How Much of Your Tax Refund Should You Really Spend?
When April 15 rolls around, chances are you either freak out that Tax Day has arrived (and emergency-message your accountant), cringe at the amount you have to give back, or, if you're fortunate enough, relish in the fact that your reimbursement check is en route. But how much of your check from Uncle Sam should you really spend? Is it ok to blow it on that dream bag you've been eyeing? Should you save all of it? We went straight to a financial expert to find out.
"I'm all about the small indulgences, so allow yourself 10-15 per cent of your tax refund for something fun, like a mani/pedi, yoga class, or fun new pair of shoes. The rest should go right back into your savings: either your emergency fund, which is 3-6 months' worth of expenses, or to your retirement account," says Nicole Lapin, author of Rich Bitch: A Simple 12-Step Plan for Getting Your Financial Life Together...Finally. "Just remember that when it comes to your tax refund, it's not free money—it's your money."
What do you think of these tips? Do you agree? How much of your tax return will you spend? Sound off in the comment section below!
Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retailers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.
