We usually looked forward to tax time. This was a time where, if we were lucky, we might get a few hundred dollars back ($200-$300 or so). I think the largest amount we ever received back was under $800. This was with three children as dependents.

We are now in our fifties and tax time is no longer something we look forward to. The kids are raised and on their own, so we have no dependents to claim. It is rather a dread to see the W-2 forms arrive and the upcoming April 15th tax deadline.

For a great majority of families today, tax time is almost like looking forward to Christmas. Many families receive $2,000, $3,000 and some much more than that. It's great for them, and I am happy they get this chance to catch up on bills or take a vacation or whatever they choose to spend it on. But couples around our age who have finished raising their families are in a bad spot. Many of us don't have enough deductions to break even at tax time. Not only have we paid out enormous taxes throughout the year, but now we must pay even more! Many middle age, middle-class people of today are enduring extremely hard times. I always believed that by the time I reached my 50s we'd have a lot of savings and be headed toward our retirement years. I know that my husband and I personally, as well as most couples our age we know, are so strapped for money to just get by that saving anything extra for "the Golden Years" is almost impossible. Thankfully we do have 401Ks, but they don't help with the day-to-day financial situations.

In "my day" of raising the kids, gas for the car was no big deal, insurance was just a small deduction from our paychecks, electric bills may be high, but were certainly manageable. In today's world, the cost of gas takes a huge chunk out of our paychecks (especially for those of us who have to drive several miles to work), most of a week's pay may go to pay the electric bill (or gas bill), and many people can't begin to afford insurance!

I don't know what will come in the next few years, especially after the election this year, but I sure hope some relief is found for us all so we can all be financially stable and save for "the Golden Years.