Another (infuriating) way to spend money!

Here's a new way of giving up even more of your money to the power of consumption: spend your tax refund even before you get it!

Now, TurboTax gives you the option of turning your predicted tax refund into gift certificates to national chain stores, even before receiving the refund from the federal government. They add "bonus dollars" to each card as an incentive to use the program, minus the $30 program fee of course.

What a creative way to get more of your money. The government says that tax refunds are (in part) giving back to those who can use the extra bucks, like for paying bills or (gasp!) saving for the future. TurboTax and its corporate affiliates are selling tax refunds as prize money... but that money immediately gets put in the pockets of companies like Starbucks.

Tell TurboTax what you think.