How Do Decide....??

Updated on August 20, 2011
S.M. asks from Lakeside, CA
6 answers

I have a dilemma... I've tried to go back to school for various things. I took some classes, sold life insurance and real estate and took some related classes there. I have taken classes related to daycare and I started to take some classes for a variety of things only to decide that none of them were my calling. I've been trying for years to tell myself that some people are just not cut out for school.

YET... Every few months I start thinking about school again. In 2004 I decided to take some CLEP exams. I have 18 credits from that. I'm getting the bug again. My oldest daughter finally went back to school this semester! She's 26 and I had started to wonder if she would ever go back. All 3 of my adult daughters are in school now. My best friend went back this year and she just got into a nursing program this semester.

Now my husband is talking about going back again. He's wanted to forever. But we've been raising 4 kids and never figured out how to fit it in. It's the age old problem. When we work like crazy we have some money, but no time. If we cut back our work load to take the classes there's no way to find the money. We make too much for help and not enough to pay for it. My debt load is too high for student loans. So I HAVE to find a way to pay for it myself. My husband gets a yearly bonus at work. He can pay for his if he really wants to. BUT, only if we both agree to stop putting so much money into our house and we both agree to keep our old cars. His is paid off. Mine will be in 5 months!!!

So today I looked up the info about tax credits... WHAT???? I never really understood what they were or how much they were. Essentially we are giving the government 5000 per year that the two of us could be spending on school! WHY?

My husband works like crazy and so do I. And YET... I've been lead strongly in the last year to give up tv. I've given up a lot of it. I've read this, studied that, prayed a lot and when I get bored I migrate back to the tv. Each time I think once again... WHY? I'm rotting my brain!

So... I don't want any more false starts. I have ZERO desire to leave my daycare. I have no desire to get a job outside of the house. BUT... I don't like the idea of just throwing away this credit year after year because I'm not using it. Is that reason enough to go and sign up for classes at the local community college and work towards earning an associates degree in WHATEVER?

I know some of you are going to be gun ho for school because you love school. But have any of you ever gone back when you consider yourself a pretty bad student? To be clear... my IQ is high. I am a wonderful test taker. I HATE projects. I dislike deadlines. I am easily distracted. Many people have suggested that I may be an adult ADHD sufferer. I've never checked it out. I almost wonder if I would have to in order to finish anything.

Thoughts?

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So What Happened?

Yes, some of the expenses are only deductible...as in off our over all income. But there are 3 credits that come off the taxes we owe. One is only for 2009 and 2010. But 2 of them are for all the time. I just have to figure out how it works. Every little bit helps.

More Answers

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Um, the $5,000 comes off your taxable wages you don't actually get $5,000. You actually get whatever your marginal tax rate is of $5,000 so if you are taxed at 10% you get 500. Just an FYI. :)

I just told you how they work. I just graduated in 2010 with a masters in accounting. I think I should know. It is a for AGI deduction, in other words it comes off your taxable income before AGI is calculated where a deduction like your lifetime earning credit is from AGI or comes off after calculating AGI. It is a great deduction but not what you think it is.

I can assure you I was brutalized with tax to the point I will never practice tax. There is not one law in the tax code that deducts from your tax liability after it is calculated, not one! There are things like the earned income tax credits that are like extra withholding but those have income requirements that I very much doubt you qualify for.

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A.K.

answers from Houston on

Instead of just doing credit classes, do a vocational degree, that will lead to a job, such as nursing, physiotherapy, teaching. So that it has an end point, and you are not left wondering what to do after you finish your degree - if you have a vocational degree, the choice is made, you cannot go back - theoretically anyway!

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

Contact your local technical school or continuing education school and get an appointment to see a counselor. The Wisconsin Technical School system has a great program to help students hone in on their interests and how to apply that to a degree and then a career. They also have a great scholorship program.

Good luck going back to school is not easy but so worth it. I am also thinking about finishing my BA.

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B.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

I feel you.

I can't stand school unless I am being completely mentally stimulated, if that makes sense. Classes that aren't teaching me anything make me anxious and I have to leave. I started taking classes online when I moved to Amsterdam and I really like it. I don't have to do everything for 3 hours a day and can read the lectures pieces at a time. I can do projects whenever I want, as long as they are done by the end of the term. I would look into it if you really want to go back.

I wouldn't look into the ADHD thing. I think it is normal. If you aren't enjoying something, you aren't going to do it anymore.

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C.W.

answers from Santa Barbara on

I hope Jo was able to explain the tax situation to you, I trust her!

What do you want to do with this associates in "whatever"? You don't want to change your daycare and you don't want to work out of the home. Maybe taking classes for personal enrichment is the answer without a degree as the goal (it's not for everyone).

I really think re-examining your business model of 24/7 and making accommodations for low income families that can't pay would be very good for you. You are not a non-profit, this is a business. Charge more, have specific hours and time off, dedicated time for your family and the options to take classes that would interest and motivate you. It's very difficult to add anything else to your plate when you have only had two weeks off in 15 years.

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

check out collegeplus.org You get your BA faster and cheaper and at home. You've already done some CLEP exams and they help you with those. Good luck!

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