How are you handling your return?

[ChiCat]

We haven't even filed yet but its only going to replace our checking account nest egg which is about to be depleted when we write a check for our Roth IRAs. Exciting huh.

[averysmom]

Boring... Half on our mortgage, and the other half to the kid's resp funds. We won't be getting a big refund though; I don't think there are the deductions here that there are in the US.

[firecracker725]

We're going to Disney!

[mom2t]

1/7 for expenses on our Outer Banks trip -house is paid for
1/7 car insurance
The rest on dental and medical.

[Colleen27]

I'm doing some good old fashioned "economic stimulus" - our return will pay for our March and April trips, and the rest will sit around until we decide which household to-do(s) we want to spend it on. We're not used to getting as large a refund as we got this year so it is "found money" from a budget standpoint and we've decided to enjoy it.

[pfp258]

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!

[disykat]

In order to get such big refunds, do you specify an extra amount to be withheld each month? Since we sometimes owe we've considered doing that, but really don't want to!

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Originally Posted by disykat

In order to get such big refunds, do you specify an extra amount to be withheld each month? Since we sometimes owe we've considered doing that, but really don't want to!

I was wondering about that too. Ours is sizeable, but not 10K!

[Mom2apirate&princess]

We are moving into a house on base and have a few months left on our lease so our taxes are going to the extra rent payments. Hopefully the house rents soon and we wont have to use it on that!

[superme80]

Savings
Disneyland
Leappad 2 for the kids to share.

[beaucoup]

We do not use the government as a non-interest bearing savings account & loan. We prefer a small refund & prefer to receive the money in our paychecks, where we put some into a high (lol - right) interest bearing savings account. House & all debt is paid off.

Earning some interest is better than loaning it to the government interest free.

Makes even less sense to loan it to the government while you are paying interest on a credit card balance.

[Betsy82]

Originally Posted by Sunnywho

Paying off our medical debt in its entirety!!

This is where ours is going! Our return is not huge but we've got a few outstanding medical bills that we have been chipping away at for awhile.

It is such a relief to know we will be back on even ground soon. Luckily (other than house, student loans, 1 vehicle) those are our only debts.

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Originally Posted by beaucoup

We do not use the government as a non-interest bearing savings account & loan. We prefer a small refund & prefer to receive the money in our paychecks, where we put some into a high (lol - right) interest bearing savings account. House & all debt is paid off.

Earning some interest is better than loaning it to the government interest free.

Makes even less sense to loan it to the government while you are paying interest on a credit card balance.

That has already been discussed to death on another thread. Not everyone has a straightforward situation that makes it easy to get their withholdings just right. Good for you for getting to that point.

[Halbleib1]

Originally Posted by Swirly girls

Tell ya what? I'll replace our furniture when I see fit, and you do the same! K?
Why would anybody comment on this???

How about because it's the budget board and that is not very budget minded.

[Halbleib1]

Originally Posted by mks18412

We get back a good chunk. If I could figure out a way to get it back during the year instead of at tax time I would do it.

It's not hard to figure out. Just adjust your withholdings. The irs puts out a calculator every year to help with this. Just google irs withholding calculator and it will come up. It is not up for this year yet but it should be coming soon.