If your adjusted gross income is $57,000 or less in 2009, you can get free tax preparation and e-filing. The IRS website lists many companies to choose from.

The most popular being Turbo Tax Free Edition. To prepare and file taxes for State, it will cost $27.95.

As you know, the first $2,400 of Unemployment Tax Benefits received in 2009 are free.

Here are some articles that can help with your tax preparation.

From About.com Job Search Tax Deduction Tips

Kiplinger’s 19 Most-Overlooked Tax Deductions

MSN’s 10 Tax goofs many of us keep making

2009-2010 Tax Calendar

When you’ve been let go your first and most obvious concern is the loss of your income – but another great concern should be your health insurance. Heaven forbid you were to get into an accident or get very ill. An emergency room visit can cost you anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

COBRA

If you had health insurance with your last employer may be able to elect continuation coverage also known as COBRA. The U.S. Department of Labor has a FAQ section to give you more information on COBRA. The continuation coverage lasts for 18 months and can cover your family as well. You MUST elect for coverage within 60 days.

The Stimulus Act or ARRA also allows for a discount on COBRA via a tax credit.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as amended on December 19, 2009 by the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (2010 DOD Act) provides for premium reductions for health benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly called COBRA. Eligible individuals pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums and the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the coverage provider through a tax credit. To qualify, individuals must experience a COBRA qualifying event that is the involuntary termination of a covered employee’s employment. The involuntary termination must occur during the period that began September 1, 2008 and ends on February 28, 2010. The premium reduction applies to periods of health coverage that began on or after February 17, 2009 and lasts for up to 15 months.

The only problem with COBRA, especially if you have a family, is that it can be very expensive.

Medicaid or other State Sponsored Programs

In certain situations you may qualify for Medicaid. It is administered through each individual state. Eligible people include: certain low-income families, parent of eligible minor children, pregnant women and people with disabilities.

Each state may also have other health aid options, you can choose your state and see the available programs on the Needy Meds site.

If you don’t qualify for COBRA or Medicaid. You can get your own health insurance.

Independent Health Insurance

Visit a site like eInsurance (the one reputable site that I know – and that I’ve personally bought insurance from). Fill out your information and the site will gifve you premium options.

If money is very tight, you can choose a low cost premium, but it will come with a high deductible – but as long as you can have higher coverage for accident and emergency situations, it could be well worth it.

Health Clinics

The U.S. Department of Health Services has a clinic locator on their website. They provide: checkups when you’re well, treatment when you’re sick, complete care when you’re pregnant, immunizations and checkups for your children, dental care and prescription drugs for your family, mental health and substance abuse care if you need it.

Needy Meds also has a locator tool for you to find low cost, free or sliding scale clinics.

Another solution, though a bit more pricey than these other clinics is Minute Clinic located in some CVS stores. They list their services and costs on their website. These clinics require no appointments and are open on weekends.

You’re unemployed and broke – do you really have $25 for your Lancôme Mascara? $60 on a haircut? Me either.

As an unemployed woman – who to be honest, is using her makeup a lot less anyways – I still like having my girly stuff.

Well here are some tips I’ve utilized to cut the costs on my “girly stuff.”

Make up & Skin Care

Beauty Ticket – They have Makeup, Skin Care, Bath & Body and Fragrance. Brands include Bliss, Borghese, Bourjois, Paula Dorf, Pixi, Smashbox, Stila, Too Faced, Vincent Longo & Yves Saint Laurent.

They often have discounts between 10-25%, which they list on their website. You can also sign up for their newsletter or twitter to get the codes.

I’ve purchased from them – they’re based in Los Angeles and ship quickly.

Sephora also has a sale section.

E.L.F (Eyes Lips Face) – Almost all their cosmetics are $1.00. You can find discount codes on Retail Me Not.

Another great place to get shampoo, body wash and related products is Big Lots. Yes, the place formerly known as Pic N Save.

I found the shampoo I use,  Herbal Essences Drama Clean  for $2.00 at my local Big Lots. The same shampoo retails for $4.29 at CVS, $3.99 at Drugstore.com & Walgreens.

I’ve found the following brands at Big Lots (they vary per store though): L’Oreal, Revlon, E.L.F, Charles Worthington, Frizz Ease, Aussie, Arm & Hammer,

Find your nearest Big Lots using their Store Locator.

Another way I found to save on beauty and personal care products is to stop going to Target.

STOP GOING TO TARGET!

Even though I love Target, the prices on their shampoo, toothpaste, cosmetics, etc is not competitive. They rarely if ever go on sale, and if they do they’re still usually higher than the drugstores. Also it is almost impossible to leave Target without spending $50. It’s a vortex of cute things that you don’t need. Just stay away.

I go to CVS now and spend way less. Sign up for their ExtraCare Rewards Program in store and you’ll get discounts, “Extra Bucks” on certain products and at the end of each quarter you get 2% of what you spent in store credit.

Before you stop into CVS for your L’Oreal moisturizers you might want to swing by a TJ Maxx. I’ve seen L’Oreal products at TJ Maxx for $4-10 that usually retail at other stores for $10-25.

Hair Care

I don’t have $50 plus tip to spend on a hair cut anymore. Unfortunately, I need a trim every few months or my split ends start to get split ends.

If you don’t have friend or family member that you can trust to cut your hair you can always go to your local beauty school.

Many of them offer haircuts for ridiculously low prices. Of course you’ll have to have a student working on you, but if it’s for a trim it can’t be that bad.

I went to my local beauty school here in California and got a haircut done by a senior student for $10 including a shampoo ($15 if you include the tip). She did a great job, although it took a bit more time than I expected – but I shouldn’t complain for $15!

If you’re adventurous and need to trim your bangs. Check out this video (links directly to the Youtube) from InStyle.com where famed hairdresser Ted Gibson shows you the proper way to trim them.

Sale sections of popular online stores and coupon codes

The Body Shop

Bath & Body Works – Coupon Codes

Walgreens

Drugstore.com

ULTA – Coupon Codes

Avon

All Cosmetics Wholesale

ASOS (UK & Europe)

Overstock

Sally Beauty – Coupon Codes

According to the IRS website, for the 2009 Tax Year those receiving unemployment insurance benefits from the federal government will receive a tax break.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits an individual receives in 2009 are tax free. This provision applies only to benefits received in 2009: Normally, unemployment benefits are taxable.

Individuals who receive unemployment benefits this year should check their withholding to ensure they are not having unnecessary tax withheld. IRS News Release 2009-29 has more detail on this provision