Interesting Discussion on the Houston Board

MarriedinCali · March 2009

I saw this at the bottom of the page and thought it looked interesting:

http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/1/11936887/ShowThread.aspx

All these women talking about income of $250k+ - saying basically they would/would not divorce because of new tax laws coming into play next year. Its pretty crazy stuff- a very interesting (but frustrating at times) read.

This is probably my favorite argument/ quote from the discussion- does this just sound nuts to you or is it just me?:

FKA:
And I don't think $250K a year is exactly poor either...give yourselves some credit. There are many people who would love to have a combined income of $100K much less $250K. I think we're doing great and we're not even at the $250K mark yet...

DarbyKat · March 2009

Wait a minute, are they complaining about a 250K income?! I WISH!!!

kimarino13 · March 2009

I didn't read all the responses, but this is a subject that is hitting close to home right now. ?I didn't know this until we had our taxes done a few weeks ago, but the government thinks we make "too much money" (which in my opinion isn't really that much for living in CA) and we can't write off the loss on the house we own in Idaho. ? Here we are trying to do the right thing by keeping the house even though we incur a HUGE loss every month despite the measly rent we collect, and we are penalized for it. ?And when I mean penalized, I mean a double digit swing in taxes. ?What we used to get back as a refund, we now owe. ?It's awful. ?So unfortunately, I sort of see where they are coming from. ?That doesn't mean I would do it, I just understand why some are entertaining the thought.

mzjackson · March 2009

The governement needs to get their shiit straight & go after the people that work the system (medical/welfare mochers) & leave the people that make an honest living alone.

klmbride05 · March 2009

Wow. That is really interesting. I am very ignorant on the subject though. I never really thought about the fact that there might be a tax benefit to divorce.

sweettalkin417 · March 2009

This might also affect some people decisions to get married in the first place. Slightly different situation but my boss is waiting to get married until his future wife's eldest is done with college. They don't want her to loose her financial aid.

JENNB1101 · March 2009

As much as I'd like to have this problem, I'm glad I don't. I'm sorry you guys are being affected by it Kim. I have mixed emotion about this problem. I do think it's ridiculous that you're being punished though Kim.

MarriedinCali · March 2009

Its funny- my parents were considering a divorce when I went to college- so they could get financial aid for me. I refused to allow them to get a divorce just to help me through school- and I ended up owing $60k- but it was worth it to me.

I did find that quote about people who only dream about making $100k- because that is me. I thought $100k was doing good... but it sounded like you're only doing well if you make $250k+

I do think it is insane that they penalize married couples though- like someone said- I'd rather they took care of the Welfare abusers and left the people who worked hard to get where they are alone... makes no sense- penalize the hard workers just because they can. Definitely not right in my book.

sweettalkin417 · March 2009

I believe for a lot of people no matter how much they make they always desire/need to make more money or feel like they don't have any.

Ladykat42 · March 2009

sweettalkin417:
I believe for a lot of people no matter how much they make they always desire/need to make more money or feel like they don't have any.

I think that's a big part of the bottom line really.

Honestly I'd be suprised if we ever make 100K a year, and I REALLY doubt we'de ever get to $250k a year. In fact I can pretty much guarentee that'll never happen. It's crazy to me that people feel that's "not enough", but I guess when you make that much you probably also have a debt that goes along with it, bigger house, more cars etc.

katdcliff · March 2009

where I work a ton of people refuse to get married just so they can keep their government assistance. These aren't just the lower people. One girl has kids with a supervisor who make the big bucks but they won't get married because they refuse to buy their own milk.

Ladykat42 · March 2009

I'm sorry. I think that's just ridiculous.

1. You cheapen marriage by making about money.
2. If you can afford to live without assistance, than you shouldn't be on it. Your wasting MY tax dollars and taking money away from people who need it.

JENNB1101 · March 2009

I would say it's really wrong, but then you have the CEO's making 7 or 8 digits with their bonuses and flying in personal jets that are begging congress for a bail out and then they go under anyway. Then there's us, who save everything and keep a very strict budget on our 5 digit income, who hope to make 6 digits but don't really know if that will happen. It's all situational I guess.

Ladykat42 · March 2009

I don't know. Logic would say that the more money you make, the more you should pay in taxes. I'm sure it still hurts, but if you're making that much money, logically you can afford the bigger hit. Uncle Sam's gonna get his money and it bothers me when those who make more go through all kinds of loop holes to pay nothing or get big returns, and the money Uncle Sam needs trickles down to us to pay it because we don't make enough money to get a break. Of course if I'm making $250K a year, I'd be looking for tax breaks too, but to go to the extreme of getting a divorce to get out of paying. At some point where do you draw the line and pay your dues.

Sharra711 · March 2009

Hummmm..... that seems like a tough spot to be in.... but I will take the 250K + a year and try to figure it out Wink

The truth is everyone wants to make their life easier and will find a way to do that (not get married to get WIC, or get a divorce to save on taxes).

kimarino13 · March 2009

P.S. I hope it didn't seem like I was saying we make over $250K a year. ?Not even close. ?The tax loophole for us was a much lower amount, which makes it even crazier.

JENNB1101 · March 2009

kimarino13:
P.S. I hope it didn't seem like I was saying we make over $250K a year. Not even close. The tax loophole for us was a much lower amount, which makes it even crazier.

Yeah right Kim. We all know you're loaded. That's why you don't work, you eat bon bons all day while watching soap operas. You don't have to lie to us

JENNB1101 · March 2009

I forgot to wink up there Wink

kimarino13 · March 2009

JENNB1101:
Yeah right Kim. We all know you're loaded. That's why you don't work, you eat bon bons all day while watching soap operas. You don't have to lie to us

Damn. ?You have me all figured out! ?Perhaps I should switch from bon bons to Skinny Cow, though, seeing as how my ass won't stop expanding. ?;)?

Sharra711 · March 2009

kimarino13:
JENNB1101:

Yeah right Kim. We all know you're loaded. That's why you don't work, you eat bon bons all day while watching soap operas. You don't have to lie to us

Damn. You have me all figured out! Perhaps I should switch from bon bons to Skinny Cow, though, seeing as how my ass won't stop expanding.

1 Skinny Cow.... OK...... 15.... not so much! Stick out tongue

kimarino13 · March 2009

Years and years ago when I was crazy skinny and into the "nonfat" diet craze, I used to eat 2 Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches for breakfast. ?Ha!

JENNB1101 · March 2009

kimarino13:
Years and years ago when I was crazy skinny and into the "nonfat" diet craze, I used to eat 2 Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches for breakfast. Ha!

You're my hero. Ice cream is the breakfast of champs.

BeckiC · March 2009

mzjackson:

The governement needs to get their shiit straight & go after the people that work the system (medical/welfare mochers) & leave the people that make an honest living alone.

Amen!

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