The only reason you’re looking forward to paying your taxes may be the prospect of a tax refund. In my experience, there is no better time to file your tax return. The end of the holidays and the beginning of a new year is a time to reset and replenish. How you spend your tax refund is completely at your discretion. After all, your refund is your hard-earned money. But why not put that money to good use and make the ultimate investment in yourself? Here are some ideas for using your tax refund to invest in yourself this year.
1. Print your passion
Featured: Office Depot® OfficeMax®
Create flyers, posters, custom banners, and more with Office Depot® OfficeMax® printing services. Whether you play in a band, promote your small business or side hustle, or simply want to customize your home by creating posters of your favorite shots, we have a deal for you. Get 30% off Office Depot® OfficeMax® printing services when you spend $125 or more. Be sure to copy this code to get your deal. Get creative, start printing, and surround yourself with more of the things you love. Plus, when you purchase Office Depot® OfficeMax® at RetailMeNot, you can activate 6% cash back.
buy now
2. Sign up for an online course
Whether you want to develop skills related to your career or just want to learn a fun new skill, there are plenty of online learning opportunities.
Udemy
When it comes to leveling up your career, Udemy can help you learn coding languages, data science, and how to become an Excel magician. RetailMeNot frequently offers 1% cashback offers on Udemy, so check here for the latest updates.
LinkedIn Learning
Need to develop your professional skills? LinkedIn Learning offers courses on everything from copywriting to project management, popular business software, and public speaking. You can also get started with a 1-month free trial.
master class
Learn more about what you love. Masterclasses offer courses taught by celebrities and experts who teach you how to do what they do best. Take a screenwriting course with Mindy Kaling, a cooking class with Gordon Ramsay, or learn about science and problem-solving from Bill Nighy.
rosetta stone
Learning a new language can give you a better travel experience and open up new relationships and career opportunities. If you want to go all out, the lifetime subscription option is currently discounted to $199. This gives you lifetime access to unlimited languages.
3. Join a book club
There’s a good reason why the intention to read more books is a popular New Year’s resolution. Not only does reading exercise your mind and improve your vocabulary, it also helps you develop relationships both on and off the page. Joining a book club may sound daunting for an introvert (and many avid readers would consider themselves that way), but book clubs are actually a very easy way to meet new people and form new friendships. Because we’re connected through a single event (a monthly book), it’s much easier to start conversations that ultimately lead to rich discussions and new perspectives. This is something we can all do. everytime Please use more. Not sure where to start? Why not try our Book of the Month Club?
4. Start a wellness journal
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and there’s probably no better way to invest in yourself and your future than by nurturing your mental health. Therapy is for everyone, and while there is still a lot of work to do to break down the outdated stigma surrounding mental health, I am grateful that we have come a long way when it comes to treatment. openly Discuss mental health. Understandably, when it comes to mental health care, it can be hard to even know where to start, especially if you suffer from anxiety attacks like I do. This is why I love the ban.do wellness planner (there are so many options!). The ban.do Wellness Planner is a guided journaling exercise that takes the guesswork out of self-care. In addition to thought-provoking writing prompts, these wellness journals also include helpful information such as groceries and grocery shopping lists for a balanced diet, artwork, check-in topics, and more (and they’re super adorable).
5. start a new hobby
Recently, I had some free time, so I started a new hobby: golf. I quickly fell in love with playing and can attest that golf is great. there is nothing It’s like when you saw your dad fall asleep on the couch when you were a kid (but… still (You cannot change the channel). Contrary to popular belief, golf doesn’t have to be expensive to start playing. There are many great starter club sets for adults and juniors at affordable prices, allowing you to get the feel of swinging clubs at the driving range or municipal golf course on the cheap.
Of course, your new hobby doesn’t have to be golf. That was the case for me. But getting outside, getting out of your head and just playing with your friends as if you were a kid again is nothing short of refreshing and replenishing your mind and spirit. Investing your tax refund in a new hobby will not only help you learn more about yourself, but you might even discover a whole new passion.
6. Develop meaningful habits
What I’ve learned as I get older is that any small step is better than no step at all. What I mean by this is that when I was younger, I wanted everything to be all or nothing. When I wanted to start running, I found myself pushing myself for miles instead of gradually building up my endurance. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that developing meaningful habits often doesn’t seem like a big deal in the moment, but over time you realize how big an impact those small moments had. Ironically, long before I learned from my partner that the infamous commencement speech had been delivered, I was enjoying (and even purchasing the book of) the viral commencement speech by U.S. Navy Admiral William H. McRaven. his graduation– Insert total geek moment for me here. Perhaps it’s a small connection to Admiral McRaven’s speech, but either way, the message of setting intentions through small but meaningful actions every day is life-changing. Get your copy on Kindle, hardcover, or audiobook.
If your tax refund is small, note that the hardcover version of this book costs less than $12.
7. Become a gardener and chef
Ok, probably not professional Even though you’re a chef, you can definitely grow your own green thumb using an indoor herb garden kit and spice up your meals in the process. Ironically, tax season collides with the perfect time to forget your New Year’s resolutions. However, if you are a little creative with your tax refund, you don’t have to do that. Indoor herb gardens aren’t just perfect for people who don’t have a garden or live in harsh climates. Even the most everyday meals you make at home can be a fun way to adapt them. Not only does it help me explore new flavors and recipes, but the act of tending to my herbs is cathartic and (somehow) feels easier to maintain than all the houseplants I’ve been killing (yes, even succulents). Rest in peace.
8. Move your body every day
I truly believe that the best way to respect your body is to listen to it. actually Follow what is asked of you. For most people, myself included, follow-through is usually the hardest thing when it comes to regaining health. That’s why I decided to think of it less as “training” and more as physical activity. That movement can be a myriad of actions, from walking around the neighborhood to lifting weights at the gym. By reframing my thoughts and focusing on the act of moving instead of exercising, my brain was tricked into getting into the habit of walking 30 minutes every day. Want to find a daily movement routine that works for you? Shop for fitness equipment on Amazon.
The post 8 Ways to Invest in Yourself with Your Tax Refund appeared first on RetailMeNot’s The Real Deal.
Source: The Real Deal by RetailMeNot – www.retailmenot.com
