Creative Ways to Use Your Tax Refund

I don’t enjoy paying taxes, but I sure look forward to a refund! How about you?

If you’re expecting a refund, you need to decide now how you’re going to use it wisely! Your goal should be financial freedom and Godly stewardship. That is how you can bless those you love and honor your Provider.

First, look at your budget. If you don’t have one, then I urge you take a little time and start one today. You can find free resources at crown.org/budget.This will help you see where to effectively use your refund money.

Consider giving a portion of your refund check to the Lord. Fund a missionary overseas, help pay for a family’s adoption, increase your giving to your church, or help cover the education costs of students in your inner city. Second Corinthians says that God loves a cheerful giver!!

Also consider using your refund to save! If you don’t have a thousand dollars in an emergency account yet, that should be step one. Once you have a thousand dollars set aside, start building up 3-6 months of living expenses in your savings. This will help you get out and stay out of debt and financial stress in the future.

Now may be a good time to do necessary home repairs, replace any broken or dying appliances, trim your trees, or update your landscaping. Research how to fix up your house to make more money when you go to sell it. Curb appeal can go a long way! If you’re planning to stay in your house for awhile, use your refund to make extra payments on your mortgage principal.

And lastly, use your refund to get out of debt. If you have overwhelming credit card debt, get in touch with our partners at Christian Credit Counselors. They can help you! Learn more by calling the Crown Helpline at 800-722-1976 or visiting crown.org/ccc