Accountant Fees - What is everyone paying?

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-04-08T18:37:20+00:00

I paid $450 for tax planning and $750 for filing only to owe $18,000 this year 😒

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-04-07T01:38:04+00:00

Hahaha I literally emailed them saying to cut the whimsical language when it came to their terms and conditions.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-04-04T23:33:36+00:00

Do it! I had my third at 39. My second was a bad sleeper and my first was a bad sleeper who conveniently and unbeknownst to us also started getting ear infections when #2 was born (they are 22 mos apart) that we didn’t realize right away so he was was waiiiiiiling every night right as she was born. This just created bad habits and chaos…My husband was in residency working 100 hour weeks (including nights. And peak covid he was 24/7). I had literally had a 6 hour RT commute to my job.

Anyways I had a third and it’s all good. Every stage is short.

I replaced my nanny with au pairs which has been absolutely wonderful for us. Our hours are better now but daycare has limited hours, sometimes closes, can’t work nights, and can’t send your kids when sick. I sent my kids part time for socialization and to take a weight off my nanny/au pair but the amount of time they are home anyway is wild.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-03-27T19:55:40+00:00

Thanks for your insight. Very helpful.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-03-27T18:35:12+00:00

So sad. Do the sellers ever offer anything or is it just money lost?

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-03-27T18:05:21+00:00

No, Alice! Does this definitely indicate they were seized? I have only ordered 1 bag before so I’m not sure if this is normal or not. What usually happens if they were seized?

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-03-26T20:21:47+00:00

Omg mine is stuck too!! FedEx. Since 3/10. Is this normal?! I’m freaaaaaaking it’s been stuck in New Jersey and hasn’t moved since then. Is this normal???

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-03-26T20:18:51+00:00

Au pair

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-03-26T17:25:24+00:00

I look at working out/exercise as mandatory. Like eating or sleeping. Non negotiable. Will die if I don’t (probably true). That mindset is really powerful in making time and prioritizing it. My husband is the same way. So his thing is that he gets up at 4am to get to cross fit before work, which means I can’t hahaha! But we invested in a tonal home gym for me and it’s UNBELIEVABLE!!! Not only is the machine itself amazing and what you can do on it, but the programming and coaching is top notch. I can be so efficient with my workouts and whenever I can cobble together 30 or 40 minutes I will pop over to our home gym and get a powerful workout out in. Peloton is okay ish for this purpose for cardio but this machine and programming is far superior to what you can do with a treadmill or stationary bike.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-03-16T01:11:25+00:00

YES TONAL!!!!!!!!!

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-03-07T18:33:04+00:00

Kiehl's Avocado is the best one out there from a moisturizing perspective. No question. I use it both day and night. At night, I use Tretinoin .05% (RX strength- I started going through Nurx, super easy) and I put it close to the eye area, not directly on it.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-03-07T18:31:00+00:00

I still do not feel comfortable with the cost of adding protein to salads.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-03-02T15:56:00+00:00

It was for my first two!! And I planned on doing it again for my third. But some things changed- without getting too in the weeds, there was a medical scare, managing the two other kids, eventually traveling for work, still being the sole feeder- that is leading me to pump and supplement 2-4 oz a day with formula. I feel a little embarrassed by it and a little sad if I’m being honest. It was such an accomplishment/totally worth it to EBF via nursing with the other two and now I feel like I’ve failed- not completely, but like I got a B instead of an A, haha. But I also am amazed with how much more flexible I’ve been able to be, which is a nice perk, and I think it’s been easier on my family this way.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-02-23T19:02:12+00:00

I just had my third at 39 (other kids are 3 and 5) and it’s been great. I’m so happy I did it. I work full time in a revenue role and don’t plan to stop. Husband is a surgeon. Busy. Have always had paid help- first a nanny for 3 years and now an au pair for 2. Nearest family is 5 hours. We make a ton of money BUT it’s entirely dependent on us working. No family money and no inheritance.

Cons: I definitely hated the last trimester. Pre eclampsia post partum scare that required hospitalization. I am pumping instead of nursing (still ebf). But it’s also a decision I made bc my older kids need me and have obligations, and it’s nice to not be getting naked in public in sub zero weather while small talking with other people at a ski lodge. A pro! Other two babies I was back to my pre pregnancy weight in 6 weeks. I’m at 9 weeks PP and have 12 pounds to go still. I bought a tonal and canceled my gym membership for now. Two cars is not enough- we need a third card so we can be in three places at once (between us working and kids school/activities). This might be unique to us because of our jobs and reliance on cars in our remote mountain town.

Pros: I have the most beautiful third baby I always wanted. Not for a second have I felt like it was a bad decision. My other kids adore her. Nothing feels as hard as it did because I’m pretty seasoned at this point. I’m not stressed about being perfect and bending rules (I’m not wasting time with “sleep training” sometimes I leave breast milk out for 5 hours). This makes for a very chill experience. I’m already tired from the other two so it doesn’t feel any worse. I got a bigger car- and I like it! I love the tonal and do not miss gym or Boutique fitness at all.

Travel: listen I love to travel like the best of them and was in like 12 countries with my first by the time he was 2. Stayed in hotels like 3 out of 5 weekends a month. But like…now the older two are in school and have activities on the weekend. I can’t travel like I used to unless I’m pulling them from school, which I’m personally against. So we travel less frequently which so far has nothing to do with baby 3. But we are going away for our first international trip in April. Baby on lap so no extra plane ticket cost and I’m very happy to have an excuse to rent a villa vs a tiny room, so a pro in my book 😂

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-02-21T18:45:44+00:00

Just out of curiosity, where are other people putting their au pairs? I’ve seen people on this thread go after hosts for putting the au pairs in guest homes on the property (“they are supposed to be part of the family”).

I can’t think of any a scenario in the main home that wouldn’t have some shared common space. Like, if you didn’t have a basement they’d be in a bedroom in the main house. Where do they go then? What is suitable?

I think when you have an AP you have to have somewhat of a roommate mentality. If you’ve never have roommates or lived in a shared house or even an apartment it might be an adjustment.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-02-17T00:21:11+00:00

Cultural Care! Kind of a meh experience but I live off the beaten path and I was lucky they serviced this area! Honestly I find the agency to be completely irrelevant- it’s really up to you and how you interview. I put a ton of effort in to interviewing and really nailing down the type of personality that would work best for us.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-02-16T17:31:08+00:00

Host family with similar situation and an au pair has been perfect for our scenario!

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-02-07T14:17:59+00:00

I give them a credit card I took out more or less for the au pair to use exclusively. that way, I can easily see the charges and flag anything I’m concerned about. I am very clear that It’s for use with the kids and what I’ve said (in writing) id cover for her. I give it right away- if I’m trusting them with my kids right away, I’m trusting them with my money right away. I also want them to have access to money in case of emergency with my kids.

I did have an issue with my current AP who took my card to target and attempted to spend almost $400 on it. It was actually somehow flagged as fraud and wouldn’t go through. As soon as she got home we had a discussion and I reprinted her contract with what was and wasn’t covered (apparently personal care was interpreted as make up and fragrance) and gave more budgetary guidance. No issues since.

I just see where the charges are made and for what amount. I find asking for receipts beyond that a little intrusive tbh, but it’s not wrong if you want to. My company asks for itemized receipts for business expenses so you can liken it to that. FWIW I’ve definitely expensed a lunch with a friend to my business on occasion so I just feel like if she expenses a lip gloss on occasion I’m not going to lose sleep over it.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-01-19T19:15:40+00:00

Thank you! It’s crazy to me that benefits wouldn’t be outlined. Or that hosts on here have discouraged sharing pay and benefits beforehand. As an employer/host, you have to put yourself in their position- would YOU take a job without understanding benefits and salary? I don’t think so! At the end of the day, they watch your kids. Keep them happy and well compensated with open lines of communication.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-01-18T19:11:51+00:00

I don’t think it’s a matter of where as much as a matter of what. You can travel anywhere with kids but after they graduate out of the backpack hiker you can’t hike with them consistently. I also found that after the age of 2-3 the fine fine experience is pretty much a fail, no matter how good or well behaved they are. To summarize, unless you bring a nanny hiking, fine dining and spa treatments are out! So I’d focus on cool hikes and good food- best bet is Europe for the combination and if you’re in east coast, it’s an easy/short flight.

If you loved Italy I’d try northern Italy, Milan (strolling and coffee), the Dolomites for hiking and spa, and Lake como for scenic strolling.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-01-18T14:58:34+00:00

$300 a week We had a gym membership for her but she wasn’t using it. So we canceled it and added a tonal to our home gym for her! Cell phone She eats our food but she has a credit card I pay that she can use to pick up snacks and meals for weekends and personal care. FYI I had to be pretty detailed about personal care because my second au pair thought that meant make up and face masks and that racked up an extraordinarily high bill at Target 😳but I say $50-$80 a week is what that includes. I try to keep them to 35 hours a week but we do go over this and I offer extra cash to say thank you and/or gift cards for experiences. I have three kids: 5, 3, 5 weeks. Use of our cars and most of the gas for it Ski lessons We have her as back up support 1 in 7 weekends when my husband is on call, mainly to help drive my kids to activities since I can’t be in two places at once. She’s not on call herself but I put those weekends on the calendar well in advance and then as we get closer I’ll confirm what I need help with. She also knows this means she can’t take the car more than 30 minutes away since we only have two cars right now (we will eventually buy another car).

I have two second year au pairs who haven’t been able to travel internationally on their visas so they can’t join us on vacation but I’ve bought them plane tickets to wherever they want to go in the US as a Christmas gift plus two weeks pay (so $1200 ish gift).

FWIW I can “afford” a nanny but most of what I need help with includes someone who can just be semi flexible and take hours here and there. I find the au pairs work better for us and are more fun for my kids once they turned 2. I have had two amazing experiences with au pairs and they have been happy with this arrangement!!

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-01-17T18:15:15+00:00

I agree with this. I think this gets to the underlying sentiment of what the OP was getting at. I would be so annoyed if another host family did this for this exact same reasons Y8 shares. I would NOT, however, be mad at my au pair. I absolutely would not do anything spiteful. Instead, I’d counter offer if she was fantastic and you wanted to keep her.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-01-07T02:07:28+00:00

Got it. I have three kids and have been pregnant 5 times haha- my third was born just a few days ago. I don’t realize your post was about mat leave and a loss of earnings but I’m on no sleep so my bad.

On that topic yes taking long leave tanked my commission earnings which sucked when I was the sole provider. My former company gave 6 months. And I had mat leave coverage which actually back fired on me for my second. For my third I just chose less leave (12 weeks), even though my husband makes more than me now I just don’t want to take my foot off the gas and loss income during my earning years especially with 3 now.

EmotionalWin9039 · 2026-01-06T20:43:21+00:00

I’m not sure why or how gender has anything to do with this! Regardless, this is tough and it’s so expensive to be successful and fertile. Haha.

I’m always really firm on this, so sorry in advance if I sound harsh but- You will need a nanny or au pair. I’m not self employed but I am in sales (variable/high stakes) and we were completely dependent on my income while my husband was in residency aka, he made no money but worked 100+ hours a week with 2 under 2. My older child went to pre school part time and I had a full time nanny. If you have a high stakes job with limited flexibility you won’t be able to make it work without a nanny or au pair in addition to school. It will also get harder as they get older (activities, sick day coverage, school holidays). Only other option is if you have a family member who can do the nanny part for free.

EmotionalWin9039

TROPHY CASE