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Your children may help you qualify for valuable tax benefits. Here are eight tax bene- fits parents should look out for when filing their federal tax returns this year. 1 . D e p e n d e n t s . I n most cases, you can claim your child as a dependent. This applies even if your child was born anytime in 2013. For more details, see Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction and Filing Information. 2. Child Tax Credit. You may be able to claim the Child Tax Credit for each of your qualifying children under the age of 17 at the end of 2013. The maximum credit is $1,000 per child. If you get less than the full amount of the credit, you may be eligible for the Additional Child Tax Credit. For more about both credits, see the instructions for Sched- ule 8812, Child Tax Credit, and Publication 972, Child Tax Credit. 3. Child and Depen- dent Care Credit. You may be able to claim this credit if you paid someone to care for one or more qualifying per- sons. Your dependent child or children under age 13 are among those who are qualified. You must have paid for care so you could work or look for work. For more, see Publication 503, Child and Depen- dent Care Expenses. 4. Earned Income Tax Credit. If you worked but earned less than $51,567 last year, you may qualify for EITC. If you have three qualify- ing children, you may get up to $6,044 as EITC when you file and claim it on your tax return. Use the EITC Assistant tool at IRS.gov to find out if you qualify or see Pub- lication 596, Earned Income Tax Credit. 5. Adoption Cred- it. You may be able to claim a tax credit for certain expenses you paid to adopt a child. For details, see the instructions for Form 8839, Qualified Adop- tion Expenses. 6. Higher education credits. If you paid for higher education for yourself or an immedi- ate family member, you may qualify for either of two education tax cred- its. Both the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit may reduce the amount of tax you owe. If the American Oppor- tunity Credit is more than the tax you owe, you could be eligible for a refund of up to $1,000. See Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Educa- tion. 7. Student loan inter- est. You may be able to deduct interest you paid on a qualified student loan, even if you don't itemize deductions on your tax return. For more information, see Publication 970. 8 . S e l f - e m p l o y e d health insurance deduc- tion. If you were self- employed and paid for health insurance, you may be able to deduct premiums you paid to cover your child under the Affordable Care Act. It applies to chil- dren under age 27 at the end of the year, even if not your dependent. See Notice 2010-38 for information. Forms and publica- tions on these topics are available at IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX- FORM (800-829-3676). 2B Daily News – Friday, February 14, 2014 723 Main St Red Bluff, Ca www.palominoroom.com Date Night for Two! $ 25 99 Includes: Ribs, Chicken, Brisket, Cole Slaw, Ranch Beans, Fries & Cornbread Palomino Room Texas BBQ Join us on Friday February 14 th ! Call Today to Reserve your Table 530.527.5470 Prime Rib 10oz $ 17 99 & 14oz $ 21 99 Seared Salmon $ 15 99 STOVE JUNCTION The The North State's premier supplier of stoves 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com Over 25 years of experience Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon Now Carrying! Green Mountain Grills & Accessories Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties Mr. Diderot and His Red Robe In her book, "The Overspent American," Harvard econo- mist Juliet Schor quotes an essay written by the 18th Century French philosopher, Denis Diderot, "Regrets on Parting with my Old Dress- ing Gown." Diderot's regrets were prompt- ed by a gift of a beautiful scarlet dressing gown. Thrilled with his new acquisition, Diderot quickly discarded his old gown. But in a short time, his pleasure turned sour as he began to sense that the sur- roundings in the room where he wore the gown were worn. He'd not noticed this before, but suddenly the place looked downright shabby. This certainly did not properly reflect the garment's elegance. He quickly grew dissatisfied with his study, with its threadbare tapestry, the desk, his chairs, and even the room's bookshelves. One by one, he replaced the familiar but well-worn furnishings of the study. In the end, Diderot found him- self seated uncomfortably in the stylish formality of his new sur- roundings, regretting the work of this "imperious scarlet robe (that) forced everything else to conform with its own elegant tone." Today, consumer researchers call all this striving for conformity the "Diderot Effect." And while the effect can be overcome if a person foresees the problem and refuses the initial upgrading, the pressures to enter and follow the cycle can be over- whelming. The purchase of a new home cre- ates a need to replace old furniture; a beefed- up hard drive screams for more RAM; an upgrade to new dinnerware can't really be enjoyed without a corresponding upgrade in glassware. Quite a few years ago now, I convinced my husband it was time to replace the fluffy pink window coverings in our living and dining room area. That early 1980s look was long past its prime. It didn't take a professional decorator to figure out the matching wallpaper would have to go as well. And, if we're going to all of that trouble to strip and paint, what about the ugly ceiling? We might as well scrape all that 'pop- corn' away. And while we're up there, how about new recessed lighting? It didn't take long for the 15-year old seafoam green carpet to rear its ugly pile. Of course, the poor- excuse-for-a-chandelier became an issue, followed by a discussion of whether now is the time to put in the fireplace this room has always needed. Two years and many thousands of dollars later, I can say I learned a little something about the Diderot Effect. His scarlet gown, my pink drapes. It is on the regret issue, howev- er, that our parallel stories break down. We have no regrets. We did the work ourselves and opted for the pay-as-you- go method. But Mr. Diderot lived to regret his home improvement pro- ject. Could it be that he got roped into just 36 easy pay- ments which are, of course, rarely "just" and never easy -- and almost always fill us with regret? Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 24 books, including her 2013 release, "The Smart Woman's Guide to Planning for Retirement." You can email her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. Mary Hunt Everyday Cheapskate Rubes By Leigh Ruben Local Calendar Submit calendar items to P.O. Box 220, Red Bluff, 96080 or clerk@redbluffdailynews.com. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Red Bluff Celebrate Recovery, 7 p.m., Bethel Assembly of God, 625 Luther Road, 527-0445 or 366-6298 Nutrition Classes, 12:30-2 p.m, Northern Valley Catholic Social Service, 220 Sycamore #101, 528-7947 Red Bluff Rotary Club Sunrise, 7 a.m., M&M Ranch Corning Car Show, 5-9 p.m., Bartels Giant Burger, 22355 Corning,Road, local car clubs welcome, 824-2788 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Red Bluff Frontier Village Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 645 Antelope Blvd. EBT accepted Weight Watchers meeting, 8 a.m., 485 Antelope Blvd. #N, 1-800- 651-6000 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Red Bluff AA Live and Let Live, noon and 8 p.m., 785 Musick St., meets seven days a week Al-Anon New Comers At Heart, 7-8 p.m., North Valley Baptist Church, 345 David Ave., 690-2034 Kelly-Griggs House Museum, 1-3 p.m., 311 Washington St., group tours by appointment, 527-1129 or 527-5895 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Red Bluff Community Band rehearsal, 7-9 p.m., Presbyterian Church on Jefferson Street, 527-3486 English as a Second Language class, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Red Bluff High School Adult Ed building, 1295 Red Bud, 736-3308, same time Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Thursdays, free childcare from 9 a..m. to 12:20 p.m. classes in Richlieu Hall, 900 John- son St. Gastric Bypass Support Group, 6 p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Columba room, 529-3066 Head Injury Recreational Entity, 10 a.m., St. Elizabeth Communi- ty Hospital, Coyne Center, Rusty, 529-2059 Key to Life, 6 p.m., Family Resource Center, 220 Sycamore St. Ste. 101, 528-8066 PAL Martial Arts, ages 5-18, 3-5 p.m., 1005 Vista Way, Ste. C, free, 529-7950 Retired and Active Federal Employees, 11:45 a.m., Cozy Diner 259 S Main St., call Karen at 585-2494 Red Bluff Senior Writing Class, 10: a.m.-noon,,Executive Room at Sycamore Center, 220 Sycamore St., 527-5762 Salvation Army Writing Class, 9:30-11:30 a.m., 940 Walnut St., 527-8530 Sun Country Quilters Community Service Group, 9 a.m. to noon, Family Resource Center, 220 Sycamore St. Ste. 101, 528-1126 TeenScreen Mental Health Appointments, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free, by appointment only, 1900 Walnut St., 527-8491, Ext. 3012 Tehama County Military Family Support Group, 6 p.m., Coun- tryside Cafe, 638 Washington St., 529-2416 TOPS Club (take off pounds Sensibly), 8:30 a.m., First Christian Church, 926 Madison Ave., 527-7541 or 347-6120, visit www.tops.org US citizenship preparation class, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Red Bluff High School Adult Ed building, 1295 Red Bud, 736-3308, same time Tues- day and Wednesday Venture Crew 1914 meeting, 6:30-8 p.m., Moose Lodge on 99W, co-ed ages 14-20 welcome Women's Domestic Violence Information and Support Group, Spanish speaking, call for time and location, 528-0226 Corning Alcoholics Anonymous, noon Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, 783 Solano St., behind the Church Bingo, 5:15 p.m. early bird, 6:30 p.m. regular games, Maywood Grange, Highway 99W just past Liberal Avenue, 833-5343 Exchange Club membership meeting, 7 p.m., Iron Skillet Kirkwood School Board, 5 p.m., 2049 Kirkwood Road Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m., 820 Marin St., 824-1114 or 586- 0245, daily through Saturday, noon Mondays, no meeting the third Wednesday Sewing group, 9 a.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 Spanish Adult Education, 5 p.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 Strategies for Success, Life Skill classes, 1:30 p.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 Weight Watchers, weigh in 5:30 p.m., meeting 6 p.m., Senior Cen- ter, Kayla Deihl leader Los Molinos Friends of the Los Molinos Library, 6 p.m, 7881 SR99E, 384- 2945 Senior Dance, 7 p.m., Senior Center, Josephine Street, 384-2100 Cottonwood Cottonwood Garden Club, 10 a.m., 20595 Gas Point Road, potluck lunch to follow, 347-1281 or 347-3852 Flournoy Flournoy Elementary School Board, 6 p.m., 16850 Paskenta Road TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Red Bluff American Legion Mt. Lassen Post 167, 7 p.m., Veterans Memor- ial Hall, 735 Oak St. Antelope School Board, 5:30 p.m., Antelope District Board Room, 22600 Antelope Blvd. Bend School Board, 4:30 p.m., 22270 Bend Ferry Road Book Club, 6 p.m., Tehama County Library Childbirth Class, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospi- tal, Columba Room, 529-8026 City Council, 7 p.m. City Hall, 555 Washington St. Cribbage Club, 6 p.m., Cozy Diner, 259 S. Main St., 527-6402 Diabetic Education, 12:30 p.m. St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Columba Room, 529-8031 Fun Senior Aerobics, 8-9 a.m., $1, Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. 527-8177 PAL Kickboxing, 6 p.m., 1450 Schwab St., 529-8716 or 200-3950 Penny Bingo, 10 a.m., Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. News tip? Call 527-2151 LaMalfa staff to visit Red Bluff Tuesday Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R- CA) today announced mobile staff office hours in in the First District noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. LaMalfa's staff will be on hand to answer ques- tions, provide updates on legislation and help con- stituents with veteran's benefits, Social Security and other federal pro- grams. LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing Cali- fornia's First Congression- al District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama counties. Eight tax savers for parents