Day 17 of 30

I just paid some $650 to get my taxes sorted. What’s irking me most about this is that about $35 of that went to service fees to file and pay my taxes. Thing is, I don’t understand the tax system well enough to make trying to skirt those fees feasible. In the end, the $35 was worth it.

I’m all in favour of social benefits made possible through tax dollars. I think that a lot of good can come from the money we pay in taxes. I have a friend who takes her baby girl to free swimming classes. There are several public parks within walking distance from my place. Cultural activities are constantly taking place close by. Hospitals and medical staff are available to me should I ever need them. I work for a public institution that I’m fully in support of, despite its faults.

But, I don’t take full advantage of the tax dollars that I pay. I use the swimming pool in the building that I live in. Sitting in the park means getting up from my couch. I’m not enough in the know, so I end up hearing about most events after they’ve happened. I’m scared of clinics and hospitals. I do go to work, though.

The worst part about paying my taxes was that awful feeling that came with it: I could be better about financial management. I knew I’d have to pay taxes this year. At the beginning of last year, I was putting aside a little bit of money with each pay cheque in anticipation. I spent it.

I don’t make a lot of money, and I never really will. If things continue to go the way they have been, I should be comfortable going forward. And, it’s not all about the money, but it does matter how I manage it. I don’t like looking through my accounts and seeing small savings that would’ve added up to what I had to pay in taxes.

I enjoyed it all, though. It was worth it. I’m still pissed off about the 35 bucks. I better make lunch for tomorrow.


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