You may think big deductions are only for wealthy people with complex tax returns, but that's not necessarily the case. For most families, saving $1,000, $5,000, even $10,000 each year is easier than you think.

And think about it: Even saving $1,000 a year could allow you to pay down debt, fund a college or retirement need down the road, or splurge on a memorable vacation. Deposited in a retirement account, those annual savings could grow into $45,000 in 20 years. That is serious money and there's no reason to send it to Washington or to your state capital.

Want to get in on these savings? Let me show you six ways:

Are you or someone in your family going to school? Congress has created a mind-boggling assortment of credits and deductions for education expenses. We can't cover them all here, but I estimate that a family earning $60,000 with one kid in college and another in graduate school can save more than $3,000 a year through taking advantage of the Hope Credit (a per-student annual credit for the first two years of higher education), deducting interest paid on student loans and deducting tuition and fees for the graduate student See the Savings.

More help can come from tax-advantaged college savings plans, like so-called "529" plans. With one of these accounts, you could earn $12,000 more in fifteen years than you could in an equivalent taxable brokerage or mutual fund account (assuming 8 percent earnings per year with $2,000 in annual contributions).

Remember, most education credits and deductions are available for you as well as your kids. They apply to vocational or trade school, as well as college or graduate school. So go ahead and sign up for that welding or poetry class you've always wanted to take -- and then don't forget to take the tax benefits you're due.

A record number of families borrowed over a trillion dollars by tapping into their home equity in 2005. Many used the proceeds to pay off credit card debt.

Now, suppose you're the average American family with $13,000 in such debt. You "re-fi" at 7.5 percent to pay off credit cards charging 19.2 percent. You'd save $1,521 each year in interest, for starters. And since this interest is deductible, you'd save another $532 in taxes. Total savings: More than $2,000 each year.

One important caveat: Many people who use low-interest debt to pay off credit cards end up with more debt in the long run because they don't curtail their spending. Remember, you won't benefit from these savings -- and may end up owing more -- if you run up the credit cards again!

Most people think that unless they have their own business they can't deduct the costs of doing their job. Wrong.

Congress created the "miscellaneous expense" deduction as a catch-all for an assortment of tax deductible expenses, including unreimbursed business expenses. You're only allowed to deduct expenses exceeding 2 percent of your adjusted gross income, but these deductions can still add up.

Out of work and looking for a job? Those search expenses, including interview trips and resume preparation, qualify. Plus your income is lower, so the 2 percent hurdle is easier to clear.

Working from home or telecommuting? Your home office, computer, furniture, magazine subscriptions, Internet and phone expenses may all be deductible.

Don't forget - expenses related to producing income or managing money may qualify. These include tax preparer fees, a safe deposit box, subscriptions or a trade association membership. These combined savings easily add up to more than $1,000 a year for a typical family.

Thought you'd never use the words "health" and "savings" in the same sentence? Well, think again. Congress has added power to Health Savings Accounts. Originally designed for self-employed individuals and families, new rules and the changing landscape of employer-paid health insurance has put them into play for more of us.

Now, even if you're an employee, you may qualify. So, if you elect a high-deductible health insurance plan, you can deposit an amount equivalent to that deductible in a personal HSA. So if you have a $4,800 deductible, you can deposit that amount in your HSA and deduct it from your taxable income. That could save you $1,680 in taxes each year.

What's more, it's your money. You could use your HSA to pay for deductibles, co-pays, dental or eye care, or other uncovered portions of your health costs. You can use it for health care expenses at any time and after age 59 ½, for any purpose, including retirement or paying for more expensive health care you may need at that time.

If you're lucky (or a good negotiator) you can ask your employer to spend less on your health insurance, and take the difference in funding for your HSA -- or even increased take-home pay.

Believe it or not, a stay-at-home spouse can actually retire some day. Of course, that requires saving for retirement ahead of time.

The rules for most IRA's and other savings plans say the owner must earn at least as much as they deposit each year. The Spousal IRA is the happy exception.

Families can set aside $4,000 for a stay-at-home spouse (subject to some income limits) and deduct it from taxable income. That deduction could shave $1,400 a year off your tax bill. You may be able to set aside even more if the stay-at-home spouse is over 50, allowing for an even larger deduction.

If you run a small business - or are self-employed - you've got a wealth of deductions to choose from. We can't cover them all, but here's one that many people miss: You can hire your kids, pay them, and fully deduct the payment from your business income. For example, pay your two children $150 a month and that adds up to $1,260 in annual tax savings.

You end up deducting what you might have spent on them (or handed out to them) anyway - but beware, you might not be able to control how they spend it! There are no tax consequences so long as they earn less than $4,750 annually.

What can they do for you? Think big. They can clean windows or file paperwork. They can back up your computer, defrag your hard drive, or print brochures for you. All those "tech" chores you hate may be fun and easy for them.

It doesn't have to be kids - you can hire other family members. My own mother helps me manage my real estate properties. Everything from her gas to her cell phone -- even a meal -- is deductible as long as these expenses are "necessary and ordinary" (as the IRS puts it) to the business.

Sharpen those pencils, and don't give up. Look at every angle. Remember that the IRS doesn't frown on paying less tax - only cheating on taxes.

Can't take these deductions this year? Plan your finances to take them next year.

And if you aren't sure how to use these ideas, consult an advisor. The rules can be complex. The fees spent may well be worthwhile - and they may also be deductible.

Jennifer Openshaw, AOL's family financial editor, is an author and entrepreneur specializing in providing advice to working families. She is the CEO of Openshaw's Family Financial Network and host of national radio show, "Winning Advice with Jennifer Openshaw.