How to Add $250 a Month to Your 2026 Budget—Without Earning a Raise

RealPeopleGroup / Getty Images Instead of waiting on a tax refund, tackle your financial goals faster by updating your withholding to boost every paycheck. Key Takeaways A tax refund can feel like a welcome bonus, though it usually reflects money you could have received in paychecks throughout the year. Based on the average tax refund, adjusting your withholding could add about $250 a month to your budget for bills, saving, or spending. Changing your withholding isn’t permanent—you can modify it if y ...