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Probably. I'm in northern Delaware. Not as expensive as most of NJ or the more urban areas of PA or MD. I'm sure our higher rates of cancer and other serious diseases makes it higher too.

Don't you live in one of those ridiculously high cost of living east coast states?

I wish I could have had a silver plan for that price. My bronze plan here for 2025 would be $13,800 annual cost.

There is a cost to the "benefit". When the country collapses under debt, who are the people that are going to get hurt the worse? Hint: it's not going to be the billionaires. I showed how just a simple wage only example of middle class paying 1/3 less than before the Reagan cuts. The high income people have had cuts by a lot higher percentage. Some people were bamboozled in the 80's when we were told "deficits don't matter" and it seem even 37 trillion later people believe it.

Praying that your sermon goes well and touches peoples' hearts.

We just keep doing what we're doing. For instance, a local theater for young people is presenting Hairspray this summer, even though their usual partner church would not allow it on their premises. The theater group found a local HS that will allow them use of their theater. If you communicate with politicians or with the IRS or the SSA, keep doing that. I work with my church's outreach committee, so we're busy. Teach your children and grandchildren that everyone is their neighbor. (That's on my mind, because I stumbled into a lay preaching class, and my 1st sermon to my church is this Sunday on the Good Samaritan. Your prayers are welcome! The Jews and Samaritans did NOT get along.) If you help out at a food kitchen, keep doing that. Keep smiling and saying Hi to everyone. Does your church or town host immigrants? Keep doing that. Going to another country? Make sure you show them what a good American can be like. Vote. Talk up term limits. The president is NOT the USA. WE are the USA.

Ah yes, if we just keep our heads down and pretend everything is normal, everything will end up just peachy keen

Everyone worries too much. What happens, happens. We always seem to muddle through it. And Im not sure about your client demographics, but ours benefit from these "permanent" and new changes. Less taxes and government overreach is always a good thing. Who knows, maybe if we all stick it out for a few years we will be out of business !! Im ready for that !!!

I only use 2 right now, but this has the ability to hook up 4 per the specs. I don't have room right now for more than 2 monitors. That may change someday. Thanks for the insight. I had the option to upgrade the graphics card and passed since I consider graphics card upgrades for gamers. Maybe I need to update my thinking. Computer ordered, on its way, I am going straight to an IT company and getting all the bloatware removed as soon as it arrives. Tom Longview, TX

I'll probably go with HP later this year. I'm not that computer literate so I can't say on Lenovo or anything else. I just go with what I'm familiar with.

Try this: https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2025/07/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-a-comprehensive-analysis Skimmed the link for "read the full summary" and it looks to be fact based rather than politically slanted.

Thank you for this. I would still like to see something that summarizes all of the bill, and not just the tax portions but this is a good start from a trustworthy source.

The only concern I would have is how many monitors do you use? That might be a reason to get the optional graphics card - I have done no research, just suggest it as something you might want to check out.

Lenovo in itself is not a poorly rated piece of equipment. It was, after all, the child of IBM. I know that my IT person respects it. See if the warranty fits your needs and if you are only using it for what you say, it should be fine.

I did find a few reviews that said solid system overall - average speakers with a grainy webcam.

This computer will primarily be used for ATX software and this Board. I don't do gaming or watch videos with it. Thanks for pointing that out. Tom Longview, TX

Built in graphics on the motherboard to me is a sign of a lower end system

You might want to get the optional graphics card since this has built in graphics on the motherboard, but it might be adequate for business use.

It's so new that there aren't many reviews. It's not even in stock on the two sites I checked. It's probably fine.

It is time to get the new Desktop Computer. I have been shopping around a bit and I came across this. Intel 9 chip, 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Win 11 Pro, lots of ports, DVD player. Priced really well. Not seeing any terrible reviews online. I get everything I want but at about half the price of a Dell with similar specs. Any reason any of you know that I should not pull the trigger on this purchase? TIA Tom Longview, TX

ChatGPT rips this new bill to shreds. tiktok.com/@hautefolie/video/7512282840109698334

Unfortunately, I have already renewed and committed after sitting on the fence for several months. I intend to give it my best shot. I have really never depended on the software. I always wanted to know where a number went and why. If not, why not? Right now, I feel panic and uncertainty and will try not to let it ruin the rest of the year for me. My clients need me now, more than ever, but I will not take on any new clients and will try to cut back sharply. Most of the dire agony of change over the past several years has been cited in the above posts. This, however, takes the cake. I am pretty certain that 2025 could be my last year even though I have always loved this work.

Just for giggles..... In 1983 I made 15,086 and paid 1,819 in FIT which is 12%. In todays dollars that would be 49,000 and the tax would be 3,842 or 7.8%

@Sara EA Your words made me both happy and sad. It's good to know someone else feels the same as me but I hate the idea that they're making it so hard to keep going. I've never fully recovered from doing taxes in my driveway during Covid and have been debating how much longer I wanted to do this. My tentative plan was to do one more year, then either give it up or downsize dramatically. Not sure I can make it. I have until October to renew my software but is it worth it? The questions, the confusion, the inability to help my clients resolve issues... I'm dreading it. I think I'm probably done too.

As a general rule, when they talk about deficits they are talking about total over a 10 year period. As the reduced rates from 2017 were to sunset in 2026, extending them is adding to deficit as to what they would have been in 2026 rather than the add'l over 2025 reduced rates. The combo of 6K for seniors, OT, tips and vehicle interest amounts to 90B or so a year. Since the law has them sunset at the end of 2028 only 4 years of the increased deficit is included in total. We all know that once a group is given a tax break, it won't be taken back. So, add another 500B for that. They also use what they call "dynamic scoring" meaning since more borrowed money is forced into economy, the economy will grow. No one knows what the debt will be in 10 years. There will be changes of add'l spending, more tax cuts, potential recession and any number of other unknowns. 2024FY tax revenues outside of trust funds was 3.2T. Gross interest was 1.2T broken down between .9T to public debt and .3T to money borrowed from trust funds. 1.2T is 40% of 3.2T going to pay interest on past debt. Estimates that this bill will add 900B more interest over 10 years. For comparison 10 years ago in 2015FY non trust fund revenue was 2.2T and gross interest was .4T, or 18%. The path we are on is not sustainable. If we continue to add an additional 10% of revenue to pay interest on debt, in 50 years or so all tax collected will go to interest. GDP is pumped by by gov't borrowing and trying to get to a balanced budget all at once would mean close to 10% reduction of GDP meaning a recession. A balanced budget is not going to happen by taxing alone or reduced spending alone. It needs to be a combination over several years. Not one of the idiots in charge have the guts to do that. All they care about is their next election.