Keeping our finger crossed...(long, sorry)

**Hoosier Momma** · 03-27-2008, 09:49 AM

As you know we have had a rough couple of years. In the beginning of '06, dh made the decision to change jobs so we could be closer to family in Indiana (we were in Oklahoma). We lived with the in-laws for 6 months and bought a house in 9/06. Money soon became tight with the higher cost of living and having a child in private school, and so I got a p/t job with Lowe's. In Feb of last year we discovered we were expecting baby #4 (SURPRISE!):surprise: A couple of months after that we found out that dh's plant was being shut down in the summer. So, after a few months of searching and turning up nothing in our area, we decided to take the job that was being offered by the company that bought out dh's plant, so for the second time in less than 18 months, we made the move back west.

So we sold the house in Indiana (we held it for exactly one year to the day) and bought a place here in Arkansas. With bonuses and reimbursed moving expenses, we thought we were going to be killed on taxes this year (we were praying just to break even or owe very little). We once again are barely scraping by and were beginning to wonder if we could afford to keep the kids in the Catholic school next year.

Yesterday at dinnertime our accountant calls us and dh speaks to her for a few minutes...comes into the kitchen and says that we are getting a refund. He says that there is a one in it--I am thinking 'oh we're getting a hundred and something back,' which is better than owing. He says that it is the first of five numbers! :surprise: Somehow we are getting back around $10k! We need to get ahold of the interest we paid on the house in Indiana, but she says it should work out to about the ten grand refund.

This will allow us to pay off the van (which wasn't supposed to be paid off until Oct), another $3000 debt, his student loan, and a couple of very minor credit card balances. That will leave us with the mortgage and my student loan (which has a very low interest rate), plus the utilities and tuition for the kids' school. We are talking at least $600 more/month in the bank

We are taking the $2400 we will get back from the tax stimulus rebate ($1200 for us and $1200 for our four kids) and putting it into a savings account as an emergency fund. Then we will take $100/month to start and put it aside for our home improvement fund (our house is almost 60 years old and needs a lot of cosmetic work).

Dh said that this will not change our spending habits (we'll keep the same budget for groceries and such), but it will give us some breathing room and give us the freedom to send our 3rd child to school in the fall of '09 (she's going to be in Kind. then).

For the first time in years, I feel like we are going to get ahead and not have the level of stress that has hung over us for so long.

**forHISglory** · 03-27-2008, 09:54 AM

I am so happy that you are getting some breathing room. Hope it all works out!

**mombottoo** · 03-27-2008, 09:54 AM

That is some really great news!!!! I hope your refund comes through as plan and you can realize your dreams!!!

**Megareader** · 03-27-2008, 09:58 AM

I am so happy for you!!

**bclements514** · 03-27-2008, 10:00 AM

I hope it all pans out. Sounds like you deserve it! Good luck

**MirandaK** · 03-27-2008, 10:02 AM

Oh that's so wonderful!! 'found' money is the best!!! Congrats!!

**IntlMom** · 03-27-2008, 10:07 AM

Wonderful................keep us posted on when it all works out!!

**frugalfoster** · 03-27-2008, 10:18 AM

That is the best refund story I have heard yet! Good for you!!!!

**Ceashels** · 03-27-2008, 10:19 AM

Congratulations! That is marvelous news.

**themartins903** · 03-27-2008, 10:30 AM

What a blessing!!! Sounds like you have your plans planned out very well. Sounds like it's been a rough few years and with this $$$$ coming in, just as the previous poster put it... (breathing room).

Sleeping better at night will be a treat!