I often think about doing further studies but in reality I have little time or inclination and like you Jo I have plenty of work so not sure I need to do it...I've blagged it this long!
I did my AAT at college purely because when I am busy with work I get easily distracted from doing the college work and concentrate on my business instead so at least by going out to college twice a week on an evening it meant my time was completely on studying, it was great for having other students to bounce things off too .
I signed up with Kaplan to do an additional module and the books have never been opened so again I signed up at college -did the 6 week module there and passed so it proves I need the classroom situation to study
If it was one night or one morning a week that would be a great idea as I do work better under pressure, even if its someone else's deadline placed on me for doing homework, as opposed to trying to cram it all the day before an exam. Even pondering at what level to start now!
Thanks guys
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Thanks for the words of encouragement Neil. Im 50 and did Banking exams/Law and some Accountancy when I was in my early 20s - now I get bored reading stuff after a while, which is partly why Im a but worried. Anything tax related bores me silly too, but its needs must I guess.
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
I'm dyslexic with a mind that needs several lion tamers to keep it on the right track (for evidence see any post that I have ever replied to) but I still managed to pass ACCA... Final exams were this year and I'm now 53 so its nowt to do with age.
If you are doing it alone you have to be really strict with yourself over study as its all too easy to find more important things that need doing first (my house was never as clean and tidy as on the run up to the exams!).
I found that it was best to stick with Kaplan study texts as its studying by doing unlike BPP which is a lot drier.
Osbourne books are good but I found the questions too easy and if I don't have to think about something in depth then it lasts in my brain about the same time as a snow flake in hell.
For tax use Taxation by Melville and you'll start enjoying it... Even if it is depressing to know that you are learning something that is less than useless twelve months later... I say less than useless as I have to try and unlearn what I know before I can get the new stuff to stick.
as Neil says, once you start the studies you won't be able to stop.... I'm still going through withdrawal from my six monthly fix of exams.
Good luck babes,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Hi Shaun
(Your avatar scares me - I need to ring them actually, uuuuggghh!!)
Well done on the final exams!!! Thats great news. I reckon you must never sleep, because you work/answer loads of questions on here (very thoroughly) AND have done your exams. Or maybe Ive just slowed down loads since I left the Corporate world - I went out and sat in the park for 1 1/2 hrs today (first time in AGGGGGES) and now I cant get motivated and am thinking of going back with my book.
I purchased an AAT bookkeeping course a few years ago and despite paying quite a bit for it (well it was quite a bit at the time as I wasnt working!) - Ive only done about 1/3rd of it and now cant even find the software disc to finish it and sit the exam - which would be an easy win I reckon and probably give me the push I need.
Glad to hear about the Kaplan texts - there is a Kaplan Centre in Manchester that I thought I might do my training with (from home) but then peeps on here said Premier are the best, then I got a thing through for HomeiLearn to do the Level 2 AAT at Ł325! A bargain I thought but I cant find any reviews (other than on their own website) and you can only access their training info for 12 months (which sounds no good to me if you want to go back and check something in eg 14months time!) - so I thought I should give them a wide birth. My problem is ......I half look at things, the half I look at I look at too much (if that makes sense) and more so - I can just NEVER make my mind up about stuff and spend too much time dilly dallying.
Ive also just been roped in to setting up a registered charity/doing a freedom and info and land registry search for a row over a hidden gem of a park (yes the one I was sitting in) in readiness for a row with a local council as they want to stop people using the park when it was gifted to the people 70 years ago......why do I let myself be pulled in?
I borrowed a book on how to use Quick Books to get me away from Sage - Ive renewed it about 25 times and have no idea where the book is - its certainly never been opened, well not past the first chapter!
I just need to get a grip and set aside a couple of hours to read up on this AAT lark properly and get DOING!!!!
On a good note - I thought you were younger than me. lol.
Thanks loads
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Peoples champion as well as bookkeeper extraordinaire. lol
When trying to fit in work, study, site time, single parenting, etc. I've found that about a litre of red bull per day really helps. lol.
On the AAT front to be honest I'm not even sure that someone with your breadth of knowledge and experience who is already doing the job should even be doing level II.
Buy an old copy of the BPP revision kit for units 1-4 off Amazon resellers for a few pence. Do it cover to cover and then do the AAT skills test which will tell you that you should be starting at level III... There you go, just saved you Ł325... Well, minus a few pence plus Ł2.80 postage.... Darn it, must learn to start using the line "If you send me Ł50 I'll show you how to save over six times that in your studies".
I personally couldn't take to the QB study books. I tried but what I really wanted was something like the old ICB computerised exams where you get a data disk to load up and a semi real life scenario to work through.
Don't know about you but thats the only way that I learn... With VT I didn't have a book but I did have my own accounts done under Sage so knew that the results had to come out exactly the same... That was a fun filled week of my life but sometimes a baptism of fire with a bit of software really sets you up for life with it.
So, anyway, more importantly. Do you fancy me now that you know that despite the evidence of my posts I'm really a grown up. lol.
Laters,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I've found that about a litre of red bull per day really helps. lol.
Reckon me giving up the caffeine is what is causing one of the problems!
On the AAT front to be honest I'm not even sure that someone with your breadth of knowledge and experience who is already doing the job should even be doing level II. So kind, guess I should believe in myself first. My brother always says I have to know everything inside out and tbh Im not brill on debits/credits and journals so thought I should start a bit earlier in (hope none of my customers are reading this!!) lol
Buy an old copy of the BPP revision kit for units 1-4 off Amazon resellers for a few pence. Do it cover to cover and then do the AAT skills test which will tell you that you should be starting at level III... There you go, just saved you Ł325... Well, minus a few pence plus Ł2.80 postage.... Darn it, must learn to start using the line "If you send me Ł50 I'll show you how to save over six times that in your studies". Well I owe you a beer or three, minus the Ł2.80 postage for the book Ive just ordered, lol. Proud of me hey?
I personally couldn't take to the QB study books. I tried but what I really wanted was something like the old ICB computerised exams where you get a data disk to load up and a semi real life scenario to work through.
Don't know about you but thats the only way that I learn... With VT I didn't have a book but I did have my own accounts done under Sage so knew that the results had to come out exactly the same... That was a fun filled week of my life but sometimes a baptism of fire with a bit of software really sets you up for life with it.
So, anyway, more importantly. Do you fancy me now that you know that despite the evidence of my posts I'm really a grown up. lol. Of course I fancy you!!! Why would you doubt that?!!
Wonder is that recripocated, hmmmm.
Laters,
Shaun.
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
(and no comments about I only want you for your muffins... lol, if I wasn't saying this I would ban me for that line )
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
You had me at muffins but you know the real way to my heart is via your cup cakes.
Your just flirtin with me with that last pic aren't you ya lil minx.
Considering the new evidence presented I would like to reconsider the previous lack of commitment on my part...
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Current - current buns? (ok - any English police - I know that's spelt differently!)
Or does the current you mention mean she is temporary? Sounds like you are keeping your options open.
I kept meeting guys who said they were 6ft 3 and were only 5ft 3 - no good as Im tall - so I dumped Mr Match, and Mr E Harmony and .....oh then I gave up.
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Or does the current you mention mean she is temporary?
Sounds as though your fishing Jo!
Oi, Rob, stay on yer own side of Brum and keep yer hands off me birds cup cakes.
Think that we need a new dating section of the website... lol, can just see it now. Bubbly bookkeeper seeks similar with large healthy balance sheet.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Haha I only have eyes for one man, someone who appreciates my muffin and cups.
Who is it, I'll... Oh wait...
Ha, knew you wouldn't fall for the silver tongued lethario from South of Brum.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Talking about 'south Brum', my match name was 'CovRob', I felt sure I would be able to change it later. I'd started with romantic literary heroes like Mr Rochester but everything good was gone so I eneded up being CovRob, may as well have called myself ChavRob, the king of Burberry!
The other half are packing their best cake eating bibs and are on their way there...
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
The other half are packing their best cake eating bibs and are on their way there...
Loads of buns in the oven.
OMG - not that type!
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.