3 posts tagged “money”

I got my rebate check from the IRS last week.

And, like most consumerist Americans, I spent nearly all of it. Over the weekend, in just a couple of days. The news tonight featured a story about travel deals people can take for under $600. Thbbbbbbpppptttt. Travel is my most favorite thing in this world to do. Right now, only in my dreams.

I didn't buy one single extravagant thing. Only stuff I really need that I've been holding back on because I couldn't afford it. The only thing close to extravagant is the $25 face cream from Burt's Bees--but I refuse to show my age too soon so it was a necessity. Unfortunately it gets expensive buying products without synthetic preservatives. I've slowly been cutting out the phthalates and parabens and other nasty petroleum-based products known to be carcinogens, endocrine inhibitors, and reproductive disruptors. I also bought a 12 pk of my favorite IPA, some whole foods, household goods, and got a haircut. It doesn't take long to blow through $600, but it's a small price to pay for good quality food and products.

Geez, that sounds just ridiculous. $600, by normal standards just one year ago, was no small price to pay for any of the things I just mentioned above.

I wish I could have put the money in a savings account instead. Or it would have been really cool to buy a nice camera to replace the one that was stolen 2 months ago. C'est la vie.

In case you didn't know, this "rebate" is actually an advance on next year's rebate. Read more about how it will affect next year's taxes here.

Enjoy.

CNN gave readers a chance to contribute their personal stories about their current financial situations. Varying opinions and lots of economic woes. Most of these stories are moving.