Is there any better excuse to treat yourself than an unexpected influx of cash? Your tax refund can be a great opportunity to buy something you’ve been eyeing for months, but before you blow your entire refund shopping, ask yourself if there’s a better use for your money. Here are seven smart ways to spend your tax refund that won’t leave you with buyer’s remorse.

From donating CDs, DVDs, books - and even cars - to donating time to a fundraiser or mission, there are lots of ways to help those in need without running your personal reserves dry. And often you can do greater good for your favorite organizations without opening your chequebook.

Maybe you’ve been trying to get in touch with other people who are invested in the same causes as you, but you’ve found a dearth of relevant organizations in your area. It might be time to think outside the box and start your own nonprofit! You can get inspired by nonprofits like Cars2Charities, which maximize the value of vehicle donations. We’ve collected a few resources to help you prepare for nonprofit ownership.

Why should you donate your car? An obvious answer to this question might be that "you are helping a good cause" or "donating a car is a tax write-off." Those are both the most important reasons, but they are not the only ones.