[Zaq]

Tougher than it sounds if you take into consideration:

– Money you’re already spending for exams and retakes

– Money lost due to opportunity costs

– TIME LOST DUE TO STUDYING

– Happiness, fun, and memories foregone

– Tears of sorrow and frustration (per tear)

– Etc. etc.

If I had to put a $ amount to it I’d say…. no more than $15K.

Edit: Forgot to put this topic in the Off-Topic subtopic!

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[Anonymous]

@mrsimple…great post! I used to think about the money part of this beast but now I realize the money part is probably the smallest sacrifice of all. At this point I would take out a mortgage to have my life back.

[Study Monk]

Not a lot of people who like to learn posting here 😛

CPA is demanding but you do take away a lot of knowledge!

I'll come back and post here when I am near the end of my journey with a different answer lol!

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

Not a lot of people who like to learn posting here 😛

CPA is demanding but you do take away a lot of knowledge!

I'll come back and post here when I am near the end of my journey with a different answer lol!

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[nbad311]

a sh*t-ton.

part of it of course is due to actual costs that were incurred (tests/study materials/prometric rescheduling fees) but as others mentioned, the “life” you miss out on is worth a lot too and you'll never get back/make up that time when you lose it.

so…… I don't know a dollar amount I'd slap on it. But it's a big one!

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[nbad311]

a sh*t-ton.

part of it of course is due to actual costs that were incurred (tests/study materials/prometric rescheduling fees) but as others mentioned, the “life” you miss out on is worth a lot too and you'll never get back/make up that time when you lose it.

so…… I don't know a dollar amount I'd slap on it. But it's a big one!

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[nbad311]

@Study Monk because I'm feeling feisty tonight:

learning saga? EHHHHHHH, hardly.

test of endurance, determination, sacrifice, and prolonged mental toughness? yes.

when people ask me about passing, I usually say “if anything, I deserve some sort of certificate for giving 20-25 hours of my free time a week to this goal”. you don't have to be smart (I'm really REALLY not) and full of knowledge, just hard working for a long-enough period of time. 😀

/end hump day tangent

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[nbad311]

@Study Monk because I'm feeling feisty tonight:

learning saga? EHHHHHHH, hardly.

test of endurance, determination, sacrifice, and prolonged mental toughness? yes.

when people ask me about passing, I usually say “if anything, I deserve some sort of certificate for giving 20-25 hours of my free time a week to this goal”. you don't have to be smart (I'm really REALLY not) and full of knowledge, just hard working for a long-enough period of time. 😀

/end hump day tangent

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[Anonymous]

Forget the money. I know it's hard to do that right now, but it is worth it. I know I spent over $20,000 in testing fees, review courses, junk food, Pizza Hut, prescriptions, doctors, and surgery (for the ulcers). But $20,000 well spent!

[Anonymous]

Forget the money. I know it's hard to do that right now, but it is worth it. I know I spent over $20,000 in testing fees, review courses, junk food, Pizza Hut, prescriptions, doctors, and surgery (for the ulcers). But $20,000 well spent!

[Anonymous]

I can't even go there…I think seeing the actual number would put a dent in my soul! I know it has to be over $10,000 in application/testing fees alone plus study materials. I try not to focus on that and instead I am so grateful that my masters' degree is free. It will even out and I keep my eye on that prize. At our university, I personally know 5 CPA, MPAs (I'm sure there are others) and all but one make $100k+ and the other makes $93k. I know I am building valuable experience and will hit the five year mark right as I finish the MPA and then…my time will come. No doubt about that. For now, I am just going to enjoy the classes and be glad that I am not studying for the CPA while taking masters classes like I did this semester.

…

[Anonymous]

I can't even go there…I think seeing the actual number would put a dent in my soul! I know it has to be over $10,000 in application/testing fees alone plus study materials. I try not to focus on that and instead I am so grateful that my masters' degree is free. It will even out and I keep my eye on that prize. At our university, I personally know 5 CPA, MPAs (I'm sure there are others) and all but one make $100k+ and the other makes $93k. I know I am building valuable experience and will hit the five year mark right as I finish the MPA and then…my time will come. No doubt about that. For now, I am just going to enjoy the classes and be glad that I am not studying for the CPA while taking masters classes like I did this semester.

…

[tough_kitty]

I consider testing fees a sunk cost 😉 not even going to sum it up…. the bottom line is, the goal was met! That's all what matters…. Next is license fee, CPE…..the fun continues….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

I consider testing fees a sunk cost 😉 not even going to sum it up…. the bottom line is, the goal was met! That's all what matters…. Next is license fee, CPE…..the fun continues….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Anonymous]

@ Inferno My highest cost is being right now, giving up a full time job for a part time with the only objective to study for these exams, plus a loan for studying this. My budget is suffering but when I think why I'm doing this then I think it worth!

Good luck to everyone!

[Anonymous]

@ Inferno My highest cost is being right now, giving up a full time job for a part time with the only objective to study for these exams, plus a loan for studying this. My budget is suffering but when I think why I'm doing this then I think it worth!

Good luck to everyone!

[Author]

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