Stories that make you shake your head

[kobe008]

A friend of mine is a single mom. She got over $5k back from her tax return. She messaged me the other day and says 'I'm pissed. Because of a miscalculation I've only got $7 left of my tax return!!' So I say how much did you think you had left. She says 'Well I thought I had $37 left!!'

I couldnt help but shake my head. I know for a fact she did not save a dime of it and spent it on eating out, shoping trips and wii crap. I think she did pay some bills but I dont know for sure. My only reply to her was 'At least you helped the economy get better.'

[rob62521]

A friend of mine received $10K for his family's return. He kept saying he would buy a new stove, and then bank the rest to save up for a larger house...he recently married and between them they have 3 kids and moved into his small house. In the meantime, they went for a weekend getaway at large city, bought the stove, bought a new computer, bought a Coach purse for Valentine's Day...you get the picture.

[RAYT721]

I have proof that common sense isn't very common. I work in sales and a customer phoned yesterday to place an order and then asked, "how long does second day air take?" Totally without reaction, I replied, "48 hours."

[GrimJack]

If you go to irs.gov.com, you will see a company that charges you 100% of your refund to file your taxes for you (they may have changed their fee schedule.... I sure ain't going to check). If you sign a contract, you better know what it says.

I did not make that a link because I don't really want anyone to go there.

[bjl584]

If you go to irs.gov.com, you will see a company that charges you 100% of your refund to file your taxes for you (they may have changed their fee schedule.... I sure ain't going to check). If you sign a contract, you better know what it says.

I did not make that a link because I don't really want anyone to go there.

Not a bad deal if you are confident that you won't be getting a refund.

[BlackDiamond]

I am in my mid 30's but most of my friends are still single or married and childfree. I know people who constantly go out, constantly buy new clothes, constantly get their hair done, etc. etc. who also constantly cry poor. They make as much, if not more, than I do.

I take the attitude that I am broke and live that way. I am not broke. I have $3000 cash available to me from a secondary checking account/emergency fund at any given time. But I pick and choose what I do and live like a pauper so I can add to that 3K, pay off a pesonal loan long before it's due (72 months? Please. Try 24, if that) and eventually buy bigger and better things than beer after work twice a week or trendy shoes.

[tzsgti]

I got a pretty large refund as well. I just paid off some debt. I figure i would rather be debt free and pennyless then have some cash saved up with huge balances on my credit cards.

[kobe008]

We recently got our refund back as well and I paid off a fairly large credit card bill with it and the rest will sit in savings to use as a buffer between paydays if we ever need it.

[johnins2009]

I know people that live as if they are broke but have a lot of money saved up. Maybe I should do that too!

[rob62521]

I know people that live as if they are broke but have a lot of money saved up. Maybe I should do that too!

It's called living below your means and it's a terrific way of not overspending.