jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I just did some math

Photoshop CC @240/year or $480/2 years
Photoshop CS6 Extended Student/Teacher $350 but you upgrade it probably every 2 years or so at $700/2 years.

If you weren't a teacher or student the full Extended version was $800 and the non Extended version $600.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Correction: that should be no need for them.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

And you are absolutely right, they aren't the first and won't be the last...that's the point, where will it end, when we have to pay to turn on the computer, And yes it is part of my business as is my computer, my office, my vehicle. But trust me when I tell you, the tax deductions...that's a joke. No where near what it costs. I'm also not one that takes deductions by giving to the church or trumped up organizations just for the sake of cheating the government.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A guy I used to work with said that it's ridiculous to cheat on your taxes. He said that unless you're in the millionaire bracket, any cheating you do will be like a drop in the bucket. Maybe you'll save a few bucks - and hope you never get caught. It's easier relying on the facts.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Then do the math for this, I currently use CS6 Web Design Premium (which was $395 as an upgrade From CS5 which was $2,000 2,2-1/2 years ago), invested... $2,395 +tax and S&H to date, of CS6 I use, PPE, AI, FW, ID, and Acrobat Pro. Not counting LR4 (which for now, is still attainable for the time being as a stand alone or through CC) soon to upgrade to LR5... tell me that if I were able to upgrade to CS7 which was my intent (but no longer can) for what would have been if I had chosen to upgrade, $395. If not, then I live with CS6 and don't upgrade, and not cut off from using the software I paid for $2,500 for as you will be with a subscription. You tell me whose getting screwed.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Your right Jerry, unless your a 1%, it's not worth it.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

I pay to turn on the computer all the time. It's called electricity, and it's not free!

How is donating to churches or other non-profits and charitable organizations "cheating the government"? Heck, if it's good enough for the big corporations, it definitely should be good enough for we little people.

I don't have any problem with how the government spends its money because once we the people give it to the government, it's the government's to spend.

Personally, though, I believe that I can do a better job of spending my money than the government can do spending its money. Organizations that I think are useful and to which I donate to each month, each quarter, and definitely at the end of the year based on my income:

San Diego Symphony
San Diego Gay Men's Chorus
El Cajon Animal Shelter
ASPCA
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Red Cross
American Heart Association
San Diego Zoological Society
Special Olympics
American Cancer Society

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

I think all that is called overhead. Overhead comes with running a business. However, as Apple, GE, and many other companies can tell you, there are thousands of ways to reduce one's tax liability. Frankly, I don't feel sorry for anyone who can afford all that because he needs it for his business. If you can't afford it, then maybe a business reorganization is needed.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I think the pros are getting screwed. What is it, $49/mo for the whole suite? That would be $600/yr for everything that Adobe makes in Cloud. For most companies or business some of this can be written off as an expense. I feel for you - I really do. But the average Photoshop user isn't really doing as bad as I originally thought. I MAY pop for it.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Cause you don't pay taxes on it, and a good number of those who donate do so to avoid paying taxes. Not all, although they still get the right off. Would you or the millions still donate if you/they didn't get the right off, doubt it, or maybe you are one of to few that do care. However, If it's for the right off, your part of the problem.
As far as electricity and paying to turn on your computer by using electricity, not what I was referring to.
Again, I applaud you on a couple of your donations, the rest...you ought to check where your money is actually going. Also, anybody can do a better job spending their own money than the government spending its money.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

...you are right, he/she who uses PP only at $19 a mo., not that bad...till they no longer can afford it after a couple years, or have to go on fixed income, lose their jobs, or some other priority takes over and can't afford to pay the $19 per mo., and can no longer supplement an income even if they wanted to being they no longer have use of the software they spent years paying into. I may be forced into paying for the suite should my paid software mysteriously become unusable, but trust me when I say, I will go biting and kicking. As far as my other software, subscriptions...I'm hoping to retire soon and a lot of them I will no longer need. So maybe just maybe I 'll bend for Adobe CC or whatever it's called. I just thought of something that really pisses me off, why I wasn't told by Adobe prior to my upgrading to CS5 2 years ago as to the direction it was heading...can't tell me it (CC) wasn't in the works for at least as long. I'm sure I would have planned a head differently... I guess I just answered my own question...why would they if they can get more $$$out of me.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

I think the 80/20 rule has relevance here in that probably 80% of the people donate because it makes them feel good. The other 20% donate strictly because it's a tax writeoff. That's been my experience in working with non-profits and charities for 46 years.

I won't consider anyone who supports nonprofits and charities "a part of the problem" though. As Apple and Mitt Romney said (loosely quoted), "We have a system and we are using that system." If you don't like the system, then you should do as I do and write your representatives and tell them so. However, you'll get a more serious reading (and response from) if, as my wise old grandmother taught me to do, provide a solution to go along with your complaint. People who complain without providing their idea of a solution are, in my mind, not only part of the problem but perhaps the whole problem.

In my work with nonprofits and charities many decades ago, I though that the serious people donated their time and the tax-writeoff people donated their money. However, these past few years I have even changed my mind on that because of my own situation. When I lived in Texas, I used to go out with animal groups and rescue wildlife and pets that had lost their homes and families during hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, drought, etc. Here in San Diego, I've always gone out after fires and helped rescue pets, horses, cattle, etc., to get them out of harm's way or to rescue them afterwards. My most disheartening loss was when I rescued a golden labrador with a burned off tail, burned off ears, and burned feet. Sadly, it did not make it. But that doesn't deter me from helping those who need help, be they human or wildlife.

Now, however, in my advancing age, I'm not able to go climb mountains and navigate across streams anymore. My knees and ankles just won't let me. If there is something I can volunteer to do that is not taxing physically, I do it. For example, I document a lot of events with my camera, clean the photos up in Photoshop and PaintShop Pro, and donate them to the appropriate people, such as an organization running the event or the many historical societies.

In my youth, I donated time and money. Now, with physical limitations, I don't much more money than I do time. Because of that, I have increased the amount of money I donate. I don't get tax write-off credit for all of it, but that doesn't concern me. Helping the world is what concerns me because they are a few billion ugly, nasty, hateful people in this world, and those people usually grew up being cruel to wildlife.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

Considering how fast technology changes, what Adobe was planning two years ago probably is vastly different from what they are doing today.

I know what I was doing with technology two years ago sure is different from today.