We often look back on certain time periods in history, like the Great Depression, and wonder, “How did people manage to get through something like that?” The answer is that they knew how to switch into survival mode. They understood when pride needed to take a back seat to priority and practicality.

No time is this more important for modern people than when they are attempting to work their way out of debt. Seeking Christian financial help and starting a Christian debt relief program is a great starting point toward the goal of a debt free life. However, there are some deep seeded changes that have to take place in the hearts and minds of many people if they ever hope to make “debt free” a way of living.

Changing the way we shop is one of the more difficult areas that people deal with when attempting to revolutionize their finances. For many people shopping is an emotional outlet which serves a few different purposes. One it is a stress relieving distraction for many people. It is their hobby. Secondly shopping, for some people, provides quite the ego massage. Buying a new shiny item, with a chunky price tag makes them feel like a different person for a while, a better person. The problem with all of this is that it is an illusion, it is short lived and it is not financially practical.

If you are attempting to heal your finances through a Christian debt settlement program, then you must seriously evaluate any type of emotional spending.

Shopping is a necessity; we need things, however, it is the way we meet that need that makes all of the difference. When you are in the trenches of your Christian debt management program you will need to look into alternative shopping. Alternative shopping simply means finding new, creative, cheaper ways to get what you need. This includes consignment, clothing swaps, yard sales, Free Cycle programs, Craigslist and yes the old thrift shop.

Sure when buying used you do have to be more careful, but that does not mean thrift shops should be entirely counted out as an alternative shopping venue. There a several myths surrounding thrift shops that prevent people from saving a lot of money on things they really need.

Myth # 1

Thrift shops are dirty. Thrift stores must meet the same standards of cleanliness and safety as all other businesses in your community. Stores such as Goodwill have very strict standards concerning their clothing, furniture and other household items.

Myth # 2

The item I buy won’t work. If you doubt if an item will work or not, ask a salesperson to plug it up so you can operate it. The salespeople are used to this request. Check it out first and see if it works.

Myth # 3

People will make fun of me. This isn’t middle school. You are an adult who needs to spend wisely. If you have people in your life who would mock your desire to get out debt and change your finances your problem lies in the relationship not in the thrift shop.

Myth # 4

They won’t have what I need. This is where thrift shopping can get fun. Each trip is an adventure. You’re on a quest. Sometimes you find what you need. Sometimes you find something better. Sometimes you find something else you needed that you never thought would be there.

If you are already in a Christian debt program then you have the guts to try something new, adding thrift store shopping to the list shouldn’t be too scary.

If you’re serious about paying off debt and building up your savings, it may be time to consider cutting the cable cord.

You’d be part of a growing trend.

In 2007, just 2 million American TV households didn’t pay for some kind of cable, satellite or phone-based television service. Six short years later, that number more than doubled to 5 million households…and growing.

Meanwhile, the cable providers are losing ground as more families give the remote control a rest and choose to watch their favorite shows via less expensive avenues. This may seem surprising, given that the rise of the 200-channel cable provider practically made channel-surfing an Olympic sport, but all of that variety comes with a hefty price tag.

According to FCC data released last summer, the average American paid $61.63 a month for cable TV in 2012. That was 5 percent more than 2011’s average price. In fact, from 1995 to 2012, the cost of cable jumped about 6 percent a year—more than doubling the rate of the Consumer Price Index during the same time period.

By ditching cable for one or more of the less expensive options below, you could save $700 a year or more. Yes, you may miss one or two of those 200 channels (most of which you don’t even watch), but think about it: is your favorite reality show worth 700 bucks?

Take Advantage of Free Online Streaming

A growing number of networks are offering their programs online for free. PBS, for example, offers full episodes of many of its most popular BBC shows on its website 24/7. The commercials are shorter, you can hit the pause button while you grab a snack, and it’s possible to catch up on multiple episodes in one sitting.

Use a Web-Based Service and Save a Bundle

Web streaming services are gaining subscribers because they offer many of the same shows as cable providers for a fraction of the cost. Netflix and Hulu both cost less than $10 a month (plus the cost of internet service). If you already pay for internet, a 12-month subscription to Hulu will cost you $95.88. Compare that with the average monthly cost of cable, which will run up a $739.56 bill over the course of a year. Going web-based adds up to a savings of more than $643.

Buy a (Cheap) Digital Antenna

If you just can’t live without your favorite local news channel, consider buying a digital antenna and watching your basic over-the-air channels for free. These are not your grandmother’s rabbit ears. The latest digital antennae are sleek, flat and inexpensive. The cheapest ones start at about $10 and allow you to watch many channels in HD. A slightly fancier model will set you back about 30 bucks. Several years’ worth of free TV for half the price of just one month of cable? Not too shabby.

Nothing saps gas mileage quite like winter weather, which means a huge number of  Americans are paying more to fill up this season. Plus, the Associated Press recently reported that gas prices are expected to rise in the coming weeks.

That means now is a great time to change a few bad habits in order to save money at the pump. You’ve probably heard that it helps to maintain your car by getting regular oil changes, keeping your tires filled and aligned, and changing the air filter regularly.

Get Organized

Have you ever unloaded the groceries after a trip to the store, only to realize you forgot the toilet paper? Suddenly, a 10-mile round trip turns into 20 miles (and a big waste of time). Put a stop to unnecessary trips by always making a shopping list, whether it’s on paper or on your smartphone. And don’t just write down the groceries you need; write down the different stops you have to make—the bank, the pharmacy, the laundromat, etc.—and figure out the most efficient way to combine your errands.

Carpool

We live in a society where it’s normal for four people who are headed to the same place to drive four different cars to get there. We don’t like the idea of adjusting our plans by 5-10 minutes in order to use just one vehicle. Maybe we need to fear the high cost of independence more than we fear the inconvenience of carpooling.

Try checking around at work and church to see who lives nearby. Teaming up could save multiple families money and even build some new friendships.

Remember You Are Not a Race Car Driver

If gas prices jumped by 24 cents/gallon tomorrow, you wouldn’t be thrilled, right? Well, keep in mind that once you hit 50 mph, every time you speed up an extra 5 mph, you’re paying 24 additional cents per gallon. In other words, if you’re doing 60 mph in a 50-mph zone and you have a 15-gallon tank, you’re paying an extra $7/tank.

The race car principle also applies to braking and accelerating. According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, riding the brakes and accelerating like a drag racer can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent. That can add up quickly at the pump.

Check before you go

With websites and apps like GasBuddy, there’s no excuse for not knowing where to find the cheapest gas, and prices can vary quite a bit from one side of town to the other. For example, in Boynton Beach, Fl., prices currently vary by as much as 38 cents/gallon depending on where you go.

Of course, you don’t want to inadvertently pay more money than you save by driving to an out-of-the-way gas station. That’s where Bankrate’s handy calculator comes in. If you enter a little information about your car and your area gas stations, it’ll tell you whether it’s worth it to drive a little farther to fill up.

Ditch the Junk in the Trunk

According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, for every 100 pounds of weight you carry, you reduce your gas mileage by up to 2 percent. That set of golf clubs, cord of firewood or big box of items you’ve been meaning to take to Goodwill do not need to make a permanent home in your trunk. Unload the extra weight and save money.

Quit Idling

Does the following scenario sound familiar? You load the kids into the car, start the engine and proceed to buckle up, check your mirrors, check your hair, dig around for your sunglasses, dig around for a CD, check your email on your phone, tell the kids to stop harassing each other and—at least five minutes later—finally pull out of the driveway. If this is a typical day for you, don’t worry—you’re not alone. But you are wasting gas money by allowing the car to idle while you get your act together.

Unless the weather is unbearably hot or cold, trying running through your checklist before you turn on the engine. Even if your car idles for just 10 minutes a day, it could cost you more than $100 a year in wasted gas.

Track Your Mileage

This year, the federal government will reimburse 14 cents for every mile you drive for charity. Do you teach Sunday school each week? Volunteer at a soup kitchen? Drive to the Salvation Army to drop off used clothes? Track those miles so you can deduct them on next year’s tax return.

Here’s more information on the most recent mileage reimbursement rates for charity, business, moving and medical-related travel.

Consider a More Fuel-Efficient Car

This is a big one. While some of the above tips could save you hundreds of dollars, a different choice of vehicle could easily save you thousands. The website www.fueleconomy.gov allows you to compare gas mileage between new and used vehicles made in 1984 or later.

If you’re ready for a more drastic change, consider a hybrid or electric vehicle. In most cases you’ll pay more up front, but gas savings will have you pocketing more money in the long run.

Our electric bills are a huge fluctuating expense which can be very hard to budget because our heating, cooling and electric needs seem to change from month to month. Obviously there will be some fluctuations between the seasons, but some common mistakes can make power bills soar unnecessarily.

Check Your HVAC

There are a lot of HVAC issues that can drastically affect your electric bill.

One thing you can keep a check on is whether all of your vents are opened properly. This is a small detail that many people rarely think about. If your system vents are closed your system will struggle to keep your home comfortable. The more your system struggles the higher your power bill will be.

Filters are another small chore that can cost you money when you do not pay it close attention. Dirty or dusty filters can greatly hinder the air flow in your system. Filters should be changed out about once a month.

Reconsider Laundry

You can also rack up savings by paying close attention to the way you do your laundry.

Washing your clothes with cold water only saves up to 90% of the energy that your washer puts out. Cold water only detergent will ensure that using only cold water settings will not cause any damage to your clothing. This is also a time saver as you will not need to separate lights from darks if you use cold water only.

Also keep in mind that overstuffing your washer uses more energy because it will cause the washer to struggle with the larger load. You should only fill your machine about three fourths of the way full.

Understand Your Power Company

Take the time to research your particular power company so that you can better understand how exactly they charge and at what rate.

Many people are unaware that several power companies actually begin charging their customers a discounted rate for electricity after eight at night because this is a non-peak time of electrical use. Finding out if your company operates this way could save you money if you choose to shift large energy sucking tasks such as running the clothes drier to later in the evening.

Turn Off The Lights!

The most basic of energy saving techniques also happens to be the one most people have the least faith in. Do you really believe that one closest light burning all day affects your electrical bill?

It absolutely does.

When you are attempting to reverse your financial situation through Christian debt management you must remember that every little bit counts. Just like pennies in a coin jar add up over time, every time you switch off an unused light you are really, honestly saving money.

As a bonus, the next time you have an old incandescent light bulb burn out, replace it with a compact florescent bulb. They not only reduce energy use but because they last several years, you will save on new bulbs over time too.

Set a Goal

A great way to commit to reducing your electric bill is to set a savings goal each month. If you have a set budgeted amount each month for your power bill, you can set a goal to try and go under that amount. When you receive your next bill and you accomplished your goal, take the amount of the difference, even if it is just five dollars, and apply those five dollars to another financial goal such as your emergency fund, or Christmas fund. When you know that the saved money is designated for something worthwhile, you will try harder to conserve power and save money.

Many individuals who are currently involved in a Christian debt relief program may feel like they are doing everything they can to reverse their bad financial choices of the past. Some of the tenants of Christian money management do require a great deal of sacrifice.

You may not be able to believe that there are any other areas in your life in which you could possibly save another dime to go toward your debt relief efforts. You would be surprised, however, at how some old school savings methods can really translate into extra cash over time.

Coin Jar Magic

Simply collecting change in a coin jar can really add up if you deal mostly in cash for all of your purchases. Using only cash is a good habit to adopt for individuals who struggle with controlling credit cards.

All that change left over from each transaction goes straight to the jar and does not leave till you are ready to deposit it into your checking or savings account. Only use bills to pay with, reserve all change for your jar. Get Rich Slowly author Danny Iny, tried this experiment for seven months and was able to rack up over $700 for his emergency fund.

The Forbidden Dollar Bill

If you really want to see some savings add up with very little effort then designate the dollar bill as the forbidden bill. Refuse to pay for anything with a dollar bill. Take all of your dollar bills and hide them away in a designated place at home.

This can actually become a  fun game especially if you play with a spouse or other family member to see who can save up more each week. Each month pool the money together and apply it to your largest debt bill. The satisfaction you fell at saving that money and paying down those debts will make the dollar bill sacrifice well worth it.

The 52 Week Challenge

This is a great New Year’s resolution savings plan that can help you save up over $1,000 dollars in one year. Each week of the year deposit or hideaway in cash the amount of money corresponding to that week. Week one= $1, week 2=$2 and so on till week 52 when you will put $52 in your savings and you will have accumulated $1,378! Not bad for a rainy day.

My favorite twist: do it in reverse. Save $52 this week, $52 next week, etc. This way, it gets easier and easier as time goes on.

The Old Coffee Can Trick

Do you remember the old movie “Where the Red Fern Grows”? The young hero had a dream of owning his own set of coon dogs. The only way he knew to make this dream come true was to start doing some side work for neighbors and stuff that cash away in an old coffee can. After several months he made his dream a reality when he emptied that can and bought his dogs.

This is not just a piece of movie fiction; this is a tried and true old school savings plan that can actually make an impact on your budget.

Taking on extra work to make a budget work is what our grandparents and great grandparents considered the only answer to a tight budget. You need more money, you do more work.

Designating side income toward a single goal is a great way to feel the psychological satisfaction of actually seeing a goal accomplished. In most cases side income does not have to be a permanent change to your life. Do the extra work until you have reached your goal and then resume your usual work schedule.

If you need a jumpstart on simplifying your finances and increasing your savings, consider speaking with a Christian debt relief advisor at FaithWorks Financial. A debt management plan or debt settlement program may be a great way to reduce your monthly outgo and give yourself some much needed breathing room.

A huge amount of our monthly budgets are set aside for food.

Food is a strange expense because it can kill a budget but it is not the kind of spending that you could just cut out if you wanted to. You do have to eat, but you do not have to spend massive amounts of money to do so. The food industry has devised very clever ways to make sure we spend more than we should on this most necessary of expenses.

If you can understand some of these ploys, however, you can stop falling into their trap and begin taking control of how much you spend on food each month.

It Starts at Home

The restaurant business must start their ploys before you ever set foot in their establishment.

Food has a lot of very strong emotional and psychological strings attached and the powers that be in the food industry know this. That is why they spend millions of dollars every year on television commercials. When you begin seeing images of food and family and friends having fun together while you’re sitting at home watching television, it gets the wheels of your mind turning. These images can have a powerful effect on your decision making.

The way to avoid letting these images change your budget is to have a set night of the month or nights of the month that you designate as evenings you will eat out… if your budget permits eating out.

Stick to this schedule and when you begin to feel tempted by what you see on television, jot down on your calendar what restaurant you would like to visit on your night out. You will then have something to look forward to and not feel you are at the mercy of advertising.

Another great trick is to look at a restaurant’s menu at home before ever entering the establishment. According to financial author John Pacenti, restaurants actually employ menu engineers to design a menu that works on your psychology when you are hungry. However, if you look at the same menu online when you are not hungry you will most likely choose something entirely different, and usually less expensive.

The Convenience Trap

The fast food industry also uses television images to work their magic, but in most cases our own crazy schedules and lack of planning, provide plenty of opportunity for them to swoop in with their quick drive through windows and sabotage our food budget for the week.

The fast food industry has done everything in their power to make their restaurants the fastest, simplest option for dinner, but they are not the cheapest option. The money you spend on one fast food meal for a family of four could generally be used to buy three times that amount of food in a grocery store.

The trick to beating them at this game is plan, plan, and plan and then have a backup plan.

If you are blessed with a large, busy family you cannot just leave meals to plan themselves. If everyone is working outside of the home then you have to be even more careful to plan out what will be eaten when. Menus made up a week or two ahead of time will give you a sense of control over the whole, “What’s for dinner” dilemma. Some websites provide menu planning that can help you get accustomed to planning meals in advance.

Grocery Store Games

Grocery stores are next in line when it comes to manipulating you into what to buy. Grocery stores are arranged in such a way to make sure you pass expensive items over and over.

The key here is to take the menus you have created each week and write a very detailed list of exactly what you are going to buy, and then stick to that list as if your life depended on it. Decide what you will buy while you are still in the safety of your home, before you begin to get bombarded with advertising psychology at the store. Also never shop hungry, you will buy more unnecessary items just because of your own hunger.

The Biggest Food Related Money Saving Tip Of All

Eat. Healthy.

Contrary to popular belief, it is much less expensive to eat healthy than not. Boxed meals are quick and convenient and seem inexpensive. The truth is though, you can often make twice as much of a dish for the same price when made at home. It may take a few more minutes to prepare the meal from scratch instead of from a box, but the savings will add up.

The real whammy comes down the road though. Eating your whole grains, fruits and veggies may save you from a heart attack, high cholesterol or diabetes. Aside from your health, you can save thousands on medical expenses by preventing them in the first place.

Our food is one of our largest expenses. Fortunately it is one expense that we do have a great deal of control over. Happy eating!

Somewhere between the first celebrations of a Christian saint and the mass production of greeting cards, red roses and all things sugar, Valentine’s Day got out of hand.

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans plan to spend nearly $18 billion on Valentine’s Day-related purchases this year. That breaks down to just over $133 per person—spent largely on gifts that will be either be gobbled up and quickly forgotten…or wither and die within the week.

Don’t allow a holiday that’s centered on candy hearts to put your budget into cardiac arrest. Here are five Valentine’s Day ideas that will keep your spending well below the national average.

Team Up and Save

Valentine’s Day is marketed as a time to splurge on an expensive dinner for two, but who says you can’t share the love with some friends? Instead of dropping $100 at a fancy (and crowded) restaurant, have a double- or triple-date at someone’s house. Some candles and decorations from the dollar store can set the mood for just a few bucks. Share the cooking duties or order some inexpensive take-out to split. If you’re single, grab some friends and have a game night or movie night to celebrate on the cheap.

Just Do Dessert

If the urge to join the restaurant-loving masses is just too strong, go straight for the dessert. By eating a light dinner at home and saving your cash for a sweet treat, you can keep most of your money while still enjoying the ambiance of your favorite dining establishment. Even pricy restaurants tend to keep their dessert menus in the $5-$10 range, and who doesn’t love dessert?

Get Creative for Free (Or Close to It)

Roses and chocolates are great, but they don’t exactly say, “I’ve put a lot of thought into this.” Do you have a way with words? Try writing a poem or just a heartfelt note. If music’s your thing, make a playlist of meaningful or funny songs that remind you of your significant other, and include explanations with your gift. Photo albums, video messages and non-store-bought cards are other great ways to show your love for less.

Take Advantage of Money-Saving Sites

Discount websites can really come to the rescue when Feb. 14th rolls around. Check out Groupon, LivingSocial and Half Off Depot, to name a few. Restaurant.com is also a great way to save money on some nice eateries. Just make sure you check the reviews before you choose a restaurant. You don’t want to pick a dud and land in the doghouse.

Skip the Holiday Altogether

Just because society dictates the recognition of all things Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you have to join the costly festivities. Some couples happily skip the crowded restaurant scene and enjoy a romantic night in. Take the $130 you might spend on the holiday and put it towards something more useful, such as debt or savings. Nothing says romance like financial freedom.

There are a lot of things that society tends to dictate as being “normal” and “acceptable”, even if that is very far from reality. This applies socially, politically, religiously and financially.

Over time, our society has adopted certain modes of financial management that have become the normal way of life. The problem is that many of these financial practices are unscriptural and are based on greed, indulgence and laziness.

These misconceptions are why so many Americans are swamped with debt, live above their means, cannot be charitable and have little hope of preparing for the future.

One of these financial philosophies that so many of us tend to swallow hook, line and sinker is the belief that owing a car payment is just a way of life and because you will always owe a car payment you might as well owe it on the coolest, newest model.

This is simply not true… You do not have to always owe a car payment.

You can drive clean, reliable, attractive vehicles with absolutely no payment. You can even upgrade to another vehicle every four or five years and STILL not owe a car payment.

Sound impossible? Think again.

The Facts

According to financial hero Dave Ramsey, the average American whose pride insists they drive a brand new car every year or so is dragging around a debt of about $26,000 at a 9.6% interest rate. The “plan” in most cases is to never pay off these vehicles, but rather drive them until a newer, nicer model comes out and then trade in with the previous debt still hanging on.

This is financial insanity and is entirely based on pride. There is no other explanation for why an individual would choose that sort of debt when a used, clean, reliable car can accomplish the same task as a brand new one. The task of the car is to move you from one place to another in a reliable fashion. Let’s be honest, a five year old car can do that. A ten year old car that was well cared for can do that. So what would be the reason behind strapping yourself with almost $30,000 dollars of debt?  

The reason is the need to impress others with our possessions. An un-Christ like desire to draw the attention and envy of others.

The Alternative

The alternative to this prideful, financially destructive practice is to evaluate need first. Do you need a vehicle right now? If the answer is yes, I need to purchase a vehicle right now then you need to tap cash reserves and purchase the cheapest car you can trust and pay cash for it.

Let’s say you buy a $2,000 clunker. To begin with you may have to drive something less than attractive in order to get your vehicle plan on the road, so to speak. If you are a prideful person this will be a sacrifice and a healthy exercise in humility. Buy your clunker and drive. While you are driving begin plopping the amount you would normally spend on a car payment into a savings account.

By most standards the amount will be around $300 a month. You save this for twelve months. After twelve months sell your clunker maybe for $1,000. Add that cash to the savings and buy a nicer $4,600 vehicle. You continue to save your $300 a month you would spend on a car payment. Perhaps this nicer car will last you two years. After two years you’ve saved (before interest) $7,200. You sell your current car for $2,600. Add that cash to your savings and you now have almost $10,000 cash which will buy you just about any nice used vehicle you want.

This only took you three years! Less time than it would take to pay off a brand new car that is depreciating each month.

This vehicle will last you several years if you maintain it properly. And while you are driving this nice, used vehicle which you love and are not ashamed of, you will still be saving for your next vehicle. If you continue to save $300 a month and drive your car for five years then re-sell it you will have over $20,000 in your car fund!

If you increase your common sense and decrease your pride there is nothing you cannot accomplish financially. Don’t fall into the vehicle trap!

$2,803

That’s the average individual tax refund Americans got last year. That’s a pretty big chunk of change, and many people wasted it in record time, missing out on an opportunity to make an impact with that money.

So, how can you make the most of your tax refund this year, without looking back in three months and wondering where all that cash went?
Here are four ways you can go against the consumer-driven culture and make your refund work for you.

Pay Off Debt

This may seem like an obvious one, but a lot of Americans refuse to use their tax refunds to pay down debt. But let’s say you have a $5,000 loan with 5% interest, and you’d like to pay it off this year. You’re already planning to pay $500 a month. At that rate, it’ll take you 11 months, and you’ll pay $118 in interest. Now let’s say you get the average tax refund of $2,803 and you throw the entire amount at that loan. By knocking off more than half of your balance, the loan will be gone in five months and you’ll pay $25 in interest—a savings of six months and $93. Wouldn’t it be nice to obliterate that loan by the 4th of July instead of December or January? Now that’s Christmas in July!

Beef Up Your Emergency Savings

If you’re serious about living a debt-free lifestyle, emergency preparedness is a must. When a tire blows or a medical bill pops up, the goal is to stay away from the credit card and use cash to pay that bill off immediately. By using a $2,000 or $3,000 tax refund to build up your emergency savings, you’ll be ready for whatever this year throws your way. No credit card required.

Give

As Josh pointed out earlier this month, a few dollars can go a long way towards helping people who are suffering around the world.

Consider using your tax refund to make a donation to your church or to a worthy organization like Compassion or World Vision. With the average $2,803 tax refund, you could provide 35 families with safe water—not for a couple of weeks or a month—but for life. Can’t afford to give away your entire refund? Consider giving a percentage of it to a good cause and using the rest to pay off debt or increase your savings.

Anticipate a Big Expense and Save

Treat your refund as you would a normal paycheck instead of “extra” money.

Some people view a tax refund as “free money” instead of seeing it for what it really is: a portion of their hard-earned paychecks that the government is giving back to them.

What would you do with your refund if you treated it like another paycheck?

One thing you might do is think about some upcoming expenses and sock away some money so you’re not caught off guard. Do you have a wedding to attend later in the year? An upcoming surgery? A major home repair you’ve been putting off? Put your refund in a savings account to be used for that special expense. If you wouldn’t take your regular paycheck and blow it on a vacation, don’t do the same with your tax refund.

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty” – Proverbs 21:5, ESV

Once you have a plan for your tax refund, you’ll want to get your hands on that money as soon as possible, right? The IRS says the fastest way to get your money is to e-file and use direct deposit. By using the web instead of mailing your return, you can put that refund to use in a matter of days instead of weeks.

To check the status of your refund, the IRS has a nifty online tool called “Where’s My Refund?” You’ll need your social security number, filing status and the exact amount of your refund. If you mail a paper return, you can start tracking your refund four weeks later. If you e-file, you only have to wait 24 hours or less. Happy planning!