@ray - I started off with Becker and took a solid three months of studying for FAR. I basically did one chapter per week in Becker and then reviewed everything for 2-3 weeks at the end. In hindsight, I probably took a bit too long to study FAR. I should have shortened the time frame and studied a little harder. That was my best score though, so I guess I shouldn't complain.
Let me back up one sec. Before FAR, I had just gotten done taking 24 units of accounting just to sit for the exam. I majored in Econ and graduated in 2005 and went straight into the work force. I had no accounting classes through college and CA requires 24 units of accounting just to sit for the exam. After getting my 24 units of the way (night classes and online classes) I started with FAR and did the 3 months mentioned above.
Once I was done with FAR I was starting to get burned out. I realized I needed to shorten my time frame for studying. On AUD, REG, BEC, my goal was to do like 1.5 chapters per week and supplement with a bunch of multiple choice questions. This seems to work pretty well. I think I only took two or three days off between tests, so you'll be able to see how many days I spent preparing. I rarely took a day off and generally studied for an hour at lunch and 1.5-2 hours in the evening. I never studied while my kids were awake, so I never felt like the exam was taking away from my children. It was a little bit challenging on my wife during my studies, but now she is taking the exam and I am picking up the slack around the house (payback is a witch with a capital B - lol). Last thing is that I saved what I thought would be my easiest test for last (BEC - and it was my easiest test - thank god).
There is no "right" way to go about it. You just need to get into a rhythm that you are comfortable with and just run with it.
