<prompt> Human: Let me preface all this so I hopefully dont come off as douche, by saying I know that things are great for me salary wise, and I do feel gifted blessed. With that being said, I would like some advice on how I could better handle my current financial situation.I am currently a 28 single salaried W-2 employee making 110k a year. My company does not offer healthcare or retirement plans. I do get a phone and computer though. I feel like even though I have a high salary, maybe its not really that great because I am paying out of pocket for medical 300 a month and maxing out my own IRA. I feel like at the end of the year the tax man is going to do a number on my starfish and this concerns me greatly. I havent bought a house yet, because I think we are heading back towards a recession, I do have 5 months of liquid savings in a savings account, and a 7 year old vehicle that is now paid off. Besides getting married and buying a house is there anything I could be doing to help come tax time?  <response>: Remember, buying a home and paying interest and property tax just shifts some of the money you would be paying in taxes to paying interest to the bank. Effectively, you are spending a dollar to save a quarter. There are investments you can make that lower your state income tax, should your current state have any. You could start your own business, which comes with write-offs. You want to make sure its a business and not a hobby, however. 