Experts say your tax refund could be a financial reset – KOMO

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by Tyrah Majors, KOMO News Anchor
SEATTLE — Tax season can feel stressful, but for many families, that refund check is offering a little breathing room. According to the IRS, the average tax refund is up this year — around $3,800 — as people continue dealing with higher prices on just about everything.
Financial expert Andrea Woroch says the key is making your refund work for you before you start spending it.
If you’re balancing debt and savings, she recommends doing both; pay down high-interest credit cards while also setting aside some emergency savings.
“Put away some, maybe not all of it, toward an emergency account,” Woroch says. “You can open a high-yield savings account so that money can make a little more money for you each month.”
She recommends a service called Bread Savings, which offers 4% annual percentage yield and only requires $100 to open an account with interest compounded daily, helping grow your balance each month.
She also says your refund can help cover important expenses people often delay, such as health care. Her advice is to use HealthPrices.org to compare prices of services at local hospitals.
“Forty-seven percent of Americans put off necessary health care because of the cost,” Woroch says. “But that can grow into a costly problem later, resulting in chronic illness or emergency care.”
Woroch says smart uses for a refund could include medical screenings, boosting your HSA, tackling debt, or finally making necessary home or car repairs.
And if you do decide to spend some of it, make it count. Compare prices, stack discounts, and consider refurbished items for bigger purchases like appliances.
2026 Sinclair, Inc.

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