[vata20]

I’m taking FAR in early July. Using Wiley Cpaexcel review course. I study at night after my daughter (3yr old) goes to bed (around 9pm). It’s basically impossible to study when my daughter is not asleep (even with my wife at home) Its hard to keep up with the cpaexcel schedule. Anyone in a similar situation? Any insight on cpaexcel?

Taking FAR first

[Anonymous]

I can't study with my kids awake either and 9:00 is a little late to get started after a full work day. My suggestion would be to talk to your wife and plan for her to be at home two nights a week (set the days and stick to them) while you either stay at work or go to the library to study. My husband has a weird schedule and is either at work or sleeping from the 5-9 hours so my kids spend two nights a week at my parent's house when I am in full study mode for a test. Without your wife's support getting your studying in is going to be very difficult.

[Anonymous]

I can't study with my kids awake either and 9:00 is a little late to get started after a full work day. My suggestion would be to talk to your wife and plan for her to be at home two nights a week (set the days and stick to them) while you either stay at work or go to the library to study. My husband has a weird schedule and is either at work or sleeping from the 5-9 hours so my kids spend two nights a week at my parent's house when I am in full study mode for a test. Without your wife's support getting your studying in is going to be very difficult.

[masa_inn]

Early mornings. Waking up at 4:15 SUCKS, but I am very productive for 2 hours; and then usually add 1.5-2 hours in the afternoon.

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[masa_inn]

Early mornings. Waking up at 4:15 SUCKS, but I am very productive for 2 hours; and then usually add 1.5-2 hours in the afternoon.

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[Anonymous]

ELL

[Anonymous]

ELL

[RandomAlt]

Vata20,

I'm in almost the exact same situation as you. Work 8:30-5:30 M-F. Have a wife and a 2 1/2 year old. I'm using CPAexcel.

Here are my only tips, and its how it works for me. Obviously YMMV

Especially after tax season, and practically not seeing my kid 4-5 days a week (gone before he gets up, home after he is asleep), I make sure to see him every night until he goes to sleep. That is our time. I study from 8-10 or 11PM every weeknight. On the weekends, I take one full day and study. I DO NOT DO THIS IN THE HOUSE. It would be impossible. I go somewhere with free refills and drink tea all day (mostly Paneras, nice soft music & wifi). THen one day on the weekend it family day.

Really, there is no silver bullet to this situation. Its a compromise, and you and your wife have to be on the same page. That is vitally important. 8-11PM use to be our time together after the kid went to bed. Now I study. And she understands, and she doesn't complain that she never sees me. She knows that would really affect my studying, and we both want to get this over with as quickly as possible.

The section you are studying for will also determine your time commitment. If you are studying for FAR like me, you are going to either have to put in a lot more hours (Like I said, I currently average 10-12 study hours during the week, and 10 on the weekend). So you either need more hours per week, or more weeks until you take the exam.

I would also caution you about starting to study too ate at night. 9PM really sounds like too late of a start. My kid is in bed my 8PM, and if he is fussy after that, my wife takes care of it. So I start by 8…I would not get anywhere if I started at 9. You are just not going to be as productive after a full day of work or family. It might suit you better to study in the morning.

LMK if you have any questions.

FAR - [10/07/2013 --> 66] [07/07/2014 --> 86]
BEC - [08/31/2014 --> 86]
AUD - [11/24/2014 --> 88]
REG - [02/14/2015 --> 92]

[RandomAlt]

Vata20,

I'm in almost the exact same situation as you. Work 8:30-5:30 M-F. Have a wife and a 2 1/2 year old. I'm using CPAexcel.

Here are my only tips, and its how it works for me. Obviously YMMV

Especially after tax season, and practically not seeing my kid 4-5 days a week (gone before he gets up, home after he is asleep), I make sure to see him every night until he goes to sleep. That is our time. I study from 8-10 or 11PM every weeknight. On the weekends, I take one full day and study. I DO NOT DO THIS IN THE HOUSE. It would be impossible. I go somewhere with free refills and drink tea all day (mostly Paneras, nice soft music & wifi). THen one day on the weekend it family day.

Really, there is no silver bullet to this situation. Its a compromise, and you and your wife have to be on the same page. That is vitally important. 8-11PM use to be our time together after the kid went to bed. Now I study. And she understands, and she doesn't complain that she never sees me. She knows that would really affect my studying, and we both want to get this over with as quickly as possible.

The section you are studying for will also determine your time commitment. If you are studying for FAR like me, you are going to either have to put in a lot more hours (Like I said, I currently average 10-12 study hours during the week, and 10 on the weekend). So you either need more hours per week, or more weeks until you take the exam.

I would also caution you about starting to study too ate at night. 9PM really sounds like too late of a start. My kid is in bed my 8PM, and if he is fussy after that, my wife takes care of it. So I start by 8…I would not get anywhere if I started at 9. You are just not going to be as productive after a full day of work or family. It might suit you better to study in the morning.

LMK if you have any questions.

FAR - [10/07/2013 --> 66] [07/07/2014 --> 86]
BEC - [08/31/2014 --> 86]
AUD - [11/24/2014 --> 88]
REG - [02/14/2015 --> 92]

[mla1169]

After 9 was the only chance I had to study. Full time job, 2 school age kids, and I was taking 2 classes a semester for my masters at the same time. I'd do schoolwork from 9-10:30 then study Wiley from 10:30-midnight. Not ideal but not impossible either.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

After 9 was the only chance I had to study. Full time job, 2 school age kids, and I was taking 2 classes a semester for my masters at the same time. I'd do schoolwork from 9-10:30 then study Wiley from 10:30-midnight. Not ideal but not impossible either.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[vata20]

Thanks for the advice guys. Studying in the AM really sounds like a good idea, I think I will give that a shot.

[vata20]

Thanks for the advice guys. Studying in the AM really sounds like a good idea, I think I will give that a shot.

[nicole2035]

i tend to procrastinate, so early morning before work is best for me and i'm not a morning person. I usually study for maybe an hour and a half before work. Upside is you don't notice how long you've been study, your brain is in ‘CPA thinking' mode for the day, and it makes it that much easier to come back to the material later on in the day when i finish up my studying time

[nicole2035]

i tend to procrastinate, so early morning before work is best for me and i'm not a morning person. I usually study for maybe an hour and a half before work. Upside is you don't notice how long you've been study, your brain is in ‘CPA thinking' mode for the day, and it makes it that much easier to come back to the material later on in the day when i finish up my studying time

[CPA50]

Hiya! It depends on your schedule and when your brain is most awake and receptive to learning. I find if I get to the office (I work for myself) early and fit in some studying and then stay a little later after staff has gone home and it's quiet, that helps. I will study while my daughter does her homework and have her quiz me when we're driving to school. Sometimes we'll read together in bed – she reads stories about lost puppies, and I read about fieldwork standards. Also, if I read exam review materials out loud to her, it puts her to sleep faster 😉

AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
REG 75 (expired) September 7
BEC 72, 77

The adventure continues...

[Author]

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