We had just moved into our pre-used new home when one night, after collapsing in bed following a marathon day of remodeling, I met one of our unwelcome guests.
When a bat wakes you, the first thing you notice is a creepy sensation that you are not alone. Your heart races, its beating drumming in your ears. Sweating is not far behind.
That year was busy – stressful enough as it was – but the flying mice were the last straw in my moving experience, the thing that made me say, loudly enough for my new neighbors to hear, “This is too much! I am never moving again!”
In reading a variety of articles detailing how money is often a source of stress for couples, I wondered how frequently the tax season is the ‘last straw’ in a marriage.
Good news, though spouses might find that they are at each others throats about where that needed receipt is at, tax season is not prime time for divorce. Though studies have shown that arguments over finances are a strong predictor for divorce, the most common month for people to separate is January.
Why January? The holidays push people over the edge. Or they might decide that they can’t stand each other another year. Some people actually wait until the year ends, so that they can file taxes jointly one last time.
So, if you’re filing your taxes at the last minute, relax, take a deep breath, read up and/or visit an accountant, consider tracking your finances in the coming year, and smile at the one you love.
You made it through the holidays, and you’ll get your taxes done as well.