Last night, I filed both my state and federal tax returns. In the three years that I’ve done my own taxes (since I moved out of my parents house and they completed my tax form for me), I have never been done this early. In fact, I remember one year filing the returns electronically at 5 p.m. April 15 – the absolute last moment allowed.

I do not like doing my taxes. I use a program on my computer called TurboTax because my income is minimal and my deductions are equally small. It’s an easy process, really, but I still can’t stand it. What I do enjoy, though, is the end result.

Minnesota accepted my tax forms today, so I should see my tax return sometime in the near future. And last year, my federal return was deposited in my bank account less than a week after my forms were accepted. Unfortunately, I have that money earmarked for some not-so exciting costs – from car payments to utility bills.

All told, I can’t believe I’m done this early in the process. But I also can’t believe how much of the money I’ve already spent, so to speak.