themom

My exhusband earns approximately 280k annually and will pay approximately 95k in alimony in 2014, which is tax deductible for him (taxable for me). I understand he can adjust his allowances on his W4 to ensure less income tax is withheld monthly rather than receive an enormous tax refund at the end of the year. (I also realize I must make quarter tax estimated payments).

My question is - by how much such he adjust his allowances to affectively reduce his annual withholding by approximately 20k, which is my estimate on what he would be overpaying.

I appreciate any advice on this topic. Thank you!

My soon to be ex husband will be paying more than half my household expenses, though I am the custodial parent with about 75% time. From my research, it sounds like neither of us can file head of household. I will file single with dependents (getting the exemption) and he will file simply single, though I do realize I can 'give' that to him. Am I missing something here? Seems that SOMEBODY should be able to file HoH. It makes a very big difference on the taxes - an increase of about 10% of taxes owed, it appears.

2004 Audi A6 2.7T - All lights seem to work, but the arrow signal inside and outside blinkers light up, but don't blink. I can manually make them blink by turning it off an on myself. Is this something I can replace myself with a simple visit to the auto parts store or should I take it to the dealership? I'm not handy and husband is out of town for another week. He's not very handy either.

When we moved in, there were several spots on the carpet (possibly construction putty). It was noted on the initial walk through for move in. When we moved out, there were a few spots where I cleaned the carpet, which was deemed 'excessive scrubbing' and damaged the fibers of the carpet. The landlord has now chosen to replace the carpet and charge me for it. Wouldn't it be more fair for them to split it with us since the carpet was not 'perfect' when we moved in anyway? It wasn't important enough to them then to have the carpet be perfect, why is it now? Or are they completely within his rights and I should shut up and pay up? I want to do what is right, but they're being really, really nit picky....they want to sell the unit and are hurting for money as they have been sitting on these properties for a couple years now - renting because they are not selling, which is why I believe there is an issue here. When I say 'they', I mean a giant developer of condominiums.

My company has a position with a $70k package (includes insurance/401k, etc). When I hire someone, I'm supposed to tell them that if they have a family, their insurance costs more than if they don't have a family, so the portion that is their salary will be less if they are insuring a family. Something doesn't sit well with me on this. Is this legal?

We lived in a very nice condo. We damaged a 6 inch square of carpet at the edge in a room that is approximately 10' x 13'. Upon move out, they are charging us $1800 to replace the carpet in this room. Is this excessive? If so, what next?

I'm wondering when a person is evaluated by the county designated mental health professionals for involuntary admission to a psychiatric hospital or clinic, is the person taken right then and there if they are deemed a safety concern for themselves or others? This is an issue with an elderly person that has had many seizures recently and is not following medical guidelines (ie taking meds, not drinking, driving, etc.). Hoping this is a short term issues, but we're so concerned about him. He's being evaluated in an hour. Wondering what to expect.

Our 18 month old has always been a champ at sleeping. Has always gone 'to sleep' well on his own and at 18 months is already in a big boy bed sharing a room with his big brother. This transition went very, very well. He sleeps from about 8-7 typically with a nap from 1:30-4:30. He's generally a happy guy and wakes up happy from naps and night time.

Teething lately has caused him to wake up in the middle of the night on occasion, but quickly leans back toward his bed after just 30 seconds of being held.

***Lately he's resisted bedtime and nap time. I'm wondering if he is needing a different schedule - I know this can be a typical milestone time, but what adjustments would you say might be good in his "schedule" at this point?***

I look forward to some great ideas.

Our landlord installed hard wood floors approximately 8 years ago. We moved in 2 years ago and managed to throw in two sizable scratches in two different rooms and some severe scuffs from a chair in a third room. They mentioned there are dining room chair floor scuffs they made themselves that make them want to refinish the floors in that 4th room as well (nothing to do with us). This is their own personal home and they plan to move back in after a few years if the economy improves. They have several other rental homes as well.

Based on their emails that are excusing why it's taking so long (over 2 weeks) to get us back our deposit, I'm worrying they're planning on charging us for the floors to be completely refinished. Should they be required to prorate this for us (they may already be planning on doing this) since the floors have had a number of years of wear on them already?

**What is the expected lifetime of hardwood floors? Not before you have to replace them, but before simply refinishing them?

I want to pay what I'm responsible for damaging (these scratches are from moving furniture, and, yes, are a little deep), but don't want to pay more than what is reasonable, of course. So far it's sounding like they're expecting a minimum of $1500-2000

The original lease ended May 31. The new tenants wanted to move in early and paid us a prorated amount of rent in order for us to move out a week early. They actually paid the landlord and the landlord paid us. The landlords did the move out inspection on May 24. Do you count those 14 days from the day we moved out and had the move out inspection - May 24 or is it the end of the original lease, May 31?

There is a scratch on the stainless steel refrigerator. Seems like normal wear and tear to me. They want to charge us to have it buffed out.

I asked on two occasions (once a month prior to move out, then a few days prior) for touch up paint and was told to check back in a few weeks when her husband was back from an out of town trip, mid month the first time, when I checked back, I was ignored. Now they're going to hire someone to touch up the spot where we caused a stain. Does this seem fair?

There was some staining to the baseboards and I asked to repaint it myself, again, asking for touch up paint so it would match properly and was told because the boards were sprayed and installed, I wouldn't be able to do the repair myself. Ends up they are going to have someone just prime and paint them, but again, I wanted to do the work myself and they didn't allow me the opportunity and now are hiring someone and charging me.

Does this seem unfair as per the landlord tenant act?

We rented a house for two years and when moving furniture, managed to make a fairly deep scratch in the hardwood floor in the master bedroom. A chair another bedroom when scooting around ground dirt into the The landlord is holding us responsible for having the entire floor in that room completely refinished for a minimum cost of $1500 each room.

This seems a little over the top, anyone have any expert advice?

I've been told I need to put straw over a lawn when I reseed. Where would I buy a small amount of straw? Also, when I'm raking up moss prior to reseeding, how much of this dead moss do I need to rake up? There is so much through the grass - small bits that are dead. I've lightly raked it up because if I rake too hard it rakes up all the existing grass. There are spots that are heavy dead moss (it's been treated, which is why it's dead) and I've heavily rakes those areas. Any other input? It is a company that will be reseeding tomorrow but I'm obligated to water and 'cover' the seed to ensure it's growth.

We're planting seed in spots we raked up moss. Can we put the old moss on top of it to keep it from blowing away or birds eating the seed? What's the best process of watering? Before? After? Both? Neither? ANy other ideas? It's Scott's that killed the moss for us, we raked it up (how good a job do I really need to do to make this seeding work?). They're putting down the seed and we're 'covering it'. Any ideas?

I MUCH prefer the type of latch that is NOT just a hook. It's a 2-3 inch 'plug' that you push in/on to the LATCH of the car. THen to release you press a red button. I've found them on Britax, Peg Perego as well as Evenflo Premium - I THINK. Any others? Looking for one for a toddler that isn't too expensive.

I like theirs better, but I don't want to buy a brand new car seat.

BACKGROUND: Our car seats have the 'hook' connectors for LATCH as opposed to the push-button LATCH (which is SO much easier). The hooks are impossible to get into our new car LATCHes.

QUESTION: Are there adapters that would allow my 'hook LATCH' car seat to have the push-button LATCH?

He's always been a great sleeper, but he wakes up SO early. He's hungry, happy, ready for the day. A quick run down of his sleep.....

Wakes at 5 AM (ouch!)

First nap 9 AM (typically 1-2.5 hours)

Second nap 2:30 or 3:30 PM (typically 1-2 hours)

Bedtime 7 PM (I tried adjusting bedtime to 8 PM, no effect)

Night sleep = 10 hours (seems like not enough to me)

Nap sleep = 2-4.5 hours

Total sleep = 12 - 14.5 hours

What would you do to adjust his sleeping, night time or nap time that might help him sleep longer in the morning. He usually does not wake up in the middle of the night at all, but if he does around midnight, he'll just fuss for a few minutes and go back to sleep on his own. If he wakes around 3 AM, he wont go to sleep on his own, but if I go to him right away with a sippy cup of milk, he'll take a few swigs, rest his head on my shoulder for a couple minutes and can be put back down no problem (he goes to sleep and naps very well with a nice routine of massage, diaper, jammies, books, sippy cup, head on should a couple minutes singing, then in bed drowsy, but awake). If he wakes up after 5 AM, he will not go back to sleep and will wail until 6 AM, at which time I'd go to him and let him get up for the day, if he hasn't already woken up his older brother in the next room and if my husband and I aren't already too agitated. If I do go to him, like I mentioned above, he wont go for the sippy cup, he is ready to be up. He's happy during the day except some teething crabbiness.

I'm feeling the 529 is the way to go, but I don't want to use our state program in the event they don't go to school in the US (am I correct in the understanding the 529 money can be used for out of the country schooling, but not if you do it through your state)? Wanting to avoid big fees and to be able to do it through Ameritrade or a similar outfit. Advice?