| Many people are getting a good tax refund back this | | | | be able to spend your tax return money this year in |
| year. While there is the temptation to go out and blow | | | | exchange for lower expenses over the long run. |
| the money on new electronics or other things that you | | | | Take care of any preventative problems that might |
| enjoy, there are also many smart things that you could | | | | lead to a larger problem in the future. If you need |
| do with the money instead. Typically the smart things | | | | some dental work done or your car needs some |
| might seem like less fun, but in the long run they can | | | | work, get these done now while they are little |
| prevent quite a bit of wasted money. | | | | problems. |
| The best thing that you can do with the money is to | | | | Put away a little bit of money for emergencies. Much |
| pay off some of your debts. If you have debt, each | | | | of the time you will get further in debt because of the |
| month you are losing money on interest that you don't | | | | little emergencies that come up. Save some of the |
| have to be losing. It's smart to get this paid off so that | | | | money for this type of situation. |
| you don't have to lose this money. It's especially | | | | Consider doing something like replacing the windows in |
| important to get credit card debt paid off because of | | | | your home. Older windows will make things like heating |
| the much higher interest rates on that money. | | | | and cooling the home cost quite a bit more money. |
| Look at investing in better appliances. Many times if | | | | Replace the windows with better ones to save on |
| you get more energy efficient models you can save | | | | these costs. The money spent now will eventually pay |
| hundreds of dollars a year in electrical costs. You might | | | | for itself. |