5 Smart Moves to Make With Your Tax Refund, Work Bonus or Other Surprise Windfall by Martha White So you’ve come into some money. Maybe your tax refund is fatter than usual this year, or you received a modest inheritance or a bonus at work. After you do your happy dance, break out the calculator. While your first impulse might be to spend your good fortune, financial advisors say an unexpected infusion of cash can shore up your finances if you take advantage of it.