OT Arg!

Debra, I haven't let many things get the best of me but tax laws is one of them. Now I just save the stuff, take it to the tax man (with a bribe, last time it was peach cobbler) and pay him. Life is just too dear to me to struggle with tax laws. Couldn't you take on something easy like preventing hurricanes? Polly

tax rules would hurt the brain of even the most seasoned learner, you have my comiserations

Anne

I've been handing mine over to a friend who is a tax preparer for the last 4 years because I jess didn't wanna do it myself. However, this year I had no job when the class sign-ups came around and she talked me into taking it. The money is good, the hours grand, a desk job, and loads of possibilities for bettering myself financially were good reasons to try it. She says she believes I can do it. I'm no quiter, so I'll keep trying. It just drains my brain to read the textbook. And for some reason all the new knowledge waits to sort itself while I sleep. I'll probably wake up tomorrow and understand everything I read today and find tomorrow's class a cinch just like last week's class. At least, that's what I'm telling myself right now.

I did go to my quilting area to play with fabric. I picked up an applique block that I had ready to sew and applied 4 pieces. I used that machine feather stitch for the first time. Appliqued some stems and leaves. They look grand, sort of like the stems have little thorny bits and the leaves have a tiny sawtooth edge. It's a nice change from satin stitch and I believe I'll be using that stitch a lot from now on. I doubt I would have tried it if you hadn't mentioned using it for something or other a few days ago. Thanks for that inspiration.

You know, if I can learn to use a new stitch so successfully maybe I have a chance at getting this tax stuff in my head too. Worth trying at any rate. Debra in VA See my quilts at

i'm now late with last yrs and dont have the energy to fly over and go thru all that yet again. think i'll just forget it and see how long it takes them to take all the assets to cover the bill. jeanne

It's hard when you first start. It'll get easier as you go along. Not easier to do, just easier to grasp. After awhile the exceptions seem perfectly normal. Remember, they're not meant to make sense! It's the IRS! LOL

Ms P I'm taking a tax course in hopes of a job. I haven't had to study

On Tue, 4 Sep 2007 19:58:13 -0500, Debra wrote (in article ):

(((Hugs))). I'm sure it will easier as you go along.

Maureen

Several of my friends have taken the H & R Block courses and work for them from January thru April. Hours in January and February are lighter and then long hours in March and April. They enjoy the extra income and not being tied to a job all year around.

One gal is a retired nurse. She earns the money for extras like trips then enjoys having the rest of the year off to visit her grandchildren.

The other gal has young school age children. Again she enjoys the hours. She arranges her life so there is as little stress as possible during her working months. The job gives her a goal to get the house thoroughly cleaned and together before she start in January. Meals are in the freezer. She cleans the house again in May!

Other friends have taken the classes and don't work so much but felt they learn how to keep their own records and investments.

All of them have wonderful (but sad) stories about how stupid people can be about money. So many people waste so much of their hard earned money by not reading the small print or just neglecting to pay attention.

My husband occasionally helps people figure out their finances. One young gal was paying 31% interest on her credit card. She said they were a nice company because if she didn't have the money to make even the minimum payment it was OK. She didn't notice that they charged her a $35 service fee on top of the 31% interest any month she didn't make the minimum payment. He showed her how she has already paid $1500 on the $650 she borrowed and she still owes $1800. He also showed her how if she would pay just $200 per month the bill would be gone in a year. She has learned her lesson and isn't using credit cards anymore. Others we have counseled have not been so cooperative. Some had said they couldn't get along without items we saw as luxuries. They are still in a financial mess many years later.

OK off my soap box.

Susan >I'm taking a tax course in hopes of a job. I haven't had to study

Thanks Maureen. I'm sure it will. I just needed to rant a bit. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Thanks. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Jeanne, why would you need to file US tax returns anyway? All I remember is that it was way harder for you than I thought it should have been. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Oh, Debra, I don't envy you! Tax rules and laws are so complicated that I'm sure that even the people who write them have no real inkling of what they've written. Best of luck! :)

I'm an almost 60 y.o. nurse who would love to get out of the medical bizz but don't know anything else. So thought I might look into the tax course but not sure this old brain could grasp it. LOL Good luck, Debra, hang in there!

That's exactly why there are exceptions and exceptions to the exceptions. Congress frequently doesn't have a clue how the tax laws they write are going to affect real world constituents. And then they get tons of calls and letters and try to fix a law. And then that causes other problems for a different group of people so they have to fix it too.

Once you give up the idea that it has to make sense or that it's going to make sense and just go with it you're way better off. You really don't even have to understand them, just know what they are and where and how they apply.

Congress makes the laws. The IRS is only the enforcer and collector.

Ms P

Yes, both Fed. and VA. I will not be qualified to do taxes for people who work out of state though. I'll have to take further classes before I can do those. I'm sure there are others I won't be able to do, but I don't know what they are yet. Debra in VA See my quilts at