Messages

271

Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: Bahamas Master Thread

« on: August 09, 2018, 02:54:58 PM »

Hi All,

Planning a budget trip to Bahamas Atlantis and looking for ways to save money on food.  Anyone with experience?  I'm not about to pay $6 for a bottle of water and xx amount for bread.

Anyone experience with checking-in snack/food on Delta flights?  *Thanks*

Any cheap eats in or near Atlantis?  Tricks to get bottled water?

Either bring water with you or keep asking the bars for ice water, it's free.

272

Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: Bahamas Master Thread

« on: August 09, 2018, 02:53:50 PM »

I'm sure you can call and find out. I believe I remember seeing that the resort fee is $5-10 higher in the nicer towers and possibly even more in a suite.
I just came back and i stayed in the beach tower. It's really old and run down but it was clean so we didn't really mind.
Pros: much quieter
Pool usually pretty empty, beach we were able to find a quiter spot
Lazy river is right there

Cons:
It's a bit out of it
It's a really long walk to anywhere and most shuttles and cabs drop you off by the entrance to coral towers and you have to walk through a long long hallway to get to your room.
I strongly suggest you look at a map before booking

273

Credit Cards / Re: Points/Miles Values NO BUYING/SELLING ALLOWED

« on: August 09, 2018, 09:42:51 AM »

What's everyone's opinions on the value of SPG/Marriott in the near future?
There are so many factors, both positive and negative affecting supply and demand

Possible big signup bonuses
Becoming much harder to earn from spend
Transferring to airline miles won't be lucaritive
Travel packages devalued
But.... an INSANE chart for top tier properties till 2019
And more I'm missing

274

Just Shmooze / Re: Screwed by a CPA-Any advice?

« on: July 27, 2018, 01:02:53 PM »

I work for a CPA, and there are a few things I want to add and one thing I want to ask.

1. If you come to an accountant in March as a new client, you're likely gonna go on extension and I wouldn't expect an in depth inspection of your tax situation unless you're willing to pay for it, which clearly you're not if you're paying $150 for your return.

2. My boss always mentions (often repeatedly) that IRA contributions need to be made by 4/15 (or in the case of this year 4/17). Now I'm not sure if that's because he thinks people don't know or because he wants to make sure you don't screw up and miss the contribution deadline, but I get the impression, from people I know outside the accounting world, that it's well know that IRA contributions need to be made by the April deadline, so it's entirely possible he assumed you knew. Maybe my boss is just diligent in that respect.

3. I definitely think you get what you pay for when it comes to accounting. Someone who's doing returns for $150 is not what I'd call a "full-service" accountant, and therefore I wouldn't necessarily expect them to mention that.

4. In terms of what your options are, I don't think withholding payment is appropriate because he did provide the service and the fact that that item either fell through the cracks or was missed, your return was still done. Maybe you should talk to the accountant and see if they'll adjust the fee. But I don't think outright stiffing the guy is right.

My question is, if you finished your taxes in May, why are you posting about this at the end of July?

1) I didn't need any in depth inspection.
2) I wish I would've came to your boss
3) I never mentioned full-service. I only wanted a CPA to file my taxes.
4) Are you nuts? If you brought your car in for an oil change, and the guy accidentally ruined your engine, would you say "The service was still done"??

As far as why I'm posting now, in May I spoke to the boss and my complaints fell on deaf ears. I'm not sure what took them so long, but they only called me last week to tell me my return is finally ready.
It boggles my mind that this is one of the more established Lakewood firms with a good reputation.

275

Just Shmooze / Re: Screwed by a CPA-Any advice?

« on: July 27, 2018, 12:28:59 PM »

Sounds like an unprofessional accountant. I would fire them and move on.  Missing deadlines is a huge deal. Not as bad as missing a criminal trial deadline, but being a professional carries with it a certain level of expected guidance. They clearly missed that mark.

Like other have said "Fire them".
Of course I won't ever be using them again.
If I ever need a CPA again, there are plenty of other options.
My question to Y'-all is: Do I have any options besides crying over spilled milk?

276

Just Shmooze / Re: Screwed by a CPA-Any advice?

« on: July 27, 2018, 12:03:14 PM »

Some of it comes down to what ppl are willing to pay. We can't always expect to pay cheap and still get hours of professionals time.

-100
They charge $150 for a simple return with the standard deduction.
Every additional form or complication adds to the bill.
If it takes hours, you pay for those hours.

277

Just Shmooze / Re: Screwed by a CPA-Any advice?

« on: July 27, 2018, 12:01:00 PM »

Not saying you were not screwed but just to be clear the savers credit does not apply if you are a student and to get the full $ amount your income levels need to be pretty darn low.

Were you really eligible for the full credit?

Yes I'm not a student and my AGI was under $38,000. (Married filing jointly)

278

Just Shmooze / Re: Screwed by a CPA-Any advice?

« on: July 27, 2018, 11:59:29 AM »

I sympathize with OP. The whole point of hiring professionals is that you don't need to be figuring out things yourself.

If they're gong to be doing extensions without a consultation first, they should have a little checklist of things that may still need to be done by April 15.

Exactly. Well said. The same way they made sure to tell me I need to make my payments by April 15th, they should've mentioned I need to make IRA contributions by then.

279

Just Shmooze / Screwed by a CPA-Any advice?

« on: July 26, 2018, 07:36:54 PM »

I always filed my taxes myself online. This year, because I moved, and got married I figured I would just pay a CPA to take care of it. I did some homework and heard good things about a certain CPA in Lakewood. I didn't know all the details but I heard by making an IRA I could take advantage of the Savers Credit and hopefully knock $2,000 of my tax bill. In the beginning on March I went into their office and they said they are too busy to file now but they can file an extension and take care of it after tax day. I said "Sure, no problem, just promise me I won't lose anything by doing it this way. They said "Yes." They gave me a short paper to fill out and one of the questions was "Would you like to discuss contributing to an IRA to lower your taxes? I checked off YES.  Afterwards they estimated my taxes, and instructed me to make my payments. Fast forward to May, when they called me to finish up my taxes. I asked about the IRA, and they said "That had to be done by april 15th.  It's not our problem to tell you that". I tried to argue that I knew about this deduction and I wanted to discuss the IRA with them back in March, and they had pushed me away until the summer, saying I wouldn't lose anything by filing an extension and taking care of my taxes after. 

The short story is they screwed me. I believe, as people rely on their advice and pay them nicely for it, they should be held accountable when they screw up like this. Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed? Do you believe the CPA should accept responsibility?

280

On The Road / Re: Hyatt Find

« on: July 22, 2018, 07:10:13 PM »

it doesn't seem to really be 10 points per dollar. Maybe there taxes or something. Seems more like 7 points per dollar. So it would only be worth it if you actually want to do these activities.

281

Deals/Deal Requests / Re: Reserve Cut Restaurant Week

« on: July 22, 2018, 04:29:12 PM »

http://reservecut.com/lunch-prix-fixe/ I think I would still be hungry after a $35 lunch there.

282

Deals/Deal Requests / Re: Gift Card and gas Promo at Stop & Shop or Giant

« on: July 19, 2018, 05:26:25 PM »

$1.50 off x 20 gallons = $30. Even if Shell is $0.30 more per gallon, that’s only $6.00, so I am saving $24.  Plus, the points are worth a lot more than the card fees (even accounting for the MO fees). For example, I value 1,000 SPG at about $22. Card fees plus MO fee total only $13.

I hear. Though it also depends on what car you drive and how long you're cool driving with the gas light on

283

Deals/Deal Requests / Re: Gift Card and gas Promo at Stop & Shop or Giant

« on: July 19, 2018, 05:12:24 PM »

you would get 1.50 off in 2 separate fill ups

So why do people bother with all the legwork involved in these promos? Especially since shell is usually 20-30 cents more expensive per gallon that other stations. Most of the time you wouldn't be saving more $15. Let's say the cc points cancel out the $5.95 fee. Am I missing another angle?

284

Deals/Deal Requests / Re: Gift Card and gas Promo at Stop & Shop or Giant

« on: July 19, 2018, 04:52:32 PM »

If I were to go buy $1500 of vgc, I would get 3,000 points. Does that mean I get $3.00 off a gallon? I thought I remember reading somewhere there's a limit of $1.50 off at a time?

285

Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: Cleveland Master Thread

« on: July 05, 2018, 12:41:55 PM »

LOL

How about some Thursday night cholent? It would be nice if CLE had a place.