Countdown to reclaiming flexible spending cash

There's another countdown coming up besides the one on New Year's Eve. That's the year-end deadline by which a good number of employees must incur expenses that are eligible for reimbursement from their flexible spending accounts. They're the "use it or lose it" accounts in which workers save pretax dollars, which must be drawn down by a certain date.

Some employers do allow for a grace period into the next year for making such outlays, so Lisa Hannen, of Manhasset, says to check now with your human resources staff to find out just what deadline you have to meet - both for incurring expenses and for filing for reimbursements. She's vice president of national accounts for WageWorks, a benefits services provider based in San Mateo, Calif. Some ideas for those with money left, which must be used by year-end:

Review: You may already have qualifying expenses of which you are not aware. So check sites such as Savesmart

spendhealthy.com for the range of what's eligible. For instance, you can put in for mileage to and from this year's medical, vision, and dental appointments.

Big ticket: If you have a significant amount left -- and can still get appointments -- you can consider that dental procedure you've been putting off, or second pair of prescription eye glasses. Get a jump start on New Year's resolutions by looking into paying now for smoking cessation or weight loss programs that run into the new year.

Stock up: How about items you know you'll need, like over-the-counter drugs, cold medicine, cough drops, Band-Aids, contact lenses and solution - even reading glasses and condoms. But, do take care, says Hannen, with all expiration dates.