We are rich, rich I tell you!
Over the weekend, Kevin & I did our taxes and, for the first time, realized the joy of home ownership. You see, 2001 was our first full year in our little house. Before that, we were royally screwed by the tax man.
Our first year of marriage, we bit it big time. Married, we were hit with the marriage penalty, and could only get the measly marital standard deduction which was way less than our old individual deduction. We had no kids and no home. On top of that, we were barely over the maximum income and were brutally phased out from deducting any of our student loan interest. It was horribly pathetic. We owed and we owed big time.
It did, however spur me onto bigger and better things. We filed our taxes on April 4, 2000. On April 21, 2000 we closed on our house. You can catch me unaware only once. After that, I wise up quickly.
But we didn’t start paying our mortgage until May and we had to liquify a bunch of assets to make the down payment and closing costs and so, when April rolled around last year, we still owed. Not enough house payments, too much capital gains tax. This made me very very very grumpy. In a fit of rage, I readjusted our withholdings and had extra money subtracted each month. I then promptly forgot about this.
Until this weekend.
This weekend, we ran the taxes again and are getting a refund of $7,000. That’s right, seven big ones! I’m not sure how or why and I’m not going to ask too many questions. You see, I have a plan. A beautiful, ChrissieTerry original plan.
I say, we get our big fat refund check and fly to Vegas. Then we place the whole enchilada on red and let it ride. If we lose, no big deal. It’s money we already thought we’d lost to the government anyway. We’ve lived without it so far. But if we win........ If we win, I can give the pool boy that raise he deserves. (Whoops, hope Kevin isn’t reading this!)
Kevin, however, isn’t so hip on the idea. His Vegas experience so far has consisted of putting money on the table, losing it all, putting more money on the table, losing it all, emptying out his checking account, losing it all, etc, etc, etc. He’s probably right. Sigh. Ah well, maybe if I ask really nice he’ll let me fondle our refund check for a day or two before I have to put it in the bank. Man, it sure is tough being an adult.