No more Child Support

[Lazerblade]

Yea, what Rubba said.

 

[busabad]

There will always be child support...

 

[bacharles]

Finally,...after 16 1/2 years...my daughter turns 18 on Sep 1.
I wrote and paid the last child support check last week.  Never missed a payment, even when I broke my collar bone.  Not even after the second divorce and money was tight.  Not even when it went from $500 a month, to $800 a month, then $1300 a month. (in CA the more you make, the more you pay, and there is NO limit!)  So you work more overtime to make up the difference, but then your annual salary goes up and she can get more, and you pay more even if you don't work as much overtime the next year.  I'm all for paying child support, but the rates are too high in CA.
So, since my son turned 18 two years ago the payment went down to $800 a month, for one kid.  Now my daughter turns 18 and it's like an $800 a month raise...after taxes.
Now, before everybody decides how I should spend my money, I haven't been able to put as much away for retirement, (only 21 years away) and I have a second on my house that I'm going to pay down, so most of the money is spoken for.
And for all you "cheaper to keep 'er" folks out there.  I found out a lot about the ex after we got divorced.  Like, it's all about the Benjamins for her.  "Hey, I really can't afford to pay you $800 a month," "Well, I don't know what you're going to do but you have to pay me, the state says I can get this much" "Listen, money is really tight since the divorce, can we lower the payments, $1300 is really too much" "Hey, that's what you're supposed to pay me so that's what I want"
At one point I ate Mac and Cheese for a month straight because it only costs 49 cents a box.  And she has a little racist tinge in her. "You're playing craps under the streetlight with those black guys from work?"  It was the way she said "black guys" Jeeezus, had I known.
Sorry about the rant and the long post, but this is a Major milestone.  I AM DONE!  WOOHOO!

Let me also CONGRATULATE you Owen. Believe me when I say that I am truly happy for you dude. I have four years left to go with my son. It's basically the same everywhere. The more you make, the more you pay. I must admit though that I've been lucky. When I started paying child support back in '91 the cost has never risen. Thanks that my son's mother never wanted to rip me a bigger one than she already had. So unless the mother takes you back to court.... what the judge orders is what she gets. My only gripe about child support is that Support Enforcement goes through hell and highwater to make sure that we pay, but they should take it a step further to insure that the money is being used on the kid. And 90% of the time, unless you're a trusting soul, or in other words a complete idiot (sorry for stealing your moniker Michelle

), the money DOES NOT go completely to the benefit of the child.

Brian

 

[bacharles]

BTW Big O, do you have $800 that I can borrow?

And don't lie and say you don't have it...

 

[oldhat]

dead on the nuts there ba. I pay over $1500.00 a month for my girls and their mom still doesn't buy them clothes. Money paid for child support should go to the kids. Period.

 

[ks-waterbug]

Congrat's on paying your second mortgage off...... (The Ex!) I got sixteen to life! Been paying for sixteen and got nine more to go. Its diff not a fair system! Plus another gripe I got is similar to what your saying. How come if I need assistance from the state they don't base it on what "I'm accustomed to"........ Worked for my ex when it came time for me to pay

 

[Big O]

hehheh! My daughter just hit me up for college tuition for this semester, so much for the raise! I told her I would pay for it, junior college only. So Sorry BA, money GONE! See me next month.

And I agree, why can't we make sure that the money is being used for the kids ONLY. How about 500 in food stamps, and the rest in gift certificates for the kids clothes. Or a credit card and I get the bill, and if anything on it is Not for the kids, or anything over the child support limit, then she has to pay it. Yeah like THAT's going to happen.

 

[bacharles]

Another option is for the money to be put into some kind of investment fund so that when it comes college time (or that eagerly anticipated new car...:: ), then it won't be so bad. Investment brokers would love to manage a fund like this. The mother would be set up on a budget where a certain amount is used on the child and the rest is invested. Actually, I think that the government should do the same thing with Social Security... but that's just me.

Brian

 

[bacharles]

To hell with Bush and Kerry... I should run for President!

 

[bacharles]

To hell with Bush and Kerry... I should run for President!  

Ooooooh, but the skeletons that they would find in MY closet...

Brian

 

[Big O]

Ooooooh, but the skeletons that they would find in MY closet...

T Rex Fossils!

 

[bacharles]

Actually I'm the original "HELLRAISER!!!"

 

[BigDawg_03Busa]

Congrats Big O, but how about if your boy goes to college? Don't you have to cont to pay? My son is 7 soon to be 8 so I've got a way to go. I'm payin $500 now man and it's kickin me hard. Gotta do it for my boy though. Congrats again.

BD

 

[Doc_Busa]

Sounds like a cheap trip to Vegas is in order, just a small celebration! Seriously, when you gettin' your ass back out here? I have not had my bike in California since last year either... hmmmmm, road trip?

Congrats buddy!

Shane

 

[Big O]

My son's done with college. He didn't finish, he's just done with it. You can tell people to go to school, but you can't make them go.

Doc! Vegas is good anytime, I need a short trip out there. And if you need a twisty fix, let me know.

Hellraiser huh BA? Reminds me of a Motorhead song.

 

[Mikey D]

Congrats on doing the right thing.

I got my kids in the divorce (sole custody) and ain't seen a dime of support form the X. It's been 13 years now & my daughter just turned 18 as well.

I guess that's what happens if you have external gentelia.

 

[bacharles]

Congrats Big O, but how about if your boy goes to college?  Don't you have to cont to pay?  My son is 7 soon to be 8 so I've got a way to go.  I'm payin $500 now man and it's kickin me hard.  Gotta do it for my boy though.  Congrats again.

BD

Nah BigDawg, the laws keep changing. Right now, it's done at 18 years. They need some kind of 'grandfathering' clause so that the laws don't keep changing. It's like a neverending rollercoaster ride.... one day YOU DO, and the next day YOU DON'T!!



Brian