Andrew and I look forward to tax return season every year. It's the one time when we have a large chunk of money to work with. In the past we have done both inessential and compulsory things with that dough. All too quickly it is gone, but some of our needs are met, and we are content for another year. Sort of.
For that reason, I was quite thrilled today when Andrew's tax information came in the mail. Now we can get started on our forms and what-not and anxiously wait for our refund to land with a nice KA-CHING! in our checking account.
I called Andrew to tell him that he could now have a super day knowing that we were on the verge of buying airplane tickets and Phantom of the Opera tickets and setting some cash aside for when our crappy KIA breaks down two miles after the warranty expires, and maybe getting his Volkswagen bug fixed if the refund happened to be three million dollars, etc.
While talking to him, I looked at the little box which shows wages, tips and other compensation, and I just have to say -
It's a freaking miracle that we are able to survive on the number that sat in that box.
Me thinks a change is due.
Right there with ya. Last year we had our biggest refund yet (thanks to itemized deductions like childcare!) and we were in a positiion to use it for mostly fun things, and some necessary things. This year, I am counting on our tax return to pay our bills while I'm on maternity leave. No where near as fun, but at least we'll be able to eat!
ReplyDeleteYeah, tax refund season is the same for us. I'm a little nervous, though because Eric got a tiny litte raise last year that tipped us just over into the next tax bracket so we may be getting a much smaller refund this year. Boo!
ReplyDeleteIt has been so many years since we have seen a tax refund. I can't think of the last time. This is all due to being self employed & crap. We usually have to pay state taxes every year. And mostly break even for federal. I think in 2008 we paid $250. We were elated.
ReplyDeleteI never get my hopes up for a refund. I always wish for the best.
Hmmm, me thinks you need to join the military. This year we're getting back about 75% of what we paid in. That's average for us. You should have seen the year Doug was deployed. Since we don't actually have to pay taxes when he's in a war zone, our taxable income that year was under $10k. Coming up on another deployment...so basically baby #2 will make no difference for us whatsoever in terms of tax breaks.
ReplyDeleteAll that to say, have fun spending your return!