Question:

I purchased lunch for my employees today.  We are a small company and as such my cost is under $100.  How do I / can I expense this?  or do I not get reimbursed? thanx

Response:

I purchased lunch for my employees today.  We are a small company and as such my cost is under $100.  How do I / can I expense this?  or do I not get reimbursed? thanx

What type business organization are you? Wayne Brasch, CPA, M. S. Taxation

Response:

I purchased lunch for my employees today.  We are a small company and as such my cost is under $100.  How do I / can I expense this?  or do I not get reimbursed? thanx What type business organization are you? Wayne Brasch, CPA, M. S. Taxation

ye what org.

Response:

we are a new dba in the remodeling / construction field

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I purchased lunch for my employees today.  We are a small company and as such my cost is under $100.  How do I / can I expense this?  or do I not get reimbursed? thanx What type business organization are you? Wayne Brasch, CPA, M. S. Taxation

Response:

we are a new dba in the remodeling / construction field

That doesn’t tell him anything. Are you operating as a sole-proprietor (self employed) a corporation, a partnership, or what?  You use the terms "I" and "WE" and "COMPANY", so it would be ever so helpful to know more about you, and the rest of whom ever makes up "we", and what type of entity the "company" is. Are you the owner?  Or the manager?  Or the supervisor?  or what? The questions I want to know is, did you buy them lunch and bring it to the job site, or did you take them out to eat? And I’m serious.  The tax treatment of meals provided to your employees so they don’t have to leave the job is different than meals in a resturant. So provide more details please. — Paul A. Thomas, CPA Athens, Georgia taxman at negia.net – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I purchased lunch for my employees today.  We are a small company and as such my cost is under $100.  How do I / can I expense this?  or do I not get reimbursed? thanx What type business organization are you? Wayne Brasch, CPA, M. S. Taxation

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – we are a new dba in the remodeling / construction field That doesn’t tell him anything. Are you operating as a sole-proprietor (self employed) a corporation, a partnership, or what?  You use the terms "I" and "WE" and "COMPANY", so it would be ever so helpful to know more about you, and the rest of whom ever makes up "we", and what type of entity the "company" is. Are you the owner?  Or the manager?  Or the supervisor?  or what? The questions I want to know is, did you buy them lunch and bring it to the job site, or did you take them out to eat? And I’m serious.  The tax treatment of meals provided to your employees so they don’t have to leave the job is different than meals in a resturant. So provide more details please.

he probably bought lunch for the crew at the jobsite so 100% deductible? (I’m no tax expert! ) he could reimburse thru petty cash but if he owns the company it may not make much difference. entry – debit    misc. job expenses            credit     petty cash?

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – we are a new dba in the remodeling / construction field That doesn’t tell him anything. Are you operating as a sole-proprietor (self employed) a corporation, a partnership, or what?  You use the terms "I" and "WE" and "COMPANY", so it would be ever so helpful to know more about you, and the rest of whom ever makes up "we", and what type of entity the "company" is. Are you the owner?  Or the manager?  Or the supervisor?  or what? The questions I want to know is, did you buy them lunch and bring it to the job site, or did you take them out to eat? And I’m serious.  The tax treatment of meals provided to your employees so they don’t have to leave the job is different than meals in a resturant. So provide more details please. he probably bought lunch for the crew at the jobsite so 100% deductible? (I’m no tax expert! )

If the ~business~ bought it’s employees lunch AT the jobsite, then yes, 100% deductible the way I see it. If he’s not the employer (he’s the supervisor), and bought lunch for his crew, and the employer doesn’t reimburse him, then it falls to 2106, 1/2 deductible (it probably wasn’t for the convienience of the employer), and subject to a 2% of AGI floor. if he owns the company

That’s what I’d like to know. — Paul A. Thomas, CPA Athens, Georgia taxman at negia.net

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – we are a new dba in the remodeling / construction field That doesn’t tell him anything. Are you operating as a sole-proprietor (self employed) a corporation, a partnership, or what?  You use the terms "I" and "WE" and "COMPANY", so it would be ever so helpful to know more about you, and the rest of whom ever makes up "we", and what type of entity the "company" is. Are you the owner?  Or the manager?  Or the supervisor?  or what? The questions I want to know is, did you buy them lunch and bring it to the job site, or did you take them out to eat? And I’m serious.  The tax treatment of meals provided to your employees so they don’t have to leave the job is different than meals in a resturant. So provide more details please. he probably bought lunch for the crew at the jobsite so 100% deductible? (I’m no tax expert! ) he could reimburse thru petty cash but if he owns the company it may not make much difference. entry – debit    misc. job expenses           credit     petty cash?

Guessing in this area is not good. Wayne Brasch, CPA, M. S. Taxation

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – we are a new dba in the remodeling / construction field That doesn’t tell him anything. Are you operating as a sole-proprietor (self employed) a corporation, a partnership, or what?  You use the terms "I" and "WE" and "COMPANY", so it would be ever so helpful to know more about you, and the rest of whom ever makes up "we", and what type of entity the "company" is. Are you the owner?  Or the manager?  Or the supervisor?  or what? The questions I want to know is, did you buy them lunch and bring it to the job site, or did you take them out to eat? And I’m serious.  The tax treatment of meals provided to your employees so they don’t have to leave the job is different than meals in a resturant. So provide more details please. he probably bought lunch for the crew at the jobsite so 100% deductible? (I’m no tax expert! ) he could reimburse thru petty cash but if he owns the company it may not make much difference. entry – debit    misc. job expenses           credit     petty cash? Guessing in this area is not good. Wayne Brasch, CPA, M. S. Taxation

Much ado about nothing.  If you are the owner, and you bought lunch (whether you took them to a restaurant or not) you can deduct it as a business expense or get reimbursed by the company under whatever accounting setup you have for reimbursing such expenses.  If you have a company whether it is a sole sole-proprietor, partnership or corporation, by now you should have set up procedures "accounting for unreimbursed expenses."  If you have not done that as yet, you are creating a formula for accounting nightmares, and visits from the taxman.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – we are a new dba in the remodeling / construction field That doesn’t tell him anything. Are you operating as a sole-proprietor (self employed) a corporation, a partnership, or what?  You use the terms "I" and "WE" and "COMPANY", so it would be ever so helpful to know more about you, and the rest of whom ever makes up "we", and what type of entity the "company" is. Are you the owner?  Or the manager?  Or the supervisor?  or what? The questions I want to know is, did you buy them lunch and bring it to the job site, or did you take them out to eat? And I’m serious.  The tax treatment of meals provided to your employees so they don’t have to leave the job is different than meals in a resturant. So provide more details please. he probably bought lunch for the crew at the jobsite so 100% deductible? (I’m no tax expert! ) he could reimburse thru petty cash but if he owns the company it may not make much difference. entry – debit    misc. job expenses           credit     petty cash? Guessing in this area is not good. Wayne Brasch, CPA, M. S. Taxation Much ado about nothing.  If you are the owner, and you bought lunch (whether you took them to a restaurant or not) you can deduct it as a business expense or get reimbursed by the company under whatever accounting setup you have for reimbursing such expenses.  If you have a company whether it is a sole sole-proprietor, partnership or corporation, by now you should have set up procedures "accounting for unreimbursed expenses."  If you have not done that as yet, you are creating a formula for accounting nightmares, and visits from the taxman.

So it’s not much ado about nothing!  How they handle this can cause them much grief later.  It’s better to get it right now than have IRS come in and straighten them out.  We still need to know the type of business organization to properly and fully answer this question. Wayne Brasch, CPA, M. S. Taxation

Response:

Question:

Hi, I owe ebay money from listing fees etc. However they cannot take from my card automatically as my cards been renewed, I was wondering is it possible to get out of paying them. Or do they sell the debt to bailiffs or debt collectors etc? Has anyone had trouble before? P.S I’m in the UK

Response:

I owe ebay money from listing fees etc. However they cannot take from my card automatically as my cards been renewed,

Your card has been renewed? So has myne. Doesn’t matter IF the credit card number is the same, which it should be. I was wondering is it possible to get out of paying them. Or do they sell the debt to bailiffs or debt collectors etc?

Actually no, they don’t. They simply come to your house in the middle of the night, strip you naked, throw you outside, cover you in honey, and then anger a bees nest and hornets nest and let the bees and hornets do what they like. Has anyone had trouble before?

What trouble? Trying to get out of a debt you owe? Pay the money you owe eBay. Don’t be a damn cheapskate. PS: What is your ebay ID, so in the case you DO pay, I can block you from bidding on my auctions. And, please don’t buy from me. Anyone with moral standards as low as yours doesn’t deserve a computer. P.S I’m in the UK

Uhh like that matters. — To reply, remove TheObvious from my e-mail address.

Response:

I owe ebay money from listing fees etc. However they cannot take from my card automatically as my cards been renewed, I was wondering is it possible to get out of paying them.

So, let me get this straight. You got a service from eBay at a rate at which you agreed to when you signed on, and now you don’t want to pay? I don’t know what they call that in the UK, but in the US I’d call that a /thief/. It depends on how much you owe as to whether they’ll come after you. First, of course, you’ll be NARU’d for life. If it’s just a small amount, they’ll just wreck your credit. Hope you weren’t planning on buying a house or car anytime soon. For a large amount, they’ll get you. Pay your bills, lame-boy. — Bob

Response:

I owe ebay money from listing fees etc. However they cannot take from my card automatically as my cards been renewed, I was wondering is it possible to get out of paying them. So, let me get this straight. You got a service from eBay at a rate at which you agreed to when you signed on, and now you don’t want to pay?

Seems like he’ll comfortably fit in with some of the resident fee avoiders we have here.  Then again maybe not since he’s too damn honest by telling us that he wants to cheat eBay. Rita

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I would consider a low end item to be any item that sells for less than $10. It makes no sense whatsoever to try and sell $10 items on eBay. The minimum breakeven is $19.63. Gee Don  -  I just looked at my bank account to see if all the items I am selling for $3 & $4, with about a 10 mark-up is driving me to the poor house – I was surprised to see the old account is still growing I hope everybody listens to you and your $19 minimum — then I will have the under $10 market all to myself and get filthy rich Cheers John Let see: Lets sell an item for 9.99! Cost of item: nothing (you found it in the basement, got it for free or were about to toss it anyway and decided to give ebay a try. Obviously this isnt true if you buy 20 skids of "dollar store" merchandise for 279.00 a skid. So dont do that. Cost of business premesis: Nothing. You work in a corner of the basement that you didnt use for anything else anyway. And who wants to rent your basement anyway? Cost of labor: nothing. Sure you did some work, but you did it at the time of your choice when you had absolutly nothing else to do. Maybe you even enjoyed the novelty of packing a box after a day of doing something else. And you are alowed to watch tv, BS with your  friends on the phone, drink coffee, get stoned, whatever while you work. After all, you make the rules. Cost of materials: nothing. You use free used boxes, free stuff from the post office or USP, crap you scavenge from the trash from your jobs mailroom, whatever. Of course this doesnt work if you brashly purchase 1000 new boxes from Staples. So dont do that. Cost of listing:  30 cents Ebay commission: 5%. Even less if the thing accidently sells for $100. Which it will, once every two or three years. Cost for PP: nothing. ’cause its dumb to use it for something which might cost more to ship than to buy. So dont use it. Cost for internet: Nothing. You know damn well you got it to download music and warez. Or dirty pictures. If ebay is the only reason you got hooked up, get a 9.99 monthly dial-up. Or go to the library once a week. Travel costs: nothing. Dont mail anything unless you are going past the post office for another reason. Drop stuff that weighs less than a pound in the mailbox. If necessary explain in your item description that you are just a kid and only get to go to town once a week. Most sellers take so long to mail stuff anyway you will fit right in. Looks like over 90% profit to me. What business wouldnt do this if they could. The secret is a big business cant operate like this. But you can. Stick with the formula and you will make money. Start playing bigshot and buying lotsa junk to mark up and you will be back to working for $1 an hour and cryin’ the blues here. And all you have to do is continuously repeat the above utter fantasy 4400 times a year without ANY subsidies or ANY costs or ANY support or ANY help or ANY time to make a marginal income. Most eBay sellers do not have the faintest clue over the REAL expenses of their auction activities. Read up on the economic value of excluded opportunity sometime.

Uh-oh. Looks like I pushed the wrong button. Geez….dont take it so personally.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Gee Don  -  I just looked at my bank account to see if all the items I am selling for $3 & $4, with about a 10 mark-up is driving me to the poor house – I was surprised to see the old account is still growing I hope everybody listens to you and your $19 minimum — then I will have the under $10 market all to myself and get filthy rich Judging by some of the stuff he’s not selling in his auctions, and it seems like it is just about everything, I’m sure that you are still outperforming him even if you sell your items at a loss.

Thanks Rita

Response:

<SNIPPED Fred, is that you? Rita

LOL, no mention of sparedollar so I doubt it hehe. we love ya fred so COME BACK!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I would consider a low end item to be any item that sells for less than $10. It makes no sense whatsoever to try and sell $10 items on eBay. The minimum breakeven is $19.63. Gee Don  -  I just looked at my bank account to see if all the items I am selling for $3 & $4, with about a 10 mark-up is driving me to the poor house – I was surprised to see the old account is still growing I hope everybody listens to you and your $19 minimum — then I will have the under $10 market all to myself and get filthy rich Cheers John

Let see: Lets sell an item for 9.99! Cost of item: nothing (you found it in the basement, got it for free or were about to toss it anyway and decided to give ebay a try. Obviously this isnt true if you buy 20 skids of "dollar store" merchandise for 279.00 a skid. So dont do that. Cost of business premesis: Nothing. You work in a corner of the basement that you didnt use for anything else anyway. And who wants to rent your basement anyway? Cost of labor: nothing. Sure you did some work, but you did it at the time of your choice when you had absolutly nothing else to do. Maybe you even enjoyed the novelty of packing a box after a day of doing something else. And you are alowed to watch tv, BS with your  friends on the phone, drink coffee, get stoned, whatever while you work. After all, you make the rules. Cost of materials: nothing. You use free used boxes, free stuff from the post office or USP, crap you scavenge from the trash from your jobs mailroom, whatever. Of course this doesnt work if you brashly purchase 1000 new boxes from Staples. So dont do that. Cost of listing:  30 cents Ebay commission: 5%. Even less if the thing accidently sells for $100. Which it will, once every two or three years. Cost for PP: nothing. ’cause its dumb to use it for something which might cost more to ship than to buy. So dont use it. Cost for internet: Nothing. You know damn well you got it to download music and warez. Or dirty pictures. If ebay is the only reason you got hooked up, get a 9.99 monthly dial-up. Or go to the library once a week. Travel costs: nothing. Dont mail anything unless you are going past the post office for another reason. Drop stuff that weighs less than a pound in the mailbox. If necessary explain in your item description that you are just a kid and only get to go to town once a week. Most sellers take so long to mail stuff anyway you will fit right in. Looks like over 90% profit to me. What business wouldnt do this if they could. The secret is a big business cant operate like this. But you can. Stick with the formula and you will make money. Start playing bigshot and buying lotsa junk to mark up and you will be back to working for $1 an hour and cryin’ the blues here.

Response:

Congrats to all of you successful ebay sellers,I hope your good fortune continues; it’s hard to believe that you’re unaffected by the economy. Maybe a tax cut for the wealthy would help?

If you can’t fight them, join them.  Incorporate now and possibly  pay yourself with tax free dividends. Happy Trails Johpa

Response:

Congrats to all of you successful ebay sellers,I hope your good fortune continues; it’s hard to believe that you’re unaffected by the economy. Maybe a tax cut for the wealthy would help? Steve Silberberg Read "We’ll Kiss For Food" http://www.kissforfood.com/

Auctions, of course, do better during economic problem times. — Many thanks, Don Lancaster Synergetics   3860 West First Street  Box 809  Thatcher, AZ 85552 Please visit my GURU’s LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Congrats to all of you successful ebay sellers,I hope your good fortune continues; it’s hard to believe that you’re unaffected by the economy. Maybe a tax cut for the wealthy would help? If you can’t fight them, join them.  Incorporate now and possibly  pay yourself with tax free dividends. Happy Trails Johpa

Tain’t that easy McGee  –  If you replace your salary from your corp with dividends you lose the deduction for your salary  – however in a small one man corp a little creative accounting will take care of the problem John

Response:

Congrats to all of you successful ebay sellers,I hope your good fortune continues; it’s hard to believe that you’re unaffected by the economy.

Maybe a tax cut for the wealthy would help? Steve Silberberg Read "We’ll Kiss For Food" http://www.kissforfood.com/

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I would consider a low end item to be any item that sells for less than $10. It makes no sense whatsoever to try and sell $10 items on eBay. The minimum breakeven is $19.63. Gee Don  -  I just looked at my bank account to see if all the items I am selling for $3 & $4, with about a 10 mark-up is driving me to the poor house – I was surprised to see the old account is still growing I hope everybody listens to you and your $19 minimum — then I will have the under $10 market all to myself and get filthy rich Cheers John Let see: Lets sell an item for 9.99! Cost of item: nothing (you found it in the basement, got it for free or were about to toss it anyway and decided to give ebay a try. Obviously this isnt true if you buy 20 skids of "dollar store" merchandise for 279.00 a skid. So dont do that. Cost of business premesis: Nothing. You work in a corner of the basement that you didnt use for anything else anyway. And who wants to rent your basement anyway? Cost of labor: nothing. Sure you did some work, but you did it at the time of your choice when you had absolutly nothing else to do. Maybe you even enjoyed the novelty of packing a box after a day of doing something else. And you are alowed to watch tv, BS with your  friends on the phone, drink coffee, get stoned, whatever while you work. After all, you make the rules. Cost of materials: nothing. You use free used boxes, free stuff from the post office or USP, crap you scavenge from the trash from your jobs mailroom, whatever. Of course this doesnt work if you brashly purchase 1000 new boxes from Staples. So dont do that. Cost of listing:  30 cents Ebay commission: 5%. Even less if the thing accidently sells for $100. Which it will, once every two or three years. Cost for PP: nothing. ’cause its dumb to use it for something which might cost more to ship than to buy. So dont use it. Cost for internet: Nothing. You know damn well you got it to download music and warez. Or dirty pictures. If ebay is the only reason you got hooked up, get a 9.99 monthly dial-up. Or go to the library once a week. Travel costs: nothing. Dont mail anything unless you are going past the post office for another reason. Drop stuff that weighs less than a pound in the mailbox. If necessary explain in your item description that you are just a kid and only get to go to town once a week. Most sellers take so long to mail stuff anyway you will fit right in. Looks like over 90% profit to me. What business wouldnt do this if they could. The secret is a big business cant operate like this. But you can. Stick with the formula and you will make money. Start playing bigshot and buying lotsa junk to mark up and you will be back to working for $1 an hour and cryin’ the blues here. all of your points would not apply at all to somebody running an ebay business. robert

Well thats the point. If you are an individual selling single items, dont try and be a "business". But if you are selling a thousand identical new items, ebay may not be the best venue, at least if you are selling the item for only a few dollars.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I would consider a low end item to be any item that sells for less than $10. It makes no sense whatsoever to try and sell $10 items on eBay. The minimum breakeven is $19.63. Gee Don  -  I just looked at my bank account to see if all the items I am selling for $3 & $4, with about a 10 mark-up is driving me to the poor house – I was surprised to see the old account is still growing I hope everybody listens to you and your $19 minimum — then I will have the under $10 market all to myself and get filthy rich Cheers John Let see: Lets sell an item for 9.99! Cost of item: nothing (you found it in the basement, got it for free or were about to toss it anyway and decided to give ebay a try. Obviously this isnt true if you buy 20 skids of "dollar store" merchandise for 279.00 a skid. So dont do that. Cost of business premesis: Nothing. You work in a corner of the basement that you didnt use for anything else anyway. And who wants to rent your basement anyway? Cost of labor: nothing. Sure you did some work, but you did it at the time of your choice when you had absolutly nothing else to do. Maybe you even enjoyed the novelty of packing a box after a day of doing something else. And you are alowed to watch tv, BS with your  friends on the phone, drink coffee, get stoned, whatever while you work. After all, you make the rules. Cost of materials: nothing. You use free used boxes, free stuff from the post office or USP, crap you scavenge from the trash from your jobs mailroom, whatever. Of course this doesnt work if you brashly purchase 1000 new boxes from Staples. So dont do that. Cost of listing:  30 cents Ebay commission: 5%. Even less if the thing accidently sells for $100. Which it will, once every two or three years. Cost for PP: nothing. ’cause its dumb to use it for something which might cost more to ship than to buy. So dont use it. Cost for internet: Nothing. You know damn well you got it to download music and warez. Or dirty pictures. If ebay is the only reason you got hooked up, get a 9.99 monthly dial-up. Or go to the library once a week. Travel costs: nothing. Dont mail anything unless you are going past the post office for another reason. Drop stuff that weighs less than a pound in the mailbox. If necessary explain in your item description that you are just a kid and only get to go to town once a week. Most sellers take so long to mail stuff anyway you will fit right in. Looks like over 90% profit to me. What business wouldnt do this if they could. The secret is a big business cant operate like this. But you can. Stick with the formula and you will make money. Start playing bigshot and buying lotsa junk to mark up and you will be back to working for $1 an hour and cryin’ the blues here.

all of your points would not apply at all to somebody running an ebay business. robert "None of us can predict the final outcomes of our actions, and few of us even try;   most of us just do what we do to prolong a moment’s pleasure or to stop the pain.   And even when we act for the noblest reasons, the last link of the chain all too often drips with someones blood"

Response:

Your average sale transaction ~has~ to exceed $19.73 for long term eBay success. Oh, crap.  And here all this time I’d been aiming at $19.63.  Sure, it’s only a dime…now.

LOLOL

Response:

There is also nothing wrong with listing a bunch of different three dollar items and having one buyer send you $300 for them.

So it does sometimes make some sense whatsoever? It makes no sense whatsoever to try and sell $10 items on eBay.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You know things have to be bad and the economy is in the crapper when Don lists items under $19.00.    I think it’s time we all give eBay the boot and start collecting change on street corners. http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=abeja Rita You are utterly and completely missing the point of eBay as a marketing tool. At least for me, there is a remarkable ICEBERG effect. Your average sale transaction ~has~ to exceed $19.73 for long term eBay success. There is nothing wrong with listing a three dollar item without sale for a dozen times. So long as someone calls you three days later and buys all 8,357 you have in stock. Another name for the low cost listings that are marking time for a serious buyer is:  BAIT There is also nothing wrong with listing a bunch of different three dollar items and having one buyer send you $300 for them.

True, but this is never pointed out each and every time you cut and paste your standard "$19.73" reply. Rita

Response:

Your average sale transaction ~has~ to exceed $19.73 for long term eBay success.

Oh, crap.  And here all this time I’d been aiming at $19.63.  Sure, it’s only a dime…now.

Response:

You know things have to be bad and the economy is in the crapper when Don lists items under $19.00.    I think it’s time we all give eBay the boot and start collecting change on street corners. http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=abeja Rita

You are utterly and completely missing the point of eBay as a marketing tool. At least for me, there is a remarkable ICEBERG effect. Your average sale transaction ~has~ to exceed $19.73 for long term eBay success. There is nothing wrong with listing a three dollar item without sale for a dozen times. So long as someone calls you three days later and buys all 8,357 you have in stock. Another name for the low cost listings that are marking time for a serious buyer is:  BAIT There is also nothing wrong with listing a bunch of different three dollar items and having one buyer send you $300 for them. — Many thanks, Don Lancaster Synergetics   3860 West First Street  Box 809  Thatcher, AZ 85552 Please visit my GURU’s LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I would consider a low end item to be any item that sells for less than $10. It makes no sense whatsoever to try and sell $10 items on eBay. The minimum breakeven is $19.63. Gee Don  -  I just looked at my bank account to see if all the items I am selling for $3 & $4, with about a 10 mark-up is driving me to the poor house – I was surprised to see the old account is still growing I hope everybody listens to you and your $19 minimum — then I will have the under $10 market all to myself and get filthy rich Cheers John Let see: Lets sell an item for 9.99! Cost of item: nothing (you found it in the basement, got it for free or were about to toss it anyway and decided to give ebay a try. Obviously this isnt true if you buy 20 skids of "dollar store" merchandise for 279.00 a skid. So dont do that. Cost of business premesis: Nothing. You work in a corner of the basement that you didnt use for anything else anyway. And who wants to rent your basement anyway? Cost of labor: nothing. Sure you did some work, but you did it at the time of your choice when you had absolutly nothing else to do. Maybe you even enjoyed the novelty of packing a box after a day of doing something else. And you are alowed to watch tv, BS with your  friends on the phone, drink coffee, get stoned, whatever while you work. After all, you make the rules. Cost of materials: nothing. You use free used boxes, free stuff from the post office or USP, crap you scavenge from the trash from your jobs mailroom, whatever. Of course this doesnt work if you brashly purchase 1000 new boxes from Staples. So dont do that. Cost of listing:  30 cents Ebay commission: 5%. Even less if the thing accidently sells for $100. Which it will, once every two or three years. Cost for PP: nothing. ’cause its dumb to use it for something which might cost more to ship than to buy. So dont use it. Cost for internet: Nothing. You know damn well you got it to download music and warez. Or dirty pictures. If ebay is the only reason you got hooked up, get a 9.99 monthly dial-up. Or go to the library once a week. Travel costs: nothing. Dont mail anything unless you are going past the post office for another reason. Drop stuff that weighs less than a pound in the mailbox. If necessary explain in your item description that you are just a kid and only get to go to town once a week. Most sellers take so long to mail stuff anyway you will fit right in. Looks like over 90% profit to me. What business wouldnt do this if they could. The secret is a big business cant operate like this. But you can. Stick with the formula and you will make money. Start playing bigshot and buying lotsa junk to mark up and you will be back to working for $1 an hour and cryin’ the blues here.

And all you have to do is continuously repeat the above utter fantasy 4400 times a year without ANY subsidies or ANY costs or ANY support or ANY help or ANY time to make a marginal income. Most eBay sellers do not have the faintest clue over the REAL expenses of their auction activities. Read up on the economic value of excluded opportunity sometime. — Many thanks, Don Lancaster Synergetics   3860 West First Street  Box 809  Thatcher, AZ 85552 Please visit my GURU’s LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com

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Looks like over 90% profit to me. What business wouldnt do this if they could. The secret is a big business cant operate like this. But you can. Stick with the formula and you will make money. Start playing bigshot and buying lotsa junk to mark up and you will be back to working for $1 an hour and cryin’ the blues here.

You know things have to be bad and the economy is in the crapper when Don lists items under $19.00.    I think it’s time we all give eBay the boot and start collecting change on street corners. http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=abeja Rita

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You know things have to be bad and the economy is in the crapper when Don lists items under $19.00.

Didn’t he just post that it makes no sense whatsoever to try and sell $10 items on eBay?

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You know things have to be bad and the economy is in the crapper when Don lists items under $19.00. Didn’t he just post that it makes no sense whatsoever to try and sell $10 items on eBay?

Yes, that would be Don.  Apparently he is exempt from his own rules?  Then again, I’m sure Don is posting these low dollar auctions to be charitable? Rita

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I would consider a low end item to be any item that sells for less than $10. It makes no sense whatsoever to try and sell $10 items on eBay. The minimum breakeven is $19.63.

Gee Don  -  I just looked at my bank account to see if all the items I am selling for $3 & $4, with about a 10 mark-up is driving me to the poor house – I was surprised to see the old account is still growing I hope everybody listens to you and your $19 minimum — then I will have the under $10 market all to myself and get filthy rich Cheers John

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Gee Don  -  I just looked at my bank account to see if all the items I am selling for $3 & $4, with about a 10 mark-up is driving me to the poor house – I was surprised to see the old account is still growing I hope everybody listens to you and your $19 minimum — then I will have the under $10 market all to myself and get filthy rich

Judging by some of the stuff he’s not selling in his auctions, and it seems like it is just about everything, I’m sure that you are still outperforming him even if you sell your items at a loss. Rita

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Congrats to all of you successful ebay sellers,I hope your good fortune continues; it’s hard to believe that you’re unaffected by the economy.Ebay is an excellent vehicle for traders, but from my experience with ebay’s customer service, they do appear to be oblivious to the concenss of their customers, as evidenced by their obscure listing for customer service.  I would consider a low end item to be any item that sells for less than $10. To list that item, a seller would incur the following fees, if the item sells. For a 9.99 item, the fees would be:Insertion fee      - .30final value fee    - .55In addition, if the buyer uses paypal, as most do, then you have add another paypal fee of 2.9% + .30 or .59. The total fees for that 9.99 sale are now 1.44 or 14.4%. If the seller drops the price of an unsold item below 9.99 and adds a buy-it-now, 10 day listing, feature, or extra photo, then the cost and the percentage of the increases to 20%, 30%, or higher. Many items sell for 1.00 or 2.00, even though the value should be much higher. That is the nature of auctions, but the seller must be disappointed to learn that all the labor of listing the auction was for naught.  Therefore, auction fees can easily be 20%-30%of the gross sale and the insertion fees for the unsold items can easily wipe out the net earnings from the sold items.

Go out and open a real store, with exposure to about 1/10,000,000 of the buyers you get with Ebay, pay rent, utilities, taxes, credit card fees higher than paypal, etc etc etc  and see how much it costs you to sell something for $10 John

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Congrats to all of you successful ebay sellers,I hope your good fortune continues; it’s hard to believe that you’re unaffected by the economy.Ebay is an excellent vehicle for traders, but from my experience with ebay’s customer service, they do appear to be oblivious to the concenss of their customers, as evidenced by their obscure listing for customer service.  I would consider a low end item to be any item that sells for less than $10. To list that item, a seller would incur the following fees, if the item sells. For a 9.99 item, the fees would be:Insertion fee      - .30final value fee    - .55In addition, if the buyer uses paypal, as most do, then you have add another paypal fee of 2.9% + .30 or .59. The total fees for that 9.99 sale are now 1.44 or 14.4%. If the seller drops the price of an unsold item below 9.99 and adds a buy-it-now, 10 day listing, feature, or extra photo, then the cost and the percentage of the increases to 20%, 30%, or higher. Many items sell for 1.00 or 2.00, even though the value should be much higher. That is the nature of auctions, but the seller must be disappointed to learn that all the labor of listing the auction was for naught.  Therefore, auction fees can easily be 20%-30%of the gross sale and the insertion fees for the unsold items can easily wipe out the net earnings from the sold items.

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<SNIPPED Fred, is that you? Rita

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 I would consider a low end item to be any item that sells for less than $10.

It makes no sense whatsoever to try and sell $10 items on eBay. The minimum breakeven is $19.63. See http://www.tinaja.com/glib/moreebay.pdf for a detailed mathematical analysis. — Many thanks, Don Lancaster Synergetics   3860 West First Street  Box 809  Thatcher, AZ 85552 Please visit my GURU’s LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com

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Question:

that’s a lot of paws – not to mention fur! very hairy cats! Nice to see and hear from you Inge! lots of  lovely pics! so many furries … and that Bandit seem enough to keep you occupied all on his own! Roundabout? =o) — lewe       ‘o’< lewemi at yahoo dot se ‘o’< | Hi everyone:-) | | Some perhaps still remember me – however for the others a short | introduction: My name is Inge. When I began to read this NG some years | ago we had 3 cats: Tientje, She and Puschel. Now, that changed (as you | can read in the header). And then Owl and Dax came and then Chiara | came. And Chiara was pregnant. She delivered 5 kitten to the world: 4 | toms and 1 cat. We were firmly convinced of the fact that we would | find new homes for all of the kitten…:) But 1. it comes differently | and 2…. | The kitten were born in the night of 31.10.2001 to 01.11.2001 and are | now 7 months old. I think I reportet here when the babies were born | and gave a link to the pictures of them. Who is interested however, | can amuse himself with my homepage, which in the meantime nearly | bursts from the tons of cat pictures *g*. There the entire birth of | the kitten is documented in pictures from the day of their birth until | today. | First we had no more time for something different than cats, because | the mom-cat had too little milk for her children and we had to hand | feed them. We said to ourselves: that is only temporary – it will be | over when the babies first time start eating by themselves. | Then they could eat by themselves and we still had no time for | something else than cuddling with them and playing because they were | soooo cute and we couldn’t resist watching them develop. We said to | ourselves: that is only temporary -it will pass, when they are | somewhat larger. | Now they were somewhat larger and we still had no time for something | else because they got ‘ free course ‘ in the whole house now and we | had to do all hands full to prevent them from suicidal plays at stairs | and balconies. We secured stairs and balconies and thought, we do not | have to watch them that closely anymore. | However we did not have also ‘ more ‘ time now, because the Bandit, | who was the smallest and most impudent one of the litter always came | up with something new to keep us busy.E.G. he discovered that one | could hang its claws into the woofer of Volkers loudspeakers – thus | the Speakers became secured with screens. Bandit discovered also that | he could drive roundabout on the record player and that there was a | tone arm with such an amusing thing under there, where you could paw | at… Thus the record player got a cover. | We drew a deep breath and believed to have somewhat more time now | which turned out as mistake. The Bandit figured then out that he can | run up the wallpapers and again we had all hands full of work to pick | him from 2,50 m height and grumble with him. Who of you has seen pics | of Bandit knows that grumbling with him is not that easy – he has an | indescribable charm and is irresistibly cute *sigh*. Fortunately the | wallpaper is quite stable and bears the Bandit (still). Particularly | endangered places became ’secured’ with sisal carpets. Yes and then | there still are his sibblings: Lady Mortisha, Cottonball and Smoke. | Correctly, one is missing : -) We gave our Rasputin – we called him | that, because he was the largest in the litter – away. However he | lives not far away with good friends and we visit him regularly. And | he is not longer called Rasputin but Mr. Jingles (buahaha, a | mouse-name!) But enough of it and back to the topic. | As already said above, we didn’t have more time, because the Bandit | still has his sibblings. Everyone of them has his own tick and all | together are endowed ‘battle-cuddler’. | But we didn’t hesitate and told ourselves: That is only temporary. | When they are somewhat older, we give them a new home. The situation | stayed like this for quite some time. And then we became acquainted | with Sirikit and we fell in love with the little girl immediately. | When she was old enough for a new home (14 weeks), Sirikit moved in: | -) Our relatives and friends certified us completely nuts. We didn’t | talk about giving the babies away for a long time and actually we | can’t imagine giving one away. We can’t imagine either how life was | without them – and a life with plenty of time. Who now took in | account, comes on 44 paws. Correctly. One is missing. The Puschel. But | that is another story…. | | And here you find the latest pics of the gang, including me wearing my | cattidude-shirt:-) | http://www.gwsystems.com/inge/Galerie/310502/e_index.htm | | Purrs to all of you | Volker & Inge and the catgang | — | In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge | trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, | Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und | Sirikit

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<snip We can’t imagine either how life was without them – and a life with plenty of time. Who now took in account, comes on 44 paws. Correctly. One is missing. The Puschel. But that is another story…. And here you find the latest pics of the gang, including me wearing my cattidude-shirt:-) http://www.gwsystems.com/inge/Galerie/310502/e_index.htm

Oh, all of them so are so beautiful! Thankou for letting us "share" them with you. What happened to Puschel? Yowie — RPCA FAQ: http://www.angelfire.com/mt/yowie/catfaq.htm

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Hi Yowie:-) Oh, all of them so are so beautiful! Thankou for letting us "share" them with you.

thank you:-) I’m glad you like the pics. I could write a book about them. They keep us occupied all day long and even at night we can’t get rest because one of them always want a good scritch:-) Purrs to you, Joell, Fluffy and Shmogg:-) Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Soncek is swelling with pride, because you wrote he is lovely. He is purring doubly hard for you to find a much better job where you will be appreciated as much as we here at rpca appreciate you and where you will be earning a lot of money since you have so many hungry kitty mouths to feed, says Soncek. Best wishes from me too, Polonca

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello Polonca & Soncek:-) Oh, I’m so sorry to hear you lost your job. I do hope you get a much better one very soon. I’m sure kitties are happier now that you have more time to spend with them. Maybe you can find a job where you can work from home. Best wishes and purrs for a wonderful job for you, thanks for your good wishes:-) I’m writing applications right now and I think I will not be without work for long:-) Of course some purrs could be helpful:-) Purrs to you and lovely Soncek Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Hi Gandalf:-) I’ve always said if I had a cat that had kittens, I couldn’t imagine giving even a single one to a new home

In the beginning we were sure, that it would not be a problem, giving the babies away *buahahaha* But now… Bandit is a really pretty cat. It would be difficult/impossible to be angry with him for long. He looks like a little angel, but we all know looks can be deceiving!  

You are right. Bandit really looks like an angel. But he definitely is camouflaged *g*. He was the weakest and smallest of the litter. He also was never afraid of anyone or anything. When I think of Bandit the following comes into my mind: curiosity kills the cat… We love him anyway:-) Purrs to you Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Hi Grace:-) Yup, I remember you.  You’re Owl’s meowmy.  Still my pick for the cutest kitty contest anyday.

thats correct:-) I’ m Owls meowmy:-) He is the cutest cat I ever met. There is no evil in him at all. He never uses his claws or bites and he has no cattitudes at all. We had him and Dax neutered 2 weeks ago. Before the neutering the only thing he really wanted was beeing close and beeing cuddled. After the neutering it is the same. He has such a pleasant charakter and we love him dearly:-) Purrs to you Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Hi Christine:-) I can understand why these cuties would be hard to give up!  They are adorable and I truly enjoyed following their story from the birthing last year!  Thanks so much for the link to the photos — you look a great "slave" in your Cattitude shirt!

Thank you:-) I love my Cattitude shirt very much and I wear it quite often:-) Volker and I started discussion about giving them away recently but we can’t decide with which one to start. So I think they all will stay with us:-) When it comes to new homes for our cats we are quite picky:-) Lots of purrs to you and your lovely cats Omar, Midnight, Shetra & Oreo Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Hi Lena:-) that’s a lot of paws – not to mention fur! very hairy cats!

They are very hairy *g*. When they changed fur from winter to summer, we had tons of hairballs…. But now it is ok. A could brush once a week helps a lot:-)) lots of  lovely pics!

I’m glad you like them:-) I can’t decide which one to take or which one not. So I took them all:-) so many furries … and that Bandit seem enough to keep you occupied all on his own!

That is true. But fortunately the Bandit sleeps sometimes *g*…. Gives me quite some opportunity to do something else:-) Roundabout?

Yes. It is a thing where children can take a ride on on fairs. For Bandit it was Volkers turntable where he could take a ride on *g*. Purrs to you and your sweet kitties Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Whew! I was worried she got lost. Karen

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Karen:-) Love the pics!! What happened to Puschel? Thank you for your nice compliment. Puschel doesn’t live here anymore. She is living now with a very nice couple close by. I wrote her story down and I will post it as soon as I have translated it into English:-) Purrs Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Hi everyone:-) Some perhaps still remember me – however for the others a short introduction: My name is Inge. When I began to read this NG some years ago we had 3 cats: Tientje, She and Puschel. Now, that changed (as you can read in the header). And then Owl and Dax came and then Chiara came. And Chiara was pregnant. She delivered 5 kitten to the world: 4 toms and 1 cat.

Inge!  It’s great to see you posting again.  I’m sorry you lost your job, but I’m sure better things are coming for you. I would find it hard to part with such cute little furballs.  You have my admiriation for taking such good care of them. Hazel Az

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Hello Hazel:-)) Inge!  It’s great to see you posting again.  I’m sorry you lost your job, but I’m sure better things are coming for you.

I’ m not that sad about loosing my job. I will soon find another. Good tax advisers/accountants are searched for all the time. And I finally found some time for the NG and a ‘little’ work in the garden:-) I would find it hard to part with such cute little furballs.  You have my admiriation for taking such good care of them.

The only thing I can reply to this is: <silent mode We are addicted! </silent mode Purrs to you, your family and your lovely furballs:-) Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Oh, I’m so sorry to hear you lost your job. I do hope you get a much better one very soon. I’m sure kitties are happier now that you have more time to spend with them. Maybe you can find a job where you can work from home. Best wishes and purrs for a wonderful job for you, — Polonca & Soncek

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks for your warm words. I was there all the time but reading only. After I lost my job recently I have some extra time to participate in this lovely NG. When I worked, I left home at 7:00 and came back at 17:00. First thing I had to do when I came home was cuddling with all of the cats. <snip

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Hi everyone:-) SNIP And here you find the latest pics of the gang, including me wearing my cattidude-shirt:-) http://www.gwsystems.com/inge/Galerie/310502/e_index.htm Purrs to all of you Volker & Inge and the catgang

I’ve always said if I had a cat that had kittens, I couldn’t imagine giving even a single one to a new home Bandit is a really pretty cat. It would be difficult/impossible to be angry with him for long. He looks like a little angel, but we all know looks can be deceiving!   ~~~~~~ Life without cats would be only marginally worth living. T.C. and the unmercifully, relentlessly sweet calico Kenzie

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Hello Polonca & Soncek:-) Oh, I’m so sorry to hear you lost your job. I do hope you get a much better one very soon. I’m sure kitties are happier now that you have more time to spend with them. Maybe you can find a job where you can work from home. Best wishes and purrs for a wonderful job for you,

thanks for your good wishes:-) I’m writing applications right now and I think I will not be without work for long:-) Of course some purrs could be helpful:-) Purrs to you and lovely Soncek Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Hi Karen:-) Love the pics!! What happened to Puschel?

Thank you for your nice compliment. Puschel doesn’t live here anymore. She is living now with a very nice couple close by. I wrote her story down and I will post it as soon as I have translated it into English:-) Purrs Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Inge! Where have you been? With this many babies it’s no wonder you haven’t even had time to post in the ng! What lovely babies they are…and so cute and funny. Please keep in touch with all of us, we miss you.

Thanks for your warm words. I was there all the time but reading only. After I lost my job recently I have some extra time to participate in this lovely NG. When I worked, I left home at 7:00 and came back at 17:00. First thing I had to do when I came home was cuddling with all of the cats. They knew exactly when I came and where waiting for there cuddles:-) Volker had dinner prepared by then and we had dinner. After dinner we did some cleaning and started playing with the cats. At about 22:30 I went to bed, surrounded by at least 6 cats…. Now I have some extra time when our cats are sleeping:-) Purrs to you and a good scritch to Jazz:-) Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Love the pics!! What happened to Puschel? Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And here you find the latest pics of the gang, including me wearing my cattidude-shirt:-) http://www.gwsystems.com/inge/Galerie/310502/e_index.htm Purrs to all of you Volker & Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

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Thank you so much for the update, Inge. I will set aside some time to look at your newest pics, they are so wonderful to watch. I’ve enjoyed all of them so much, I’ve seen how they’ve grown almost as if I were there with you. I do envy you though, having so many pretty kitties, but I do know it is hard to take care of them all – especially the hooli-kittens. Best wishes and purrs to you, Volker and the kitties, — Polonca & Soncek

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone:-) Some perhaps still remember me <snip

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Hello Polonca & Soncek, I’ve enjoyed all of them so much, I’ve seen how they’ve grown almost as if I were there with you.

That was my intension to show how they grow in pictures. Up to today there are about 600 pics of them:-) Sometimes I ask myself if I could take some of them off my page. But then I can’t decide which one to take. So I leave them all online to please myself and other catcrazy people:-) Lots of purrs for you and give Soncek a good scritch from us:-) Inge and the catgang *purr* — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

Response:

Hi everyone:-) Some perhaps still remember me – however for the others a short introduction: My name is Inge. When I began to read this NG some years ago we had 3 cats: Tientje, She and Puschel. Now, that changed (as you can read in the header). And then Owl and Dax came and then Chiara came. And Chiara was pregnant. She delivered 5 kitten to the world: 4 toms and 1 cat. We were firmly convinced of the fact that we would find new homes for all of the kitten…:) But 1. it comes differently and 2…. The kitten were born in the night of 31.10.2001 to 01.11.2001 and are now 7 months old. I think I reportet here when the babies were born and gave a link to the pictures of them. Who is interested however, can amuse himself with my homepage, which in the meantime nearly bursts from the tons of cat pictures *g*. There the entire birth of the kitten is documented in pictures from the day of their birth until today. First we had no more time for something different than cats, because the mom-cat had too little milk for her children and we had to hand feed them. We said to ourselves: that is only temporary – it will be over when the babies first time start eating by themselves. Then they could eat by themselves and we still had no time for something else than cuddling with them and playing because they were soooo cute and we couldn’t resist watching them develop. We said to ourselves: that is only temporary -it will pass, when they are somewhat larger. Now they were somewhat larger and we still had no time for something else because they got ‘ free course ‘ in the whole house now and we had to do all hands full to prevent them from suicidal plays at stairs and balconies. We secured stairs and balconies and thought, we do not have to watch them that closely anymore. However we did not have also ‘ more ‘ time now, because the Bandit, who was the smallest and most impudent one of the litter always came up with something new to keep us busy.E.G. he discovered that one could hang its claws into the woofer of Volkers loudspeakers – thus the Speakers became secured with screens. Bandit discovered also that he could drive roundabout on the record player and that there was a tone arm with such an amusing thing under there, where you could paw at… Thus the record player got a cover. We drew a deep breath and believed to have somewhat more time now which turned out as mistake. The Bandit figured then out that he can run up the wallpapers and again we had all hands full of work to pick him from 2,50 m height and grumble with him. Who of you has seen pics of Bandit knows that grumbling with him is not that easy – he has an indescribable charm and is irresistibly cute *sigh*. Fortunately the wallpaper is quite stable and bears the Bandit (still). Particularly endangered places became ’secured’ with sisal carpets. Yes and then there still are his sibblings: Lady Mortisha, Cottonball and Smoke. Correctly, one is missing : -) We gave our Rasputin – we called him that, because he was the largest in the litter – away. However he lives not far away with good friends and we visit him regularly. And he is not longer called Rasputin but Mr. Jingles (buahaha, a mouse-name!) But enough of it and back to the topic. As already said above, we didn’t have more time, because the Bandit still has his sibblings. Everyone of them has his own tick and all together are endowed ‘battle-cuddler’. But we didn’t hesitate and told ourselves: That is only temporary. When they are somewhat older, we give them a new home. The situation stayed like this for quite some time. And then we became acquainted with Sirikit and we fell in love with the little girl immediately. When she was old enough for a new home (14 weeks), Sirikit moved in: -) Our relatives and friends certified us completely nuts. We didn’t talk about giving the babies away for a long time and actually we can’t imagine giving one away. We can’t imagine either how life was without them – and a life with plenty of time. Who now took in account, comes on 44 paws. Correctly. One is missing. The Puschel. But that is another story…. And here you find the latest pics of the gang, including me wearing my cattidude-shirt:-) http://www.gwsystems.com/inge/Galerie/310502/e_index.htm Purrs to all of you Volker & Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

Response:

Hi everyone:-) Some perhaps still remember me Purrs to all of you Volker & Inge and the catgang —

Yup, I remember you.  You’re Owl’s meowmy.  Still my pick for the cutest kitty contest anyday. Grace

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone:-) Some perhaps still remember me – however for the others a short introduction: My name is Inge. When I began to read this NG some years ago we had 3 cats: Tientje, She and Puschel. Now, that changed (as you can read in the header). And then Owl and Dax came and then Chiara came. And Chiara was pregnant. She delivered 5 kitten to the world: 4 toms and 1 cat. We were firmly convinced of the fact that we would find new homes for all of the kitten…:) But 1. it comes differently and 2…. The kitten were born in the night of 31.10.2001 to 01.11.2001 and are now 7 months old. I think I reportet here when the babies were born and gave a link to the pictures of them. Who is interested however, can amuse himself with my homepage, which in the meantime nearly bursts from the tons of cat pictures *g*. There the entire birth of the kitten is documented in pictures from the day of their birth until today. First we had no more time for something different than cats, because the mom-cat had too little milk for her children and we had to hand feed them. We said to ourselves: that is only temporary – it will be over when the babies first time start eating by themselves. Then they could eat by themselves and we still had no time for something else than cuddling with them and playing because they were soooo cute and we couldn’t resist watching them develop. We said to ourselves: that is only temporary -it will pass, when they are somewhat larger. Now they were somewhat larger and we still had no time for something else because they got ‘ free course ‘ in the whole house now and we had to do all hands full to prevent them from suicidal plays at stairs and balconies. We secured stairs and balconies and thought, we do not have to watch them that closely anymore. However we did not have also ‘ more ‘ time now, because the Bandit, who was the smallest and most impudent one of the litter always came up with something new to keep us busy.E.G. he discovered that one could hang its claws into the woofer of Volkers loudspeakers – thus the Speakers became secured with screens. Bandit discovered also that he could drive roundabout on the record player and that there was a tone arm with such an amusing thing under there, where you could paw at… Thus the record player got a cover. We drew a deep breath and believed to have somewhat more time now which turned out as mistake. The Bandit figured then out that he can run up the wallpapers and again we had all hands full of work to pick him from 2,50 m height and grumble with him. Who of you has seen pics of Bandit knows that grumbling with him is not that easy – he has an indescribable charm and is irresistibly cute *sigh*. Fortunately the wallpaper is quite stable and bears the Bandit (still). Particularly endangered places became ’secured’ with sisal carpets. Yes and then there still are his sibblings: Lady Mortisha, Cottonball and Smoke. Correctly, one is missing : -) We gave our Rasputin – we called him that, because he was the largest in the litter – away. However he lives not far away with good friends and we visit him regularly. And he is not longer called Rasputin but Mr. Jingles (buahaha, a mouse-name!) But enough of it and back to the topic. As already said above, we didn’t have more time, because the Bandit still has his sibblings. Everyone of them has his own tick and all together are endowed ‘battle-cuddler’. But we didn’t hesitate and told ourselves: That is only temporary. When they are somewhat older, we give them a new home. The situation stayed like this for quite some time. And then we became acquainted with Sirikit and we fell in love with the little girl immediately. When she was old enough for a new home (14 weeks), Sirikit moved in: -) Our relatives and friends certified us completely nuts. We didn’t talk about giving the babies away for a long time and actually we can’t imagine giving one away. We can’t imagine either how life was without them – and a life with plenty of time. Who now took in account, comes on 44 paws. Correctly. One is missing. The Puschel. But that is another story…. And here you find the latest pics of the gang, including me wearing my cattidude-shirt:-) http://www.gwsystems.com/inge/Galerie/310502/e_index.htm Purrs to all of you Volker & Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

Inge, I can understand why these cuties would be hard to give up!  They are adorable and I truly enjoyed following their story from the birthing last year!  Thanks so much for the link to the photos — you look a great "slave" in your Cattitude shirt! Regards, Christine and purrs from Omar, Midnight, Shetra & Ore (pictures: http://www.ejepo.com/burel)

Response:

Inge! Where have you been? With this many babies it’s no wonder you haven’t even had time to post in the ng! What lovely babies they are…and so cute and funny. Please keep in touch with all of us, we miss you. Jazz & his mama — Irulan from the stars we came, to the stars we return from now until the end of time

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone:-) Some perhaps still remember me – however for the others a short introduction: My name is Inge. When I began to read this NG some years ago we had 3 cats: Tientje, She and Puschel. Now, that changed (as you can read in the header). And then Owl and Dax came and then Chiara came. And Chiara was pregnant. She delivered 5 kitten to the world: 4 toms and 1 cat. We were firmly convinced of the fact that we would find new homes for all of the kitten…:) But 1. it comes differently and 2…. The kitten were born in the night of 31.10.2001 to 01.11.2001 and are now 7 months old. I think I reportet here when the babies were born and gave a link to the pictures of them. Who is interested however, can amuse himself with my homepage, which in the meantime nearly bursts from the tons of cat pictures *g*. There the entire birth of the kitten is documented in pictures from the day of their birth until today. First we had no more time for something different than cats, because the mom-cat had too little milk for her children and we had to hand feed them. We said to ourselves: that is only temporary – it will be over when the babies first time start eating by themselves. Then they could eat by themselves and we still had no time for something else than cuddling with them and playing because they were soooo cute and we couldn’t resist watching them develop. We said to ourselves: that is only temporary -it will pass, when they are somewhat larger. Now they were somewhat larger and we still had no time for something else because they got ‘ free course ‘ in the whole house now and we had to do all hands full to prevent them from suicidal plays at stairs and balconies. We secured stairs and balconies and thought, we do not have to watch them that closely anymore. However we did not have also ‘ more ‘ time now, because the Bandit, who was the smallest and most impudent one of the litter always came up with something new to keep us busy.E.G. he discovered that one could hang its claws into the woofer of Volkers loudspeakers – thus the Speakers became secured with screens. Bandit discovered also that he could drive roundabout on the record player and that there was a tone arm with such an amusing thing under there, where you could paw at… Thus the record player got a cover. We drew a deep breath and believed to have somewhat more time now which turned out as mistake. The Bandit figured then out that he can run up the wallpapers and again we had all hands full of work to pick him from 2,50 m height and grumble with him. Who of you has seen pics of Bandit knows that grumbling with him is not that easy – he has an indescribable charm and is irresistibly cute *sigh*. Fortunately the wallpaper is quite stable and bears the Bandit (still). Particularly endangered places became ’secured’ with sisal carpets. Yes and then there still are his sibblings: Lady Mortisha, Cottonball and Smoke. Correctly, one is missing : -) We gave our Rasputin – we called him that, because he was the largest in the litter – away. However he lives not far away with good friends and we visit him regularly. And he is not longer called Rasputin but Mr. Jingles (buahaha, a mouse-name!) But enough of it and back to the topic. As already said above, we didn’t have more time, because the Bandit still has his sibblings. Everyone of them has his own tick and all together are endowed ‘battle-cuddler’. But we didn’t hesitate and told ourselves: That is only temporary. When they are somewhat older, we give them a new home. The situation stayed like this for quite some time. And then we became acquainted with Sirikit and we fell in love with the little girl immediately. When she was old enough for a new home (14 weeks), Sirikit moved in: -) Our relatives and friends certified us completely nuts. We didn’t talk about giving the babies away for a long time and actually we can’t imagine giving one away. We can’t imagine either how life was without them – and a life with plenty of time. Who now took in account, comes on 44 paws. Correctly. One is missing. The Puschel. But that is another story…. And here you find the latest pics of the gang, including me wearing my cattidude-shirt:-) http://www.gwsystems.com/inge/Galerie/310502/e_index.htm Purrs to all of you Volker & Inge and the catgang — In CatManiacs World: http://www.gwsystems.com/inge trifft man die Katzis Tientje, She, das Gast-Puschel, Owl, Dax, Chiara, Lady Mortisha, Bandit, Smoke, Cottonball und Sirikit

Response:

Question:

In article <3a81624f.34783…@news.mindspring.com>, floridanewbie <floridanew…@hotmail.com> wrote:

[...] >I cannot understand this … perhaps he really is just a cheapskate >who hates to spend money on anyone other than himself.  

If that were the case, he’d have SOMETHING in the bank. He’s told her he has no liquid cash funds. Making $175k a year, living paycheck to paycheck? Where is it going?? >>He isn’t a very trusting person, snoops thru any >>mail, etc. left out by myself or my adult children living with us. >Ick … I’d have trouble with that.  To me that is a personality flaw >suggesting an insecurity.  Have you any idea why he does this?  Have >you discussed this with him?   This sure suggests control issues.

No kidding, I can’t believe something like this either. My husband has a journal, and when he began writing in it he asked me to please to never read it. He sometimes shares things in it with me, but it lies all around the house other times, and I’ve never even WANTED to look in it. It’s about respect for him. amy

Response:

In article <20010206163612.23324.00001…@ng-cn1.aol.com>, Smudges7 <smudg…@aol.com> wrote: >Thank you and something I didn’t realize.  If I put this account in just my >name, won’t he be able to take control of it as a spouse living in a community >state?  Guess if I stipulate in a will where I want the funds to go, he >wouldn’t be able to change my wishes.  He is going to be pretty upset over all >of this since it shows I don’t trust him but he built this wall and I have to >protect myself and my future. I have never felt mistrusted in a spouse before >and I don’t much like the feeling.

When he freaks out, calmly say that you are trusting him must as much as he trusts you. Work on it from there. amy

Response:

In article <20010206170122.23324.00001…@ng-cn1.aol.com>, Smudges7 <smudg…@aol.com> wrote: >My daughter and I have nothing to hide from each other.  We, myself and my >children, are able to talk about anything, no matter how difficult it is.  She >is uncomfortable in his presence but it doesn’t come from a sexual >comprehension but a feeling of being under a microscope. He would never go near >her in any way because quite frankly, she scares the hell out of him. I know >the man, I know where his head is when he watches her. He also understands that >I know this, am not stupid, and if at any time he even thinks to step over the >line that I have drawn, the rath of hell won’t be enough for what I and her >brothers would do to him. I fully understand my position here, do not want to >make unnecessary or unfair acquisations. You have answered the question I >wanted to make sure I wasn’t just imaging.  He claims he has no interest in >her, I see something different. She is and has been protected and will go on to >be so. She understands I will protect her in all aspects of her life and that >at no time would I put her safety in jeopardy.  

You know, this is really harsh advice, and it’s from a stranger, but for god’s sake, get the hell out. The man we’ve heard about here in the group is a wacko, plain and simple. Now, note I said heard about in this group… maybe the whole picture is different. But jesus, I’d run as fast as I can if I could say the things you said about his potential "interest" in your daughter. Makes me suck just to comprehend it. How can you stay in the same house with him? You shouldn’t have to "draw lines" like "don’t sexually abuse my children." amy

Response:

>Since I use credit cards for everything but carry no balances I don’t >see this as an obsession … just prudent financial management.  Why >pay consumer interest if you don’t have to?  OTOH, I am something of a >material minimalist.

 I have no problem with the credit cards and keeping a zero balance. It’s the thought that as we are driving away from the funeral, he already has a list of what I should pay off. >>Possibly he views his understanding of finance to be superior to yours.

People suddenly in possession of a large amount of money, >especially through gambling or lotto winnings or through inheritance >are sitting ducks for "investment" counselors (stockbrokers, >accountants, lawyers and even, gasp, bankers … not to mention the >fast buck artists) who want to get their hands, through commissions >and fees, on as large a chunk of those assets as possible.

 He fought hard to save his IRA, stocks, etc. during his last marriage.  He gave up the home and savings account to save his retirement. His banking background is not in finance.  I have more experience in such a thing. Vanguard is a very good suggestion and one I am looking at. As far as his bonus goes, he got it, I now know about it. It took him 20 minutes to build the lie so it sounded realistic why he wasn’t getting it. I have no interest in the bonus but I do have an interest in why he felt such an explanation was necessary. You have to remember lies, the truth is much easier.  He claims I am on everything of his.  I haven’t seen any paperwork to prove this. He claims we have a safety deposit box at his bank, one his had before marrying me. I never signed any paperwork putting myself on this box. He keeps asking me if I want to put my personal belongings in it or my jewerly.  I have refused. He keeps asking me if I don’t trust him. Duh … The snooping, white lies, and the domineering of our finances shows insecurity.  He has suggested his bank as my best option to place my inheritance.  My father was in banking, I know alittle about this and there is no way that suggestion will fly with me. Yes, he is a control freak, no, I do not walk the walk he thinks I should nor will I. In my previous marriage everything was put in the pot for the good of the family. I am now faced with a person who feels his pot is his alone and mine keeps getting emptied for the good of the family.  Does he want me dependent on him? Probably … am I willing to do that, no way. The snooping and sneaking around to gather info on myself or the kids is something I have never come in contact with before and hard to handle. I have written him a check for his expenses in the emergency.  I am upset that I had to buy his visit but the bill has been paid. He will reep some reward from my hard work in handling the estate but he will not lift a finger to make the job alittle easier on me.  His plan to visit his daughter while I am working to clean out the home and get it on the market, is par for the course. I think the thought of not caring I have to drive a truck 1600 miles has me seeing things clear for the first time. But as he sees it, this is my job, not his, so he will go play with the grandkids. After raising four children, what I have here is a new child who only likes the fun in life and hides from the chores. And he doesn’t like sharing his toys but will take mine when I am not looking …

Response:

On 7 Feb 2001 17:45:16 GMT, alyo…@steel.ucs.indiana.edu (Amy Lynn Young-Leith) wrote: >You know, this is really harsh advice, and it’s from a stranger, but for >god’s sake, get the hell out. The man we’ve heard about here in the group >is a wacko, plain and simple. Now, note I said heard about in this >group… maybe the whole picture is different. But jesus, I’d run as fast >as I can if I could say the things you said about his potential "interest" >in your daughter. Makes me suck just to comprehend it. How can you stay in >the same house with him?

heehee Amy, I know it’s a Freudian slip but the idea of you "sucking" just to comprehend made me chuckle.    Of course typing with one finger, I have an excuse for my abundant typos and other egregious errors…. even when the cast comes off I’ll resort to that explanation if the "spelling cops" jump on my posts >You shouldn’t have to "draw lines" like "don’t sexually abuse my >children."

Btw, I’m not certain there is anything seriously wrong here that cannot be fixed … possibly the OP is under stress and misinterpreting some things.  More likely, he doesn’t know how to open up and talk honestly and has no idea how he is coming across.  Couples counseling could be a safe and productive way to explore what is going on … while she keeps the inheritance as separate property, of course. Floridanewbie

Response:

"Smudges7" <smudg…@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20010207025856.11730.00000891@ng-mk1.aol.com… > Ok, what I thought I was doing is answering questions that would give insight > to my situation so I could take everyone’s opinions, since I don’t have family > anymore or friends close at hand to help me, and decide how to move forward > with this. I have found newsgroups to be helpful when I need to see things from > another’s eyes.  I didn’t mean for this to take up the time of this group. > Thank you all for your help and support.

The tone of this message sounds like you are about to withdraw and stop discussing this issue. Please don’t do that, unless you have family or close friends with whom you can continue the discussion. It sounds like you are feeling isolated. That’s not a good place from which to make decisions. Don’t isolate yourself even more by withdrawing from the discussion here. Don’t apologize for discussing these issues with the group. That’s what we’re here for.

Response:

In article <PA%f6.931$l5.808…@newsfeed1.thebiz.net>, JWB <jwbspamkiller3…@excite.com> wrote: >and the more she posts, the more I think perhaps she SHOULD keep the >finances seperate, as they do not seem like a very "together" couple (as in >"me and you against the world, honey")

The more she posts the harder it is for me to sit on my hands. I really want to say, "WHAT THE HELL? RUN, WOMAN, RUN!" Okay, there, I did say it! You have a man with SERIOUS control issues, a man who WON’T talk about the issues when raised, and who is lying and sneaking around (for instance, the LIE about the bonus). I can think of a LOT of things that could be going on here, NONE of them good. There’s enough cash flying around there to live comfortably… VERY comfortably, in most areas. To say he has no funds…. that’s odd. To say he expects him to PAY HER BACK because he flew out to be with her when she needed him? That’s fucked up. Sorry to be so crude, but that’s it! First, I want to ask HOW did you end up in this position in the first place? Behaviors like this don’t just start. Or maybe they do and you never said anything. I mean, we’d have one hell of a show-down if either one of us lied about getting a raise or getting a bonus. It just doesn’t even fit into my idea of what a relationship is. amy

Response:

Hi Smudges7 I too like the newsgroups and find them to be good as well. I do have other support that is very valuable to me and I think it is essential. It’s a risk to be vulnerable, honest and certainly intimate at first but very valuable in return. My wisdom in any support group is to take what you want and leave the rest. No one person or one group can possibly give me all what I need. And most of all I must take responsibility for my own behavior and what advice I do decide to use. If one behavior or decision doesn’t work I try another. It’s my life and I do have options! Angel In article <20010207025856.11730.00000…@ng-mk1.aol.com>,   smudg…@aol.com (Smudges7) wrote: > Ok, what I thought I was doing is answering questions that would give insight > to my situation so I could take everyone’s opinions, since I don’t have family > anymore or friends close at hand to help me, and decide how to move forward > with this. I have found newsgroups to be helpful when I need to see things from > another’s eyes.  I didn’t mean for this to take up the time of this group. > Thank you all for your help and support.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

On Tue, 06 Feb 2001 21:10:13 GMT, "JWB" <jwbspamkiller3…@excite.com> wrote: >I still don’t understand why the problem. How about, all money is "yours" >(in a together sense). >Sorry I jumped into this one, as I probably have the wrong attitude for >this.

As The Shadow used to say: "Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of man?"  (or something close to that … and "man" is a gender non-specific term here) At any rate, since she earns $7/hr part-time and he earns $86/hr full-time, if she converts her inheritance to community property but he has kept his retirement and investment accounts in his name only, despite their brief marriage, if he decided to end it all, he could walk away with an unfair chunk of her assets and virtually all of his, leaving her in one heck of a pickle where she had to spend what was left to support herself in a lower lifestyle while he waltzed on to his next conquest.  I’m not saying that is his plan but it would be foolish not to recognize the possibility, especially in light of his other secretive activities (bonus lie, constant, repetitive questions, snooping) and his weird demand to be reimbursed for flying to be with her during a family crisis. If she chooses to regard the inheritance as her "insurance" and hopes to pass it on to her children, it should be kept separate. That does not mean she could not use some or all of the proceeds from the investments for the family expenditures but the capital would be protected just in case.   It’s too bad grannie didn’t set up a generation skipping trust with the income going to her but the principle going to the kids down the road.   For first time marriages when there is little at stake, this would not normally be a concern but each person here has children from a previous marriage … that changes the equation. Drew has an interesting A-B living trust which tries to protect his children’s interests should either spouse die prematurely … and this is their first marriage where they get along wonderfully, with none of the kinds of questions raised here.   Do a deja search to find that discussion from last year (I think). Floridanewbie

Response:

Can I ask you why you say that?

Response:

On 06 Feb 2001 18:15:42 GMT, smudg…@aol.com (Smudges7) wrote: >Not a silly question at all, and one of the main ones I keep asking myself. >There are no monetary problems, we each have our own credit card but have no >problem managing nor live beyond our means. He seems obsessed with having any >outstanding credit card debt but still finds something to buy almost every >weekend.  

Since I use credit cards for everything but carry no balances I don’t see this as an obsession … just prudent financial management.  Why pay consumer interest if you don’t have to?  OTOH, I am something of a material minimalist … there is little I want that I don’t have (well, OK, I did NEED the subwoofer & speakers for the computer I bought Monday and how could I pass up the TDK CD-R 100 pack at the price, after rebate, CompUSA was offering ?). >No, there was no prenup, which he did bring up when we talked of >marriage and my Grandmother was mentioned.  A red flag went up when he brought >it up but I love and trust in marriage and didn’t believe such a thing was >necessary since I never believed I would really inherit.  

He was for a prenup?  That certainly does not make him sound like he was after your money.  For second marriages, especially with existing children, it makes a lot of sense.  I don’t see a red flag from that, especially since it appears you both had significant assets at stake. >Now that I am >inheriting, he has brought up everything I should pay for which has me >wondering why.

I’d wonder too but I would hesitate to impute bad motives.  There are so many scenarios I could describe it would make your head spin. Possibly he views his understanding of finance to be superior to yours.   People suddenly in possession of a large amount of money, especially through gambling or lotto winnings or through inheritance are sitting ducks for "investment" counselors (stockbrokers, accountants, lawyers and even, gasp, bankers … not to mention the fast buck artists) who want to get their hands, through commissions and fees, on as large a chunk of those assets as possible. Possibly he feels he got burned in his divorce, with his former wife walking off with an unfair share of "his" assets and is looking to rebuild his financial stake by persuading you to turn your money into community property so he will have a claim to everything if your marriage falters. Possibly he is a control freak who feels he must always be obeyed regardless what is at stake (type of car to buy, etc). Possibly he is a really great guy who just is being misunderstood. Unless the two of you can discuss this, who knows what he is thinking or why. >He also claimed he didn’t receive his bonus in Dec., I found out >yesterday he did, it was rather large, but why lie about it to me?  I had no >interest in spending it, but why make up a story for it?  

Ask him … some people view bonuses as strictly investment capital, not to be used for daily living expenses.   OTOH, assuming you two file joint tax returns, you would have noticed this on the 1040 so why lie?   Btw, do you go over *all* the schedules attached to the 1040 to see what is being reported (wages, investment income, capital gains, deductions, etc) … you are liable for the truthfulness of those returns when you sign them (although there are supposed to be some new "innocent spouse" rules when it turns out one spouse hid information from the spouse and from the federal tax authorities). >He pays all bills, >which aren’t extreme, and we live comfortable.  His focus on my inheritance now >worries me since he was so insistant that the last one be saved for my >children, but because he claimed he had no readily available funds, I used it >for the house, furnishings, and the car. I have no problem sharing with my >husband but what I see is, I have shared to the point that one inheritance is >now nearly depleted, he hasn’t had to touch any of his savings, stocks, or >anything monetary he brought into this marriage.

One worrisome thing is the earning power disparity.  You mentioned he makes something like $86/hour while you make $7/hour part-time.  Of course it is possible you only work in a volunteer capacity and could earn 500/hour if you had to support yourself… I don’t know your background or training. Still, if your marriage were to end and if you had converted all your separate money to community property, he would walk away with half of the joint assets (including half the value of the house) while his investments, if they are not jointly held, would pretty much stay in his name.   He then has a pile of assets and a high earning power, guaranteeing a continued good lifestyle,  while you wind up with less than half of what you came into the marriage and a low earning power. If you were my sister, I’d suggest protecting the inheritance just for this reason… and I like and trust my BIL! >I was alone, handling the >illness and then death of my Grandmother, asked if he could fly down and spend >a few days with me because if was hard facing it alone.  He did, told my >children he had to make the trip because I was having a nervous breakdown.  I >have handled much worse alone and my children had to laugh at his comment since >they know me very well but it was upsetting to find he had made such a remark >about me.  Now with my Executrix fees he expects me to pay him back for any >expense he put out. I cannot do that legally so will pay out of the >inheritance. I thought he made the trip because of his love for me but now have >to ask the question that if or when I have such an emergency again, do I have >to pay for his appearance?  

I cannot understand this … perhaps he really is just a cheapskate who hates to spend money on anyone other than himself.   Did he grow up dirt poor and have to struggle for every last penny?   This is a job for "therapyman" … he may not even realize how this sounds or looks.   He seems to have you confused with his employer where it is perfectly sensible to seek reimbursement for travel and expenses connected with his work.   For family or close friends I would hop on a plane (or drive) anywhere if there was an emergency without ever expecting someone to pay for my expenses. >He isn’t a very trusting person, snoops thru any >mail, etc. left out by myself or my adult children living with us.

Ick … I’d have trouble with that.  To me that is a personality flaw suggesting an insecurity.  Have you any idea why he does this?  Have you discussed this with him?   This sure suggests control issues. >I have never >been one to hide anything, always answer his questions on anything he asks.  I >believe in true honesty in my marriage and have no secrets from him but I feel >much of the time under a microscope. I have never been in a relationship that >is divided like this, this wasn’t the plan when we married but he has drawn >this line.

Have you considered couples counseling?  A trained professional might be able to get you both to react differently to each other once you get all these issues out in the open.   This kind of behavior may be all he knows and he may not realize how destructive to a relationship it can be. >He is in banking, our accounts are joint even though we each have >our own. I know not to venture into his but he questions me often about my own.

You do not have to use his bank for your inheritance … actually, you might be better off not putting it into a bank in the first place … the return on your money is lousy and they nail you with all kinds of fees for their cr*ppy advice.   Take a look at Vanguard (or a few others) with low fees where portfolios are not churned to give illusory gains which then are taxed away annually. Oops … I just reflected an uncharitable view of banks and bankers: I cannot resist … a very well known business/economics professor once asked a money center banker this question in a conference:  "Do only stupid people go into banking or does banking make people stupid?" OK, your husband probably is not stupid … you did marry him … but all his questions make it seem like you are one of the bank’s loan customers instead of family. >He has the ability to view anything I do, I have nothing to hide but the >questions are driving me nuts. He knows what I spend but it’s like he questions >me to try and catch me up because he has already checked on me. I am not >materialestic, do not buy unnecessarily but for need instead of just want. He >will pay $100. for a tie while I will buy off the clearance rack. I do not come >from his financial background but I don’t see this as a problem. I just do not >understand why I have to keep paying while he builds his financial portfolio?

His portfolio?  Is everything in his name only? >My one fear is that if I put this inheritance in a joint account, with the >understanding as it builds, it will someday be something I can leave my >children, once I am gone he will keep it for himself and they will see nothing. >He has build this mistrust in him and it is a hard thing to face.

This is a very real fear.  If you die suddenly and everything goes to him, your kids can be left out in the cold. Here is a question for you … do you know with absolute certainty how his accounts are held?  Suppose he has all his investments in his name and has them set up to pay on death to his children from a previous marriage or his relatives.   In other words, has he turned all his property and assets into community property or does he only think this is a good idea for your assets? Look at your tax return from last year (and this year) and see if you recognize all the sources of income … including the informational stuff which gets reported but which does not generate tax liabilities. If you decide to talk with a tax attorney before deciding what to do, select one not associated with your husband’s bank. Floridanewbie

Response:

This is just my opinion based on what you have posted………… You sound like an intelligent woman. Don’t become stupid now. If your daughter was in this same situation, how would you advise her? Good luck, Nancy On 05 Feb 2001 17:50:16 GMT, smudg…@aol.com (Smudges7) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->We have been married for just under 3 years, coming into this after divorces >with 20 years or more to them. We met online after separations from our spouses >but also spent a year getting to know each other in what I call the real world >before marriage.  He makes a very good living, I work very part-time.  I am 50, >he 46. My daughter 19, lives with us. First question … he must ask me five >times a day what she is up to for the day.  Says he is just a concerned parent >but he watches her all the time, hates every guy she meets and brings home. >She seems to be his main conversation when there are other children in the >marriage also.  I have caught him in the past looking at porn online with teens >involved.  He has also signed on under strange names while I am away.  Told me >it was a friend who stopped by to use the computer.  There was no friend and I >was trying to sign on under our account while away but got kicked off because >of this.  Is what I think I am seeing, what others see also in this behavior? >Question #2 … before we married, I inherited alittle money from my Mother. >When it came time to buy a home together, I put down the substantial down >payment since his savings was tied up in IRA’s, etc.  I also bought quite abit >of the furniture we now have.  As I said, he makes a very good salary, I have >my own credit cards and a house allowance every week. Recently my grandmother >became ill, I flew out of state, stayed with her until her death. I was alone >and asked him if he would fly down to give me some mortal support while I >handled this. He did twice and paid for my daughter to come down while I had to >attend to the estate.  I am about to inherit a sizeable amount of money once >again.  He has made a comment that it is community property, which I have >checked on, it is not. He has now requested I pay for those trips, all phone >calls I made to him or family members, and anything else involved with this >emergency.  Also asked me to pay off our combined credit cards with my >inheritance.  We bought a new car shortly after we were married, one that he >wanted, I thought we didn’t need at that time.  Now he has informed me I can >buy the car I wanted to begin with, use my inheritance to do this with. He >handles all bill paying, complains, but goes shopping almost every weekend. >There has always been a feeling of division in finances among other things.  I >have always been very independent, outspoken, and have never been one to >mistrust unless I see a reason for it.  Am I seeing this now or am I just >stressed right now with having to handle another probate? I have to travel back >out of state to finish setting up the estate for probate, rent a truck to move >the items I would like to keep and drive back 1600 miles.  He has informed me >while I am doing this he is going to visit his step-daughter in another state. >He once, while we were engaged talked of traveling and showing me things I had >missed out on.  We haven’t had a vacation since we married, do very little >traveling or anything else he talked of.  Is this as one-sided as I think it >is?  He wanted a caring, homemaker type.  I wanted someone who would love me >and want to spend time with me.  I re-built a screendoor yesterday while he sat >on the couch, watching TV, telling me I was a good screendoor maker. Am I nuts, >or am I seeing something I should address immediately?  

Response:

Thank you for the two cents.  I appreciate your insight and have thought of doing something like that but having my older son also on the account in case something were to happen to me.  My husband made this division of monetary accounts shortly after we were married.  I have never gone thru this before and it has been hard since I believe marriage is sharing.  I am not a spender and if there is anything special I want, it comes out of my own money since he questions me if I use the credit card he gave me.  I’m concerned with this new inheritance since I would like to put it away for my children and grandchildren but I tried that with the last and now it is gone because I thought I was "sharing".

Response:

Hum, as far as finances go, I would tell her to set the inheritance in a separate account.  Use alittle to buy the things she thought he was going to help her purchase.I would write a new will, making sure her children are provided for and if he should sell the house, her portion be divided among them. As far as my daughter goes, he understands I am a tigeress where my children are concerned and that if at anytime I believe there is any unhealthy interest in her, he will lose everything he believes he loves.

Response:

Yes, we are married and I believe you misunderstood what I was speaking about. I never intended to keep my finances separate. I believe in sharing all aspects of marriage.  I made the down payment of $100,000. on our home.  I bought $10,000. worth of furniture for it. I also put $5,000. down on a car he wanted.  All of this about cleared the inheritance from my Mother.  I work part-time 10 hours a week at $7.00 an hour.  He has a $200,000. IRA, $50,000. in stock and an hourly wage of $86.00. My "allowance" that you think he should keep also, is $100. a week to take care of all household expenses outside of utilities and buy my gas. I am now going to inherit a six figure inheritance.  He believes I should pay off all bills, buy myself a car, if I would like and then put the rest in a shared account.  Might I ask, who do you think is sharing now?

Response:

women’s intuition is amazing sometimes J "Smudges7" <smudg…@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20010205125016.03746.00001024@ng-cj1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have been married for just under 3 years, coming into this after divorces > with 20 years or more to them. We met online after separations from our spouses > but also spent a year getting to know each other in what I call the real world > before marriage.  He makes a very good living, I work very part-time.  I am 50, > he 46. My daughter 19, lives with us. First question … he must ask me five > times a day what she is up to for the day.  Says he is just a concerned parent > but he watches her all the time, hates every guy she meets and brings home. > She seems to be his main conversation when there are other children in the > marriage also.  I have caught him in the past looking at porn online with teens > involved.  He has also signed on under strange names while I am away. Told me > it was a friend who stopped by to use the computer.  There was no friend and I > was trying to sign on under our account while away but got kicked off because > of this.  Is what I think I am seeing, what others see also in this behavior? > Question #2 … before we married, I inherited alittle money from my Mother. > When it came time to buy a home together, I put down the substantial down > payment since his savings was tied up in IRA’s, etc.  I also bought quite abit > of the furniture we now have.  As I said, he makes a very good salary, I have > my own credit cards and a house allowance every week. Recently my grandmother > became ill, I flew out of state, stayed with her until her death. I was alone > and asked him if he would fly down to give me some mortal support while I > handled this. He did twice and paid for my daughter to come down while I had to > attend to the estate.  I am about to inherit a sizeable amount of money once > again.  He has made a comment that it is community property, which I have > checked on, it is not. He has now requested I pay for those trips, all phone > calls I made to him or family members, and anything else involved with this > emergency.  Also asked me to pay off our combined credit cards with my > inheritance.  We bought a new car shortly after we were married, one that he > wanted, I thought we didn’t need at that time.  Now he has informed me I can > buy the car I wanted to begin with, use my inheritance to do this with. He > handles all bill paying, complains, but goes shopping almost every weekend. > There has always been a feeling of division in finances among other things.  I > have always been very independent, outspoken, and have never been one to > mistrust unless I see a reason for it.  Am I seeing this now or am I just > stressed right now with having to handle another probate? I have to travel back > out of state to finish setting up the estate for probate, rent a truck to move > the items I would like to keep and drive back 1600 miles.  He has informed me > while I am doing this he is going to visit his step-daughter in another state. > He once, while we were engaged talked of traveling and showing me things I had > missed out on.  We haven’t had a vacation since we married, do very little > traveling or anything else he talked of.  Is this as one-sided as I think it > is?  He wanted a caring, homemaker type.  I wanted someone who would love me > and want to spend time with me.  I re-built a screendoor yesterday while he sat > on the couch, watching TV, telling me I was a good screendoor maker. Am I nuts, > or am I seeing something I should address immediately?

Response:

Of course not, but big things, like the major finances, shouldn’t be (yea, each one needs their own money, or at least their own bank card, which is how my wife and I do it). The op, which I think is the one who wants to seperate it, is really hung up on who’s who’s. — JWB remove spamkiller to reply via e-mail "Whisper" <formetok…@youtonotknow.com> wrote in message

news:hUFf6.385922$w61.435502@dfw-read.news.verio.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I think HE was the one keeping things separate.. not her.. I f I read that > correctly > and just because you are married.. doesn’t meant you don’t have  HIS/Her > stuff. > Kass > "JWB" <jwbspamkiller3…@excite.com> wrote in message > news:YlFf6.837$l5.712182@newsfeed1.thebiz.net… > > aren’t you two married? Why all this "mine / his" crap. > > Perhaps he should cut that "allowance" of yours, since you are so into > > keeping your finances seperate. > > As far as your daughter, you have to ask yourself if you trust him. If the > > answer is yes, forget about it. If the answer is no….. well, that’s a > > problem. > > — > > JWB > > remove spamkiller to reply via e-mail > > <angel_…@my-deja.com> wrote in message > news:95mtg1$a88$1@nnrp1.deja.com… > > > I have a few questions: > > > Have you talked to him about your concerns and feelings? > > > Do you have good support around you such as trusted friends that can > > > give honest feedback? > > > Angel > > > Sent via Deja.com > > > http://www.deja.com/

Response:

It sounds to me like you two need to hash out a prenuptuial or in your case, a "mid-nuptual" agreement which set forth who does what, who pays for what, and who has access to what money. IMHO, you also need an understanding on these matters: 1.  When it come to your daughter — Its none of his business.  She is your flesh and blood, not his, and while you appreciate that she is living with you both, he needs to keep in mind that you are her parent, not he. 2.  He can do whatever he wants on the interent, but the moment it interferes with his fidelity to you, you will be gone. 3.  Your inheritance is your separate property, you are willing to use it for household expenses to promote the common good, in the same way that he contributes, but you will not do more than your fair share. If you cannot reach these understandings, IMHO, you have no future together. ==Roger== "Smudges7" <smudg…@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20010205125016.03746.00001024@ng-cj1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have been married for just under 3 years, coming into this after divorces > with 20 years or more to them. We met online after separations from our spouses > but also spent a year getting to know each other in what I call the real world > before marriage.  He makes a very good living, I work very part-time.  I am 50, > he 46. My daughter 19, lives with us. First question … he must ask me five > times a day what she is up to for the day.  Says he is just a concerned parent > but he watches her all the time, hates every guy she meets and brings home. > She seems to be his main conversation when there are other children in the > marriage also.  I have caught him in the past looking at porn online with teens > involved.  He has also signed on under strange names while I am away. Told me > it was a friend who stopped by to use the computer.  There was no friend and I > was trying to sign on under our account while away but got kicked off because > of this.  Is what I think I am seeing, what others see also in this behavior? > Question #2 … before we married, I inherited alittle money from my Mother. > When it came time to buy a home together, I put down the substantial down > payment since his savings was tied up in IRA’s, etc.  I also bought quite abit > of the furniture we now have.  As I said, he makes a very good salary, I have > my own credit cards and a house allowance every week. Recently my grandmother > became ill, I flew out of state, stayed with her until her death. I was alone > and asked him if he would fly down to give me some mortal support while I > handled this. He did twice and paid for my daughter to come down while I had to > attend to the estate.  I am about to inherit a sizeable amount of money once > again.  He has made a comment that it is community property, which I have > checked on, it is not. He has now requested I pay for those trips, all phone > calls I made to him or family members, and anything else involved with this > emergency.  Also asked me to pay off our combined credit cards with my > inheritance.  We bought a new car shortly after we were married, one that he > wanted, I thought we didn’t need at that time.  Now he has informed me I can > buy the car I wanted to begin with, use my inheritance to do this with. He > handles all bill paying, complains, but goes shopping almost every weekend. > There has always been a feeling of division in finances among other things.  I > have always been very independent, outspoken, and have never been one to > mistrust unless I see a reason for it.  Am I seeing this now or am I just > stressed right now with having to handle another probate? I have to travel back > out of state to finish setting up the estate for probate, rent a truck to move > the items I would like to keep and drive back 1600 miles.  He has informed me > while I am doing this he is going to visit his step-daughter in another state. > He once, while we were engaged talked of traveling and showing me things I had > missed out on.  We haven’t had a vacation since we married, do very little > traveling or anything else he talked of.  Is this as one-sided as I think it > is?  He wanted a caring, homemaker type.  I wanted someone who would love me > and want to spend time with me.  I re-built a screendoor yesterday while he sat > on the couch, watching TV, telling me I was a good screendoor maker. Am I nuts, > or am I seeing something I should address immediately?

Response:

aren’t you two married? Why all this "mine / his" crap. Perhaps he should cut that "allowance" of yours, since you are so into keeping your finances seperate. As far as your daughter, you have to ask yourself if you trust him. If the answer is yes, forget about it. If the answer is no….. well, that’s a problem. — JWB remove spamkiller to reply via e-mail – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<angel_…@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:95mtg1$a88$1@nnrp1.deja.com… > I have a few questions: > Have you talked to him about your concerns and feelings? > Do you have good support around you such as trusted friends that can > give honest feedback? > Angel > Sent via Deja.com > http://www.deja.com/

Response:

I think HE was the one keeping things separate.. not her.. I f I read that correctly and just because you are married.. doesn’t meant you don’t have  HIS/Her stuff. Kass "JWB" <jwbspamkiller3…@excite.com> wrote in message

news:YlFf6.837$l5.712182@newsfeed1.thebiz.net… > aren’t you two married? Why all this "mine / his" crap. > Perhaps he should cut that "allowance" of yours, since you are so into > keeping your finances seperate. > As far as your daughter, you have to ask yourself if you trust him. If the > answer is yes, forget about it. If the answer is no….. well, that’s a > problem. > — > JWB > remove spamkiller to reply via e-mail > <angel_…@my-deja.com> wrote in message

news:95mtg1$a88$1@nnrp1.deja.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > I have a few questions: > > Have you talked to him about your concerns and feelings? > > Do you have good support around you such as trusted friends that can > > give honest feedback? > > Angel > > Sent via Deja.com > > http://www.deja.com/

Response:

Personally, I would put the money into an account in my name only when it comes and commit to myself not to touch it for a year (assuming you don’t need it to live on day to day).  That would give me time to assess my husband’s attitude about the money, and to recover from the loss and stress associated with that loss.  Its called buying time, and right now you have enough red flags going up that you probably need some time to figure out how you feel about things. Just my two cents. ~Angel~ Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

I have a few questions: Have you talked to him about your concerns and feelings? Do you have good support around you such as trusted friends that can give honest feedback? Angel Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

Yes, I have talked to him, for one about my daughter, and two, my concerns about finances and mine over his.  I am a talker and when I have a problem with anyone, I discuss it out.  He listens, doesn’t make a comment or says something like I am being ridiculous. Subject dropped … We are new to the area, I have one close friend states away but I am known more as the one to go to for problem solving than one who may have a problem to discuss.  

Response:

In article <20010205125016.03746.00001…@ng-cj1.aol.com>,   smudg…@aol.com (Smudges7) wrote > Am I nuts, > or am I seeing something I should address immediately?

No – You Are Not Nuts!  Please, read what you just wrote and then ask yourself why you would choose to doubt your own sanity.  My guess is because you’d rather doubt yourself than face up to the difficulty and pain of dealing with his unacceptable behavior. -Empress of the Known Universe "To Rule Is To Serve" Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

We have been married for just under 3 years, coming into this after divorces with 20 years or more to them. We met online after separations from our spouses but also spent a year getting to know each other in what I call the real world before marriage.  He makes a very good living, I work very part-time.  I am 50, he 46. My daughter 19, lives with us. First question … he must ask me five times a day what she is up to for the day.  Says he is just a concerned parent but he watches her all the time, hates every guy she meets and brings home. She seems to be his main conversation when there are other children in the marriage also.  I have caught him in the past looking at porn online with teens involved.  He has also signed on under strange names while I am away.  Told me it was a friend who stopped by to use the computer.  There was no friend and I was trying to sign on under our account while away but got kicked off because of this.  Is what I think I am seeing, what others see also in this behavior? Question #2 … before we married, I inherited alittle money from my Mother. When it came time to buy a home together, I put down the substantial down payment since his savings was tied up in IRA’s, etc.  I also bought quite abit of the furniture we now have.  As I said, he makes a very good salary, I have my own credit cards and a house allowance every week. Recently my grandmother became ill, I flew out of state, stayed with her until her death. I was alone and asked him if he would fly down to give me some mortal support while I handled this. He did twice and paid for my daughter to come down while I had to attend to the estate.  I am about to inherit a sizeable amount of money once again.  He has made a comment that it is community property, which I have checked on, it is not. He has now requested I pay for those trips, all phone calls I made to him or family members, and anything else involved with this emergency.  Also asked me to pay off our combined credit cards with my inheritance.  We bought a new car shortly after we were married, one that he wanted, I thought we didn’t need at that time.  Now he has informed me I can buy the car I wanted to begin with, use my inheritance to do this with. He handles all bill paying, complains, but goes shopping almost every weekend. There has always been a feeling of division in finances among other things.  I have always been very independent, outspoken, and have never been one to mistrust unless I see a reason for it.  Am I seeing this now or am I just stressed right now with having to handle another probate? I have to travel back out of state to finish setting up the estate for probate, rent a truck to move the items I would like to keep and drive back 1600 miles.  He has informed me while I am doing this he is going to visit his step-daughter in another state. He once, while we were engaged talked of traveling and showing me things I had missed out on.  We haven’t had a vacation since we married, do very little traveling or anything else he talked of.  Is this as one-sided as I think it is?  He wanted a caring, homemaker type.  I wanted someone who would love me and want to spend time with me.  I re-built a screendoor yesterday while he sat on the couch, watching TV, telling me I was a good screendoor maker. Am I nuts, or am I seeing something I should address immediately?  

Response:

Question:

If no announcements are allowed on this site, please excuse this post. I could not find the moderators email address.

There is no moderator. I took a quick look at your site – interesting.  I’ll take a longer look sometime after April 15. — Jim Hudspeth, CPA – http://home.att.net/~jdhcpa/mainpage.html – Washington, USA Associate Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Response:

I am the content director of a web site called CPAdirectory.com is a nationwide database of 450,000 Certified Public Accountants and CPA firms searchable by criteria including name, location and industry focus.  Taxpayer, small business and investing information is available for the public and the professional as well as job posting and career information within the accounting profession and firms. All CPAs in the country are entitled to a free listing.  If you have any suggestions on this site, please contact me. CPAs visit the members only site http://www.cpadirect.net. Trudy Maffetone Director of Content http://www.cpadirectory.com If no announcements are allowed on this site, please excuse this post. I could not find the moderators email address. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Question:

Does anyone know of a newsgroup or website that will provide me with some good (not dirty) jokes about accountants, Revenue Canada, IRS anything to do with taxes or finances, anything at all? I would appreciate it. Karen

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Why did the accountant cross the road?  Because his Mercedes was in the shop. Why did the IRS agent cross the road?  He already squoze the blood out of the rocks on this side. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Does anyone know of a newsgroup or website that will provide me with some good (not dirty) jokes about accountants, Revenue Canada, IRS anything to do with taxes or finances, anything at all? I would appreciate it. Karen

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What’s the definition of an accountant? Someone who solves a problem you didn’t know you had in a way you don’t understand. What’s the definition of a good tax accountant? Someone who has a loophole named after him. When does a person decide to become an accountant? When he realizes he doesn’t have the charisma to succeed as an  undertaker. What does an accountant use for birth control? His personality. What’s an extroverted accountant? One who looks at your shoes while he’s talking to you instead of his own. What’s an auditor? Someone who arrives after the battle and bayonets all the wounded. Why did the auditor cross the road? Because he looked in the file and that’s what they did last year. There are three kinds of accountants in the world. Those who can count and those who can’t. How do you drive an accountant completely insane? Tie him to a chair, stand in front of him and fold up a road map the wrong way. What do accountants suffer from that ordinary people don’t? Depreciation. An accountant is someone who knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing. An accountant is having a hard time sleeping and goes to see his doctor. "Doctor, I just can’t get to sleep at night." "Have you tried counting sheep?" "That’s the problem – I make a mistake and then spend three hours trying to find it." Dear IRS, Enclosed is my 1998 Tax Return & payment.  Please take note of the attached article from the USA Today newspaper.  In the article, you will see that the Pentagon is paying $171.50 for hammers and NASA has paid $600.00 for a toilet seat. Please find enclosed four toilet seats (value $2,400) and six hammers (value $1,029).  This brings my total payment to $3,429.00.  Please note the overpayment of $22.00 and apply it to the "Presidential Election Fund," as noted on my return. Might I suggest that you send the above mentioned fund a "1.5 inch screw".  (See attached article…HUD paid $22.00 for a 1.5 inch Phillips Head Screw.) It has been a pleasure to pay my tax bill this year, and I look forward to paying it again next year.  I just saw an article about the Pentagon and "screwdrivers."

Does anyone know of a newsgroup or website that will provide me with some good (not dirty) jokes about accountants, Revenue Canada, IRS anything to do with taxes or finances, anything at all? I would appreciate it. Karen

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The Institute of Taxation in the UK has a page of jokes and stories about accountants/tax managers – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone know of a newsgroup or website that will provide me with some good (not dirty) jokes about accountants, Revenue Canada, IRS anything to do with taxes or finances, anything at all? I would appreciate it. Karen

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It is totally unfair to accuse the United States of

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3) My most paranoid question: Ok, when sanatizing,   a) is it really absolutely neccessary to rinse after using a solution      of 1 tblspn/bleach to 1 galn/water?   b) The real reason I ask (a) is, won’t rinsing with municipal tap water      eliminate contribute bad stuff to what would otherwise have been      sanitary equiptment?

I don’t know about *your* tapwater, but mine (esp. from the hot side) smells strongly of chlorine, so I’m guessing not much is living in it. I rinse my chlorine-sanitized utensils, carboys, etc. with tapwater for years, and have never had a problem (except the time the chiller leaked into the pot…). Jo3sh Malt does more than Milton can To justify God’s ways to Man.                – A. E. Housman

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The following has been my experience: Reuse of liquid yeast is fine if you maintain satisfactory sanitary conditions, but I strongly question the repitching of dry yeast. Dry yeast is never contamination free even on the first use, and because it is far less expensive then liquid why take the chance. I look at it this way; Do I want to risk $40 worth of choice ingredients just to save a buck on yeast? Boilovers happen but I have never had one effect the outcome of my beer, good or bad. It is not possible for a home brewer to maintain laboratory sanitary conditions, so just do the best you can. I use bleach to sanitize and always rinse prior to adding the wort. I have never had a problem with this and I don’t think you will either as long as your water supply is safe. If this is still a concern to you I would suggest using idophor rather then bleach. It is more expensive but you don’t have to rinse (unless you really want to). I hope this helps.

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The thing is, I used a dry yeast for this. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s fine to re-use liquid yeast in this way, but I’ve also been lead to believe that it might not be the best idea to do it with freeze-dryed yeast. What do the experts say? -Also, should I bother to clean out the trub/yeast at the bottom? if so, how?

        It should be no problem to re-use dry yeast.  However, make sure that your batch was not infected in any way.  Dry yeast has more of a tendency to pick up infection during processing and manufacture than does liquid.  Secondly, you might want to only harvest the yeast from your viable layer.  This is generally considered to be the middle layer of creamy, white yeast, accounting for about 50% of the mass of the cake.  There was a procedure posted here about how to "wash" yeast.  You may consider it.  It involved adding water, dissolving everything, letting it settle, and pouring off.  Repeating this a couple of times, so the author said, would purify the yeast somewhat. 2) Everyone dreads boil-over, but it happens relatively often. Obviously, it can be prevented, but I’m wondering, does it really have a negative effect on the resulting beer??  I’ve been lead to believe it might be, although that’s not my intuition. What do ya think?

        They should NOT have a negative effect.  However, they are not necessary.  Why bother letting it take place?  The only effects they have are:  Create a huge mess, and decrease from your original specific gravity.  They are very easy to control:         Get a larger pot.  If you don’t already have a pot big enough to do a complete boil without boilover, you’ll eventually want one. Trust me.         Keep a spray bottle next to your brew pot, filled with ice water.  If it threatens to boil over, spray it with the water.  The boilover should go down.  After that, turn down the heat a little bit so that it doesn’t happen again.   a) is it really absolutely neccessary to rinse after using a solution      of 1 tblspn/bleach to 1 galn/water?   b) The real reason I ask (a) is, won’t rinsing with municipal tap water      eliminate contribute bad stuff to what would otherwise have been      sanitary equiptment?   c) What about just letting sanitary equiptment sit in the air?

        a) Chlorine + beer = bad.  Personally, I wouldn’t want to drink ANY chlorine in my beer (or my municipal water, which is why I filter it).  Do you?  Even worse, when chlorine combines with beer, bad compounds form.  Yuck.         b) The chlorine seems to be mainly useful for cleaning bacteria that might be living on the surface of the glassware. Municipal water, for the most part, should be fairly sanitary.  The small amount of bacteria you’ll probably be re-introducing should not be a huge problem, as you’ll also be pitching a sufficient amount of yeast to take over and destroy it.         c)  Not good with household bleach, as the sodium hypochlorate will not evaporate, but will dry into a powder instead.  Then, you might as well have just added it straight into your brew.         If you’re really serious about not wanting to rinse, get some C-Brite, or a similar no-rinse sanitizer.  Ask your local homebrew shop about it.  (I rinse C-Brite, too.  My nose tells me that not all of it ever evaporates) NOTICE TO BULK EMAILER(S): Pursuant to US Code, Title 47, Chapter 5, Subchapter II, 227, any and all unsolicited commercial e-mail sent to this address is subject to a download and archival fee in the amount of $500 US.                                                                    

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Hey folks, I’ve got a few questions that I’m hoping I can come to some consensus about. 1) I’m currently brewing a fairly light lager, (started last night). I’m planning on transferring it to a secondary monday. So, on monday, I want to use the yeast from the light lager in the bottom of the primary fermenter to jump start a batch of dopplebock. (and also to cut costs) The thing is, I used a dry yeast for this. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s fine to re-use liquid yeast in this way, but I’ve also been lead to believe that it might not be the best idea to do it with freeze-dryed yeast. What do the experts say? -Also, should I bother to clean out the trub/yeast at the bottom? if so, how? 2) Everyone dreads boil-over, but it happens relatively often. Obviously, it can be prevented, but I’m wondering, does it really have a negative effect on the resulting beer??  I’ve been lead to believe it might be, although that’s not my intuition. What do ya think? 3) My most paranoid question: Ok, when sanatizing,    a) is it really absolutely neccessary to rinse after using a solution       of 1 tblspn/bleach to 1 galn/water?    b) The real reason I ask (a) is, won’t rinsing with municipal tap water       eliminate contribute bad stuff to what would otherwise have been       sanitary equiptment?    c) What about just letting sanitary equiptment sit in the air? If these things do make it unsanitary, is it to such a small degree that it won’t affect the quality? And, is there anything I can do to fix these problems? Thanks for your help! -Justin —  "I am the person my parents warned me about." |"A lie is a  |     Message Copyright, 1995. The Microsoft    | "A little    | |technological| Network is prohibited from redistributing this| rebellion now| |inexactitude"| work in any form. License for distribution is | & then is a  | |- Winston    | available for US$5000000. Distribution without| good thing." | |    Churchill|permission constitutes agreement to these terms| T. Jefferson | -CIA–NSA–FBI–ATF–SS–KGB–MI5–CSIS–SUPO–PIP–DEA–NRO–xxx–xxx–xx x-/              Any cool agencies in your country?           ^^^ Mail me!!

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I recently purchased Quickbooks 5 to use in my practice of public accounting. So many of my clients seem to be making this choice. However, in trying to load my clients data from Quickbooks DOS version 1 and 2 Intuit seems to be unwilling to help in the conversion. I think it’s  a lot to ask that data can be converted automatically and/or free through 4 version upgrades, particularly when it costs as little as QB  **AND**  you’re using it professionally.  However ….. QB3 (Windows) can convert data from versions 1 and 2, DOS or Windows. QB4 (Windows) can convert data from versions 2 and 3, DOS or Windows.   QB5 I don’t know, not using it, but I presume that the manual tell you what data it can convert.  I’ll guess that it can convert data from at least version 3, 4 – and maybe also version 2.   I’ve converted about 30 files through various versions up to 4.5C (the latest Canadian version) without a single error or problem. I’d recommend that you buy a copy of version 3, use it to convert data from all previous versions, then convert the new files to version 5.  I also suggest you encourage your versions 1-2 clients to upgrade to at least version 3. If you can’t or don’t want to buy version 3, put all the older data on diskette and mail to me with a cheque or money order for $25 per file; I’ll convert them all to version 3 and return them asap.   E-mail one file to me first for a free trial.

QB 2 or 2.1 DOS can read & automatically convert QB 1 files. QB 5 Win or Pro automatically reads & converts from these. There is no going back, but QB 5 is much better. Mike Block, CPA, 275 E Oakland Pk Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334 Taxation is legalized theft!  Please help us stop this organized crime!

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I recently purchased Quickbooks 5 to use in my practice of public accounting. So many of my clients seem to be making this choice. However, in trying to load my clients data from Quickbooks DOS version 1 and 2 Intuit seems to be unwilling to help in the conversion.

I think it’s  a lot to ask that data can be converted automatically and/or free through 4 version upgrades, particularly when it costs as little as QB  **AND**  you’re using it professionally.  However ….. QB3 (Windows) can convert data from versions 1 and 2, DOS or Windows. QB4 (Windows) can convert data from versions 2 and 3, DOS or Windows.   QB5 I don’t know, not using it, but I presume that the manual tell you what data it can convert.  I’ll guess that it can convert data from at least version 3, 4 – and maybe also version 2.   I’ve converted about 30 files through various versions up to 4.5C (the latest Canadian version) without a single error or problem. I’d recommend that you buy a copy of version 3, use it to convert data from all previous versions, then convert the new files to version 5.  I also suggest you encourage your versions 1-2 clients to upgrade to at least version 3. If you can’t or don’t want to buy version 3, put all the older data on diskette and mail to me with a cheque or money order for $25 per file; I’ll convert them all to version 3 and return them asap.   E-mail one file to me first for a free trial. — Vernon (Vern) Paige

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I recently purchased Quickbooks 5 to use in my practice of public accounting. So many of my clients seem to be making this choice. However, in trying to load my clients data from Quickbooks DOS version 1 and 2 Intuit seems to be unwilling to help in the conversion. I have called their customer support only to be told that the "free" software mentioned in the manual costs $149 or the cost of a new upgrade for my clients. Once they directed me to their web page, but still I receive the same error message. Has anyone had experience with this? Thanks.

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From previous posts, I know that Elliot works out of home.. (snipped for space) ** Mike, just as an addendum to my first reply, I thought I’d add something that Rosita reminded me of from her post:) While she has a good point, I’d like to carry it a bit further. Rosita’s suggested that she found getting "out" quite important for her. She added that she enjoys what she’s doing. These are "both" quite important, I’d certainly think, and if you could find something that fits the bill, that would certainly be an option to look for.

Hi, Elliot…..I thank you for your suggestions mentioned here……But I *never saw* your first reply…….and I have yet to see Rosita’s…..:((((  Don’t know what is going on with my newsreader…….I have received others….:(( But again, thanks to you……and to ALL ….. who posted replies….. !! MikeH

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Hi Mike, I work from home too, but not because of my agoraphobia, which was years ago.  I got tired of the rat race and office politics, so I went back to school for 2 years, and I am now a medical transcriptionist.  I live in Colorado Springs but do work for Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Ain’t technology grand?  I also have some local doctors I transcribe for. I love getting up in my jammies and going to work, but I also make sure that I have a lot of outside contacts.  There are a lot of men getting into the field now, but it does take awhile to get your speed up, so you can make a decent living at this.   Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do.   Joan Does anyone – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – else here in the newsgroup have a home-based business??  I want *desperately* to find something **legitimate** to do from home……

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(Jwelchco) writes: I got tired of the rat race and office politics, so I went back to school for 2 years, and I am now a medical transcriptionist.  I live

in Colorado Springs but do work for Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. How? where? who??? I wanna be like you-hoo.. How can I get into transcriptions?? Rosita working in pajamas ia apealing

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How? where? who??? I wanna be like you-hoo.. How can I get into transcriptions??

Okay Rosita, here goes:  You can contact the American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT) at 209-551-0883 (sorry I could not find an 800# for you).  They will be able to direct you, and I also believe they have some home study courses you can take (takes a lot of discipline). They also have a Web site, which they have mentioned in their journal but did not give the site name. You can check out this newsgroup (sci.med.transcription), which has tons of information and a lot of people like you asking questions about getting into the business. Next, you can call a community college or technical college in your area and see if they have a program.  Some have certificate programs and some have associate’s degrees. Hope this helps! Joan

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Yes, Yes, Rosita!         This is a wonderful idea.  Look into it.  The mystery place where I work counsels and trains people for new work and jobs, mostly under JTPA grant funds.  Right now, MANY doctors in our area are letting their medical transcriptionists go and "farming" the work out to independent contractors, which is what you would be.         I trained one such person to use a computer.  Her little business is booming.  BUT, you need to do just as Joan has told you.  Go for a certificate program.  Then go after the work!  Also seek help from a group that will help you learn to run your own business.  One such group is called SCORE which is a group of retired business people who volunteer their services for people just like you.         You might qualify for funding for this if you look into training availability in your area. —  … Tasha … ~8) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How? where? who??? I wanna be like you-hoo.. How can I get into transcriptions?? Okay Rosita, here goes:  You can contact the American Association for Medical Transcription (AAMT) at 209-551-0883 (sorry I could not find an 800# for you).  They will be able to direct you, and I also believe they have some home study courses you can take (takes a lot of discipline). They also have a Web site, which they have mentioned in their journal but did not give the site name. You can check out this newsgroup (sci.med.transcription), which has tons of information and a lot of people like you asking questions about getting into the business. Next, you can call a community college or technical college in your area and see if they have a program.  Some have certificate programs and some have associate’s degrees. Hope this helps! Joan

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From previous posts, I know that Elliot works out of home…….Does anyone else here in the newsgroup have a home-based business??  I want *desperately* to find something **legitimate** to do from home…….or I have NO idea how to even begin.  I just need a change in work environments…….very badly……the depression and anxiety has been so much worse for the past two years….and it is definitely work related…..But I have done the same thing for 24 years, and I am afraid to change…..but also afraid to stay where I am……:((

<snipped for space Hi, Mike – yes, I work from home, too and have done since 1976, when the first tsunami of agoraphobia forced me out of my job. Over the years, several people have suggested to me that working from home is a soft option and that it doesn’t make me face my fears and phobias. To a degree this is true but, then again, I simply had no alternative when this began – it was try to earn some money from home or go broke. Since then, for all the harm it may have done me, by enabling me to avoid confronting things, I think that, on balance, it has been good for me. I can’t offer much concrete advice because things are, I’m sure, different in the USA, though possibly not *very* different in the broad outlines. In those terms, the thing you *must* be careful about is the obvious one – money. There is a world of insecurity waiting for the self-employed and if you are one of those who agonizes over money then *please* think it through very carefully. You might be escaping a grinding, humiliating or even mentally dangerous job, but you might also be locking yourself into uncertainty you won’t like either. That said, obviously, you have to find something you *can* do from home. Being a journalist who dabbles in PR, this wasn’t hard for me, but not everyone is in an area where they have ready-made expertise. If you haven’t, my advice would be to get training. Read books, go on some courses, talk to people but *avoid franchises, MLM and home working scams* and, if at all possible, start on a part-time basis and work towards going at it full-time from there. Hope that’s some help – good luck! — Gary Cooper

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I Mike H wrote to say: <  I want *desperately* to find something **legitimate** to do from web and ads…..<snip….the depression and anxiety has been so much worse for the past two years….and it is definitely work related….

Mike, as a fellow depressed soul, I have to tell you that working ‘outside’ my home is what keeps me from calling Dr. Kevorkian .  Of course et helps that I do like my job, but even when I had one that I hated, I knew that leaving the house was the best medicine for depression. Having to work outside my home ‘forced me’to get out of bed, and ‘forced me’ to put on decent clothes, comb my hair, put on make up etc, and once out of the house I received sun light, felt the breeze, and at my job I ‘had to’ smile, had to concentrate on what I was supposed to do, and that helped me get my mind on other things. But, since your job is what keeps you depressed, then maybe it will work, is like they say in my country "Life is like a crowded city bus, the ones inside want to get out and the ones out want to get in but neither can" Rosita Good luck in finding your rainbow

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Re: Working out of the home. I work out of my home doing tax preparation.  I am an Enrolled Agent which means I have taken four tests over a period of two days covering many aspects of tax.  I have a background in accounting which helps.  It will take time to build up a decent business but I think it is interesting work.  I also research stocks so that keeps me busy too.   Cindy is right about all the health insurane fees, although we are getting a break with the new tax legislation, not enough to celebrate with, but better than nothing. Liz m –

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CW wrote to Mike: Since this is not a medical related issue, I would think that people would feel a little more comfortable offering advice, however you really did not give us much to go on, as far as what you have done or what you would like to do.

This is a valuable subject for all of us that have been agoraphobic from time to time.  Alot of self-esteem can be built back if you are doing something productive and revenue producing. Not to mention, for those that are working "out there" that might be much more comfortable and have less stress in their daily lives if they could find something income producing to do at home. Hope this helps KC Cindy

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From previous posts, I know that Elliot works out of home…….Does anyone else here in the newsgroup have a home-based business??  I want *desperately* to find something **legitimate** to do from home…….or I have NO idea how to even begin.  I just need a change in work environments…….very badly……the depression and anxiety has been so much worse for the past two years….and it is definitely work related…..But I have done the same thing for 24 years, and I am afraid to change…..but also afraid to stay where I am……:(( If anyone has any tips on where to look, how to look, how to begin, etc,….I would greatly appreciate them……I’ve checked out the Small Business Association on the web….and lots of "get rich quick" ideas from newsgroups…..I don’t have a lot to invest, so I don’t want to get suckered…. You guys are some of the nicest people in the world.  I post occasionally…..but I read everyday!!! Thanks……MikeH

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Mike H wrote to say: <  I want – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -*desperately* to find something **legitimate** to do from home…….or ads…..But I have NO idea how to even begin.  I just need a change in work environments…….very badly……the depression and anxiety has been so much worse for the past two years….and it is definitely work related…..But I have done the same thing for 24 years, and I am afraid to change…..but also afraid to stay where I am……:(( If anyone has any tips on where to look, how to look, how to begin, etc,….I would greatly appreciate them……I’ve checked out the Small Business Association on the web….and lots of "get rich quick" ideas from newsgroups…..I don’t have a lot to invest, so I don’t want to get suckered….

Mike……first thing is first.  Don’t give up your day job and make a radical move.  Start working from home part time.  When the money gets close, then you can make your move.  Don’t foget little things like benefits of insurance, 401K’s and stuff like that to figure in.  When we started our own business, our health insurance was $435 a month!!  But with me being a mental basket case, we had to keep it. Anyway, books, there are some GREAT books out there for homebased businesses. The best book with the best information I loaned out and can’t remember who I loaned it to.  I don’t recall the title, it was something like "101 Home-Based Businesses" and it gave explicit information on how to study demographics, advertise, supplies, approx start-up cost, and how to generate business. Another cool one is "Earning Money Without A Job" by Jay Conrad Levinson (author of "Guerilla Marketing") And if you are handy with your computer a good book to look at is "Health Service Businesses on your Home-Based PC" by Rick Benzel. For a "pantload" (can I say that or is that plagiarism?) of informational books go to AMAZON books….. http://www.amazon.com under "subject" type in "home based businesses" and you will be able to browse available books from your computer.  You’ll find everything from making cookies at home (that’s how Mrs. Fields got started) to investment brokerages at home. If you are good at typing, transcribing is pretty good paying job. Businesses use it, medical facilities, lawyers….and a transcribing machine is about $150.  Some medical transcribers earn $40 – $70K a year, depending on your location and area of expertise, however it takes about six months of hard study  to learn the lingo.  There are also home based study courses you can get through the mail for various businesses.  But they run about $200 to $2000 depending on what you wanna study.  Again, as always, in any at home study program, Caveat Emptor!!! Hope this helps KC Cindy

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