Thats me...the Splurge Specialist. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1997. Since then medical bills keep pilling up, theres no way to pay them all, or even try. Every chance I get to have a "few extra bucks" goes to bills bills bills. So since im obviously NEVER going to catch up, its time to enjoy the rest of my life as well as I can...so call me the Splurge Specialist. Hey if you cant beat em (er pay em) you might as well join em (er spend em).

Well, another tax time and more grey hair appears. It's time for a new way to handle it. I don't want to end up aging faster so a hot tub was the answer this year. It releives a lot of stress after a hard days work and by the time tax time comes around next year, I won't stress it.

Tax time once again! It is time to ponder once again on what I will do this year with my tax refund.
For the last few years I always have a grand plan to spend my refund on myself, justifiied by my hard work all year. However when I get that money I seem to cave in to the responsible side of me and use the money to pay off a nuisance debt or to pay some bills to get ahead.
This year however I received a nice 2500 back. I decided that my parents who are the most wonderful people in the world and always there to lend a hand needed something special. They have not had a vacation on their own for about 10 years. They seemingly have lost the romance they once shared. So I have taken my refund and am sending them on a 4 night 5 day romantic getaway to Myrtle Beach, SC.A romantic beachfront room with all the works. They are so excited, and watching them talk about the upcoming trip I can see the flames fanning.

Obligations will always have my attention. However, this year my focus has been on my upcoming wedding. The countdown: 8 weeks to go.

My fiance and I combined our tax refund this year in an attempt to conquer this mission: pay off some of the constantly accruing wedding debt.

Who knew that a wedding would cost so much? But then again, how could one give themself a less than perfect wedding? You don't.

The downfall to the perfect wedding is that then you hold no bars to what you spend. Our tax refund became our savior this spring season. As soon as I saw that money deposited into my account... I went straight to my wedding expense spreadsheet and started check marking items to be paid. Check. Check. Check. It wasn't going to pay off the entire wedding, but every little bit counts.

The result: "something blue" will be my garter and NOT my feelings about my checkbook.

ONCE I TAKE CARE OF MY FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, I SURPRISE MY SON WITH SOMETHING FROM HIS WISH LIST. I ALSO GET ALITTLE SOMETHING FOR MYSELF WHILE REMEMBERING WHAT MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAYS WHEN I GO INTO STORES, IF I DON'T NEED IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S ON SALE.

My husband and I have learned that what we make we spend. If we don't have it in our hands every pay check, we live within our means with what we have. Then, at the beginning of each year, we decide on one big "purchase" to use our tax return on the following year. It's similar to a savings account without the interest, but interest on a savings account today is like nothing at all any way.
When we file our return, we know that the money we get back will be used for our yearly big purchase. This year, we are using it to put a new roof on our house. Last year, we took a trip to Wisconsin for a Reunion and we were able to extend it into a family vacation for all six of us. In the past, we've used it for new furniture, down payment on a new car, and many more things we wouldn't be able to afford without our tax return.
It's true we don't go out much during the year, or buy because we have the means, but there is a rainbow at the end of the tunnel every year!

When I get my income tax refund, I will deposit it in an interest bearing account that I rarely access. When my property taxes are due, my refund should cover about half of what is owed.
The bitter irony of it all is not lost on me. After all, the IRS refund is MY money, not a gift from the feds. As with everyone else in the US, including Bill Gates. we do not truly own our own homes--most of us not only have a bank to answer to, but if we didn't pay our property taxes, we'd have our homes sold out from under us.
It's a good time of the year to reflect on how far we've fallen from the creation of our Founders. After all, there was no regular income tax prior to 1913--the brief stint we had in the 1800s to pay off the Civil War actually was retired. Imagine--a tax for a specific purpose and when that was fulfilled, good-bye tax! Moderns could learn a lot from our betters.

My husband and I love going to sporting events. In fact, we have practically made this a way of life. Every fall, our lives are taken over by our love and support of the Tennessee Titans NFL team. We have big tailgate parties with our friends and sometimes even paint our faces. Well, NFL season tickets are not cheap! So... each year, we set aside our tax refund to pay for our Titans season tickets. This way, we get to enjoy that refund spread out over 10 games (oh, plus the playoffs too of course!).

My husband and I received our first HUGE tax refund. I couldn't believe it. When I saw the amount in TaxTurbo I almost fainted. At first we had all these plans. . .pay off our credit card debt, pay the student loans, pay off our debt. . .well. . . it didn't happen that way.

The day the funds hit our bank, I was so elated I went out and spent my first $200. Then that felt so good, my husband and I both spent another $500 each.

(Now, before I go on, please understand. We both come from deprived homes. This was a first and (hopefully) a only type of thing)

We were at the mall for seven hours. I couldn't believe how fast it all went. The next day, we had to dip less in the account than Before that refund. lol. All in all, it was the best time in my life. I was able to be carefree and for once feel young again. I know it wasn't the smartest thing to do, which is why it will be the last, but hey. . .

Live life to the fullest!!!

I have an older refrigerator which is not particularly energy-efficient. Since I don't eat out very often, it is essential for me to have an effective, efficient refrigerator adequate to my food preparation and storage needs.
This year's refund will go to purchasing a new, energy efficient model... as energy prices increase, one must find ways to maximize the benefits of the energy we consume, and reduce that expenditure whenever possible.
I expect to see the positive effects of that expenditure in a lower electric bill every month.
That's my strategy, those are my reasons...