We got to se our tax guy yesterday. Since we do all the 'work' in pulling together our numbers, all we needed to do was to hand over the totals to him. For the past several years, we have gotten back from State enough to pay our Federal. Win-win- right? Well, we were pleasantly surprised to find that THIS year - we get a refund from Federal AND State! Grateful for the $12000 deduction for married people after the age of 65! That deduction is only for 3 years I think - but I'll take it! Not that we get THAT much back - we don't - but at least we don't have to pay anything! I'm sure hubby was calculating how we can divide the monies - in the past he gave me half and kept half. This year I turned the tables on him, since he is asking ME to come up with a place for us to go to in August. I 'suggested' he take what WE are receiving from state and federal - and apply it towards a nice place for us to go to in August. In other words, instead of ME paying for everything, WE can pay for it all. For some reason he didn't seem too thrilled with that thought. But I'm leaving it there. Besides, I need to get new tires for my car - after all, they are the original tires and it's a 2017 - so 8 years old - even though only 55k miles of wear. It's probably time.
I got some interesting news yesterday. I'm not to share it (at work) until after tomorrow. Now you know that Sue, my favorite boss, is retiring July 31st. It will be here before we know it. Yesterday, Brett asked if I had a few minutes to talk. I said 'sure'. It took about 10 minutes but he called me and we were on camera on Teams. It was an interesting conversation. Yes, he is resigning his position and going to another company. He's been with us for 3 years - and has been told promotions were coming - but, the company never followed through on their promises. He got this offer as 'National President' of this company - (has gotten several other offers from other companies he has dealt with as well) - and long story short - instead of giving the company a month or two in order to find a replacement - he is leaving in two weeks. April 3rd is his last day. For his position, I am disappointed for I feel more time should have been given, but that is not for me to say. So it looks like I will be getting TWO new bosses this year. Retirement is looking pretty good right now.
Speaking of - while we were at the tax guy's yesterday - I asked him that if I retired at the end of this year - I know it wouldn't really affect our tax filing next year (for 2026), but what would 2026 look like in filing in 2027. Since I'm already drawing on my 401K a small amount, and I won't change it, he figured it out briefly, removing my w-2 from my company - and said we wouldn't have any taxes to pay for there wouldn't be enough income after deductions to pay taxes on. I already have taxes taken out as I get a check from my 401K, so that covers any thing. On the way home hubby commented that "if you are still wanting to retire the end of this year, we need to sit down and go over expenses again". Ok, let's do that! We can learn to stretch things, if you know what I mean.
I grew up with nothing - well, let me put it this way. I always had what I NEEDED; I didn't always get what I WANTED. There is a difference. We have so much 'stuff' around here, there is nothing we need, seriously. I would have the time to 'learn' how to cook again from scratch - and it would probably be more healthy for us! I could take up my sewing again. Along with the crochet learning and knitting, of course. So many 'play' activities I could do! Maybe even attend or start a bible study during the day that I could actually be a part of! Yes, I would miss my 'play' money. One thing that I think of when I think of retiring is that now I can give God 10% and more of my gross amount of my check. Not bragging - there have been many years I could not do that because of debt. Most of that is gone. But my tithing would drop drastically. I wouldn't be able to give to others like I do now. And you know what? I think that is ok. The question will remain..... Will I be brave enough to retire? And of course I have the thinking that perhaps in January start looking for a part-time job to have spending money. Oh the 'thinking' I'm doing.... it's just hard to make a decision (for me) when I have to think about having a dependent to take care of. And I'll leave that there. I've always been the security blanket. Dare I snatch that security away?
Last night after the sun went down and the air became a little bit more cool, hubby and I sat outside on our patio set. It was kind of nice. It started getting warm so I got out the camping fan my brother had sent me for my birthday last year. At the time it confused me, as we don't 'camp'. Ever. Not that I didn't want to. But others didn't. Anyway - like my brother had told me, using this fan really cools down the air in the area that you are in. It was really nice and I had the fan oscillating and it really did cool down the area some. Think we may be sitting out more and more because of it.
We now have 5 eggs - or did have yesterday afternoon. I wonder if we will have any more come today. I heard that they usually end up laying 15+ eggs - interestingly, I guess I thought they'd lay them all the same time - I guess not! It has been one a day. I did buy a camera and it will be here on Saturday. I told my youngest he will be needed to put it up for me. We be on 'Quail Watch' and I'm having so much fun with it! I hope we can get a video of the eggs hatching - wouldn't that be cool to show the great-grandchildren?
Well - I meant to write this on my work computer but with all the news I wanted to share I guess I just jumped in. But I do need to get off here and turn on the work computer. Landscapers are out front making a lot of noise. My daughter gave me (hubby was upset they didn't give to 'us') for Christmas a leaf blower - and I've learned to use it. But they have butchered our trees out front so don't have the leaves like we did. Just in the back. I have used the leaf blower - and hope to get a few more things done out front. But - I do have a conference all day on Saturday so nothing will get done then. Wonder what hubby will do while I'm gone.
Ok - off here - have a day that you can write about!
Blessings!
