Comments on: Saving or Spending? What Do You With Windfalls?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:35:04 +0000

With our tax return, we paid off our trailblazer loan and stashed the rest in savings. Most of the remaining amount will be used to fund our upcoming adoption and a small portion will be used to fund our adventure race entry fees that we like to do in the summer. Jenny´s last blog post..~ Mercy Me 5K & Easter Egg Hunt ~

By: Tanja

Tanja — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:47:43 +0000

Mine will firstly fill up my basic emergency fund (500 euros), then I’ll split the rest between my debt and my new computer savings (old one breaking down, will last a few months longer though, so saving for it will fix that problem). I’ll get some more extra money that I’ll treat the same.
On top of that, the company I work for ‘sponsors’ new computers, so if I buy one, they’ll give me a certain amount back. I will make sure I have enough in savings to buy it myself, and the ‘refund’ will then either go into debt (if I still have it then, I expect not, it’s only a small debt now) or savings.
I have not yet decided if I want to spend 5% or 10% on ‘instant gratification’. I might.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:13:10 +0000

Sounds like most people will be saving their refunds! We get tax refunds in August in France, but I already know that we’ll be stashing ours away too.

And Nancy- good job saving for the dishwasher *before* you need to buy one!

By: Abigail

Abigail — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:04:45 +0000

I like the advice that strikes a balance: You get to spend 10% on something frivolous and throw the rest at savings/debt. This allows you to feel slightly indulged, but still be responsible. Abigail´s last blog post..Carnivals, now and later

By: marci357

marci357 — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:26:05 +0000

It’s big and it’s all going into savings.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:02:18 +0000

We put most of it into savings and take a tiny bit $30-40 each and buy a treat for ourselves. I'm using my bit of money to purchase some high quality stationary. Small luxury I will enjoy. My husband will probably go out an buy a vinyl record or two. Debbie´s last blog post..Back to Work I Go.

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:19:42 +0000

We filed back in February, and as like most years, we got a huge refund this year. And although our original plan had been to put it into savings to put toward the big vacation we were planning to take to Australia in the fall (it's close to us - we're in Japan)... instead we sat down and discussed NOT taking that vacation, liquidating our saved vacation funds, and paying down debt. And so we did. It was probably one of the most mature financial decisions we've ever made in the seven + years we've been married. Heather´s last blog post..Another Facebook Survey

By: neimanmarxist

neimanmarxist — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:00:00 +0000

our refund was big this year because we were married last year, and filed as a married couple- that meant we paid taxes as if single all year and got all that money back. That was nice. We paid of our last credit card with the big (federal) refund and are using the small (state) refund to go to some weddings this summer, a luxury we couldn’t afford. we wish we could save the money, but we feel it’s important to be there for our friends and want to be there to support them.

By: Kika

Kika — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:13:40 +0000

After tithing on it, it will be used to pay off our mini-van which we used our credit line to purchase.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:13:12 +0000

Our refund is minimal this year (less than $50) but it will be going into our fund to purchase a new dishwasher ~ a necessity in our home as our old one is barely limping along. Sound familiar? I remember your dishwasher purchase just recently. Nancy´s last blog post..Menu Plan Monday