What to Expect for Finances in 2011

Jan. 3, 2011 -- After the great recession and an economic meltdown, financial resolutions are in the cards for numerous Americans in the New Year.

But the extension of Bush-era tax cuts may produce few changes in 2011.

"Instead of scouring for some nuance, you need to make sure you're saving the right amount for your financial goals," says Stuart Ritter, a financial planner for T. Rowe Price.

Thanks to a bump in minimum wage and reduction in the Social Security payroll tax, millions of Americans may have a lot more money in their pockets to meet their financial goals.

"You want to get your investment strategy right based on your time horizon," Ritter says. "A financial goal has a name [what do you want to spend your money on], a date and it needs to have an amount. Until you have those three things, you don't have a financial goal, you have an abstract concept."

To meet your 2011 goals, here's what you should know about the New Year:

Refund Delays

There will be a filing delay if you itemize because the late enactment of the tax-cut extensions in December changed a lot of things that were or weren't going to be on the forms, says Steven Meyerson, a tax expert for JustAnswer.com. "There's a lot of restructuring of software on the IRS's side and, in some cases, some forms need major adjustments."

As a result, prepare to wait a little longer for a refund from Uncle Sam.

OTC Flexible Spending Account

"The cost of over-the-counter medicine cannot be reimbursed from a Flexible Spending Account unless a prescription is obtained," Walgreens spokesman Robert Elfinger said. "When you see your doctor you can ask for whatever medicine you might need. To avoid rising costs, people can buy certain medicines like pain relievers and cold medication when they are on sale or after they see their doctor," Elfinger says.

Pay Hike

Minimum wage earners in seven states will get a pay hike in 2011. Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont and Washington will boost hourly wages by nine to 10 cents starting Jan. 1. "These small increases mean that thousands of minimum wage earners like health aides, child care workers, restaurant workers and retail clerks will be better able to put food on the table, provide for their children, and keep a roof over their head," the executive director of the National Employment Project, Christine Owens, said in a statement.