If you rent a home out for more than two weeks a year, it becomes a rental for tax purposes, and you can deduct costs for upkeep, such as repairs, utilities and condo maintenance fees.

FORBES: Homing In On Taxes

In addition to this 47% increase, consumers will be charged a value-added tax and higher fees for network usage by utilities.

FORBES: Anti-Nuclear Plan Cutting Into Germany's Families

Increasingly, when consumers use cards to pay for taxes, tuition and utilities, governments, schools and power companies pass along those fees by tacking on "convenience" charges to customers' bills.

WSJ: Getting Going: Is Your Charity Chiseling You?

As a result of his fraud, Campbell extracted from the charities automobile payments, automobile insurance payments, utilities, room and board, transportation, living expenses, and golf tournament entry fees.

FORBES: Former Marine Betrays Semper Fi In PGA Scam