Well, I finally did it. My own taxes.
Usually, I’d go to a preparer and spend $175, but this time I used Tax Act software–for a total of $34.
Well, what did I think? I was very nervous, but it went OK. I was really obsessed with doing it right, which was probably healthy.
And yes, I’ll probably do it again.
Does anyone else do his or her own taxes? What were your experiences?
Last week, in our newspaper, a Sam’s Club one-day pass came out at us. Our adventure began in the parking lot, where a double shopping car make schelpping my two preschoolers around easier.
At the door an unsmiling greeter, seeing my one-day pass, directed me to a womanned table, where a friendly woman asked me questions about my monthly budget. Using a computer, she said that I would save $55 to $791. Pretty exact, huh?
She sent me to the customer service desk. Neither of the women at the customer service smiled, said hello, or showed any pleasantness. When I asked if I could purchase gas (a few cents cheaper than the local station) today, one of the unsmilers told me I could if I purchased a membership. I declined, explaining that I live eight miles away.
She grabbed a list, obstensively of other Sam’s Clubs, but didn’t do anything with it or mention it again.
Again, the other workers at Sam’s Club seemed to be penalized for smiling. The few that I saw seemed surly and put upon.
I wasn’t going let a little surliness ruin our day. My kids enjoyed the wide variety of samples from the smiling samplers (note they don’t work for Sam’s Club, so they can smile).
The selection is poor.
The prices: eh… A 60 ounce coffee creamer was $5.47. At the dollar store, I can buy 60 ounces of creamer for $5.
Skinless, boneless chicken breasts were selling for $1.99. The butcher shop across the street where I live routinely sells it for $1.39.
An eight-pack of Del Monte canned vegetables was $6.80, or about .80 per can. The local Aldi, two miles from me, canned vegetables are .49.
A Miracle-Gro potting mix for 55 quarts was more than $11. I have no idea if that were a good price or not because there were no others with which to compare it.
Since I just bought a digital camera, I was curious to see what Sam’s Club had. Sam’s Club offered about five models, far fewer than even Target offers (about 20). I would feel reluctant spending a large sum of money without much comparison.
While at the camera section, I noticed the prices on printing digital prints: 13 cents. Walgreens usually runs a special for .10 per.
On the way out, we made our only purchase, an ice cream sundae, from another unsmiling worker.
Is Sam’s Club worth it? Maybe for some:
So is Sam’s Club worth it for me? In short: NO.
Today I took my daughter to the monthly free event at Evanswood Church of God. For two hours, kids listen to Bible stories, eat cookies and have fun.
It’s held the first Saturday of each month. Here’s the church’s website:www.evanswoodchurchofgod.org
Did I mention this is free and open to all kids?
