The $1395 Style Splurge: Spending half this year’s average Tax Refund
The average refund this year is $2,790. That’s a lot of money. Most of us aren’t getting back anywhere near that, but for farts and snickers, let’s cut half off this year’s average and hypothetically splurge the rest. Because really, what’s the fun in hypothetical splurging if you can’t do it responsibly? Who wants to live with all the hypothetical guilt and worry? Here’s some suggestions on how to burn off that just-under $1400 Uncle Sam sent back your way. Hypothetically.
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Tissot Cushion Case Automatic – $525.00
All class. As mentioned over here, it’s got a bit of that Gatsby thing going for it, but it’s still modern. 40mm in diameter that seems to hit the sweet spot for most average size wrists. The case shape is unique, Tissot is a solid make, and this is a watch that seems to have perfected the “stand out quietly” thing. As of post time, fulfilled by Amazon. So they handle the shipping plus returns in case it shows up and seems wonky. Price seems to fluctuate from the mid $400s to the low $500s. ($870 left)
Woodford Reserve Four Wood – $100.00
There’s been some mixed reviews out there on this one, but Esquire seems to approve. Finished in sherry, port, and maple wood barrels after aging in the standard oak. It’s a bigger, richer version of Woodford. And that comes at a price. Nothing says “I gave Uncle Sam a fat 0% interest loan!” quite like a bottle of expensive booze. Throw a Kentucky Derby Party (they’re the official Bourbon of the race). The winner of your pool gets a snort of this along with the cash. ($770 left)
J. Crew Ludlow Suit in Indigo Irish Linen – $456.00
Y’know what no one needs? Other than a $500 watch and a $100 bottle of bourbon? A dark linen suit. Seems contradictory to it’s keep-it-cool purpose. And that makes it a perfect candidate for a splurge. Good gracious this thing is fantastic. Picked it up at the end of the summer last year during a 30% off $150+ sale, and it was already marked down in the sale section. Construction is fantastic. It breathes extremely well, and while it wrinkles, the shadows caused by the wrinkles show less on the not quite dark navy indigo-blue fabric. In short, it’s spectacular, and the jacket goes extremely well with jeans. ($314 left)
Bonobos Straight Leg Travel Jeans in Grey – $98.00
A pair of medium to light grey 5-pockets can pull a lot of duty when you don’t want to wear jeans… but you’re addicted to jeans. Made in the USA from Cone Denim. 99% cotton with a little bit of stretch. Always waiting for these things to go on sale, but they never seem to. So, tax-refund splurge it is. ($216 left)
Cole Haan Air Madison Single Monk in British Tan – $173.60 ($248)
30% off, ships and returns free through Nordstrom, and a dynamite light but not pale brown. Still a little on the pricey side for CH, but they look like they have major potential for chinos, and maybe that linen suit tieless. ($42.40 left)
Chester Mox 101 Slim Vertical Dogleg Wallet in Italian Oxblood – $39.00
Horween leather, simple design, and the natural colored thread jumps off the Oxblood shade. Slim, holds just what you need, and it’s easy in easy out no matter what pocket you’re keeping it in. ($3.40 left)
Q. Tonic Water – $2.41
That’s a lot for a little bottle of tonic, but it really is a big step above the syrupy, high-fructose corn syrup standards. Much less sugar, much more herbal flavors. Can cost between $1.99 – $2.50 in some speciality food stores. Let’s just call it $2.41 for the sake of mathematical convenience. ($0.99 left)
“I got ants in my pants (and I want to dance)” – James Brown – $.99
Seven minutes and twenty six seconds of the Godfather of Soul jamming auditory insects into your trousers causing you to bust a move. Or at the very least, bob your head to the beat while plugged into your lap top. ($0.00 left)
Okay fellas… how’d it shake down for you this year? You getting a little back? Hit it on the head and you’re even with Uncle Sam? Getting a big fat refund and have plans for it? Leave it all in the comments below.
Q tonic is a huge step up from supermarket brands– also give Fever Tree tonic a try– it has a really fresh flavor and is good even on its own without a mixer.
I’m coveting that linen suit! Saddly, no refund for me. I owed the feds more than the cost of that suit.
I didn’t get a federal refund, so… am I subsidizing this MADNESS?!?!
Nah, you just didn’t give the feds an interest-free loan like the rest of us.
This is the first year I’m getting a real (non-summer-job) paycheck, and also the first year I’m doing my own taxes, so let’s just say I got a pleasant surprise at the end (thanks, tuition tax credits!). I feel like spending half of it straight away would be somewhat foolish, but not nearly as foolish as having all this free guv’mint money and spending none of it. That said, I already spent some of it (not technically, but whatever) on relatively cheap motivation to work out for summer: http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/swim/seveninchboardshorts/PRDOVR~82655/82655.jsp
I can buy a bottle of tonic with my $3 refund. Awesome!
As an owner of those Bonobos (rather last season’s version), I can confirm that they’re fucking money.
The current version is 99% demin and 1% spandex. The older model was 2% spandex. The new stuff was just too rigid after i tried the older model at a Guideshop. Went to ebay for their older model washed olive travel jeans. Couldn’t be happier.
I just thought I’d throw it out there that Amazon is not the best place to be buying watches especially since they are not authorized retailers for many of the Swiss watches. The serial numbers are usually scratched off so you cannot take them to authorized repair shops. Also, since this is Dappered, you can usually get a better deal from some authorized dealers if you ask around. They can do 30% off the MSRP which would come to $470 + S/H. So that would be around $490. I got myself a Tissot Le Locle way cheaper than on Amazon through a dealer. These dealers are not allowed to advertise these prices by the manufacturers. So, if you call/email some, you could actually save some money.
Maybe someone can explain to me what its like to get this thing you call a “tax refund”? Even mother nature is crying on tax day in Salt Lake, nothing but snow and rain here.
I wouldn’t count on the student loans being forgiven.
I paid $3,200 to the IRS, but had budgeted $5,000, so technically, I have $400 to play with after making these purchases.
This is spot on… hypothetically speaking
I owed about $150. Wah-wah.
I got my federal return back in January when they first started giving them out. I payed off my credit card and spent most of the rest on my move to a new city. I just payed my state return yesterday. I had to pay a someone, to pay the government money. Ridiculous.
That’s dissapointing to hear, because I have 2 pairs of the older 2% model and wouldn’t mind picking up the grey. The travel jeans are fantastic.
brooks brother has $198 watches on sale for $69 at factory stores. i got this beast for $53 w/coupon. i think it is one of the bb/seiko collaborations.
Tissot Cushion Case Automatic – $525.00- these are all over ebay. mad men era watches. omegas and all kinds of goods. search “tissot 60s”
I prefer Liber & Co. Over Q. Tonic. Nothing like true artisanal taste!
Ugghhh…. 12 years paying them back at 8.125%. I have paid back more than their face value already, but the laws allow me to do nothing to refinance them lower.
By tax refund you mean that the state gives you money BACK? My, that’s new
Just keep in mind that if you are refunded money you previously paid in “too much taxes”, don’t spend it like it’s free money. It isn’t. You worked hard for it and it’s yours. It was just taken and given back
Wow I wish I had that Irish Linen suit
You know that Intuit and H&R Block spend millions of dollars to prevent the government from automating the tax system? In fact the IRS already has a system in place that they would just mail you what they think they owe you/ you own them and you would just go online an make any needed corrections, but the major tax software vendors have blocked this. It wouldn’t help me as I own a company, but for all my W2s it would save them 100s of dollars each year.
I would have just filled out the state forms by hand but I waited too long. Fortunately the state I live in now does not have state income tax.