USA Weekend Magazine
August 12, 2001
Star Jones, ABC's "The View": I'm investing it!
Deborah Norville, host of "Inside Edition": Most likely it will just go in the bank account, and that's what I recommend everyone else do with their refund. The temptation is to spend the money, but if you put it into a mutual fund and conservatively expect 10 percent average annual return, you'll have a lot more than whatever the government check is to spend on the future.
Kandace Krueger, Miss USA 2001: People should use the refund to treat themselves. I will probably save mine toward a vacation--a cruise to Europe in March.
Catherine Hicks, of the WB's "Seventh Heaven": When you get your tax refund, donate half of it to charity--I recommend Catholic Relief Services. They are in every troubled spot on the globe. With the other half, have a night on the town!
Suze Orman, author "The Road to Wealth: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Money" (Riverhead Books): If you have credit card debt, take the $300 and pay off the debt. That will save thousands of dollars in interest. If you have no credit card debt, put it in a Roth IRA or traditional IRA. If you have all the money you want, put it in an educational IRA for a child. If you have a mortgage, use it as a start to put extra toward your mortgage payment. If you have all the money you need, take the money and give it to charity. I will give mine away to Girls, Inc., Books for a Better Life Award (benefits the national MS Society) and V-Day (checking/pr), Eve Ensler's group to aid violence against women.
Carrot Top, comedian: I live in California, so I'll use my refund to buy a gallon of gas so I can take my car out for an hour on the weekend. I'll also spend a lot of money on my hair products.
Richard Hatch, "Survivor": I'll be sending my tax refund to Horizon Bound, my teen outdoor adventure program.
Judge Glenda Hatchett, of syndicated "Judge Hatchett": Whenever I get one of these little windfalls, I use a small part of it to treat myself, give a small piece of the money to charity and invest the rest. Shoes are my weakness, so I usually buy a really fabulous pair of shoes.
Lorraine Toussaint, Lifetime's "Any Day Now": Don't even think about it--put it away, as if it doesn't even exist. Later on, use the money as a down payment on a house. If you are in a relationship with someone and you both do this you'll be in a house sooner than you realize. Sometimes, even a small amount of money can get you into the place you will eventually call home.
Craig Kilborn, CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn": Cash it. Spread it out on my big, fur bedspread. Spray myself with PAM and then roll around in it screaming, 'hey, I feel like 300 bucks!'
