David Anderson | Source | Creative Director at Vimvest

It's not quite winning the lottery, but a tax refund is a welcome windfall for many Americans. Even though many Americans will not reap as much as in other years - recent data from the IRS indicates the size of the average tax refund is down by almost 17 percent - there are still ways to stretch that sum. Heading out on a shopping spree, booking a tropical vacation or slapping down some money on a new car with your slice of Uncle Sam's pie is tempting. But, a calculated course will yield more funds and have a greater impact on your financial growth, according to experts at Vimvest, a goal-based financial planning app.