Diddle

I have a friend who had his car repossessed. He had no way to get to work without that car. So he quit going since he couldn't afford a taxi and a bus isn't an option where he lives. In the end he lost his job. But he seemed very confident he was going to get unemployment. I tried to explain to him that he basically quit the job because he quit going (job abandonment). He didn't agree that he quit. Well, he went and applied for unemployment and, you guessed it, he was denied. But he just cannot accept this. He feels it wasn't his fault he lost his job and an exception should be made because he lost his car. I was doing research and SD law says that 1) lack of transportation can cause you to be ineligible since you cannot look for work, and 2) you have to have lost the job through no fault of your own. I've tried and tried to explain they don't care WHY he quit coming...they just care that he DID quit coming to work. He's getting desperate as he has been several months now without work and can't pay his bills. I'd like to help the guy find some useful info but I just don't see how. I don't want to seem like an insensitive friend but I don't' want to lie either. Was I correct in telling him that no matter how many times he appeals he will not be eligible for benefits? or is there some loop hole I don't know about that could help him. I'm worried about him.

I just got summoned for jury duty. The problem is I have 3 young children (ages 6, 3, and 1). I am a stay at home mother and my husband's job is the only source of income. So, I honestly do not have a babysitter and I honestly cannot afford to get one. I have no relatives or friends living close to me either. Someone would have to watch the 2 little kids and would have to be here to meet the school bus. Here, in Kentucky, the courts only pay $12.50 a day to serve on jury duty so that's hardly any money to put gas in the car let alone pay for childcare for 3 kids. You don't get the pay until it's over. And, here, jury duty can last for MONTHS (I've had family and friends serve so I know). They make you serve 30-60 days total and it can take a long time to get those days in.

I filled out the forms saying why I couldn't do it and asked to be excused but this is a common excuse I've read. Do you think I will be excused? I hope so, otherwise, I'll have to take the kids with me

I have a very fat face (yes, I'm obese). My hair is fine but thick at the same time...meaning..each strand is fine but I have a LOT of hair. It is also oily. My hair doesn't hold a curl at all. Even perms don't hold well. Because of the fineness it doesn't look like I have thick hair. Right now my hair is long and below the shoulder. I do not have bangs. It sticks flat to my head and neck and looks horrible. It's so limp. I do have some layers for fullness but it's been a while since I had it cut so it needs redone. I need something to compliment my face. Short hair and bobs are out because they make my face look even bigger. What do you suggest? I'm sick of this long, flat hair. I look like I'm from the 1970's. I want a stylish cut with lots of body (if possible) that looks good on a fat face.

I settled a debt with a credit card company. I owed them a certain amount but they offered me a settlement deal so that I could pay them less than what was fully owed and the debt would be "paid as agreed for lesser amount owed" is how they put it. Now I get a 1099-C with the remainder of the amount on it (what is left after I paid the deal...example. Say I owed $2000 and they offered to let me pay just $800 to settle the debt and cancel the card. Then they send me a 1099-C. The 1099-C shows a cancellation of debt for $1200). Do I have to claim that on my taxes? I'm trying to use the Taxslayer free tax software. I doesn't support 1099-C forms so I don't know where I would even claim this anyway.

I have 3 children. I'm filing married filing jointly. My husband's income is all we get...I do not work. My youngest was born on Christmas day 2006. Each year my child tax credit has been LESS than $1000 per child. Even when I just had one child I didn't get the full amount. We make less than $28,000 per year so we do qualify for the EIC also. Last year I got $2,400 credit for 3 kids (I could claim my youngest because she was born before January 1st). But, this year I will only get $1600 and we made LESS money for the year (my husband lost his job and got a new one at lesser pay).

Also, is this money I actually get back on my refund or is it just a deduction to help you not owe taxes? I've always been confused about that. I used to be under the assumption that you got the money as a refund but, now I think CTC might just be a deduction (like claiming medical bills or something). Thanks