Stupid me

[Beppington]

I keep hearing about all the government money flyin' all around, & of course none to me ... not that I need it, want it or expect it, as I've been foolish enough to live within my means, but .... Just read a Yahoooo article declaring tax breaks for almost everyone .... but not me:

1) Stupid me: I didn't buy a fancy new car between Feb & Dec '09. Who knew I shoulda?? Maybe this was advertised & I just missed it. But, no, I wouldn't have bought a fancy new car anyway as I'm smart enough to know the tax break would still not have even come close to justifying it. The irritating thing is that the govt is cash rewarding people that aren't smart enough to realize that.

2) Unfortunate timing for me: I did buy a fancy new boat in '07 & paid a pretty penny in sales tax; Stupid me: I bought it too soon. Who knew I shoulda waited till '09??

3) Stupid me: I'm not married, so my income level puts me too high for tax breaks ... oh, & stupid me for making just barely too much money.

4) I also didn't buy a huge home I could never actually afford so the govt needs to somehow help me be able to afford my mortgage payment.

Every d@mn govt cash thing misses me, & it's because I wasn't dumb enough to have done the stupid things that are causing the govt to want to "help" those that did. (I'm not saying getting married is dumb, BTW)

I know I'm supposed to bask in the satisfaction that I don't need no stinkin' govt $ to live, but that basking gets old sometimes.

That is all, I am done complaining now.

[reallyprettyhappy]

could you please provide a link to the article? I would like to read it. Thanks!

[Beppington]

could you please provide a link to the article? I would like to read it. Thanks!

tax-breaks-for-almost-everyone: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

[Ricky.J.K.Ruto]

Beppington my friend I think You just made my afternoon! Ha ha! That was a great read. You know what though I take my hat off to You for actually being smart with Your finances . Good Going man, really.

[jasonnoguchi]

Rich men do what is stupidity in the eyes of the common folks.

[KTP]

Except for the Roth rollover trick we have missed about every break also, so being married doesn't fix things.

The current government is throwing out wads of money left and right because they know this will buy them the next election...or at least they think it will. It is possible the people they threw the money at will be too busy playing with their tax credit rebate bought xbox to go vote.

[cschin4]

The reality of our govt is that it REWARDS dependency and failure. The govt WANTS people to depend on them or their subsistence. It shouldn't be that way but it is. And, until we get out of the mode of reliance on the govt and stop voting for the guy that promises to "give" us something, then expect more of the same. The real challenge is to not succumb to this cynicism and to continue to live a good, decent life of hard work, honesty and thrift.

[PrincessPerky]

The reality of our govt is that it REWARDS dependency and failure. The govt WANTS people to depend on them or their subsistence. It shouldn't be that way but it is. And, until we get out of the mode of reliance on the govt and stop voting for the guy that promises to "give" us something, then expect more of the same. The real challenge is to not succumb to this cynicism and to continue to live a good, decent life of hard work, honesty and thrift.

Ditto!

[ceejay74]

If you didn't qualify for Making Work Pay credit, then you're doing much better than most of America; congratulations!

[EEinNJ]

Bepp, you seem to bring politics with you like a bad smell. It's not the government's fault you consider yourself stoopid.

Personally, I insulated my basement, I'm getting a tax credit. I installed a storm door, I'm getting a tax credit. I bought an energy efficient freezer, I'm getting a tax credit. I bought a new car, I'm getting a tax deduction for the sales tax. Oh, and I have a job, so I'm paying less withholding.

So I'm employing contractors, buying construction materials, durable goods, saving energy, holding a job, and paying less taxes as an incentive for the contribution I'm making.

And you're complaining you're not getting free money?

[wnlbutterfly]

Hold onto your hats....I work at a tax office and last Saturday was my first working day. One of my clients, MFJ, 3 kids, normally get a refund around $5k, this year due to all the tax breaks, their refund was $10,900. NO KIDDING! The husband refused to believe it and I had to go over it line by line twice to convince him.

Yes, I tried to talk them into reducing their withholdings but the wife said she would rather get a big refund. I have a feeling we are going to see a lot of big refunds this year as most of our clients are lower income and hitting that Earned Income Credit that they keep increasing, which, BTW, has a very high rate of fraud.

[Beppington]

Bepp, you seem to bring politics with you like a bad smell. It's not the government's fault you consider yourself stoopid.

Personally, I insulated my basement, I'm getting a tax credit. I installed a storm door, I'm getting a tax credit. I bought an energy efficient freezer, I'm getting a tax credit. I bought a new car, I'm getting a tax deduction for the sales tax. Oh, and I have a job, so I'm paying less withholding.

So I'm employing contractors, buying construction materials, durable goods, saving energy, holding a job, and paying less taxes as an incentive for the contribution I'm making.

And you're complaining you're not getting free money?

It wasn't my intention to bring along stinky politics! ... I just wanted to complain that I'm not getting any free money!

You do realize you're spending a lot of money to get these tax credits? Is it worth it? Now, if you were going to do those things anyway, or had been almost able to justify doing them, then it probably makes sense. But to do them just to get the tax credits probably doesn't make financial sense.

[Snodog]

Bepp, you seem to bring politics with you like a bad smell. It's not the government's fault you consider yourself stoopid.

Personally, I insulated my basement, I'm getting a tax credit. I installed a storm door, I'm getting a tax credit. I bought an energy efficient freezer, I'm getting a tax credit. I bought a new car, I'm getting a tax deduction for the sales tax. Oh, and I have a job, so I'm paying less withholding.

So I'm employing contractors, buying construction materials, durable goods, saving energy, holding a job, and paying less taxes as an incentive for the contribution I'm making.

And you're complaining you're not getting free money?

Reminds me of the Chinese proverb- Man who waits for roast duck to fly into mouth must wait very, very long time.

[Beppington]

Reminds me of the Chinese proverb- Man who waits for roast duck to fly into mouth must wait very, very long time.

I am still waiting for roast duck to fly into my mouth, but also eating salmon while waiting

[Slandgie]

About the only thing we qualified for in 2009 was the cash for clunkers. We had a 1999 Dodge Caravan that was BARELY drivable, no power steering, engine light had been on for a couple of years, etc etc. Let's just say we BARELY qualified. Yeah, we needed a new car, but getting a bank to approve us took better part of a day. Buying a new car is like have a root canal done every day for a whole month!

Other than that, we "make too much money" to qualify for any other gov't program. I guess making $50K a year is considered wealthy by Uncle Sam...