Went and got my taxes prepared today. It cost me $309 to have both federal and state prepared but I will be getting a refund of $1350 so I guess a total refund of about $1041.00.

I can certainly use it and feel better knowing that it's on it's way (direct deposit in about 2 weeks).

I plan on transferring it right into savings.

About the new furniture idea - I looked into slipcovers but was told by a number of people that they don't work well on leather furniture. My sister said that when she tried it on her leather sofa she had to fix it each and everytime someone sat there because the leather was slippery and the slipcover would not stay in place. I'm more than willing to try slipcovers and even looked at them online but now I'm having second thoughts.

gosh Kelly .. I don't even have the heart to charge my clients that much! even with the big ones ... maybe 175 ... but that's it!! I don't see the reasoning in the high cost of this .. that's why I quit working for cpa's and H&R offices .. they were ripping off people and lining their pockets!

anyways .... at least you're ahead anyways!!

Shelley ... I'll be pushing you to get your returns done too ... one of my client's lives in Michigan .. WAY up on the keewaunaw penisula .. planning on going up there this spring ... for a pheasant for preparing his return!!

I'm bumping this up.

How is everyone doing on their debt diets? I'm trying, but it's really hard when the kids have to sign up for spring sports! That stuff is costly.

I'm doing pretty good. I bought some things for the house the past couple of weeks, though. I purchased some faux wood 2" blinds for my sunroom and breakfast room. Had to get 7 panels of them and it was a little over $200 for all of them which wasn't bad. JC Penney had them on sale for less than $30 a panel. They look so nice and keep out the bright sun so they will be very useful this summer. Now I have to get window treatments but will only get valances so it shouldn't be too expensive. I'm doing it a little at a time so it doesn't get overwhelming. I'll be looking for sales!!

Holly I hear you on the sports expense. My DD signed up for her spring classes for dance, karate and theatre as well as summer soccer all at once! :sad-dollar:

We utilize our town's park and rec dept for her dance, karate and theatre classes which saves us tons of money. In a few years she'll be too old for those classes and it won't be an option. :(

I also decided that since our town parks and rec dept has a gym with lots of treadmills, elipticals, bikes, weight stations and more that I will be going there to workout when I can. It's free, and it's there to use. There is even a gym where you can play basketball, pool tables and fooseball (sp?) tables. They have all the equipment you need and it's all free!!! :trampoline:

Thank you, Vonn. This is a great thread. I only have a couple of suggestions.

For instance, I just noticed that I bought a hard-cover book by a writer that I like. I looked at the cover and then flipped the book over and noticed that it had cost 22 dollars!!!:eek: The book is new. I don't know if they have the paper-back edition but I am going to return it. I can always buy 2 paper backs for the price of one hard-cover. ;). Summarizing, we can rethink and, without feeling guilty, do what is best for us!

Now that it is cold, I have been making soup. Yes, it is a lot of work to peel all the vegetables but then I have dinner for 3 or 4 days! :pI just reheat the soup in the microwave so that it saves me a lot of work and gas!

hey Journey .. you're welcome .. I'm making pea soup from scratch .. it's actually called 'mormon pea soup' ..

because I get $$ from tax returns .. I'm going to have to do some forecasting about how to not fall back into a hole again .. and rebuild my credit ...

found out from the auto people that if they do take my car - they sell it at auction to pay off my bill .. but, whatever the difference is, I'd still be responsible ...

going to see about a new strategy - like refinancing the car .. any ideas??? thx!

Is this a lease? Who holds the lien on the car? Maybe you could talk to them and explain your situation and see if they could work something out with you so that you don't have a voluntary repossession on your credit. A lady I work with turned a car back in and wound up with a voluntary repossession on her credit - something she didn't intend to do. So you have to be really careful how you go about it.

Any chance you could sell the car? What kind of car is it? I know cars depreciate so much it's almost impossible to come out ahead.

I wish I could help. . . . . maybe someone else on the board can think of something.

Hey, if I win the lottery this weekend I'll be sure and remember you!! :D

thanks, herekitty - I have talked and talked to them ... they actually suggested that I try to refi now ... (and with no income) .. they just keep calling and calling ...

and I have to continue to pay for the repairs AND the car payments - I didn't expect to get sick 6 months after I 'bought' the car .. .now I'm sorta stuck ..

everytime I buy a car .. I get the "oh, why didn't you ask? or why did you buy that? .. or why didn't you get this insurance? or .... why did you pay so much?"

I don't shop well ... I hate shopping ... I needed a car, drove it, and wrote up the papers ... that day ... (plus, I knew that my credit was on a fine-line by then) .. and I needed a better car to drive 50 miles to work (100 a day) ...

and now the brakes are shot in the front .. and they are disc brakes .. I'm even afraid to find out the estimate .. waiting to just 'explode a tire' while I'm driving at hi-speed.

Vonn I am sorry to hear about the car. :hug:

Ok I have to say I am proud of myself today.

Over the last two weeks I have been cleaning out our closets and dropped off 8 bags and i box to good will.

While cleaning I found a new pair of shoes I had bought but not worn. So I took em back and credited my card and walked right out of that store without buying anything. Thats big for me...the shopaholic. :D

One step closer to paying my debts down.