our tax return

[Flynn]

So when DH set up our pre tax deductions from our paycheck we were very conservative. VERY. I like to save money. I love to see the numbers we "have for a rainy day" go up up up.

DH likes to spend more than I do. We talked to our financial person and went very conservative for the first 5.5 months for our new salary. (Yeah DH!!!!) We also claimed 1 I think??? Again, very conservative.

Our return is SILLY. We both laughed outloud and collectively let out a sigh of relief. We DID NOT want to over extend ourselves right out of training like so many we know have done.

So far so good.
This post training thing is okay. I could get used to this.

[Flynn]

Re: our tax return

So far so good.
This post training thing is okay. I could get used to this.

I'm NOT trying to sound like an arrogant SOB....just trying to throw out some hope for those of you in the trenches either pre or post training....

[alison]

Hel-lo?! Flynn, I think you have every right to be happy and arrogant (the latter, which you aren't, by the way). You did this for NINE years.

[SuzySunshine]

I thought post training people never got refunds! That is encouraging Flynn.

[Deebs]

Flynn, You've given me hope. I figure that this year will be the trickiest to plan for (with 1/2 the year being on a resident's salary and the other 1/2 on an attending's), but I really did just assume that after this year we would always owe taxes for the rest of our lives. It sounds like, with the right planning, we'll be okay!

[Phoebe]

enjoy it!

[PrincessFiona]

That's awesome.

Who do you guys go to..an accountant? We're trying to figure out how not to owe so much at the end of the year. (We did get a nice refund the first 2 years though!)

Somehow, we keep getting stuck with the Alternative Minimum Tax. How do you guys avoid it? Seriously...I'll do anything not to have to pay the AMT....who do I have to bribe? :>

kris

[Flynn]

We used an accountant for the first time this year.

For us the key was to claim 0 or 1 as dependants. We'll balance that out for next year. We don't need to have the government take THAT much out but we wanted to err on the side of extreme caution. We also maxed out retirement each month, and save 800 per kid per month for college (pre tax)....

So far it's working out.
Baby steps.

[houseelf]

Flynn,

Hold me and stroke my hair and say there there. Please?

You give me such hope. (Written while I internally ask myself for the gazillionth time. "For the love of all that is holy, will we EVER get there?" )

Kelly

[Flynn]

:therethere: :therethere: :therethere:


YOU WILL get there!!!!!!!! I PROMISE!!!

The first year of fellowship was a little rough for me. We added our second child and the 80 hour work week didn't really apply AND you have to pucker up buttercup and kiss hiney because these attendings can make or break you with jobs.

THE PLUS -- after the first year of fellowship (yours is two years or three???) you are sending out CVs and really thinking of potential jobs for at least 6-9 months of the final fellowship year. You get to think of location, housing, MONEY, hours, school, call, etc. You get to THINK of life after training and not just have it be this IDEA in the distance.
You get to count the zeros after offers. Some will have more than others!

YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vanquisher]

Only 3 more years, only 3 more years, only THREE FREAKING MORE YEARS!!!!