WHAT TIME IS IT????
IT'S 1040!
Get it... Tax deadline time.. If you're like us conservative SOB's, you've held off till the last minute because you owe.
We do. Between federal and state I'm writing checks tonight for the total of about $800. That's pretty much a wash for us. So we're pleased.
We are among a minority in our income bracket. Upper middle class with no capital debt. Although we like living without longterm debt, this tax crap has got us stymied. Husband actually has extra withholdings for the IRS to keep us from owing too much.
We're both educated and proud of it, because we did it by ourselves. We both hold professional and management positions for 20+ each years.
We have a lovely home in a great part of town that we paid off in 15 years verses the 30 years or more that most couples do.
Our two children have had the privelege of private educations.
I drive a 07 Toyota Highlander and Husband drives a 2003 Camry. (Until that eyesore 07 Hummer came along).
What have we done wrong to actually owe taxes? We live within our means. We don't promote capital debt. It's just not in us.
Husband was the oldest of a family. There were money troubles for this Catholic family with five kids. They all went to Catholic schools. They're dad was a lineman for General Electric. He did all right, but Mom really had to stay home because there were so many kids at one time. It was a tight stretch. And as the oldest, it left the deepest impression on Husband. He's gotten much better over the years, but he still has to have his nest egg (just in case).
For me, my daddy was a small business owner. He didn't come by it easy. Although it's never been clarified, I suspect my daddy never graduated high school. But at a young age he started working for a guy that owned a gas station. Daddy went off to the Navy, came home and married my momma and went back to work for the same guy. Later the guy started to open local auto supply stores in the city. My Daddy followed him in business. Turned out my Daddy had a good head for business. The auto parts store took off and after some years, my Daddy, found himself part owner within a corporation of about 4 stockholders of a local string of stores. He really made a local name for himself. He was "Rube" of the the parts supply market. That's not his name, but when it came to business that's all the market knew him as..
My daddy had a rule that he passed down to all three of his daughters. Never buy something you can't pay for... He was a cash man. He only financed when it was to his advantage. It's ingrained in me.
So, us two tight SOB's are at a crossroads. We could sell our very middle class home in an absolutely fabulous location to upgrade and take on capital debt. Or we can stay where we are, upgrade the house a little more with a new mortgage, and stay here till at least Girly gets out of High School. Which I might mention, the current Catholic grade school that she attends is right up the street and the closest girls' Catholic High School is right next door to the grade school.
We're so torn. I don't want to take Girly from her neighborhood that has provided such stability over the years for both her and her adult brother. I HATE debt. It's just so ingrained in me that by the time you reach our age, (the 45-50ish range), life should be financially good. And it is. If it wasn't for the goddamn government.. (so sorry, it really goes against my grain to say to say the g-damn word.).
So we've achieved a small portion of the American Dream.. But my question is... Why do we have to pay for it?
Get it... Tax deadline time.. If you're like us conservative SOB's, you've held off till the last minute because you owe.
We do. Between federal and state I'm writing checks tonight for the total of about $800. That's pretty much a wash for us. So we're pleased.
We are among a minority in our income bracket. Upper middle class with no capital debt. Although we like living without longterm debt, this tax crap has got us stymied. Husband actually has extra withholdings for the IRS to keep us from owing too much.
We're both educated and proud of it, because we did it by ourselves. We both hold professional and management positions for 20+ each years.
We have a lovely home in a great part of town that we paid off in 15 years verses the 30 years or more that most couples do.
Our two children have had the privelege of private educations.
I drive a 07 Toyota Highlander and Husband drives a 2003 Camry. (Until that eyesore 07 Hummer came along).
What have we done wrong to actually owe taxes? We live within our means. We don't promote capital debt. It's just not in us.
Husband was the oldest of a family. There were money troubles for this Catholic family with five kids. They all went to Catholic schools. They're dad was a lineman for General Electric. He did all right, but Mom really had to stay home because there were so many kids at one time. It was a tight stretch. And as the oldest, it left the deepest impression on Husband. He's gotten much better over the years, but he still has to have his nest egg (just in case).
For me, my daddy was a small business owner. He didn't come by it easy. Although it's never been clarified, I suspect my daddy never graduated high school. But at a young age he started working for a guy that owned a gas station. Daddy went off to the Navy, came home and married my momma and went back to work for the same guy. Later the guy started to open local auto supply stores in the city. My Daddy followed him in business. Turned out my Daddy had a good head for business. The auto parts store took off and after some years, my Daddy, found himself part owner within a corporation of about 4 stockholders of a local string of stores. He really made a local name for himself. He was "Rube" of the the parts supply market. That's not his name, but when it came to business that's all the market knew him as..
My daddy had a rule that he passed down to all three of his daughters. Never buy something you can't pay for... He was a cash man. He only financed when it was to his advantage. It's ingrained in me.
So, us two tight SOB's are at a crossroads. We could sell our very middle class home in an absolutely fabulous location to upgrade and take on capital debt. Or we can stay where we are, upgrade the house a little more with a new mortgage, and stay here till at least Girly gets out of High School. Which I might mention, the current Catholic grade school that she attends is right up the street and the closest girls' Catholic High School is right next door to the grade school.
We're so torn. I don't want to take Girly from her neighborhood that has provided such stability over the years for both her and her adult brother. I HATE debt. It's just so ingrained in me that by the time you reach our age, (the 45-50ish range), life should be financially good. And it is. If it wasn't for the goddamn government.. (so sorry, it really goes against my grain to say to say the g-damn word.).
So we've achieved a small portion of the American Dream.. But my question is... Why do we have to pay for it?
posted by Teri at 2:39 PM
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