How are you handling your return?

[runsandjumps]

I am just glad we are getting a refund at all. I am so thankful to our accountant for helping us sort through everything.

 

[Minnesota!]

We are taking a WDW vacation with a chunk of it, putting some in savings, and then there are 3 things I am saving for (outside of travel) - new doors for my bedroom, a new couch, and new carpet for my basement (it's still blue shag from when my parents bought the house in 1972 ). We will see how much $$ is left after WDW to see which of those 3 things gets taken off the "need" list!

 

[Bob NC]

But, we don't get new furniture every 5 years. (Such a disposable mentality...furniture should last at least 2-3 times that long! Not only is that not a very friendly environmental way to think, but really? Keep your furniture for an extra year or two and donate your "excess" money to a charity!). Sometimes this world and the people in it scare me!

Are you serious?

 

[tms295psu]

I usually don't chime in when the tread gets "heated"... But wanted to throw it out there. My mil buys new furniture often, apparent she gets bored with it. My opinion is the stuff she buys is cheap and doesn't last more than 5 years at most. That's a $300 dollar sofa!!! I prefer to buy less often and spend more on something that will last!

Btw, I'm saving my return to supplement our family income while enjoying a summer home with my kids!

 

[BeachLove]

Why are people acting annoyed at how someone chooses to spend their return? I see nothing wrong with new furniture every five years. It's their money, if they want to have a " disposable mentality" is it affecting you? If that scares you, well then, I recommend staying indoors for life. Scary people like me are waiting to spend money as we please.

Anyways, I usually break even or owe money so no big windfall of cash to spend.

 

[Bnb0627]

*
How do you get back $10k to $20 a year in taxes? What tax bracket are you in and what are your write offs. I have never heard of people getting back that kind of money. Thanks for any tips you can give us, because I must be missing something.

Brunette

I have a neighbor, single mother of 2, still lives at home with her mother. She works as a school cafeteria aide gets paid $8.50/hr works 25hr/week. She does not pay rent, or any household bills, receives $524/month in food stamps and free health insurance from NJ Familycare. She always gets back $6000.

Another neighbor single dad with 3 kids and 1 niece in his custody works 40hrs/week at $18/hr. He gets back $10000 a year.

 

[SumWhrOvrThRanBo]

We are spending it all on our WDW vacation!!

Next year I'm getting a **** job!

I'm not sure what I'm more excited about!!

 

[BeachLove]

I have a neighbor, single mother of 2, still lives at home with her mother. She works as a school cafeteria aide gets paid $8.50/hr works 25hr/week. She does not pay rent, or any household bills, receives $524/month in food stamps and free health insurance from NJ Familycare. She always gets back $6000.

Another neighbor single dad with 3 kids and 1 niece in his custody works 40hrs/week at $18/hr. He gets back $10000 a year.

Sounds to me that I've been doing things wrong all these years. All this time I've been paying in, instead of getting paid. I'll start popping out some kids and get a lower paying job. Seems like with all the benefits these programs give you-I'd still come out ahead. With the first example its like she's getting paid 8.50/hr and then getting another $20 an hour in benefits and with that tax return. For each hour she works.

 

[brunette8706]

I have a neighbor, single mother of 2, still lives at home with her mother. She works as a school cafeteria aide gets paid $8.50/hr works 25hr/week. She does not pay rent, or any household bills, receives $524/month in food stamps and free health insurance from NJ Familycare. She always gets back $6000.

Another neighbor single dad with 3 kids and 1 niece in his custody works 40hrs/week at $18/hr. He gets back $10000 a year.

*
I just don't get this. How does she get back, MORE THAN WHAT SHE puts in, in regards to taxes? So she works part time at minimum wage, does NOT pay rent or any household bills receives FREE FOOD and FREE HEALTH INSURANCE and she gets back $6k!? Something just doesn't sound right!

 

[Bnb0627]

Sounds to me that I've been doing things wrong all these years. All this time I've been paying in, instead of getting paid. I'll start popping out some kids and get a lower paying job. Seems like with all the benefits these programs give you-I'd still come out ahead. With the first example its like she's getting paid 8.50/hr and then getting another $20 an hour in benefits and with that tax return. For each hour she works.

I could understand if she were in a tough position and couldn't find a job. But she could go to school for free with that income. But she said no, she doesn't want to work that much plus when her grandmother dies she will get $50000. I guess she's planning to live on that for the rest of her life and live in her mothers home when she dies!

 

[jd4nati]

I have a neighbor, single mother of 2, still lives at home with her mother. She works as a school cafeteria aide gets paid $8.50/hr works 25hr/week. She does not pay rent, or any household bills, receives $524/month in food stamps and free health insurance from NJ Familycare. She always gets back $6000.

Another neighbor single dad with 3 kids and 1 niece in his custody works 40hrs/week at $18/hr. He gets back $10000 a year.

I know several people just like this. Blame the refundable earned income credit.

 

[EnduringWone]

Well, since we homeschool, our $1600 return is going to our daughter's tuition, textbooks and supplies.

With the little left over from that and state tax refunds, she will go to several half-day summer camps over the summer.

 

[Swirly girls]

We typically get a $10,000-$20,000 refund each year (we still have $13,000 from last year). We just prefer a lump sum payout. But, we don't get new furniture every 5 years. (Such a disposable mentality...furniture should last at least 2-3 times that long! Not only is that not a very friendly environmental way to think, but really? Keep your furniture for an extra year or two and donate your "excess" money to a charity!). Sometimes this world and the people in it scare me!

Wow, some people are very ignorant and speak without really knowing complete circumstances.... You know what they say about that....?
By the way , Just for your information, we will be donating the compete leather living room set, as usual

 

[Swirly girls]

Are people jealous she is buying new furniture? I don't get the reason for the hostility... She could have 5 kids like me plus pets and furniture and carpeting or other household items take a major wear and tear... Or she could just WANT it... Her money- her choice. How many people buy cars before their old ones no longer drive? Sheesh. It really isn't that outlandish of an expenditure and I'm happy she is able to buy it after working and paying her taxes all year.

We always get between $10k-$12k so I may buy some new clothes even though my current ones aren't threadbare. Will probably put a little in savings and invest the rest.

Thanks for a little support on this!! I appreciate it.

 

[Swirly girls]

It was not needed in her post. It is a hidden way to brag. When SW did not get the response she wanted she got mad.

Do not give out trivi details if you do not want a reply to them.

Oh my goodness, I do know when I posted I was not looking to brag. Quite the opposite in fact. Until this, I didn't realize there was anything out of the ordinary about buying furniture every 5 years --- most of our friends replace furniture every 2-3 years, I was in fact mentioning the fact we do that every 5 years thinking we were over due!! We have a good quality leather set now. but, due to kids and a kitty that we waited to too long to have de clawed, it needs replacing -- thats hows it been the last 20 years!! kids and pets wear things out. i like things to look new, and nice.
Jeez, if I wanted to brag, I'd be bragging about something bigger, and better than living room furniture. But, apparently, it's a big deal to some other people.

 

[clintswifeymomof4]

*
How do you get back $10k to $20 a year in taxes? What tax bracket are you in and what are your write offs. I have never heard of people getting back that kind of money. Thanks for any tips you can give us, because I must be missing something.

Brunette

I have an accountant that does our returns and we itemize. An accountant can help you review what you can claim.

To the other posters insinuating that all the people who are getting back large refunds are somehow abusing the "system" in some way... My husband and I both have bachelor degrees, masters degrees, and post grad degrees... We are both full time education employees... We have 5 kids who are well taken care of and who were very much planned for, loved, and wanted, we are not on government assistance and never have been, we live in our own home and have three cars paid off. We invest and are smart with our money. Everyone has different circumstances so please do not assume that those receiving larger refunds are good-for-nothing system abusers. I work hard for every dime I make and I make it work for me as well. See an accountant who is current on tax law to maximize your refund and maybe that will help you dismiss your preconceived notions.

 

[diznee25]

Swirly girls, so sorry you are getting heat for what you buy with your tax return! It's so silly.....really. These fun threads always go downhill because of Debby Downers out there. Don't feel the need to engage with every poster who has a problem with your furniture. Those posters don't deserve to be acknowledged!

Not sure what we're doing with our return, because we don't know how much we're getting back yet. We're filing next weekend!

 

[canadianjovigirl]

No big refunds like that for anyone i know in Canada............you can NEVER get back more then what you pay in even with all the allowable deductions. And that does not matter if you file it yourself or an accountant does it.

I will just be happy if we dont have to pay

Hope everyone enjoys spending it............i know i sure did the year we got our biggest refund of $1700

 

[clintswifeymomof4]

Hope everyone enjoys spending it............i know i sure did the year we got our biggest refund of $1700

$1700 is still a good chunk of change! I'm actually filing ours tomorrow (thanks to being home from work with pink eye- yuk)!

 

[Colleen27]

Sounds to me that I've been doing things wrong all these years. All this time I've been paying in, instead of getting paid. I'll start popping out some kids and get a lower paying job. Seems like with all the benefits these programs give you-I'd still come out ahead. With the first example its like she's getting paid 8.50/hr and then getting another $20 an hour in benefits and with that tax return. For each hour she works.

Try that math again... $524 in food stamps is $3.28/hr (roughly, using 4 wk/mo math), and that tax return is another $2.88/hr when spread out over the year. I don't know about you but we certainly wouldn't come out ahead by taking an $8.50/hr job to take advantage of those "freebies".