Happy Tax Day!

We know you stayed up late, poring over your returns and then ran like mad over to the post office to get your envelope postmarked with today's date. It might feel like the time is now to breathe easy, but this is the perfect moment to start thinking about next year’s return.

Here’s why: it’s been a hard year, and things might not get better quickly. If you want to have more money, lower the amount of your refund by changing your withholding on your tax forms. Better to have the money throughout the year than at the end in a lump sum—it could keep you from relying on credit cards to get by. Start keeping a list or journal of receipts and expenses that you might be able to itemize and take a deduction on next year. For instance, if you work from home or relocate for a new job, you could deduct those expenses next year.

All right, end of lecture, class dismissed. Go take a nap—and dream of all the ways you’re going to have more money in the coming year!