Kiplinger

Great Ideas for $1,000: Home, Travel, Gifts & Fitness

Maybe you received a bonus at work, got lucky on a scratch-off lottery ticket or--unlike many disappointed taxpayers this season--you scored a sizable tax refund. If you have a grand to spare, we have recommendations on ways to spend it, including buying travel upgrades, creating a smarter home, making a difference for local schoolkids and much more.

Home: Get Organized

Getty Images

If Netflix's Tidying Up With Marie Kondo inspired you to cull your possessions, consider hiring a KonMari consultant to teach you how to determine which items "spark joy" and are worth keeping. A professional organizer can also help you set up a filing system or prepare you to move or sell your home. You can find a professional organizer at Napo.net or a certified KonMari consultant at Konmari.com. The cost will vary based on your location, the organizer's experience and the scope of your project, but most organizers charge $30 to $80 an hour, according to Costhelper.com. They may also charge by the day or project. KonMari consultants generally charge $60 to $150 an hour, but some offer discounts for multi-session packages.

Home: Make Your Home Smarter

Getty Images

Control your home--from the front door to the temperature--with a tap of your smartphone or a voice command by installing smart-home devices. Start with a smart speaker such as Amazon Echo ($100) or Google Home ($130) and a smart thermostat. For the thermostat, we like Ecobee 3 Lite ($170) for Amazon Echo users and Nest Learning thermostat ($250) for Google Home users. For either system, smart plugs, such as the Belkin Wemo Mini ($35 each), turn household items that plug into electrical outlets into smarter versions that can be controlled with your smartphone, tablet or smart speaker. The Philips Hue White Starter Kit ($100 for a kit with four bulbs and a bridge that acts as a translator between the bulbs and your Wi-Fi network) will allow you to turn lights on and off using your voice or a smart device. Extra bulbs usually run $15 to $40 each. To control access to your home and monitor what's going on outside your door, add

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Kiplinger

Kiplinger2 min read
Tax-Savvy Charitable Giving With QCDs Can Benefit Both Giver and Receiver
Plenty of retirees like to give back to their communities through charitable donations, but questions often arise over the best way to do that. What approach is efficient, provides the tax benefits you’re after, and also is advantageous for the chari
Kiplinger5 min readRobotics
Retirees: Your Next Companion May Be a Robot
Elliq, a foot-hight robot that looks like an oval lampshade on a small base, greets Monica Perez first thing in the morning, asks her how she feels, and reminds her about taking medications and any upcoming appointments.  “I have good-quality friends
Kiplinger5 min read
4 Steps for Managing Income Withdrawals in Retirement
If you’re like most Americans nearing retirement, you’re worried about whether you have enough savings. In fact, only 22% of those approaching retirement believe they’ve saved enough to retire comfortably. At a time when the stock market is down, inf

Related Books & Audiobooks