We have one dependent child. We received 1,200 to my account, and 1,800 to DH account already. We began maintaining separate accounts when he was deployed to Iraq, and it was too difficult, since out only contact was letters and a weekly phone call (no international cell service for service members at the time). It was just easier, after several mix-ups and bounced checks. We continued this when he got back, but was still in the reserve, doing weekends, summer camps, and getting called for a lot of “OIF readiness” special training outside of his “1-weekend/2 weeks” commitment. Plus he was subject to recall.
Fast forward two years, and it just seemed easier to keep it that way. We have certain bills he pays, certain ones I pay, and we alternate paying the rent. Big one that are one time things, we split, like the boychik’s dental bills. We pay our own doctor/dental bills. When we need to buy something big, we split it. When we need to go shopping, whoever is blacker takes care of it. We each take care of our own car registration, insurance, etc. We always help one another out, if one needs money and the other one has it. He makes more at his job than I do, but I inherited some money, and make money in investments, so it pretty much even out. We have two savings accounts, one in both our names, and one a custodial account for our son. We recently let out son open his own account, as he is allowed to when he turns 13. We both put equal amounts into all the accounts. The one in our name is the emergency account, the one if the boychik’s name is his college/future account. His own account is for saving for things he wants, and basically teaching him to manage money. We match by 50% anything he deposits each month he doesn’t withdraw-- that is, if he deposits $50, and does not make a withdrawal, we deposit $25.
Anyway, the extra $1,200 went into my own debit account (I hesitate to call it a checking account, because I have not written a check since about 2003). This is the account my half of the tax return went into last year, and the account the last check, and this year’s return go into.
I contacted the IRS by email (couldn’t get them, by phone). Waiting a reply. Am not sending money back until I confirm it is an error. If they are not expecting it, I don’t know what can happen. I don’t want them to process that there was an error, but lose track of the money order, and charge me for the $1,200 AGAIN. Also, I resent paying for the money order (no checks, remember?) when it’s their screw up.
