For many of us, the holiday season is a time to get together with family and friends and take a brief time out from our hectic lives. For others, it's a time to plan and prepare for a successful new year. If you are in the latter group, then Money Magazine's Best ideas for 2007 will jumpstart your planning process with investment, home buying, home selling, retirement, and savings tips. My favorite is for homebuyers. Money recommends buying from a builder, since they can't afford to sit on the sidelines while the market recovers. You'll probably be able to negotiate a lower price with a lot more upgrades.