Posted on 02/25/2017 4:52:28 PM PST by TaxPayer2000
When Christina Knaack received a $5,600 tax refund, she didn't head to the mall or book a trip to the Caribbean. The South Carolina-based single mom of two kids used it to pay her rent … for the entire year.
"Instead of buying my kids the latest Jordans or fancy electronics I paid my rent for the YEAR," Knaack writes on Facebook. "I'm a single mom and I do it all by myself on a minimum wage job. I know that a roof over my kids head is what's important."
Since Knaack uploaded the picture of her rent receipt on Feb. 22, the post has gone viral and racked up more than 320,000 Facebook "reactions."
"You see too many posts now saying, 'Oh I got my kid the latest Jordans.' Or, "Look, my 7-year-old has an iPhone 7,'" Knaack says on FOX Carolina. "People lose sight of what's important."
Now that Knaack's rent is covered, "I don't have to worry about my kids saying, 'Mommy, I need this,' and I can't get it because I'm still trying to debate if I can pay my light bill or if I can pay my rent," she tells FOX.
Plus, she now has an extra $450 a month (the cost of her rent), which she plans to spend on fun activities with her kids.
If you're one of the millions expecting a tax refund this year, consider using it to improve your financial situation, whether that means chipping away at your rent or mortgage like Knaack, funding your retirement accounts or investing in your career.
"I got back $5600 on my taxes. Instead of buying my kids the latest Jordans or fancy electronics I paid my rent for the YEAR. I'm a single mom and I do it all buy myself on a minimum wage job. I kno that a roof over my kids head is what's important. My kids don't want for anything because my priorities are straight. And this also means I will have that extra 450 a month to do things with my kids."
Must be nice to get a refund. For some reason, I always have to write a check. Oh well at least she didn’t blow it on junk.
[And this also means I will have that extra 450 a month to do things with my kids.]
Try to save some of that too.
Good for her
ML/NJ
Good Mom, I’m glad she got her act together.
She had too much withheld from her salary? I doubt it. This was not a “refund” most likely. This was one of those “tax credits.” Good for this mom, but for millions of folks, these tax “credits” are just another form of the “gimme dat alliance.”
If she’s working for minimum wage, she didn’t “get back” $5600.
She “got” tax credits far and above whatever she paid in.
Yeah, the math doesn’t really make sense. If this is a legitimate story she’s having way too much withheld.....like $5400 too much,
How does one get a 5400 dollar refund while working at a minimum wage job?
Earned income Credit, that my tax payment pays for.
Earned income credit? Child care credit?
Minimum wage in SC equates to about $15,000 per year. She likely is a waitress and declares tips to boost her income. With three deductions and an earned income tax credit, she may have just used money from 'we the people' to cover her rent.
None the less it was a smart move and legal.
obviously you do not know how to claim on state and federal in order to be at point zero or to get a dollar bill back....nice guys finish last....do you realize the majority of our politicians are getting refunds?...think about it for a second?
Minimum wage in SC equates to about $15,000 per year. She likely is a waitress and declares tips to boost her income. With three deductions and an earned income tax credit, she may have just used money from 'we the people' to cover her rent.
None the less it was a smart move and legal.
I think you’re right....credits, not a refund.
child tax credit and EIC.
Why is this even news?
Does CNBC assume everyone wastes their money on frivolities instead of necessities?
Or is it that they expect that only of low-income people?
I think a lot of low wage earners with kid(s) get such large “refund” checks. It’s due to “refundable” tax credits which can result in large refunds for “taxes” which were never actually withheld.
These refundable credits can be really abused...especially by illegal aliens with no SSNs and “imaginary” dependent children.
Agree 100%.
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