I started too but home office got moved to bedroom. sm.
Posted By: Jamie on 2008-01-03
In Reply to: Does anyone listen to dictation out loud and not through headphones, I would (sm) - Rosie
Now have to use earphones when husband is sleeping. I actually prefer the earphones just because my speakers weren't the best but it worked well the other way too.
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I use an extra bedroom. Just bought a 4 bedroom house so I can have an office, for one reason.
Nice and cheery, sunny, comfortable and a room all to myself! Love my office.
My office is also our 3rd bedroom.
I wanted to be able to use it as one of my business tax deductions and we have the extra room (just husband & I).
Just this past few months, I decorated my office in a tropical theme and bought the desk of my dreams (and it was cheap!). :D I love being able to sit at my desk and look out into our front yard, see the trees, our driveway, road, etc. My office is very cheerful and since I spend SO much time in it I wanted to love "going to work" :) I feel so lucky to have my own office.
I have a bedroom that is used only as my office
I just love my office. I have it painted in a soft yellow and decorated in tropical decor with a wicker chair and storage chest with a decorative bamboo room divider. I have an artificial palm tree and palm tree & mirror wall hanging, as well as an artificial plant hanging from the ceiling and a decorative shell type thing hanging from the ceiling. I have an L-shaped desk with a hutch that sits in the corner where I look to the right out a window that has a bamboo type shade on it which I keep rolled up and a nice tropical/palm tree valance on it. I have my PC, a laptop, and two printers on my desk. I am going to buy a rolling TV stand to put one printer on (that I use with my laptop) to clear off some of my desk. I absolutely love my desk and my view out my front yard. I feel so lucky. :)
Years ago I had to work in our family room with the kids and TV in our old house - not good. Now, in our new house, it is just my husband and I (and our three Shih Tzu). :) I feel as though I live in this room so wanted to love coming in here and I do. :)
Office in livingroom or bedroom?
Would like your opinions, advice, pros and cons on whether you have your office in a main part of the house or separate room. Right now mine is in a main part of the house, but I get constantly distracted by disabled husband, TV and dogs barking etc. If it's not my dogs barking, it is the neighbors barking (all day long!). What do the rest of you do?
I have converted a bedroom into an office. (sm)
The windows all look out into the woods so I can take a restful gaze when I want to. If the door is open it leaves me a clear shot through the living room and the front door so I can see if anyone comes in or out and I didn't hear them. My elderly mom lives with me so I don't want to be too isolated. We live in the country so dog, cat, chicken, cattle noises and a train that runs not too far from my house are all part of the natural background noise and I don't even notice them.
I used to work in the master bedroom and now I have my own office. I could
x
I have converted a bedroom to office. Can shut
x
Our third bedroom serves solely as an office. I love it! nm
x
I'm in 2/2 condo. Office is half of large bedroom. Den
xx
uh, we moved the fridge farther away from my office so I have to walk more now.
Seriously, I have a mini trampoline, exercise bike and a weight lifting set in the house that I use to hang clothes on. DoH! I'm starting to use them more now since I quit smoking a month ago. Gotta get back into shape. My doctor said not to rush it.
Office politics. That is why I enjoy working at home. In the office,
people are in other people business. Just mind your own business.
Our office just started it. Not sure yet how it will go.
;
Started in 1979 when I was 18, worked in office at MQ while it was still
.
I am glad I was sitting in an office with experienced MTs when I first started.
I think I have a decent ear for accents, but I can't imagine doing ESLs for acute care when you are a newbie without having a trainer sitting at the next desk to interpret now and then. Otherwise I'd have cried at times.
I've been in MT for 20 years. Started out in the office at a hospital.
Switched to working for services from home for a while and now I work for the same hospital I started out at, but I work from home now. So I guess you can say I've come full circle and now I'm back where I started. I much prefer being an employee of a hospital versus an IC or employee of an MTSO.
It may be that your user profile in EXText is not set up to allow you to add normals. I've found with services they don't give their MTs a whole lot of freedom with their software. 
I started in the file room of the urology office I worked. And I was not
going to be a file clerk for the rest of my life. I only had 2 semesters of terminology, no other professional schooling. They had a fresh from a Mayo Fellowship peds urologist coming in and needed somebody to help with the typing. First it was half file-room and half transcription. Finally he was so busy, I became full time. I was there from 1990 until 2003. I then left to free-lance and start my own business. He has since moved to Arizona and I still type for him after all these years.
I started part-time in a doc's office while still in high school. sm
That was in 1984. My career just bloomed from there......
I started in the file room of a 6 doctor urology office....
The file room in any office is a nuclear dumping ground...any paper that nobody knows what to do with gets dumped there. Then and there I made up my mind that I was NOT going to be a file clerk for the rest of my life.
I actually started by filing part time and typing part time. When we got a new Peds Urologist in the office, fresh from a fellowship at Mayo, I was right there. We used tapes back then as that was in the early 1990's. As he could fill up a 2 sided tape with 8 hours of seeing patient's, the other girl in the office did not want any part of his work and left it for me. The rest, as they say, is history.
I had no professional training, just 2 semesters of medical terminology and a killer spelling ability.
After I had typed urology, I was then farmed out to our other offices and I learned GI/GU, family practice, sleep labs etc.
I now work for a major hospital on the west side of Michigan and still type for my Peds urologist. The only difference is that he now has his practice in AZ, not MI.
If you can find somebody willing to take a chance on you with no experience, jump on it with both feet. You will be glad you did.
I used to be tied to it when I first started at home. sm
When I first started at home I was like, "this is way tooooooo cool." I can get back to some jobs later. Then later became later or I was up with the sun, etc.
It took me some time (over a year) but I've figured out what works for me. I usually start at 7:00 a.m. and finish by 2:30 p.m. when the bus arrives from school. If I get lazy and read the paper in the morning, I work 8:00 to 3:30 or whatever. Tonight I have had the occasional evening shift because my daughter needed help on her project for school
Other than that, I usually leave my computer unless I go on in the evening to check my email before I go to bed.
I realized my computer doesn't yell at me loud enough to pound on the keyboard for another hour to make an extra $15 or $20. Now if I were getting double time, this computer would be on all night. Like that's ever going to happen.
at home vs office - i am in office
well, I really was referring to the MONSTER MANAGER that I have, who has her favorites here, and she assigns them the easy doctors who say the same thing over and over, you know. I have to do something. I am losing my SELF at this point, with no church and no family. The stuff on here about running out of work, my lack of computer savvy, all has me just frozen. MOre about in-office. Do you have little habits like talking out loud to the dr? Someone will complain about you. Do you ever say a cussword? Someone will complain. Do you ever sigh? Complaints. About age - I was offered 2 trans. positoins in San Diego before I came here. I had gone to a seminar about how to look for work over age 55, had revamped my resume and my "presenting" self, and it made all the difference. Things are way different than they were evern 10 years ago, you will be judged by someone younger than you, but in this line of work they do appreciate experience and reliability. And the computer doesn't care if you're pretty. It's not your age unless you are sickly. Don't give up!! if that's what you want.
Any ideas on a letter to possible clients to get started at home? sm
I am wanting to gain some clients in my hometown to do their transcription. I was trying to figure out the best way to go about it. Should I type up a fancy letter telling them a bit about myself, experience, and rate range of what I should charge? What could I say or do to make it REALLY stand-out? Any ideas on fees? I am looking for a monthly charge and I know it depends on the amount of work to be done, picking up, dropping off, use of my paper, etc....PlEASE any and all info wil be helpful!
3 since November 2006 when I started at-home transcription nm
nm
If you had your very own office at home,
How would you decorate it? Anything specific you'd get? Wall color? Flooring? Curtains? Light fixture? Any feng shui motivational tips on color or spacing? It's your fantasy here, so let it out.
Where is your home office?
Mine is in my dining room. I have my computer on a desk in the corner of my formal dining room. I am thinking of moving it to a bedroom for less traffic and noise. I am curious - where is your home office and is it working for you?
Your home office
Do you have a room in your house that is solely dedicated to your work space, or do you work in another room that actually has another purpose as well (such as a bedroom)? If you have a multi-use room, do you feel that you have enough space to do your work efficiently?
You want Office XP pro or home at least
I just bought a new Dell and they didnt give me Word and told me something similar about works. I blew a gasket and then offered to return the computer since they didnt see fit to include the program as promised and they very quickly changed their tune and sent me Office XP Pro for no charge.
so stick to your guns and have them give you a copy when you buy your computer.
home office ?
I plan to use TurboTax Small Business this year since many of you seem to be satisfied with it. I will take a home office since I work exclusively at home as an IC. Have any of you had any problems with the IRS and taking a home office ? I have not taken one in the past because they said I could not even receive personal e-mail or surf the web if I did so in my office. I use the same e-mail for work and personal so I don't have to toggle between two different e-mail accounts. Besides, I only have one computer so would have to receive personal business on that computer even if separate accounts. I hope they change some of these ridiculous rules since I have no other place to work and have to use my own electricity, internet, etc that is unreimbursed by the company I work for. I use high-speed internet (required) also for work. Is this just lumped in with utilities? Last year I was an employee, so that is why I have so many questions (IC). Thanks in advance !
home office
My tax woman told me years ago that if I did not have a dedicated room, I could figure the amount of space -- say your computer and the usual thousand or so reference books, paper, storage, printer, file cabinets, plus the phone bill, or anything else like cleaning bills for a person or supplies -- as a percentage of the square footage of home. Deduction is the percentage. IMPORTANT: Good friend is a tax attorney, and he tells me it drives HIM nuts because the IRS changes the rules every year. So, be sure to get the most up-to-date regulations from the IRS, themselves. After all, where do the CPAs get their info? Rosie
I have my own decorated home office
And I LOVE it. Husband just painted it a sunny yellow not too long ago for me and I totally redecorated with a corner desk with hutch that I bought that is situated where I have a great view out my window to our front yard and road. My office is all done in a tropical theme, with a cute tropical valance and bamboo shade on my window. I have a wicker chair and trunk, tropical hanging greenery basket hanging from my ceiling, decorative shell ceiling hanger, a big palm tree sitting in a corner, 3 piece palm/mirror wall hanging, a live bamboo plant on the top shelf of my desk, palm tree designed vase and two big candle-holders. I also have a cute table top palm tree lamp.
I absolutely love my office and everyone that enters does as well. :D I spend SO much time in here I wanted it bright, cheery and something I would enjoy - and that I do. :D I feel very lucky.
I have a patriotic home office and
many houseplants.
Reasons for home office
I too have home office for tax purposes. Also, with friends and family knowing I work in an office at home, they seem to take my job more seriously. I am not just sitting at the dining room table "playing" at the computer.
Can you take home office deduction if you are sm
an employee and how would one guestimate if they would qualify? Looking into this option this year.
Home office deduction
No, but unreimbursed work-related expenses may be deduced on Schedule A.
nix the home office deduction
If you plan on selling your house later on. The deductions you claimed in previous years will be lost when you try to sell. So, if you were planning on selling for $150,000, but you claimed $500 a year in home-office deductions, per year, over ten years, that's $5000 you'll lose out at the end.
home office tax question
Doing taxes. To measure the square feet of my my home office, which is 10 x 12, do I just multiply, which would give me 120 square feet? Thank you!
My IC home office deductions came to only sm
$1100 because I own my house outright and, like you, have no real expenses because I work at home off the Internet. My health insurance premiums are low because it's lousy insurance.
People with high mortgages will have a higher deduction based on that. They may travel each day to get their work, etc. Every person's situation is different.
I think you did okay!
BTW, if anyone uses H&R Block, I strongly urge you to get the Peace of Mind benefit for $27. Mine came in handy for 2004 when the preparer made a big, big mistake caught by the IRS (I'm going to end up getting a refund of what the preparer said I owed in 2004!!!) This may be my last year with the blockheads, though. I should say I've gotten excellent service in the last 25 years, except for that one preparer last year and Block messing up on its own tax preparation.
home office and interruptions
I work out of my home doing medical transcription and have for quite some time. I love it except for the interruptions! I can't seem to get into the "zone" because of it and my production is down. Here is an example of what I find hard to deal with: Phone calls, contractors working on the house (one-time thing but still..), husband running the microwave (can't hear my voice files), husband in an out of the house on his days off, husband mowing the lawn right outside my office window. You get the picture. I have thought of moving my office to an upstairs bedroom but I really don't know if I would be gaining that much for all the trouble. A sound proof room would be nice!
I'm very discouraged right now. I would like to earn more money but it seems like an uphill battle! I have a hard time concentrating as it is (probably menopausal) and after so many interruptions in a day I feel like throwing in the towel!
How can I set up boundaries and keep them in place?  Any suggestions would be welcomed!
home office location-sm
I will take another look at another location for my office but I do like it where it is because it is handy for me (when there is no visitors), convenient to the kitchen, bathroom (I only have1), and I can start the evening meal and still work, etc. Why can't anything be easy?
Work in office and home
The office provided me with software in order to hook up to the office over my DSL line. Just connect to the company's software and the computer works as if I was in the office exactly the same way. And anyone in the office can see what I have typed instantly! I love it! I would much prefer working at home than at the office however!!
Home Office Deduction
I rent my apartment. I have a home office, which is a room used soley for the purpose of an office, which is the restriction, cannot be part of living room, etc. I deduct portion of rent, all supplies, telephone, cell phone, electric, gas, and oil heat. I don't think your name has to be on the lease, just that you live there and use that room solely as an office. Also, if you travel to and from your job you can deduct mileage, oh and internet connection, which I use mainly for work. Hope that helps you.
Home Office vs In-House
What about transcription done in-house in an office or dept. where there is high traffic from MDs to janitors?
My dog watches me type and horror of all horrors, I usually have the dictation on speaker phone.
home office lighting
 Any advice about the new full spectrum lighting that supposedly resembles daylight? I rent my house, so can't install ceiling fixtures; can only use floor lamps and desk lamps. I also have pretty severe seasonal affective disorder and need as much light as I can get here in the gray midwest. The regular (incandescent) lights I've been using put off way too much heat in the summer and really don't provide good light in the winter. The compact flourescent bulbs don't seem to be bright enough. I'm thinking of trying the BlueMax full spectrum line. Any experience from you guys out there?
home office lighting
Thanks! I checked out the website and have emailed them for info. 
Working from home and not going to the office
I work for a local hospital and I have worked from home for 20 years now.
I would never never go back to an office setting unless there no other at-home jobs were out there.
I have a separate office and can watch my house from thieves, throw a load of laundry in, put supper on early, etc. I do take my two 15 minute breaks and 30 minutes for lunch just like I am in the office. If I need to run a short errand I save my breaks and lunch and combine the two and have an hour to get back.
I have three grown children but I still get phone calls all day and have a separate phone line for them if they need me and screen other calls on regular phone line.
You just have to learn to kind of pace yourself. I do sometimes type in my PJs but not too often because my husband runs his business from our home and Fedex and UPS come here all of the time.
Just set a space aside if you can from the other part of the house. I try to stick to a rule for everyone "if they see my door closed to my office, then they try not to bother me unless it is absolute necessary."
You will love it if you ever try it.I really do not miss the office and its politics.
Sometimes being at home we home MTs do not get the necessary information like we should have. Also I can count part of one phone line and my office space and books and whatever it takes to do my job on income tax. Hope this helps. I do not think that you would regret it.
Home Office Deduction
I have 2 jobs, one as an employee and one as an IC. I was living in a house with a separate room for an office. I have now moved to an apartment. Will I still be able to deduct some portion of my rent and utilities if I don't have a separate office? I would still be able to deduct office supplies and a percentage of internet and cell phone charges, correct? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Another problem with home office deduction
It has to be exclusive use, so you can't take it if you use the area for other activities than strictly work. Also, I did the depreciation thing with my home and it can come back to bite you if you sell the house and make a profit.
In-office work is different than working at home. That's just the way it is. If it seems too
rigid to you, maybe you should stick to working for the nationals.
Working at home is harder than in office
Because we are our own housekeeping, tech support, errand runner, no cafeteria, ect. I have no idea why they are passing around this WAHM myth. I don't understand the savings idea either because our utility bills are higher. In an office you get paid 15 min breaks 2x a shift too. You are also paid for all the stuff you deal with that you have to deal with to work. Like talking to supervisor, sending an email, reporting a problem, ect.
Slums of Calcutta home office :)
aren't ya just tempted to send em a pic of one of the starving children in Africa for your photo and the slums of Calcutta for your home office? :) I bet that would get a rise out of em.
I also took home office expenses as an employee, but --
You can only get any good out of it if you are also a homeowner with a lot of mortgage interest or have a lot of medical expenses, etc., that would make it higher than the standard deduction.
deducting home office expenses -
For the home office expense - You would measure the amount of space you actually use to work (your desk area) and figure the percentage of that square footage to your total square footage. Then you would use that percentage of your utilities costs, etc., to count on your taxes.
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