this post was submitted on 14 Apr 2026

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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:

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You can make people happier by taking a small amount from their wallet weekly and then later "gifting" them all the money you took from them... that's what a tax refund is... (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world

19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

My mom got so mad at the "WHY DO I OWE $1800 ON TAXES? CHECK IT AGAIN FOR ANY MISTAKES 😡"

🤣

Okay mom, just lose $36 every week throughout the year and you'd get a $70 refund lmfao, would you be happier that way?

🤣

top 19 comments

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[–] Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip 27 points 1 week ago (2 children)

This is true for so many things.

Free shipping? That business didn't somehow solve labor and fuel costs - they're just buried in the price of the products (and why they want you to spend a minimum)

No difference in price between card and cash? It's because the 2% Visa fee is baked into the price. But hey, the price is the same and you get 1% back in "points" so definitely best to keep using the card. Very classic prisoners dilemma.

"Free checked bag" on your flight? Guess what...

Ive also noticed this with new EV buyers who are shit at budgeting. "Why is my electricity bill $300!?!?" Well sweety you were spending $60/wk on gas +$120/mo on electricity beforehand, but that was several smaller bills soooo...

People are just really bad at processing long-term information.

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (2 children)

What I'm getting from your post is people are happy when they don't need to do math.

[–] Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Also people are bad at budgeting (which is kinda math, but really just self restraint). OPs mom is probably upset about the tax bill because that extra cash in her bank account encouraged her to spend more. If it was paid slowly and never seen it would have been harder for her to justify some level of spending.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 3 points 1 week ago

Broadcasting fees in Germany can only be deducted quarterly. I hate that. Take that money at the same rate as I get money or I will get confused. That's why I set up automatic monthly payment. And they send a quarterly letter reminding me that I owe them a monthly payment.

This quarter they sent a letter informing me that they'd stop sending the quarterly letter and that they have a third of a payment too much in my account. And that I should create automatic payments.

I'm looking forward to their next letter.

[–] GreyEyedGhost@piefed.ca 1 points 1 week ago

Not just math, but thinking in general.

[–] Brkdncr@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Free shipping is just the “out the door” price. It makes it easier to understand the total cost.

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 22 points 1 week ago (3 children)

You know what does make people happier? Not having dead kids. Taxation pays for healthcare for everyone and we all benefit.

Unless of course you live in the US, where taxes are actually, literally, used to kill children.

The problem isn't taxes. Taxes are great. The problem is oligarchs and corruption.

[–] Reyali@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago

I’m not sure OP is complaining about taxes themselves, just the way people react to a refund.

The refund means someone overpaid all year and could have had that money throughout the year. And yet many people get excited about a refund as if they’re getting a gift rather than, well, a refund of what they already paid.

In OP’s mother’s case, she was disappointed that she owed more. If she’d managed her withholdings differently, she could have avoided owing and, despite paying the exact same in the end, would probably have been more satisfied with her tax outcome.

And yeah, US here. I wish my tax money was going to better causes. I genuinely want my money to go to improving my community (schools, healthcare, social services). And some does, but even more goes to horrible things.

[–] Poach@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Eh, plenty of people are happy not vaccinating their kids. Then their kids die for entirely preventable reasons and think they did nothing wrong, and would do it again.

I think part of the reason we're in this mess is poor education. Can't have people push back if they don't know (or don't care) what's happening.

[–] Aeri@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

If I were to say taxation is theft I would mean it in the way that the way it is currently being applied to my personal income is analogous to theft. Not the taxation in general is unfair. I think it's a pretty fair claim given that my health insurance which cost $5 a month went up to $400 a month and I just canceled it because I don't have a spare $400 a month laying around.

[–] Soulphite@reddthat.com 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The goal in taxes is to get to near as zero in refund as possible. A bonus if your refund is 1-2 digits. Say, $2.30; so then you request a paper check and it actually costs your stupid government money to send you that refund.

[–] Haquer@lemmy.today 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

My refund this year was $76 which is as close to 0 as I can get it. I will never understand people who put down a bunch of dependents on their forms for work and then come tax season get gobsmacked they owe thousands to the Federal Government here

[–] Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip 1 points 1 week ago

My family income fluctuates a bit more than average so we tend to withhold a bit more just to be safe & make budgeting easier.

Whatever comes back in the refund gets invested either in stocks or renovations for our creaky old home. Mostly the old home.

Sure it's not a perfect system, but it works well enough for us.

[–] jtrek@startrek.website 9 points 1 week ago

People don't understand things but that doesn't stop them feeling ways about it.

Also the US tax system seems complicated and error prone.

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

The government makes an absolute fortune on that tax money in interest and investments before they give it back. That's why.

[–] MrFinnbean@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

Another way of looking it is that she earned more money during the year than she estimated.

[–] FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago

I once stole my sister's favourite teddy bear so I could surprise her by giving it back to her for her birthday

[–] 30p87@feddit.org 4 points 1 week ago

I can make them even happier by taking a small amount from many, build an illegal weed farm, wash the money and return it with interest

[–] IWW4@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago

Hell paying 1800 on the annual filing is awesome!