[Anonymous]

Pls don’t laugh at my question…………..

So ladies, when you study for the CPA exam, do you still cook? wash the dishes? Do the laundry? I’ve been pushing all that to my bf and he has been super supportive for the past two subjects I took. I start to feel that he’s getting a little impatient with all this and really will not do it till I beg him or till our sink’s full or we’re both starving … I keep saying that I’ll pay him back big time by discovering and cooking new dishes for him everyday (we’re both “gourmet eaters” and both cook well :p ) and taking good care of him after this is all done…. I feel really bad about it… but meanwhile, I somehow think that everyone who studies for the exam is exempt from these chores… (I know I shouldn’t have this “entitlement”…) Just wondering how you all balance it… Am I going the extreme?

Sorry that this question is gender specific. As much as I’d like to think that there’s gender equality, it’s still more OK for men to not do housework than women, I somehow feel… Of course, men are more than welcome to comment too. =)

[jwel]

@Classical-I must say i envy u.Cos with my husband i was so tired cos we share a car,had to take 2-3 buses all winter and come home and cook and sit to study.it was so hard that i quit my job.Supportive spouses r a blessing though.Sometimes its easier to have babies rather than living with a big baby;)

I wonder how women with children manage to do it all.Kudos to all u amazing women!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FAR -80
BEC -77
AUD -68 Retake 10/12 77
REG -79 Ethics -DONE!!! Licensing begins....

[jwel]

And i do not get any exemption from housework i must tell u.On top of that i get criticized for my scores.At times i get so fed up.

FAR -80
BEC -77
AUD -68 Retake 10/12 77
REG -79 Ethics -DONE!!! Licensing begins....

[Anonymous]

My recommendation is to hire someone to help with the housework, if you can afford it. That way, the house gets clean, you don't feel bad about not doing it (because you have limited time and you have to study), and you can eliminate a source of tension between you and your sig other/roommate. Multitasking is another option–load up audio lectures onto an ipod and listen while you clean/cook/etc. That said, I am also very fortunate to have a supportive husband who does most of the cooking, routine cleaning, and entertaining of the kids when I have to study.

[Anonymous]

I know you said don't laugh, but I did anyway…

Yes, I still do all of those things, work full time and take care of two little peoples. My husband and I have been married for 10 years and he has always pulled his fair share of the household duties. Not always to my satisfaction, but that's my own neurosis…when I am in the last week or so of studying before an exam I will really slack off, but I couldn't ever get to a point where I was doing nothing. I think DHR might frown a bit if my excuse for unkempt, hungry children was temporary insanity via the CPA exam.

jwel–you are right about supportive spouses. I feel very blessed! And who's criticizing your scores? Don't they know that anything over 75 is a MAJOR accomplishment? Good luck on your last two!

[Anonymous]

hey, live alone which makes it easier – just have me to clean up after

sometimes when the studying gets to me – cleaning relaxes me and it feels good to have a clean kitchen, clothes, or bathroom

I agree – if you can afford it hire someone to clean once a week and do crock-pot dinners at night.

[Anonymous]

Yes, definitely hire a cleaning lady if you can! I have had one for several years, she comes every two weeks and for a short time my house is clean top to bottom! My husband has definitely pulled more than his weight around here during OUR CPA journey! We have 3 children (ages 5, 10 & 12) who have lots of homework, hockey, soccer, gymnastics and dance classes. He has always been supportive and active with the kids but he has really gone above and beyond to make sure I get my study time in.

[Anonymous]

@Connie-sounds familiar! Homework, hockey, soccer, gymnastics…at least we dropped dance : )

[Nicole]

I thought it would be so much easier since I started this journey before kids, but I definitely have a big baby. His worst complaint is that I've gained weight and I am ignoring him. I am trying. I have 2 classes this semester (Master of Accounting) and a test. I get up way earlier than I used to, and I am just exhausted. Not to mention the house is a mess. He thinks he is being supportive by buying me Red Bull the week before an exam, but he doesn't get it. I tell him this temporary sacrifice is for US but he still believes it is for ME. Oh-well….

Florida - Using Bisk, Jeff's Notes, and CPAreviewforfree.com

FAR - 87 (08/14/10) AUD - 97 (11/12/10)
BEC - 83 (02/26/11) REG - 90 (05/31/11)

[Anonymous]

@classicalpianoaddict – great post! i'm surprised this hasnt been brought up before.

I am with you on this. I have a fantastic boyfriend who has picked up the laundry/dishes/cooking/etc during the week. On the weekend when I have more time is when i help out. I try to make sure to give him the attention he needs when i have an eek of time here or there. We really focus on doing things for each other that makes the other one happy/smile. It's a great feeling and i am definitely very fortunate, as are you. I've actually seen the opposite posts on here where there are relationship breakups bc of the studying. I certainly didnt know what i was getting myself into when i signed up for this. i knew it wasnt going to be easy, but i certainly didnt know it was going to be this hard.

[michelle119]

I also am lucky I have a very supportive boyfriend that I live with…. its great I wasn't working this summer and just focusing on these exams, so I would study until I made dinner and then study after or have a bit of time to relax…. not sure how this is all going to change in 2 weeks when I start work… he's on business this week and I started 2 graduate tax classes last week so none of my dishes have been done since monday and all i've eaten is soup, sandwiches, and snacks… i never noticed how much he did so now its weird… i don't think he's going to be happy though when he no longer has dinner waiting for him but hopefully my cpa journey is nearing its end…. i will be glad to take back doing housework and chores than studying at night

FAR 7/2 - 88
BEC 7/30 - 87
AUD 8/27 - 80
REG 11/12 - 96

[suzzette1]

I have been blessed with a very supportive husband who would cater to my needs especially during my examination week. My husband would do almost all the household chores and drive me to the prometric center so I will not be stressed driving on my way to my exam. I am always thankful that he would sacrifice everything so I can study full time for my CPA exam.

BEC 2/8/10 - 75 (studied hard & prayed less)
REG 5/15/10 - 88 (studied less but prayed hard)
AUDITING 8/9/10 - 79 (studied hard and prayed hard)
FAR 11/30/10 - 79 (studied hard and prayed hard) Thanks GOD! I'm DONE

[Anonymous]

My boyfriend helped out a lot when I was studying, but now that I'm taking a break I'm back to messing around the house. We definitely had a lot of takeout this summer. I'd prefer housework to the CPA for sure though.

[Anonymous]

suzzette1,

Can we do Wife Swap for the next two months? I need a man like that. Ha! I love my husband and he does a LOT with our two boys but I'm like AU1222, he doesn't do it my way. He does the laundry and cooks which is a huge help. We eat a lot of hot dogs and tacos. I love to cook and barely have time to figure out what to plan, much less go to the store and spend hours in the kitchen. I miss it so much.

During tax season, I always get a maid. I really should have kept her around but figured I could do it myself and save money. Didn't think it I would still be studying right now though. Today I am taking a “vacation day” to clean my house. It takes all day but I get it in pretty good shape. It will last about 2 hours until the kids and dog destroy it. I build these days into my study schedule. It is actually a nice break and rather cathartic. But I'm weird about my house. Like Cindy Simpson, I like it done “my way”.

I am “Allyson” on Jeff's Guest blogger. I'm documenting this balancing act.

AU1222, that was a great game Saturday ~ wish I could have been there. I have some good friends from Auburn.

[Anonymous]

Instead of a maid, we got a yard service. I couldn't justify paying for *both*, so having someone else to do the yard allows my husband more time to do things in the house (i.e. the crapload of laundry that accumulates with two boys and their soccer, baseball, etc. accoutrements). CPAWannaBe, I am JEALOUS of your cleaning day. I find it cathartic, too. I can't tell you how many times I get frustrated with studying (ahem overhead variances!) and will take a 10 minute “cleaning break” and just go scrub the sh*t out of something.

It was a great game! We weren't there, either, even though we have season tickets for the first time since we graduated. My in-laws flaked out and wouldn't take the boys, so we sold our tix and watched it with friends. I heard it was hot as hell, so I'm kinda glad it worked out the way that it did. Not looking forward to South Carolina this weekend unless we get our damn act together on offense. We tailgated with Clemson fans on the lake over Labor Day weekend…Y'all is good people!

[suzzette1]

CPAWannaBe I got married 2 years ago and we are still in the “honeymoon stage”. My husband pampers me with food because he loves to cook. He was the who encouraged me to take the CPA exam. I was a Controller for 8 years and very dedicated to my career until I got married and became a fulltime housewife and student. I wish I can still have kids because I married very late. I might consider the “wife swap” because of your two boys ha! ha! ha!

I was following you in the blog and congratulations for passing Auditing. I know it is tough to balance being working mom and housewife but you made it. Cheers!!!!

BEC 2/8/10 - 75 (studied hard & prayed less)
REG 5/15/10 - 88 (studied less but prayed hard)
AUDITING 8/9/10 - 79 (studied hard and prayed hard)
FAR 11/30/10 - 79 (studied hard and prayed hard) Thanks GOD! I'm DONE

[Author]

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