$$
One of the good things about being poor is the fat check the government cuts you in tax return at the beginning of each year. That is, IF you file your withholdings correctly-- which I, erm, didn't for a few years and had to PAY before I went to Japan.

This year, I only worked on US soil since August and didn't rack up much of an over-the-table salary. So I get all my tax refunded: $173, cha-CHING! It's pocket change in the grand scheme of things, but combined with my REI gift card it'll buy me a chunk of the backbacking gear I've been coveting for the summer.