12 creative ways to blow your tax refund

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April 18 is the last day to file your taxes in the US. If you haven't already claimed your refund, then you're about to get a spring in your step when that government-issued cash bonus flows into your bank account.

In 2015, the average refund was $3,120, according to the IRS. That amount is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, it's a healthy dose of (already earned) spending money that you can use on just about anything, assuming you've decided not to stash it away for later.

But where to start? Here are a few ways you can burn through that fresh cash.

Buy into a high-end gym membership.

Equinox

Not all gyms are created equal. Sure, you can get away with just your local grunt-and-sweat facility that has weights and treadmills — or you can set aside your refund to upgrade your gym game for a whole year.

Places like David Barton Gym and Equinox offer top-notch equipment in clean, high-tech spaces, plus personal training services, a whole roster of fitness classes, and pristine locker rooms. A nice gym turns working out into an indulgence, not a chore.

Shell out on a beachy weekend getaway.

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Get a jump start on your tan with a quick trip to Florida or Hawaii. With roundtrip flights from New York to Miami going for under $500, and two-night stays in hip hotels like the Fontainebleu Miami Beach costing less than $800, you can easily afford a decadent weekend away with those refund dollars. 

Upgrade your tech.

Amazon

Phone screen cracked? Fix that. Laptop loading at a glacial pace? Time for an upgrade. Been hankering for an Apple Watch, just because? Now's the moment. Or are you ready to test out the latest in smart home tech? Your tax refund is a great excuse to try out new technology that isn't necessarily a must-have — but whether you're interested in a Juicero (the "Keurig for green juice"), the new Naked 3D Fitness tracker (a "magic mirror" to track all of your body's changes), or an Amazon Echo, you can have it all for under $3,120.

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