I've been going through money like it's water...that's not a very politically correct phrase anymore with the green movement.

I've spent a good chunk of my tax refund money. I bought new towels for the guest bathroom, new barstools, a couple of items off of my Amazon wishlist (and added three more -- oops). And something completely frivolous, a headset with microphone. Why, you ask? Because I've been mulling it over for awhile and I'm going to try to learn Italian. I'll get there eventually and I'd like to know the language, or at least more than "dove è la stanza da bagno?" [is that even correct for the location of the bathroom?]. I'm going to try an online course so we'll see how it goes. I earmarked some of my tax refund for it so it's basically free money and no loss if I don't take to it. That's the justification anyway.