Tax season always brings that small dose of hope, like a little financial break just in time. Whether $200 or $2,000, that little bit of cash is like a chance to catch up, catch a breath, and even perhaps splurge a bit for yourself. But where you are in the midst of the endless mom-ing, chances are that the money just blends in with the usual mayhem without much consideration.
Let’s hit the brakes, leave the laundry for later, and check out five intelligent, feel-good ways to deploy that refund, again, without overthinking things.
1. Pay Off That One Thing That Keeps Bugging You
You know the one. That credit card has been slowly building. The outstanding medical bill that you knew you should address. Rather than trying to solve every single thing at once, concentrate on the things that are currently causing the most stress. Paying off even a small bit of it is like removing a backpack from your shoulders. It won’t perfect everything, but it’ll ease the burden—and that is more important than perfection.
2. Provide Your Residence with a Personal Touch You’ll Appreciate
Forget about gut renovations or Pinterest-worthy projects. What’s the single simplest thing in your house that, if made even a teensy bit better, would just make today a little less frustrating or a little more enjoyable? A better coffee machine. A decent set of storage containers that go inside the cabinet. A brighter bulb for your kid’s bedroom so that you can stop stubbing the same toe every night. Little changes can go a long way to a less crazy, more livable space, a space that every mom needs.
3. Reserve Something for Yourself (Without Needing to Explain It to Anyone)
Yes, the household does have needs. Yes, there is always an added expense lurking around the bend. But let’s not try to act like you’re not the star, and functioning on vapors some days. Whether you’re investing $100 in that course you’ve been wanting to take, a monthly massage membership, or a “just mine” fund, at least part of that refund needs to go in your direction. Quiet self-care matters, even if nobody else notices that anything is going on.
4. Begin That Emergency Fund You’ve Always Thought About
Most mothers carry around a mental list of “what-ifs.” What if the car breaks down? What if we have to book a last-minute flight? What if someone needs their glasses replaced again? Depositing a portion of your refund into a stand-alone savings account—one that you won’t tap without really needing to—will quiet that mental chatter. You don’t have to have thousands to begin. $300 is a good starting point that communicates, “We’ve got this.
5. Assist Future You (and Future Them)
There is always something comforting about investing in your children’s future, even if just incrementally. Your refund may not fund four years’ tuition, but it can go toward assisting your child later on. Some parents invest some or even all of their refund in RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), which compounds and may also receive contributions from the government. It is not about getting everything figured out just right, but about doing that single small, mindful step.
Listen, even money can be stressful. But your refund? That is a special chance to make choices based on possibility, not pressure. You have no need to rationalize spending it on things that give you comfort, relief, or joy. Whether you’re clearing mental space, house space, or future space—it matters.