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Ah, tax season. You sneak up on us every year while we’re still recovering from changing our clocks. For some, this means it’s time to pay up to the IRS. For others, it’s refund check o’clock. If you’re in that second group, the urge to spend the windfall on something fun and frivolous can be strong. If you can manage to resist it, we have a few ideas for how to put that money to good use. It still counts as spending that tax refund on yourself, though!
Invest in Your Health
The past two years have been hard on people, there’s no way around it. If you’ve been struggling more with your mental or physical health lately, you’re far from alone. Consider investing in some teletherapy or telemedicine services with your tax refund. It’s a gift to yourself that may just keep on giving.
Protect the People You Love
Look, we know that getting enough life insurance isn’t exactly the first thing people run out to buy when they get a little extra cash. And yet the majority of Americans know that they need it or they need more than what they have now. Buy yourself a little peace of mind.
Beef Up Your Defense Against High Medical Bills
Medical debt is tough to deal with, and can be even tougher to avoid. Consider getting something like accident medical insurance to take the sting out of an emergency room bill this year.
Start a Dedicated Savings Account
Have a bigger project in mind for those funds? Use them to kickstart savings for a bigger project. Maybe it’s a trip you want to take or an expense for your kids that you weren’t sure how to tackle.
Invest for the First Time
If you’ve never dipped a toe into the market, maybe now’s the time for you to give it a go with money that’s not needed elsewhere. Do your research and see if you want to be the one to call the shots.
Improve Your Resume
Are there any classes, certifications or tests that could make you more employable? Consider using the money to make yourself look better to your current or future employer – and ask for what you’re worth in exchange.
Tackle Debt
Different debt payoff strategies each have their unique benefits. As long as you’re not behind on any bills, take a look at the difference between things like the snowball method and the avalanche method.
Get a New Fridge
See, you can still go shopping! If you have older appliances, the chances are higher that they’r eating more electricity to keep them running than their modern counterparts. Fridges, dryers and lightbulbs are common offenders.
Retire Earlier
Your refund check isn’t going to set you up for retirement for good, but if might just help you get there faster. Time in the market is the rule of thumb when it comes to retirement accounts. Take a look at your options through work or consider opening an individual retirement account (IRA).
Donate It
If you’d like to make your tax refund into a charitable donation, consider researching some of the best performing charities for your goals for the world.
