16 smart things to do with your tax refund
Consumer Reports Apr 11, 2013 8:00 AM
Spring signals the return of warmer weather, blooming flowers and trees, baseball, and more. And for many of you, it's also when your state or federal tax refund will arrive.
Truth be told, you're better off not getting a tax refund. That money going back to you means that the government took too much from your paycheck and that you need to adjust your withholding.
Still, since a tax refund is commonly seen as a windfall, we offer our suggestions for what to do with a refund. The average federal refund was about $3,000 last year; our refund recommendations range from free to pricey.
Cars
Upgrade your tires. New tires can make a measurable improvement in your car's performance and safety. When looking for new tires, focus on tires that do well in our tests for braking, handling, and resistance to hydroplaning.
Find a GPS navigator. You can get many of the same functions that the infotainment systems in new cars have buy picking up a portable GPS navigator. Basic units priced at $125 from Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom provide helpful turn-by-turn directions. For a bit more, you get free traffic information. At the high end, you'll find devices that add features such as a trip computer, Bluetooth capability, an MP3 player, and an FM transmitter.
To read the entire article from Consumer Reports:
http://news.consumerreports.org/appliances/2013/04/16-smart-things-to-do-with-your-tax-refund.html
Don't count the days, make the days count. -Muhammad Ali
Truth be told, you're better off not getting a tax refund. That money going back to you means that the government took too much from your paycheck and that you need to adjust your withholding.
Still, since a tax refund is commonly seen as a windfall, we offer our suggestions for what to do with a refund. The average federal refund was about $3,000 last year; our refund recommendations range from free to pricey.
Cars
Upgrade your tires. New tires can make a measurable improvement in your car's performance and safety. When looking for new tires, focus on tires that do well in our tests for braking, handling, and resistance to hydroplaning.
Find a GPS navigator. You can get many of the same functions that the infotainment systems in new cars have buy picking up a portable GPS navigator. Basic units priced at $125 from Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom provide helpful turn-by-turn directions. For a bit more, you get free traffic information. At the high end, you'll find devices that add features such as a trip computer, Bluetooth capability, an MP3 player, and an FM transmitter.
To read the entire article from Consumer Reports:
http://news.consumerreports.org/appliances/2013/04/16-smart-things-to-do-with-your-tax-refund.html
Don't count the days, make the days count. -Muhammad Ali
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