Okay, before this becomes an All About My Taxes journal, I think I have finally, FINALLY, worked out a solution.  Turns out, that last W2 was just enough to tip us over some bracket-line.  So close that contributing 2k to an IRA doesn’t do squat, but that contributing 2100 (even 2050 would do it) drops us below the magic number, and halves our tax debt. Whew.

In other news, today is gorgeous out.  Dave went for a walk with me, it’s about 45 degrees and sunny, things are melting, bright blue sky, and while we are all aware that this does not mean the end of winter, it’s one of those days that reminds you that spring IS coming and we are not all going to die in a snowbank. You know.

I did my FAFSA, after working out the tax situation, and it told me that we should be expected to contribute 17,000 dollars to my education next year. Uh, no. Even if I KEPT my job, which I’m really feeling more and more motivated to not do that, at all, regardless of any childbearing, we couldn’t afford 17k on my education. My god, we pay less than that a year on our HOUSE.  Ah well.

I had the epiphany though, that I could always take out loans.  I know, duh, right?  Say I got pregnant soon, I could go full time, school only, on loans.  Not even trying for GA work, just school.  Maybe I could pick up some hours at a library or the CLC, or subbing, but have it be School Only.  All of my classes are scheduled for late afternoon, early evening, so I wouldn’t need childcare, because Dave would be here.  I wouldn’t need a car because, well, Dave would be here.  I could focus on school (and hypothetical baby, of course) and just go for it.  Since I could finish my degree in 2 years, taking just two classes a semester (which counts as FT for grad school), I could consider living off loans for the year that I had an infant.  Maybe it won’t be this year, I can’t control that.  So, this year, if I’m not knocked up, I can work (someplace ELSE) or GA or whatever until I am knocked up.  Or, if I get pregnant soon, I could use next year as a Loan Year, and work more/loan less when baby was a year old. 

I’m so skittish about debt, that I didn’t even consider it.  However, it’s not like the Master’s is in Art History or something less marketable (no offense AH majors) but IT, which is still coming to fruition, and is still a new field.  I feel like the sooner I finish, the easier it will be to ride the wave of IT as it starts to swell.  WIth that in mind, loaning money isn’t too terrifying. And, it’s student loans, which have a great interest rate and are considered good debt.

I also am feeling the need to create again.  I just haven’t in a while, not writing-wise, or photography-wise.  I have a goal to submit one of each to someplace, somewhere, by summer.  I picked up a Maine in Print at the library, and was reading through the submissions sections, and trying to think of where I could submit to. It’s something I need to do.

Right now, though, I need to submit some clothes to the washing machine.  And a check to my IRA.