Tag: Finances

What to Do With Your Tax Refund Instead of Buying Stuff

- Alexis 1 Comment

Money: a one dollar bill on top of a twenty dollar bill on top of a credit card

If you’re really on top of things and heed the identity theft-prevention advice to file your tax returns as early as possible, you may have already received and spent your tax refund.  Good for you!  We’re still waiting for our refund, because newborn (and, let’s be honest, because of the same procrastination that hits every tax season).  Of course, not everyone gets a refund.  Last year, we were in that camp and had to pay the IRS — not a fun surprise.  But the average federal tax refund is $2,895, and for many Americans who don’t get annual or quarterly bonuses from their employers, it’s their only unbudgeted monetary windfall.

No matter your current situation, a couple thousand dollars can go pretty far in helping you to achieve your financial goals.  As I mentioned last month, I’m making an effort to buy fewer things, and I don’t want to watch my tax refund dollars evaporate in a shopping spree, spent on things that will just further fill my house, only to be discarded in a future decluttering effort.  If you’re in the same boat and are looking for some more intentional uses for your hard-earned money, here are a few ideas.  Read more

The Weekend Listen

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A pair of wireless headphones for podcast listening

I listen to a lot of podcasts while driving, working out, and doing chores around the house. In this weekly feature, I’ll tell you about one episode I particularly enjoyed that week.

Note: This week’s podcast episode contains explicit language that may be objectionable to some listeners. 

I’m a little behind on my podcast listening, and this week’s selection is about two weeks old.  I’m posting it anyway because it serves as a nice follow-up to Sunday’s post on financial management.  On the Tim Ferriss Show, the author of The Four Hour Workweek interviews top performers in a variety of fields about their habits, beliefs, experiences, lifestyles, and how they do what they do.  Tim recently talked to “Mr. Money Mustache,” Pete Adeney, about how he retired at 30 and lives comfortably (with a family of three) on $25-27K of passive income per year.  I was not familiar with Mr. Money Mustache before this podcast, but I’m intrigued by his advice and plan to check out his website (which apparently has a cult following).

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