With April 15 drawing painfully near, some Americans have yet to start the process of filing their taxes. But others have already received refunds, eager to spend, many on improving, maintaining and keeping their houses safe. And others are saving.

About 51.9 million refunds were certified through March 12. The average refund this year is $2,151, an increase of about 4.9 percent over last year, according to the Internal Revenue Service. More than 75 percent of filers receive refunds, but many wait until the last minute to file because of the paperwork headaches.

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a national nonprofit counseling organization, urges refund recipients to avoid unnecessary and excessive spending. Instead, it suggests:

• Paying down credit card debt, starting with the accounts with the highest interest rates.

• Making an additional payment on secured debt, like a mortgage or automobile. Extra payments shorten the length of the loan.

• Using it toward a down payment for a home.

• Boosting your savings by putting your refund into a savings account or money market fund. Planning ahead for emergencies and unexpected purchases.

• Contributing to an IRA, medical savings account or a college savings plan.

But if you do plan on spending your refund, putting it into your house is a wise investment.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends investing in your family's safety. Some of the things you can do include:

• Installing and maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

• Buying fire extinguishers for the kitchen.

• Hiring an electrician to inspect your home's electrical wiring system. The CPSC says this should be done every 10 years.

• Installing safety latches and locks on cabinets and drawers and safety gates near stairs if you have small children.

• Buying anti-scald devices to regulate water temperature to help prevent burns.

• Purchasing window blind cord safety tassels to help prevent strangulation in the loops of cords.

Meanwhile, if you're aiming to spruce up your house with your tax refund, consider:

• Painting. If you want tremendous bang for your buck, pull out the paint chips and change the mood of your room. If you're looking for a cool, relaxed feeling, go for blues and greens. If you want a cheerful mood, go with yellow. To charge up a room -- and stimulate appetites -- go with reds and oranges, good colors for the dining room.

• Sprucing up your landscaping. If your back yard is bare, plant a lawn. You can also easily and fairly inexpensively install a patio using paving stones or bricks. Plant some medium-sized trees, some shrubs, and perennial flowers.

• Replacing your air conditioning unit if needed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that if your cooling system is more than 10 years old, it might be time to upgrade to a unit that has earned the Energy Star label for high efficiency. According to the EPA, properly sized and installed Energy Star air conditioner units that are supported by a properly sealed duct system save up to 20 percent in annual energy costs, and use 25 to 40 percent less energy than other new conventional systems.

• Replacing your old flooring in high-traffic areas with tile, laminate or hardwood. Or if your kitchen needs some sprucing up, the World Floor Covering Association suggests new resilient flooring that mimics tile or wood. If it's the living room that needs attention, consider Saxony nylon carpet with the latest "undercushion" for ultimate padded comfort. If you want to spend a bit more, about $3,000, try out ceramic tiles in your entryway, hallway, kitchen and dining room. Tiles come in an array of patterns, matching any style. Or you may want to consider hardwood or laminate floors if you're seeking a minimalist look. You can also bring plush new carpet to your family room, home office, staircase and hallways.

• Lighting up your rooms. The right lighting can enhance your skin tone, allow you to see what you're doing, draw attention to focal points in your décor, and make a big difference in how you feel about your home. And best of all, it's inexpensive compared to other home decorating or remodeling options. Lighting experts say you should mix the three types of lighting: general, which gives overall light to an area and allows for safe function in your home; accent, which highlights and draws special attention to details; and task, which helps you perform tasks.

• Replacing your appliances if they're more than a decade old. According to the federal Energy Star program, if every household replaced its 10-year-old refrigerator with a Kenmore Elite Energy Star-labeled model, the nation could save enough energy to light every household in California for almost three years. Plus, an Energy Star-qualified refrigerator can save as much as $70 per year on a household's electricity bills.

Published: April 12, 2004

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