7 Tax Refund Splurges Our Staff Is Ready to Buy

I do my own taxes, and when I click the “e-file” button each April I always close my eyes, picture Uncle Sam and mentally scream “PAY UP, SUCKA.” Depending who you ask, it’s better to not owe or be owed anything at all; regardless, what I know for sure is that getting a check from the government is very pleasurable. So what to do with that extra change?

After polling a few of my fellow Gear Patrol staffers, I found that we’re all on the same page: if you’re spending your tax return, spend it wisely. Spend on something you need, upgrade something essential, something very nice. The list below is what we’d get if we were to splurge with (and in some cases, spend more than) our refund.

In the event that you’d like to use this opportunity to give rather than to receive — or do a bit of both — these three organizations are highly rated, and we can’t recommend them enough.

Doctors Without Borders “Medical aid where it is needed most. Independent. Neutral. Impartial.”
Honor Flight Network “Our Mission: To transport America’s Veterans to Washington, DC to visit those memorials dedicated to honor the service and sacrifices of themselves and their friends.”
Cancer Research Institute: “Since 1953, we’ve led the field with support for immunotherapy research and clinical trials. Together with our donor, patient, and scientist communities, we continue to fund revolutionary breakthroughs to cure all types of cancer.”

The Splurges

A Suit You’ll Be Proud to Wear

Brooks Brothers Fitzgerald Modern Fit Suit
From the American-standard men’s clothier, a classic suit featuring a cut to keep up with the times.

A Much Better Vacuum

Dyson V7 Motorhead Cord Free Vacuum
Cord-free, high-tech, and with enough power and charge to do all your chores in no time.

Replace Your Laptop With the Gold Standard

Apple MacBook
“Just get a MacBook.” In terms of performance and design, it’s almost impossible to beat the best in the business.

The Classic Dress Shoe

Allen Edmonds Park Avenue Cap-Toe Oxford
“Allen Edmonds makes plenty of iconic footwear, but perhaps none more so than the Park Avenue Cap-Toe Oxford — its best selling shoe for over thirty years. Made in the U.S., it features a calfskin leather upper and Goodyear welted construction.”

The Vintage Truck of Your Dreams

1979 Land Rover Defender Series-III 88 Santana
There aren’t many vehicles more iconic and badass and (figuratively) bulletproof than a vintage Defender. You may need to draw some cash to supplement your refund, but isn’t a dream car worth it?

The Vintage Rolex

Rolex Datejust
“The DateJust is a classic design and one of the most attainable vintage Rolexes out there. This gray dial variant is relatively uncommon and far more interesting than one of its white or black dial counterparts.”