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That’s why, over the past several months, we asked customers just like you to share their stories in a contest about how Freedom helped them move forward financially. Here are the five winners.

If you’re one of the many who get a tax refund, keep in mind it was your money all along—you overpaid your taxes so the IRS is returning the difference. Even so, it’s hard not to see this refund as a bunch of free money. Averaging $3,000, it’s potentially the biggest check many families receive every year, and presents a perfect opportunity to move your finances forward in a big way.

Here are seven ideas for how to use your tax refund wisely.

1. Make an extra loan payment
Putting your refund toward your loan helps you pay it off sooner. You could also save some money on interest—since any extra payments are applied to the principal balance, less interest is charged overall.

2. Create (or improve) your emergency fund
Emergency funds are important. Really important! If your water heater blows up or your car breaks down, you need readily available cash. (The last thing you should do is charge repairs to a credit card.)

If you don’t already have one, use your tax refund to stash away at least $500 into an emergency fund. Commit to dipping into it only for emergencies, and replenish it after you do.

If you already have an emergency fund, way to go! You’ve got a head start, but many financial experts consider an emergency fund “fully funded” once it contains six months’ worth of expenses. If you’re not there yet, your refund could help you close the gap.

3. Put it toward retirement
If you want to keep the same standard of living when you retire, you likely won’t get there through Social Security payments alone. Even those lucky enough to secure a pension through employers should also be contributing to a retirement account.

There are plenty of options for where you can put your money for retirement, but the main tax-advantaged plans are IRAs and 401(k)s. Investing just one tax refund toward either option (or both) can help boost your retirement savings if it’s invested wisely.

4. Invest in education
If you have children who might be headed for higher education, their college fund is a worthwhile investment for your tax refund. But give some thought to your education too.

Investing in your education (whether a few classes, a certification, or a degree) can often pay for itself through a subsequent salary boost. Sometimes, a little learning is all you need to get the edge on a promotion or a higher paying job in another industry.

5. Make an extra mortgage payment
Because of how the amortization schedule works on a 30-year mortgage, you could pay off the entire mortgage four years earlier by making one extra payment each year. This strategy also saves thousands on interest. And, since a mortgage is often the biggest debt someone has to tackle before they’re totally debt-free, paying it off early can be exciting.

But, as promising as paying off your mortgage early may seem, the first three or four examples on this list are likely better financial decisions. Opt for this one only if you’ve already maximized those goals.

6. Get life insurance
If you have anyone who depends on your income (like children or a spouse), life insurance should be part of your financial plan. Life insurance is generally the best way to make sure they’re financially taken care of in your absence.

One type of life insurance, called term, is usually pretty affordable. Depending on your age and health, you might be able to fund over a years’ worth of premiums with just part of a tax refund.

7. Give to charity
Helping out a cause that’s near and dear to your heart can be money well spent. You get the satisfaction of making a difference and, if it’s a qualifying organization, you can often deduct it from your taxes.

Here are thirteen ways you can optimize your driving, refueling,and maintenance habits to get the most bang for your buck.

Efficient driving habits
It’s hard to change the way you drive, but it’s important to keep in mind that the harder your engine works, the more gas it burns—and the more your fuel economy plummets. You can end up using much less gas by just driving gently.

In the real world, where highway speed limits are often higher than 60mph, that doesn’t mean you should drive slower than the speed limit. It just means that if your engine is already a little less efficient at the speed limit, it’s far less efficient at ten or fifteen miles per hour faster. Just by speeding, you could be spending hundreds of dollars more per year on gas.

2. Accelerate slower
Acceleration uses more gas than driving at a constant speed. Fast acceleration drains your tank faster than pretty much any other driving behavior. Flooring it can be fun, but it just means a quicker arrival to the gas station. Accelerate at a moderate rate to use less gas.

3. Slow your roll
If you expect to slow down or come to a stop, take your foot off the gas pedal sooner and coast a greater distance. If you do, your engine won’t need as much fuel since it doesn’t need to maintain a constant speed as long. (Your brake pads won’t wear out as quickly either.)

4. Go cruising
Maintaining a constant speed usually improves your mileage (excluding uphill climbs). Your foot will never do a better job of keeping your speed constant than cruise control, so let your car’s computer keep the pace whenever it’s safe to do so.

5. Keep windows up
The less aerodynamic your car is, the more drag it creates. That means your engine has to work harder to push air out of the way for your car to move down the road. One simple way to make your car more aerodynamic is to keep your windows rolled up. A less simple, but effective, way to reduce drag.

6. Don’t drive angry
Road rage usually involves doing the opposite of the above tips—sometimes all five at once.

Maintain your Zen on the road! Because when (not if, but when) somebody does something dumb, reacting aggressively will impact your wallet.

7. Don’t sit idly by
When your car is idling, it’s getting exactly zero miles per gallon. Sometimes that’s unavoidable, like at traffic stops, but you can reduce your idle time when you get into and exit your car. Rather than sitting and waiting in a running car, keep the engine off until you’re ready to move.

For one thing, not all the gas you paid for is going into the tank; some of it stays in the fuel line and gets recovered back to the station’s tanks through a recovery system. That means the more you pump, click, pump, click, the more gas you’re paying to give back to the station.

But that’s not even the most compelling reason not to top off—overfilling your tank can damage your car, the gas pump itself, and even the environment.

9. Check gas prices online
If you’re willing to drive a few extra miles for cheaper gas, it can be worth it. Check one of the many gas price apps (like GasBuddy, Gas Guru, or even Waze) to aid your search and you could save a few bucks the next time you fill up. Bonus points if you can find one that’s on your route.

10. Don’t splurge on the “good stuff”
Skip the high octane fuel to instantly save about 60 cents per gallon.

Back in the day, premium fuel came with additives that helped clean the engine. That led to a practice of “treating” a car to premium fuel every now and then. These days, those additives are in every octane range, so that’s not really necessary anymore.

Even if your car says “premium fuel recommended,” modern engines can run on pretty much any octane without damaging the engine. The only thing you’re sacrificing, if your engine is designed for premium fuel, is faster acceleration.

12. Lose the junk in your trunk
The more mass your car has, the harder your engine has to work to move the car. Get rid of those golf clubs in the trunk, kitty litter, or whatever else you’re stowing away, because those hitch hikers are lowering your fuel efficiency.

13. Service your car
Your car is a complicated machine and things wear out or break. To get the best mileage possible, you should service it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. And beyond mileage, regular maintenance can prevent expensive repairs, meaning you shouldn’t have to replace it as soon.