

6 Things To Do With Your Tax Refund
As if it isn't bad enough that 76% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, there are a lot of people sitting around waiting for their tax refunds to hit their direct deposit so they can buy all of these things that they probably couldn't otherwise afford.
Those of us who have a problem with spending money before we get it have probably already calculated down to the penny what we're going to spend our tax refunds on.
This year, I will not be one of those people. I have bigger things in mind besides a shopping spree or big ticket item purchase.
I'm pretty new to this tax refund thing (three years to be exact), but I've learned from the mistakes of the people around me who I've watched blow tax refund checks and of course my own experience blowing money fast. Unfortunately, many of us are never formally educated about this tax refund business and just learn from what we see. Most people see their tax refunds as “free money" from the government but it absolutely is not. Your tax refund is nothing more than the excess amount of your money that you paid to the federal government throughout the year. Keyword, YOUR money.
Let's make this tax refund season the one that helps shape our financial futures instead of a trial period of the “lavish life". Here are some of the things that I plan on doing with my tax refund check this time around:
Paying down credit card debt
Whether you have one credit card or 10, owing folk's money is NOT cute. The first thing I'm doing with my tax refund money is paying off a good portion of my credit card balances. Some experts say to start with the card that has the highest interest rate, but considering the rates on my cards are relatively close to one another, I will be starting with the card with the least amount of debt. When that balance is zero, I'm on to the next.
Paying some bills in advance
People come and go, but bills, my dear, are here to stay. Of course you could wait to pay your bills on their respective due dates as you usually would, but what harm is there in getting a head start on next month? And the month after? None whatsoever. Making some advance payments on some bills can ease some of that “first of the month" blues.
Putting some coins to the side
I've gotten into the habit of always having some emergency money stashed away somewhere because quite frankly, sh*t happens--like my MacBook wanting to give up on me every few months or so (yes, I'm in my feelings). You never know what the future holds, so just in case something crazy happens, make sure you have the money to take care of it without being broke afterwards. I definitely will be dropping some coins into my savings for the rainy days.
Investing in your work/career
Whether it's a business that you want to start or career move that you're looking to make in the near future, things that usually bring you money take some sort of monetary investment. Simply put, it takes money to make money. Investing in something now that can secure you a bomb financial future is a sure win.
Revamping your work space (especially if you work from home)
As a writer, I do a lot of work from home whether I'm writing for my own site or freelancing for another publication. In the last few months of my writing career, I've been slowly adding things to my home workspace to make me work more productively. Now, I can take care of the things that are more for aesthetics than productivity, like a new bookshelf and wall decor. FUN!
A treat of your choice
I'd be doing a disservice if I sat here and acted like tax refund checks were all work and absolutely no play. Haha, imagine that! Some people like their money where they can see it, like in their closet in the form of clothes. I'm more of an experience kind of gal. I'm not going to use my whole tax refund check to fund a big lavish vacation but I will put a few dollars to the side as my vacation spending money for when I go away in March. Treat yourself as long as it isn't going to put you right back at square one.
Now that you guys have gotten to see where my head is at, I'd love for you all to share some of the responsible (another keyword) ways that you plan on spending your tax refund check. That's if your spending it at all of course!
Featured image by NeONBRAND on Unsplash
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Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Russell and Nina Westbrook Dish On The Key Ways To Avoid Resentment In Relationships
Russell and Nina Westbrook are one of those low-key, unproblematic couples we don’t talk about enough. They met in college and got married in 2015. They also have a beautiful family with three kids. While Russell is an NBA star, Nina is a licensed family and marriage therapist and a mental health advocate.
She recently launched the podcast The Relationship Chronicles with Nina Westbrook, and in the latest episode, she had none other than her husband on as a guest. The college sweethearts dived into important topics from marriage to children and how they navigate it all.
One of the topics they touched on was dealing with resentment in your relationship. The former MVP highlighted the sacrifices his wife has had to make in order for him to pursue a career in the NBA, and that’s why it’s also important for him to support his wife whenever he can.
“For me is respecting and understanding what your partner do and the time it takes,” Russell said. “Not kind of downplaying what they do, understanding the time and energy and effort they're doing to make sure whether it’s their job or making sure home is taken care of, and understanding that, I think that is the challenge of not being resentful.”
Nina agreed and also shared her thoughts on resentment. According to her, one of the best things couples should do is have their own identity and passions outside of the relationship in an effort to be fulfilled.
“I also think that when you’re in a relationship, that’s why it’s so important that each individual kinda pursue their own passions and follow their own dreams as I feel like it only becomes or leads to resentment when one person is not feeling fulfilled in what they're doing in their lives,” she explained.
“And so, they will start to look at the other partner who’s happy or excelling or promoting or moving along in their journey, then they’re left feeling stuck like they sacrificed themselves, their happiness, their career, their future and have not pursued it in the name of the relationship or their partner. So, it’s so much easier to avoid those feelings of resentment when you’re each equally pursuing your passions.”
The couple has many passions that they work on together and separately. Outside of basketball and his family, Russell has become known for his eclectic style and started the fashion brand Honor The Gift. Nina has her podcast, and she also started the mental health website Bene. Together, they run the Why Not? Foundation, which works with kids in underserved communities.
“I’m a firm believer that one person can’t be everything to you, so you have to sort of seek out those different friendships or groups or hobbies or activities that help to fulfill you,” Nina concluded.
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Feature image by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Religion of Sports