Just call me Major Jones

[David Thorpe]

Tax refund hit the checking account this morning. I went just a wee bit nuts clearing out my wish list...

MacNaughten (wife's clan) Muted semi-trad to the stripe, flashes and a sash for milady from Rocky at USA Kilts;
(2) "safari shirts" from Cabelas - tan and light blue;
Fawn Balmoral from Chris at Dunadd;
Navy and grey pipe band style kilt hose from J. Higgins.

Ordered earlier but not yet arrived:

Dunlop Ancient tank (Bonnie is working on it);
Lindsay Hunting Ancient Batley 16 oz. tartan and Lovat blue Lochcarron hose from Heritage of Scotland;
Canadian Navy PV tartan;
Victorian regimental replica sgian dubh;
Pewter thistle medallion for an antler crown sgian dubh.

Oh, and a new Dunhill-Parker quarter-bent Dublin pipe.

Also waiting on (6) sgian dubh blades and some antler crowns from a friend in Texas.

Fortunately I still have work to do on my second jacket conversion project - the ubiquitous black wool suit jacket is quickly becoming an Argyll, with the no-longer-needed trousers donating the cuffs, pocket patches and shoulder straps.

This would be a good point to express my gratitude to the Flaming Haired lady for her invaluable tutorial on jacket conversion. I have found it very helpful indeed.

The Jones goes on...

[English Bloke]

Nice haul... That must have been quite a hefty rebate.

[Pleater]

Here in the UK when running small businesses, we get bills each year, not rebates.

The only moment of possible elation is opening the dreaded brown envelope and finding that the bottom line is lower than it might have been.

The usual reaction to a rebate in the US seems to be 'Yipee - how fast can I spend this?' Which must have an effect on the economy.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[dea3369]

Wow. You have that many items on your wish list? Good to hear that you managed to address most of them.

The usual reaction to a rebate in the US seems to be 'Yipee - how fast can I spend this?' Which must have an effect on the economy.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Yes, it does, and the vendors know only too well how to divorce people from their rebate checks.

[mookien]

David: You're feeding your addiction and stimulating the economy at the same time. Good man! Can't wait to see the pictures.

John

[Pleater]

The tax systems could explain a lot about the different attituded to kilt buying between the US and UK - where there is a flurry of annual rebates each Spring then the acquisition of some item of kilt associated attire would seem to be perfectly in order, but the dread of the HMRC brown envelope does, I think, promote the attitude of needing to have 'a bit put by' just in case of need - so making a significant purchase less likely.

Perhaps we should have a 'Tax Rebate' section - with photos of all the results of rebates emerging into the Spring sunshine on their first outings thanks to the Inland Revenue.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[David Thorpe]

That could be a factor. I think part of it could be people gearing up for the summer Highland Games season.
In my case, it's been planned for months. I built a spreadsheet with all the items I researched and chose.

[flyingshamrock]

Wow that is quit a shopping list. Congratulations on the refund.

The usual reaction to a rebate in the US seems to be 'Yipee - how fast can I spend this?' Which must have an effect on the economy.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

I dread doing my taxes every year because of what I end up owing. I guess I'm one of those lucky americans that helps contribute to our wonderful government!

[David Thorpe]

I guess I'm one of those lucky americans that helps contribute to our wonderful government!

Oh, I contribute as well - more than I have to on a monthly basis, which means I get some of it back once a year.

[unixken]

I over-withhold a bit on my tax withholding each pay period, so as to avoid any surprises when I file my tax forms. I've had years where the payroll department screws something up, and I've had years where the state or local tax rates go up but payroll does not correct the percentage of deduction, and I'd ended up owing on my taxes. But for the last 15 or 20 years I've been setting my witholdings for single, no dependents, "plus $20". So I have the maximum rate and then some, witheld from each check. Then at tax filing time, I get it all back. I don't miss the extra $20 each week, and assuming no surprises at filing time, it adds an extra thousand or so, to my refund. That's the money I set aside for the duties I'm expecting to pay on my recent big purchase. So "Uncle Sam" (the government) will get the money either way. :/