I studied for FAR from the middle of June until I took the exam on Aug 22... during that time, I did a ton of stuff.  I didn't really cut down on my social life at all, I just cut down on things that were wasting my time.  A few suggestions that helped me have a life and get work done at the same time.

1) Don't waste time when you exercise.  I lift 4-5 days per week and a workout used to take me 90 minutes.  I cut out all the bs-ing and long rests in between sets and cut my time in the gym down to 50-60 minutes.  Doesn't sound like much but adds up to about 3 hours a week.

2) Don't waste time doing nothing.  Aka, watching tv -- especially if its something you aren't really interested in.

3) Don't sleep in so late on weekends.  I used to sleep in to 11 or noon on Saturdays and Sundays.  But now, I wake up around 9 and I'm usually done with my studying for the day by noon.  That leaves the rest of my day free if I want to do something.  Or I can pick it up again around 4 and study for a while and still be done early enough to go out.

4) Go to bed at a decent hour.  I can get a lot more efficient studying done when I'm working on a good night of sleep.  I usually get about 8-9 hours now.  Sounds like alot but if you go to bed at 10 or 11 and wake up at 7, its pretty easy to get that amount.

Note - I am 23 and living with my girlfriend.  She is in dental school so shes studying even more than I am.  It makes things a lot easier for me.  I don't live near my family, I just moved here so I don't have a lot of friends yet either and I have no kids.  So I essentially don't really have many distractions so these minor changes were plenty for me.

I am struggling with balancing time with my family (hubby and a 10 month old baby) and studying and it really wearing down on my marriage.  My husband is AWESOME when it comes to watching our baby girl while I study at night after work and on the weekends but he has become tired and impatient.  I think a majority of it is not understanding how difficult this test is and all the time needed to prepare. 

Does anyone have any tips on balancing study time with family time because I haven't figured it out???? 

I know I am an extreme studier (more than 20 hours/week I have dedicated to studying) in some people's minds, but I studied just as hard for FAR and BARELY passed.  I refuse to get that close again because next time I might not be so lucky!

Sounds like a tough situation.  I understand being an extreme studier.  A suggestion may be to chat with your husband and focus on the fact that if all goes well (due to your dedicated studies), you could be done in just a few short months.

Also, maybe work out a schedule to take a couple hour break over the span of a weekend or even on Saturday & Sunday to give him a chance to get away.  1-2 hours will not destroy all of your hard work.

You guys are great.....thanks so much for the responses.  Hoss792, thank you so much for the advice.  Arushi, GREAT QUOTE!!!

Me and my hubby talked it over last night and I realized that I have been VERY selfish in the way I have gone about it and he needs his time and space away from the baby and from ME for that matter, LOL!  I don't know what balance is and I am having to learn it the hard way.  When I am focused on something, nothing else matters and I have GOT to get rid of that mind set because I am missing out on precious time with my daughter and quality time with my hubby. 

Thanks again guys!!  I love this website :-)

CPAwishful and Arushi,

I don't know what I'd do if I had a child. Balancing life and exam studies is very difficult. My husband supports me a lot but still there is a lot to do outside work and studies. I got my OK to sit in 4/2007 and planned to take all sections by 12/2007 but that was quite a stretch. I couldn't study Sept 07 through March 08 due to health and other issues that came up. It was very difficult to get back into studying but I managed to take FARE and REG over the past summer and I am studying to take my last section in November. My husband is not working right now and we want to spend time together when I get home from work but I always panic and feel down that I am not using my time as I should. I feel guilty everytime I do something else. It is sooooo hard but I have three more weeks of doing this and I am praying so hard to pass AUD at one shot. This journey sucked life out of me for over 16 months now. I want it to be over with God's help. I want my life back.

I don't know if I am capable of giving advice but if I had to do it again, I'd enjoy every break that I get, without feeling guilty, and do it as quickly as possible. My schedule was beyond my control to some extent but if you are able to finish it within a short period of time, do it by all means.

Best of luck to all of you!

Thanks Tesfa!  It is really hard!  I am trying to knock it by February so I can take the ethics part in March and be complete and CERTIFIED by May!  I keep telling him that it's only a few months and promise to give him a 2nd baby that he keeps hounding me about, LOL.....sometimes it takes some SERIOUS negotiations to get him on board, LOL!