10 THINGS NOT TO DO W/YOUR TAX REFUND

SOME FROM EXPERIENCE & SOME FROM SINGLE MOM POINT OF VIEW:

1. Don't give some of it to your man to "flip"-if anything, go w/high yielding savings/checking acct, stocks, or some other legit avenue.
2. Don't go buying up a whole bunch of clothes & shoes-school starts again in August & most people have no clue how they're gonna get $ for outfits and supplies (I mean you just had it at tax time).
3. Don't think that you're rich-take your refund amount and divide it by 12 (12 months)..budget accordingly!
4. Don't give it to your man so that he can get a car-especially if he won't work or doesn't know what an application looks like.
5. Get a real bank account. I was in line behind a young lady at a convenience store and she asked if they could cash a $5000 refund check.  I was too through!!!  They cashed it for her, but there's no telling what the fee was.  I couldn't imagine walking around with that much money on my person.
6. Stop putting money in the laundromat if you have washer/dryer hookups-BUY YOURSELF A WASHER/DRYER. Most will spend just as much on junk items in a week.
7. Don't go loaning money out to everybody.
8. Don't make loans yourself and promise everybody that you'll "pay back w/income tax"  (I watch the television court shows on a regular basis, & this seems to always come up).  Something happens that prevents either them from repaying you or you from repaying them.
9. Don't put high $ rims on a car that's parked in front of a rental property (no offense to anyone but Im going somewhere w/this). Take time out to see what needs to be paid off (credit wise) & get w/someone for advice on how to purchase a home. You never know-you might not even have anything to pay off.  There's probably a house out there just waiting on you to make it a home!  Make a future/foundation for your kids-cars depreciate and can stop running-homes accrue equity.
10. There are some out there who'd consider our money as chump change (wealthy, rich, etc).  The majority of them probably don't spend frivolously. Why should we? Sit & talk w/them & we'll probably discover they are very frugal, their money is heavily invested, and they are ready for life's uncertainties.

Posting this has been on my mind for months-I want single moms to shine-yes, I'm independent but I also want my stuff to be in order when the one gets here-KIM- LIVED & LEARNED

P.S.

If anyone's offended about my tax posts, go back and read my 1st post-SOME FROM EXPERIENCE-I had a new hairstyle every tax season only to have to abandon the style's upkeep b/c my $ ran out, I bought clothes like I was Oprah, I spent very carelessly (not thinking about the fact that the $ wouldn't be readily replenished), & a lot of other foolishness. Do better now that u know from some of what u just read (single, married, whoever).  Much love and financial freedom