It's tax season! How are you using your refund?

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  • jazzybean1
    jazzybean1 Posts: 113
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    Going to Thailand for 3 and 1/2 weeks with my husband and 2 other couples!!! Leave in just over 2 weeks:)
  • JStarnes
    JStarnes Posts: 5,576 Member
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    I'm the bread winner for our family of 5 - I have them tax me with 0 dependants all year long - my checks are the same now as when I was single without kids. When we file, we get a pretty large refund, enough to pay for the kids sports up front, our vacations up front, last year we paid off my car, and put a big chunk into each childs savings. This year we're putting a building in our back yard, and having a lot of landscaping work done, also some in-house remodeling. I understand that I'm "letting Uncle Sam use my money all year long interest free"....but for me, if I claimed all of us on each check thru the year, it wouldn't make it to savings. We'd justify purchases we didn't need, and end up spending the extra and wouldn't be able to enjoy the vacations and such like we do now. I'm the worst saver in the whole world. JMO.
  • Blugal1
    Blugal1 Posts: 92
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    When the gov't gives me back my interest-free loan... I am hoping to finally get a used truck to pull my horse around with!
  • rjmwx81
    rjmwx81 Posts: 259 Member
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    I understand that I'm "letting Uncle Sam use my money all year long interest free"....but for me, if I claimed all of us on each check thru the year, it wouldn't make it to savings. We'd justify purchases we didn't need, and end up spending the extra and wouldn't be able to enjoy the vacations and such like we do now. I'm the worst saver in the whole world. JMO.

    Like losing weight, all it takes is discipline. I'm not saying it's easy, but anyone can do it. And if you think it's nice having that money now, imagine having that money with extra interest on top.
  • irjeffb
    irjeffb Posts: 274 Member
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    Not getting a refund. I decided I don't want to give the Federal government an interest-free loan for 11 months every year, so I adjusted my withholding. I owe something like $7. Meanwhile, what *would* have been my tax refund has been sitting in my bank all year, earning interest for *ME* and not the government.
    ^^^^^^^
    Another person who sees this scam for what it really is.
    A hidden tax on the poor.
    A hidden tax on the poor?! Are you serious?

    Most of the "poor" get back EVERYTHING they paid in AND THEN SOME. That extra is funded by the 53% of us who actually pay Federal Income Tax, by the way.
  • qkidney
    qkidney Posts: 258
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    Paying on some debt and going to Florida and on a cruise :)
  • Nerple
    Nerple Posts: 1,291 Member
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    If I get a refund back, think I'm in a new bracket this year, it's just being tossed into into the bank.
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,788 Member
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    I understand that I'm "letting Uncle Sam use my money all year long interest free"....but for me, if I claimed all of us on each check thru the year, it wouldn't make it to savings. We'd justify purchases we didn't need, and end up spending the extra and wouldn't be able to enjoy the vacations and such like we do now. I'm the worst saver in the whole world. JMO.

    Like losing weight, all it takes is discipline. I'm not saying it's easy, but anyone can do it. And if you think it's nice having that money now, imagine having that money with extra interest on top.

    I've had this argument more than once with my Father In Law. I not only pay Married but at the single rate, I add $40 to state and $40 to Fed each paycheck.

    FIL keeps arguing that we shouldn't be giving the government the money to make money with....blah blah blah.

    Personally, I like getting that 2 or 3 thousand each spring. Plus, I don't have to go to my son in law for a loan when I miscalculate.....like my FIL DID!!!!!
  • jc1229
    jc1229 Posts: 220 Member
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    I'm going on vacation to Costa Rica in May, can't wait! :) If I end up having any money left over it will go into my savings account.
  • klbaierwalter
    klbaierwalter Posts: 309 Member
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    Hmm, I actually hadn't thought about this yet. Probably putting in into my savings account because I work in the schools. So from June 5th-August 22nd, I have no income. I just want to make sure I can pay the rent over the summer :-)
  • jeepwidow01
    jeepwidow01 Posts: 173
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    To pay another payment towards my house.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Great idea!!
  • lizdavis07
    lizdavis07 Posts: 766 Member
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    um, let's see...perhaps an orange. Or I might decide to spurge a little and be able to buy a whole bag of them! :drinker:
  • SinIsIn
    SinIsIn Posts: 1,865 Member
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    MAYBE a new stove, but mostly we're just going to save it. I don't pay my taxes with my house payment, so I save up through out the year to pay my property taxes.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
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    um, let's see...perhaps an orange. Or I might decide to spurge a little and be able to buy a whole bag of them! :drinker:
    A whole bag! That's just crazy talk.
  • JStarnes
    JStarnes Posts: 5,576 Member
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    I understand that I'm "letting Uncle Sam use my money all year long interest free"....but for me, if I claimed all of us on each check thru the year, it wouldn't make it to savings. We'd justify purchases we didn't need, and end up spending the extra and wouldn't be able to enjoy the vacations and such like we do now. I'm the worst saver in the whole world. JMO.

    Like losing weight, all it takes is discipline. I'm not saying it's easy, but anyone can do it. And if you think it's nice having that money now, imagine having that money with extra interest on top.

    I've had this argument more than once with my Father In Law. I not only pay Married but at the single rate, I add $40 to state and $40 to Fed each paycheck.

    FIL keeps arguing that we shouldn't be giving the government the money to make money with....blah blah blah.

    Personally, I like getting that 2 or 3 thousand each spring. Plus, I don't have to go to my son in law for a loan when I miscalculate.....like my FIL DID!!!!!
    Exactly. I know *how* to do it, I understand savings and interest and money - I'm a banker by day :tongue: but like Mike, that refund is a lot sweeter in the lump sum. And anyway, find me a product that would be worth the trouble . Avg savings is paying .1 - .2 APY around here. I'll let Uncle Sam use it how he sees fit, as long as he gives it back when he's done.
  • lizdavis07
    lizdavis07 Posts: 766 Member
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    um, let's see...perhaps an orange. Or I might decide to spurge a little and be able to buy a whole bag of them! :drinker:
    A whole bag! That's just crazy talk.

    yes, yes, i do tend to live on the edge sometimes.
  • katya73
    katya73 Posts: 464
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    Well end of financial year is not until end of June here ... But I plan on taking my toddlers and going on a holiday :)))
  • vanrunninggirl
    vanrunninggirl Posts: 48
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    baby fund!!!! :D
  • jennyjo79
    jennyjo79 Posts: 95 Member
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    I wish I got one. We take it in the *kitten* every year and we don't even make that much.


    I second that one! Seems ya can't win unless your barely scraping by or rich. Those in the middle seem to get the shaft. And it also doesn't help that Hubby owns his own business.
    This time of year is depressing around here. :(
  • kimmie185
    kimmie185 Posts: 550 Member
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    I'm traveling this summer to New York (I'm in Texas), Boston, Philly, and Washington D.C. for school with my friend so i'm using my money towards that and tuition...

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