It's that time of year again, or really its slightly past that time of year, Income Tax Time!
Now the above picture really is about how things are at our house... we look forward to having some bit of 'extra' cash for things that we are sick of doing without during the year. Hell, this year will be the first year we don't HAVE to buy a new car because our old one was completly junked (as in not running and too expensive to fix). So the day dreaming began back in January. We plotted and schemed, and thought about all the things we were gonna do with the money. Having 4 kids really pays off during tax time. We figured we would be getting around 8,000 back.
Our thoughts of being 'hood rich' were definetly scaled back from our younger years. We wanted to pay off the bills, use some for first/last and security deposit on a larger rental, sign the oldest up for football, and the youngest boy up for soccer. We wanted to have a real birthday party with guests and goody bags for the 2 youngest kids, and stick some away for the summer when I am not really working.
We checked the mailbox non stop for my W2's. When we got them we filed that day. We started stalking the bank account and the IRS Where's My Refund site. Then it came... all 7500.00 worth. We though okay we can work with this.. this is our refund minus the hubby's past due child support debt of 700, and my state tax debt of 400.
Then shit got real. We realized that we are adults and we had to do something responsible with the money. We began paying the bills. Okay, I lied. I let the money sit for a week so I could oogle at it in the bank account. I knew I had to pay off our back bills but I was sad that we would have no fun with the money. And one day after tons of crabbing from my husband. I did it. I paid the bills. It sucked.
1500 to the gas company, 250 to the water company, 950 to the electric company, 400 to the phone/internet/cable company, 200 to pay off the credit card, 100 for the dues at the Elks Lodge, 150 for the PSR classes my 2 oldest take every monday, another 225 to pay off my aunt for the money we borrowed to have the gas turned back on. We were really close to broke!
Then it happened. A chance to splurge. My husband found a Harley Davidson for sale. And now we are 3000 more poor and the proud owners of a 75 IronHead. I can't lie, I told him to do it. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. He has wanted one for years, and I couldn't fathom us ever finding one that he will be able to afford ever again. I made him do it. And although I do regret it a bit (it needs some work), I think it was a good choice. Jason needed a project. He needed a hobby. A little slice of Heaven in our otherwise dismal lives. Besides, I got to get TacoBell instead of cooking, so we both got our reward.
At least the bills are caught up.
