Direct Mail questions AND how to spend $10,000 by end of the year

[Adrian Tilley]

I'm a newer investor.  I have done some direct mailing to probates with decent responses but no deals.  My biggest hurdle was that I had very limited funds that my better half was ok with putting into marketing.  I have some business income (commission from selling a house) that I will receive in the next couple weeks.  I am going to start sending direct mail again (unless someone has a better plan for investing).  So I have two questions:

1. Is there any way to productively spend $10,000-$15,000 before the end of the year to avoid paying taxes?

2. What lists would you target first?  The best options I can foresee are driving for dollars, probates, maybe evictions?  Other suggestions?

thanks!