Your tax refund could be bigger this year. Here's what to do with it

The average taxpayer is getting a $2,852 refund, $75 more than last year. That's based on the most recent IRS data. So what should you do with that money? Experts generally advise putting it toward debt, loans and savings, but, for many people, that’s unrealistic. Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma, says a tax refund is typically the biggest extra windfall of the year. She says one in four people see it as free money and plan to spend on something they wouldn't otherwise. While she says this is understandable, the best thing people can do is use their refund to advance their financial goals.