Question

For those that got tax returns. What would your old self have done with your return? I’d like you all to acknowledge your progress  

Answer 1

I always ended up at the mall or something. Impulse purchases that if I were to guess- I own maybe 5% of anything I ever bought. This year we paid off a small debt, bought new headlights that we’ve been needing for our older vehicle and the rest is currently sitting in savings until I decide which debt to throw it at.  

Answer 2

Old me would have probably bought unnecessary accesories for my car, built a new rabbit cage, or maybe even bought a new laptop (despite mine being perfectly fine ) My family and friends have all noticed how much my spending habits have changed and were pleasantly surprised to see that I put my return towards paying off debt!  

Answer 3

Updates on the house. Not the worst thing you could do but I would do stuff just to have the new look not when things were failing.  

Answer 4

Spend on frivolous things. Instead I was able to caught back up on all my bills

Answer 5

Spend it. Unimportant things

Answer 6

Past years- A week at Disney World. This year- Going toward the down payment on house.  

Answer 7

I would have literally blown it. I’m not going to lie I did buy myself a gun for the house and my husband got a fuel tank for his truck since he travels for a living. But we paid off 3 loans, 4 credit cards, and got caught up on our bills. We don’t have anything due until the end of March. I’m so proud of the progress we’ve made.  

Comments

@appetitive way to go!  

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@discordant thanks love!  

Answer 8

2009 me- pay my bills I was behind on, and pay 3 months in advance. Stock up on clothes and diapers for my kiddo. (Was a single mom) 2014 me- buy furniture that we no longer have. Bought a laptop for school, had nothing left. 2020 me- pay off the smallest card with insane interest, put the rest in savings. Our other card is no interest till middle of 2021, so we will just keep making payments. Hoping to have our savings looking beastly by Dec 2020. Now if itll just show up. ‍♀️

Answer 9

We’ve always used some of it to purchase something we’ve been really wanting (like we built a computer with it one year) and then put the rest in savings.  

Answer 10

The last few years I’ve gotten very small returns and spent them, this year between state & federal I got $2500; I put $500 in savings and I’m putting $2, 000 straight to my student loan debt. I just adjusted my taxes for this year so that I only get a very small return next year

Answer 11

I haven’t had a return in about 3 years. BUT I would have taken my kids to Disneyland probably. If I get one next year it’ll go towards a savings account or home renovation

Answer 12

To purchase wants and not needs. We just got ours yesterday & we paid off the remaining balance on our daughters braces! It’s practically all gone, but felt sooooo good to see that balance taken care of! ❤️

Answer 13

Paid off student loans. . That hasn’t changed  

Answer 14

I would have just paid bills, and maybe bought some fabric as I’m a quilter. Now I pay bills and put the rest in savings.  

Answer 15

I would have paid some bills but also treated myself. This year I used the entire things on bills. Progress!  

Answer 16

Old self - replenish savings, use on house remodel, or replace a vehicle if needed New self - add to savings, use on house addition, or replace a vehicle if needed. We are replacing my husband’s 1997 truck and using any extra on our home addition.  

Answer 17

I would have paid down debt. I want it gone

Answer 18

My old self would have put a little towards bills and used most of it for things I wanted/needed. This time, I put the majority towards debt and only kept a small portion myself (or rather, for my kids)

Answer 19

Previously we’ve used it for vacations. Last year we used it to redo our crumbling front steps. This year it is being saved for baby number 2s arrival and to offset daycare costs for 2 children.  

Answer 20

I think I’ve always done pretty good with mine. Year before last I used it to remodel our kitchen! Last year we saved a good chunk to go to Mexico (my husbands parents live there) but I don’t know what we did with the rest of it.  

Comments

@latoyia4982 it’s beautiful! And you can see your money!  

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@tragedian13792 yeah I don’t regret it at all! It’s all ikea mostly and we did all the work ourselves so we didn’t spend too much considering.  

Answer 21

Caught up on all my past bills, splurged a little, put some aside in a savings only to spend it all carelessly by June.  

Answer 22

My old self would have put it towards credit card debt. then kept using my credit card ‍♀️‍♀️‍♀️ This year is different! Going to FINALLY pay off debt and keep it that way  

Answer 23

I use to move every year and it paid for my movers cleaners and deposits. I’m old now and hate moving so now it pays bills and sometimes there is extra for fun new furniture or savings. this year it’s all bills/debt pay down

Answer 24

Spent it! On wants mostly. This year it went 100% to debt.  

Answer 25

We’ve always done good things with our returns! Getting back on track, paying off debt, etc. I never blew my tax return on stuff.  

Answer 26

Saved it. Finally got husband on board though so it's the first year for that!  

Answer 27

My old self would have actually got a tax return, my new self owes.  

Answer 28

By the time I asked myself, where is my tax refund, it would be gone. That’s so sad. Not even knowing on what I spent it on.  

Answer 29

Whatever I wanted ‍♀️ I feel slightly guilty this year. we are paying off 2 major debts $1000/per month back in our pockets. My husband is getting a new grill & Im gets faucet for the kitchen-wish we could do more but it’s a lot better than we’ve done in previous years

Answer 30

Paid past due bills, upgraded phones, bought some clothes, say I’m going to put money in savings and then eat through it in the next month for no reason and wonder where it went. Instead we beefed up our EF, set aside money for vehicle maintenance, paid off debt, and put aside $150 for actually needed clothing items.  

Answer 31

Who knows where it used to go! This year I have a plan. 1/10th to church, 1/3 in the emergency fund, 1/3 to pay for us to get wills made, and the rest in checking to pad some of my funds. Yay for budgeting!  

Answer 32

Love this post. I honestly don't remember because last year I owed money due to student grants I received for college - though I do know I would put a chunk in savings, it otherwise didn't go somewhere helpful. This year I'm getting back almost 3k and will be able to pay off one of our last credit cards which is massive for us. :>

Answer 33

I would blow it on the most unnecessary things. And eat out basically every night‍♀️

Comments

Same same!  

Answer 34

We used to take a little to reward ourselves for things like a few new clothing items or a small amount to a vacation. But we now put it all to a bill

Answer 35

Old me would have got tattooos. new me completed baby step 1 and paid off a couple credit cards

Answer 36

Until all the moneys gone and then cry about it later  

Answer 37

By tires

Answer 38

Vacation or paid off debt (to rack it right back up)

Answer 39

Would have gone on a shopping spree and a vacation, now I'm using it to pay my cc And student loan

Answer 40

I'm actually paying off my credit cards. Old me would have spent it on who knows what

Answer 41

I used it every single year to payoff my credit card. Spent the next year charging it up just to pay it off with the next years return. This year, I paid off my credit card but I have not charged anything to that card since December 31st!  

Answer 42

Last year I spent it all on baby stuff for my daughter! This year (pregnant again) and it ALL went to debt!  

Comments

@hid1114 J Myers we are doing a large chunk for my maternity leave savings/hospital bill since I don’t have paid time off Vipkid. I set a side a few hundred for baby items we need. the rest is debt!  

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@morey22969  whoo! I’m slowing starting my sinking fund for Everett! Thank goodness it’s my 2nd and I don’t need too much.  

Answer 43

I would’ve vacationed!  

Answer 44

Shopping for the kiddos. Plan a trip. Down payment on a car. We didn’t get much of a return this year, but the little we’re getting is going toward our down payment on a home