1.) Shopping spree! The weather is changing, so should your wardrobe. What better way is there to spend money than on yourself. (Who earned the bucks, anyway?) I assure you: Those UGGS will be totally out by May. Do yourself a favor and go shopping. Be on the lookout for commercials announcing department stores’ “one-day sales.”

2.) Vacation tickets. The amount you’ve worked will affect the size of your tax rebate check and which ticket you’ll be able to afford. An exotic and exciting new place would be my suggestion if you worked very hard. If you were more of a slacker, then probably a bus ticket to Ann Arbor might be the closest thing to a vacation. Maybe if you hadn’t called in sick so often you’d be now enjoying a Mai Tai by the beach.

3.) Take your guy or girl on a fancy date. Plan the whole day: Go to a fancy restaurant, movies, dancing – all your treat. If, like the rest of us, you have no significant other to give your money to (or if you have someone who isn’t worth spending on), then treat your friends instead. You know they deserve a little recognition after being there for you every time you break down and cry over not having someone special again…. 

4.) Get together with some friends and throw a big “Springtime” theme party with tropical drinks, Reggae music and flowery decorations. If you get enough people to come you can even charge an entrance fee and get all your money back, or maybe even doubled.

5.) Invest in Wall Street. With the economy maybe this is not such good advice, but try investing on a stock that you feel is promising. A word of wisdom: don’t play all your money on one thing. 

6.) Go gambling. This may not be such a good idea if you are of the addictive sort or if someone in your family has had a compulsive gambling issue. Still, if you feel like you can handle it, save a couple of bucks and play your luck on the roulette. Just make sure the casino you go to accepts people your age. Some casinos admit 18 and up, others only over 21.

7.) Buy lottery tickets. The chances are slim, but if you buy a ticket you’ll be more likely to win than if you don’t, and if you buy 50 lottery tickets (please don’t) you’ll be 50 times closer to winning than if you hadn’t bought a single one. 

8.) Deposit all your money into a bank account. It’s the only place where no one will steal it (although these days it seems we can’t be too sure). You can safely monitor it from your laptop or phone as it slowly grows with interest. Also, look for bank accounts targeted specially for students. Some like Bank of America have advantages such as the “keep the change” program that completes your dollar whenever you use your debit card. For example, if a Starbucks cappuccino was $2.25, and you pay with your card, they’ll deposit $.75 into your account. A nice excuse to spend, right?

9.) Remodel your room. Go to your local crafts store, get some paint and brushes, and get creative. Let your inner artist come out (unless it’s buried a little too deep – then maybe you should hire a professional) and paint your room with the cheerful colors of spring. 

10.) For those of you who have a heart of gold (or who have a burden on their conscience and are looking for a way to make it up), here is the most gratifying option: Give to charity. When you donate money to someone else’s cause you’ll feel like a million bucks and you will change someone else’s day. With as little as $25 you could feed and care for a rescued horse for two weeks; $20 could bring vaccinations to 10 dogs in a shelter; $10 could provide medical care for street children in India. The options are endless.