down the slopes at 40 mph to get your heart rate up. And there are plenty of easier hills to be found if you’d like something a little tamer. Snowboarding is another alternative. Since the techniques are surprisingly similar, if you can surf, then you can snow board.

For a variation on the family hike, why not try snow shoeing? It’s as easy to learn as walking, so virtually anyone can do it. Since it doesn’t require any lessons, and you can strap most shoes onto your existing boots, it can be a great way to get a family workout at an affordable price.

No snow? No problem? Check out these 52 ways to play outside in winter without snow.

Just because it’s cold out, doesn’t mean your family can’t get out and get some exercise. There are plenty of creative activities to keep your kids entertained, while making family time more enjoyable.

We're all aware of the tendency to overindulge our stomachs during the holidays, but what about the rest of the winter? Is there something more we could be doing with our normal diet at this time of year?

Well, those shorter days sure don’t help. Who wants to come home to a dark house and have to cook? The good news is there are plenty of quick tricks you can adapt in the kitchen to have a healthy dinner ready in no time!

Use a slow cooker. Add the ingredients in the morning, come home to a meal that's ready and waiting. Soups, stews, casseroles, and more can be prepared this way - and there are plenty of great recipes available online.

One of the easiest ways to prepare your vegetables is to steam them, and if you chop those larger veggies into bite-sized pieces, it's pretty quick too. Click here for some great ideas on preparing steamed vegetables.

If you suffer from winter depression, you may need to increase your vitamin D and your folic acid levels. Seafood and mushrooms are rich in vitamin D, and spinach is a good source of folic acid. This spinach and seafood ravioli dish contains all three ingredients, and is sure to become your new favorite winter comfort food.

And don't forget those rich-in-vitamin-C citrus fruits. They're also full of fiber and antioxidants.

Who doesn’t love great food? Spending a little less time on the sofa and a little more in the warm kitchen with all those delicious cooking smells might make the winter seem a lot less depressing.  

“How to save for college” generates almost 50 million results in the Google search engine. And it's no wonder - parents want the best for their children, and hope that a good education will help them find a good-paying job later.

So what's some of the best advice the internet has to offer on the subject of saving for college?

Qualified Tuition Programs:A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions. It is designed to encourage saving for college costs, and as long as they are used for eligible college expenses, the earnings in the 529 plans are not subject to federal tax. For more information you can contact your broker or visit the College Savings Plans Network.

Roth IRA:Like a 529 plan, you contribute after-tax money. After five years, investment earnings can be withdrawn tax-free and penalty-free to pay for qualifying college expenses. Another plus for using this method to save for higher education is that if your child decides not to go to college, you can still use the money for your retirement.

Financial Aid:Students can apply for federal financial aid. There are also student loans, scholarships, and other types of student aidavailable.

When’s the best time to start? The answer is as soon as possible. Regardless of what school your child chooses, planning for it early and often will give them their best chance to achieve their educational goals.

When it comes to making positive changes in our lives, we’re often more likely to come up with reasons they can’t be done, rather than how to make them happen. But many times the only thing that's stopping us is ourselves. Try small changes and give them a chance. You might be surprised how easy they can insinuate themselves into your life and make things better.

Here are 5 easy changes you can start doing this week:

• Avoid processed foods. When you look at a food label and realize that you probably couldn’t make that food at home because you have no FD&C Red No. 40 or sodium phosphates in your pantry, then that's a food you shouldn't eat.
• Studies show that wearing a pedometer or activity tracker make the wearer more aware and they really do move more. Try one of those, or download an app like Human to your phone.
• Have you had any back pain recently? Tight muscles? Poor endurance? Stretching exercises are good for these ailments and many more, including reducing cholesterol in the body. Try this video or one of the many others available on YouTube.
• Make some soup! Soup is healthy, easy to prepare, great for lunches, and it's easy to make large batches and freeze some for later. Here are some soup recipes to get you started.
• Did you know the blue light emitted from electronic devices restrains the production of melatonin? Plus it doesn't help if your pals are texting you half the night. Turn off the cell phones and get some sleep.

Here's to you and your health!

If you've been thinking of making a career change, one possibility you may have considered is to go to work for yourself. “Yes!” you may respond. “Be my own boss! Live the good life!”

But is it the good life? Or is it even better than you could dream?

As an Employee:

• Your job is usually limited to 40 hours a week, and you may have benefits.
• If you lose your job due to cutbacks, you may qualify to receive unemployment wages.
• At tax time, if you have employee expenses, you may be able to deduct whatever your employer doesn't reimburse.
• You can usually count on a steady paycheck.

As an Independent Contractor:

• You have control over your hours, how much you charge and how you do the job.
• You may have difficulty finding jobs, or face a lot of competition.
• You’re responsible for your own health insurance, as well as other expenses such as licensing, training, uniforms, tools, etc. These expenses can be deducted on your tax return.
• Remember that income taxes are technically due when the income is earned. This means you’ll have to pay quarterly taxes or potentially face a large liability when you file your return. And don't forget self-employment tax - this includes your Medicare and social security taxes.

Remember to contact your tax preparer to discuss your individual situation.

Becoming your own boss requires a lot of forethought, but if you decide that's the path to follow,  we wish you all the best!

It’s a new year, and with it come new changes to our favorite tax code. So what changes can we expect in 2017? Well, the IRS announced the standard annual inflation adjustments back in October, but there are still a few changes that some people may not be aware of.

Early Filers with EITC and/or Additional Child Tax Credit. Many of the fraudulent tax returns that the IRS receives involve refunds with Earned Income Tax Credit and/or the Additional Child Tax Credit. In an effort to limit the lost revenue from tax identity theft and fraudulent claims, refunds with these credits will not be issued until after February 15th.

Health Insurance. Prior to this year, proof of health insurance coverage forms didn't have any filing deadlines. 2017 will change that. The 1095A from employers should be filed by January 31st, just like the W-2s. Other healthcare forms like the 1095B and C are due by February 28th via mail or electronically by March 31. For those who do not have health insurance, the penalty will be the greater of 2.5% of your total household adjusted gross income, or $695 per adult and $347.50 per child, up to a maximum of $2,085.

Taxes and FAFSA. While not necessarily reflecting any change on your tax return, the 2017-2018 Free Application for Federal Student Aid will be requesting tax return information from the 2015 tax year rather than the most recent year. This should certainly ease the anxiety some students feel when trying to encourage their parents to file by the FAFSA deadline!

If you’re interested in some more detailed information, you can subscribe to the IRS's tax tips emails.

Happy tax-filing!