A big tax surprise!!!

[helens042266]

I cannot believe it!! I just did our taxes and we are getting back over $5000.00!!! We alway use our tax return for vacations and I was only expecting about $3000.00, but WOW!! Now I am totally freaking out about how to spend the extra money......more table service restuarants, upgrade my tickets to hopper passes, buy tons of souvieniers....or be a good girl and put it in savings...(boring!) Any suggestions on how to spend the extra money at disney???

 

[CastMemberDWA]

Two words: DISNEY CRUISE!

 

[helens042266]

I never thought of a cruise! My DH has always wanted to go on one, but I am a total chicken because of my EXTREME motion sickness! I get sick if I ride in the passenger seat

I feel like I just won the lottery!

 

[debbie in Seattle]

Spend what you were budgeted for and pay off some bills! Ya, ya, boring I know, but we live a debt free life and am so happy (and stress free, almost) we chose to do this.
No house payments,car payments, credit card bills, zippo. Our money is our own.
SO, that being said, great you got such a nice surprise, but put it to good use.

 

[helens042266]

We are pretty good with the no credit cards, but no car payments or house payments! I might actually sleep nights if I didn't have those bills! How do you do it?

 

[Amy&Dan]

I say if you don't have some high interest credit card bill that needs to be paid off, spend the money on vacation. Very few people can live with no debt whatsoever, that is great, wish it was me but I know that will not happen for us until we pay off our mortgage in 24 years. Since this is a nice bonus why not just live large and enjoy it? Also, take it from me as I nurse my mom through the last years of her life, enjoy life, it goes quickly and you can't even take a paid off house with you! Now, if you do have credit cards with balances that is a different story (see, I am not a total nuthead).

 

[simzac]

Helen and Debbie, I'm jealous of both of you, for different reasons of course.

 

[SarahandPaul]

Savings....just think about it being a pre-paid trip to WDW in the future.

 

[kimbac3]

How about you save some and splurge on a fun behind the scenes tour (segway-keys to the kingdom or family magic if you have kids)
Kimba

 

[Tink215]

We always use our tax money for vacation!!! I am glad to see someone else does to and its usually to WDW which we just did this past december and it was a trip of a lifetime, spent 6days and 5 nites and dont think we could ever do that again!!!! Enjoy planning your trip!!!

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

I never thought of a cruise! My DH has always wanted to go on one, but I am a total chicken because of my EXTREME motion sickness! I get sick if I ride in the passenger seat

I feel like I just won the lottery!

Just wanted to tell you that my family just did a Disney land & sea vacation in Oct 2005 and I don't think you would have a problem with your motion sickness. I don't get motion sickness at all(DH and I are Coaster Enthusiasts), but my mother went along with us on the cruise and she is the more like you. I have to say that we NEVER felt movement on the ship. We kept saying how easy it was to forget that you were actually moving, unless you looked out the window. We had a fabulous time and I think if you have any interest at all you should do it. We got a bigger than expected tax return also this year, but ours will going towards home remodeling so have fun whether you decide to just do Disney World or throw a cruise in there.

 

[disneyscuba]

I cannot believe it!! I just did our taxes and we are getting back over $5000.00!!! We alway use our tax return for vacations and I was only expecting about $3000.00, but WOW!! Now I am totally freaking out about how to spend the extra money......more table service restuarants, upgrade my tickets to hopper passes, buy tons of souvieniers....or be a good girl and put it in savings...(boring!) Any suggestions on how to spend the extra money at disney???

Cool, I wish I know how people get that much back a year. I only getting $1724. Still using it for a disney vacation.

Just have lots of fun.

Later,

DisneyScuba

 

[brentalex]

I cannot believe it!! I just did our taxes and we are getting back over $5000.00!!! We alway use our tax return for vacations and I was only expecting about $3000.00, but WOW!! Now I am totally freaking out about how to spend the extra money......more table service restuarants, upgrade my tickets to hopper passes, buy tons of souvieniers....or be a good girl and put it in savings...(boring!) Any suggestions on how to spend the extra money at disney???

I know how it feels to get a big refund. Seems like free money. I used to love to do that too, but then I realized that all it was, was me getting back my own money, money I should have had all along anyway. I changed my withholdings and now get a very small refund, but I have the money I used to give to the government and put it in my own accounts. I upped the amount I put in my 401k, add a bit to the savings, and have the money work for me, not the government. Any refund you get is your own money that you gave to the government all year instead of keeping it yourself.

 

[skent10]

Cool, I wish I know how people get that much back a year.

I gotta agree with brentalex--it's called giving too much of your own money to the government to use, interest free, for the year. We aim for dead even every year; nothing owed by us to the gov't and no refund. We usually make it within a couple hundred dollars either way.

To the original poster--I'd pay off a big debt if it was hanging over my head, or sack it away and let it earn some money for awhile. You could get two vacations out of that refund!

 

[Ilovestitch]

I did my taxes today and got back more than what I expected. I'm using it for WDW, too!

 

[disneyfan61]

I did my taxes today and got back more than what I expected. I'm using it for WDW, too!

Same here. Did mine today & getting back a little more than last year. Going to the World in April!!!

 

[DisneyTarheel]

I know how it feels to get a big refund. Seems like free money. I used to love to do that too, but then I realized that all it was, was me getting back my own money, money I should have had all along anyway. I changed my withholdings and now get a very small refund, but I have the money I used to give to the government and put it in my own accounts. I upped the amount I put in my 401k, add a bit to the savings, and have the money work for me, not the government. Any refund you get is your own money that you gave to the government all year instead of keeping it yourself.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Really, seriously consider a Disney cruise. They ain't cheap and that 'found' money could make it possible to enjoy a truly exceptional Disney experience

 

[LordAthens]

FWIW, my better half is VERY prone to motion sickness, to the point that we can't take a 15 minute car trip without her getting naseaus.

Anyhow, what most people don't realize is, unless in very rough sea's, boats that big (IE, large cruiseliners) really don't move about a whole lot. Do the cruise, you'll be fine!

 

[helens042266]

I know how it feels to get a big refund. Seems like free money. I used to love to do that too, but then I realized that all it was, was me getting back my own money, money I should have had all along anyway. I changed my withholdings and now get a very small refund, but I have the money I used to give to the government and put it in my own accounts. I upped the amount I put in my 401k, add a bit to the savings, and have the money work for me, not the government. Any refund you get is your own money that you gave to the government all year instead of keeping it yourself.

So true! But in truth, we are not very good savers! We both already have money taken each month for retirement accounts, because if we have it, we spend it(well, I spend it) I am just afraid that if we didn't do the "tax refund savings account" we would never go on vacation!

We haven't taken a vacation since 2002, our last trip to disney! Our tax refund in the past has gone to house repairs (our 100 year old house does not stand up well to 3 kids!), medical bills (those insurance companies just don't pay like they used to), and Cardinal baseball tickets (everyone needs a little baseball in their lives - Go Cards). This year -- Disney all the way, well almost all the way....my DH and I decided, (well...mostly him - the responsible, conservative, do what is right guy- decided) that some, not all, of the refund will go into savings and we will spend just a little extra at disney for some things we were not going to do before. I know I should be happy to be married to a guy who is far more fiscally responsible than me, but I wanted to blow the money on real fun! I guess I have to grow up sometime!
Thanks for all the great ideas on what to do with the cash! Maybe I should save up for a future trip......Disney at Christmas...... .....just me and hubby......stay on-site......hummmmmmmm........