Plastk Blog: Credit Tips & More

Credit Tip Tuesday #111-Here's What To Do With Your Tax Refund!

Written by Plastk #CTT | Feb 28, 2023 2:00:00 PM

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Seeing some extra cash in a side pocket always makes you smile, right?

It simply means you have enough to

  • Spend on what you like
  • Save a little to stay within your budget
  • Invest some for your future

Above all, achieve financial stability without risking your Equifax credit score!

Similarly, receiving a tax refund can definitely make you wonder, “well, how should I use it?” There’s no need to bother yourself much because we have got you covered!

Below are some basics related to your tax refund and practical ways to invest the same money!

Without further delay, let’s start!

What Is A Tax Refund?

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If we are to stick to the basics of claiming a tax refund, a tax refund is:

 

The amount of money that is paid back to you in case you have deposited your tax money more than needed!

 

Mostly this income tax refund is made by a revenue agency or directly by the state.

Moreover, there are two ways you can receive your hard-earned-but-not-wasted money.

  • One can be through mail
  • The other one can be as a direct deposit to your bank account

However, both these methods determine how quickly you receive your amount.

The first one can take up to a few days to reach its destination. On the other hand, a deposit made directly to your account is much faster than the first one.

Is It Normal To Get A Tax Refund?

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The simple answer is, yes!

You can claim or get a tax refund only when

  • You, as a taxpayer, have made some mistake in form W-4
  • You didn’t mention changes like CTC, etc., in your form
  • Your estimated taxes as a self-employed person turned out to be more than the actual amount owed
  • Or, your refundable tax credits decided to show up in your bank account!

Now that you are fully aware that getting a tax refund doesn’t cost your financial stability at all, it’s time to work up some tips so that you can make better use of this refund.

Here’s What To do With Your Tax Refund!

These simple yet practical tips will help you decide how to spend your hard-earned money and not regret it later at all!

1.  First Thing First, Pay Your Debt!

 

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There’s no doubt that an outstanding debt or loan of any type can at any time turn out to be the bane of your existence.

If not taken seriously or dealt with strategically, debt can

Above all, it can impact your personal relations in the longest run.

Therefore, if you have got enough refund at hand, make sure to

Moreover, if you are using a secured credit card with the lowest interest rate or any other card, it’s the best time to clear your CC payments to give your purchasing power a boost!

2.  Invest In Your Emergency Fund

 

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No one really knows what one might encounter right after turning left from the next corner, right?

So, how would you like to deal with sudden situations like

  • Paying a huge hospital bill
  • Traveling abroad for an important work
  • Losing a job

And everything else?

This is where it is important to always have an emergency fund you can turn to when hard times knock at your door.

So, stowing a fair amount out of your tax refund for emergency use will turn out to be the best decision ever.

3.  Improve Effortless Means To Get Money From

 

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Everyone has some goals, both long- and short-term, in terms of how they want to spend their next, let’s say, decade or retirement years, right?

But having dreams is not the same as working on them!

The same is the case with not opening your savings account, which can store your money away for as long as you like.

Moreover, having a savings account mean

  • You won’t be utilizing your hard-earned money based on your impulses
  • You have added one more source of income to your monthly cash flow
  • You will later be able to give your registered retirement savings plan a boost

Therefore, in order to make your financial plans work as smoothly as possible, you can always store your tax refunds in a suitable savings account.

4.  Give Money To Your Side Hustle

 

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It sure feels nice when someone talks about passive income ideas and everything in between, right?

So, why not start one of your own with the tax refund you have got?

The reason is that, doing so will only result in

  • Improving your financial prospects
  • Expanding your monthly and annual cash flow
  • Helping you explore your creativity
  • Helping your small business experience more of its capability

In short, investing money in a side hustle will only result in double or more financial returns, unlike picking an expensive item by using the buy now pay later service.

Bottom Line:

Any year’s tax refund can turn out to be a huge source of relief for your regular expenses.

This is because you definitely never want to be in a situation where your taxes are due or you haven’t done anything about them.

However, once you have got your hands on the amount, it shouldn’t be used just like a regular monthly-based income. Instead, it should be used as a golden opportunity to fund your bad credit or do other due tasks.

With that said, hopefully, you found this article worth your reading time and your knowledge!