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The end of the year is coming quick. Have you done all that you resolved to do for 2009?

Here are some reminders of things that you might want to do before the clock strikes twelve on New Years' Eve.

What should people do now to beat the clock?

• To save money on taxes, make sure to make charitable contributions, pay real estate taxes, and finish energy efficient home improvements that may qualify for a tax break before the end of 2009.

• Maximize your healthcare benefits for 2009 by visiting your doctor, completing medical tests, or filling prescriptions.

• Go through coupons or special offers that you might have and use them or lose them. A lot of coupons and special offers typically expire on december 31st.

What if you are short on funds and cannot pay for some of these things before years end?

In some cases, you might get a break, especially if there is a grace period such as flexible spending plans. Some of these will allow you to incur medical expenses for a few months in 2010 that can be reimbursed with 2009 dollars.

If you want to get a charitable deduction, you might want to consider donating gently used items, but make sure that you document what was donated and get a receipt.

What if you wait until December 31st to mail a check or to send in for a rebate that expires at the end of the year? Will this work?

It depends. Some things will go by a postmark, while others will require actual receipt by December 31st.

To protect yourself, make sure to keep proof that something was mailed by the end of the year.

However, in the case of a tax bill or donating something to charity, you may want to do a transaction in person or online, and be sure to get a receipt showing that the transaction happened in 2009.