The good news is that I finally did our taxes, and what I'm spending is nothing compared to our rebate (yay!) I'm always proud of myself every year for doing our taxes. It makes me feel smart to understand how the process works and how things are calculated. This is the first year I have e-filed, so I felt smart for figuring that out too, especially since we couldn't do the IRS's FreeFile (we also don't use TurboTax or any other products - just the long forms and instructions). These accomplishments may seem petty, but it's nice to have something that's cerebrally validating beyond understanding phonics (which does make me feel like a big deal when I'm teaching preschool).
Showing posts with label taxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label taxes. Show all posts
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Money, money, money
I have been in major spending mode lately. I guess it's part of my nesting? Anyway, I just ordered some more stuff off of Amazon. It's all practical stuff, and not really for me: a birthday present for Olivia, a water filter for our food storage, and a KidCo Travel Bed that I've wanted for a long time (more portable than a pack 'n' play!). And, okay, I also got some Pilot Frixion pens that I heard about during my machine quilting class a couple of weeks ago. You can iron the marks away! I can see my mom and me going crazy with these when she comes out in a few weeks.
Friday, April 3, 2009
A Taxing Ordeal
I know, I know...how many people have used that lame pun? Well, one more, evidently.
Today was a big day for pushing money around. This morning Carmen brought Olivia and me along with her to the furniture store so that we could finally buy Mommy and Daddy some bedroom furniture. This purchase had been put off for some time because we couldn't find something we both liked the look of that was also good quality, and for a good price.
We finally found something we agreed on as far as look and quality, and I went to the store prepared to haggle, but the salespeople were unbending. So, the question was whether we should look around some more (ugh), or just bite the bullet and spend more than we wanted to. The bullet was bitten. When she handed me the receipt, the saleswoman said, "There, that was easy, right? Painless?" Hardly. My only comfort was that at least the price had included entertainment for Olivia in the form of multiple rides up and down the escalators. (Seriously, about 20 times.)
Yes, the escalator rides WERE my only source of comfort...until nap time, when I finished doing our taxes! Thanks mostly to our massive itemized deduction, Uncle Sam is giving us a nice big chunk of money back. (We do have to pay $8 to Brother Brigham, however.) Ah, money.
Today was a big day for pushing money around. This morning Carmen brought Olivia and me along with her to the furniture store so that we could finally buy Mommy and Daddy some bedroom furniture. This purchase had been put off for some time because we couldn't find something we both liked the look of that was also good quality, and for a good price.
We finally found something we agreed on as far as look and quality, and I went to the store prepared to haggle, but the salespeople were unbending. So, the question was whether we should look around some more (ugh), or just bite the bullet and spend more than we wanted to. The bullet was bitten. When she handed me the receipt, the saleswoman said, "There, that was easy, right? Painless?" Hardly. My only comfort was that at least the price had included entertainment for Olivia in the form of multiple rides up and down the escalators. (Seriously, about 20 times.)
Yes, the escalator rides WERE my only source of comfort...until nap time, when I finished doing our taxes! Thanks mostly to our massive itemized deduction, Uncle Sam is giving us a nice big chunk of money back. (We do have to pay $8 to Brother Brigham, however.) Ah, money.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Pictureless post
I find that nowadays I hold off blogging sometimes because I feel like I need a picture in there, especially since the most relevant and exciting things in my life are my quickly growing and photogenic tiny tots. However, I think that a pictureless blog post is better than no blog post at all, so I am no longer going to let lack of pictures hinder my updating.
So, my help has finally run out. That is, we finally reached the end of a month-long stream of familial visits from my mom, Steven's sister, and my dad. Tomorrow begins the reality of having to get up all night for a tiny baby, then having to get up on time to take care of a toddler.
Mom, Heather, and Dad, it sure was nice having you here to help. And play with us. And install towel bars and fix our shower and garage door and other stuff.
In other news, I'm finally getting around to filing our taxes. No, I did not procrastinate: I had to wait until the beginning of February for all our forms to get here, and by that time we had other things to worry about. This year, we only have to file income tax in TWO states, because TA DAAA! We live in Texas! I say "only" because for the past several years, I have braved some of the most convoluted tax situations that two remarkably boring people like us could possibly have: multiple states, multiple jobs, multiple independant income, student garbage, etc. And I do it all by my little self, without an accountant, a service, or even a box! La de dah, look how smart I am!
Anyway, next year we anticipate having NO state income taxes to work through, plus another deduction (thanks, Carmen!) And since President Obama will undoubtably deliver that tax cut for my 95 percent of the population by then, in spite of that multi-trillion-dollar stimulus package funded by "the government," I'm looking forward to Texas Taxes 2009.
So, my help has finally run out. That is, we finally reached the end of a month-long stream of familial visits from my mom, Steven's sister, and my dad. Tomorrow begins the reality of having to get up all night for a tiny baby, then having to get up on time to take care of a toddler.
Mom, Heather, and Dad, it sure was nice having you here to help. And play with us. And install towel bars and fix our shower and garage door and other stuff.
In other news, I'm finally getting around to filing our taxes. No, I did not procrastinate: I had to wait until the beginning of February for all our forms to get here, and by that time we had other things to worry about. This year, we only have to file income tax in TWO states, because TA DAAA! We live in Texas! I say "only" because for the past several years, I have braved some of the most convoluted tax situations that two remarkably boring people like us could possibly have: multiple states, multiple jobs, multiple independant income, student garbage, etc. And I do it all by my little self, without an accountant, a service, or even a box! La de dah, look how smart I am!
Anyway, next year we anticipate having NO state income taxes to work through, plus another deduction (thanks, Carmen!) And since President Obama will undoubtably deliver that tax cut for my 95 percent of the population by then, in spite of that multi-trillion-dollar stimulus package funded by "the government," I'm looking forward to Texas Taxes 2009.
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