2009 is almost over. That means there are only a few more days to consider any last-minute moves to save on federal income taxes for this year.

But first, a note of caution: You don't want to adjust your finances at year's end simply to take advantage of a tax benefit. That's a traditional recipe for money trouble and financial disappointment. Of course, it's such an obvious point why even bother to make it? Well, it's an admonition all too easy to forget.

For instance, Uncle Sam now offers first-time home buyers a tax credit. It's for 10 percent of a home's purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000. Like most tax credits, it comes with all kinds of twists and turns. (A good online resource for learning the rules is at www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com.) Still, it's an attractive dollar-for-dollar credit. Even if you don't owe Uncle Sam any money you can claim the credit and pocket a refund check.

Yet the number of queries I got from first-time homebuyers thinking about seriously stretching their finances to buy and get the credit bothered me throughout the year. The experience of the housing boom and bust is that pushing your finances to own is a recipe for money trouble. The underlying economics of the home purchase has to work first. The credit is then an added bonus. (It has also been extended well into next year.)

A classic year-end maneuver is giving money away. If you want to claim a charitable gift deduction for 2009 you need to make your donations before the end of the year. Taxpayers older than 70 1/2 can also tap their IRAs to make a charitable contribution. It's a tax-efficient way to donate money to a charity, and it's the last year to take advantage of the benefit unless Congress gives the rule another lease on life.

Another common tax-savvy move is harvesting your taxable portfolio for gains and, more importantly, losses. The stock market has staged a strong recovery since March and some people have a gain. But many more still own losing investments. You can offset any realized capital gains with realized capital losses and, if you have losses left over, you can deduct $3,000 of that against your ordinary income. Still have more losses than you could take advantage of? The excess carries over to 2010 (and so on).

Another tax break scheduled to expire in 2009 concerns new car sales. If you buy a new car this year you get to deduct sales and excise taxes and other fees from the purchase. The deduction is limited to the taxes and fees paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of an eligible vehicle. And, of course, there are income limits. It phases out for married couples filing jointly with a modified gross adjusted income between $250,000 and $260,000 (for singles the benefit phases out between $125,000 and $135,000).

You can also look at your medical expenses, but you have to spend more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income on medical bills before you can take advantage of this deduction. That's a tough hurdle for most people to meet.

So, before the year runs out give your tax professional a call or boot up your Web-based tax program. There might be a tax benefit for the taking.

Chris Farrell is economics editor for American Public Media's "Marketplace Money." Send questions to cfarrell@mpr.org.