Beverly Hills, CA -- If you need some extra cash for an Independence Day getaway this July 4, a finance expert recommends asking the boss for a "tax-free raise" before payday.

Richard Krawczyk, author of "Financial Aerobics: How to Get Your Finances into Shape" (Cavalier) calls it a raise, but it's really just accessing your own income by changing your tax withholdings.

Krawczyk says you can boost your take-home pay by going to your company's H.R. department, asking to fill out a new W2 form, and changing your allowances to a nine.

The amount will vary depending on your salary, but Krawczyk says the average person will make a quick couple hundred bucks.

Still he warns you not to leave your allowances at nine all year round, unless you don't mind owing the government a huge amount of money at the end of the year, and don't take more than nine allowances because that will raise a red flag at the IRS.

He says it's perfectly legal to change your allowances back and forth every week, although he jokes, "H.R. may kill you."

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