Oh, the agony and ecstasy of tax time. Many Americans dread preparing their tax return, yet rejoice at the refunds. Today we’ll focus on the ecstasy part of the equation: the wonderful tax refund, and what you can do with it.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average tax refund in 2016 was $3,050. In Texas, we like to say everything is bigger. And that even applies to our tax refunds. Texas led the country with an average refund of $3,130.
What will you do with your tax refund? Will you put it in your savings? Take a trip? Add to your retirement account? At Old World Stoneworks, we’re partial to using little windfalls for beautifying our homes. Here are a few recommendations for you from our own product line.
Tool sets
Our three tool set options range from the simple lines of the Milan to the more ornate Scroll, pictured below. All are available in silver, matte black and bronze. A classic set of tools will look perfect on your hearth. This option works for the smaller, under-$500 refund.
Log racks
Log racks are another low-cost splurge. Why stack your logs on the floor when they’ll look so much finer in one of our racks? Our three styles — Milan, Regal, and Scroll – match our tool sets. The Regal is shown below.
Fire screens
For the slightly larger refund – between $750 and $1,250 – how about a firescreen? They add both beauty and safety to your home, keeping your loved ones safe from flying sparks. We especially recommend a firescreen if you have pets or small children in your home. Here’s our Alexander:
Range hoods
Adding a range hood to your kitchen helps keep your house cool, removes dangerous particles from the air and decreases grease stains. Plus, our cast stone range hoods are gorgeous. These are a good choice if you get the full Texas-sized refund. Here you can see our Le Petite.
Mantels
We saved the best for last: How about spending your tax refund on a glorious new mantel? Our cast stone mantels become the focal point of any room. They’re easy to maintain and will delight your family and friends for many years to come. Here’s our Berkley, which comes in cream, buff, or white.
We hope you get a good refund this year, and that you use it on something that brings beauty and happiness to your home and your life. Let us know if we can help!