My two cents, for what they're worth.
Posted By: Hmm on 2005-12-10
In Reply to: More to it than that. sm - financial guru
Leasing never worked out for me simply because I put too many miles on a car at that time just going back and forth to work, etc. It did, however, work out wonderfully for a friend a mine who lived about 2 miles from work, took one car trip per year, etc. In fact, she came out great at the end of her lease and leased another one. She will probably buy this outright at the end of its lease.
Now that I'm no longer traveling for work, I would very seriously consider leasing were it not for one thing. I have now built up value in my car and it's simply not the best option for me.
Two ways to look at this thing.....good luck!
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My 2-cents worth....
In my opinion, any time you transcribe in only 1 specialty, you only have to focus on only ONE area. It might be boring but your productivity will increase. While working for a big national, you could have 100s of dictators. In a hospital setting and with only one speciality, the number of dictators is fewer and therefore you become more accustomed to their dications. You should be able to create "macros" "expansions" or whatever your system allows for repetitive dictations. Good luck.
Here is my two cents worth,
This is my opinion...you need to say, I am working between this time and that time and try with everything in you to stick to it. Finish at your appointed time and then spend some time with your family. Your husband needs to help you on his days off; that needs to be a part of the "deal."
Maybe you could make more money if you didn't have to worry about keeping your house clean... could you ask for a housekeeper once a week?
I have 5 kids and it was very hard to get myself organized for a long time...and to be honest, it is still not easy by any means. I find that my whole life runs better if I do stick to a schedule the best I can (stuff does come up though). I lay out their clothes the night before and think about what they will eat neatly and quickly for breakfast. I try to make the next day run as smoothly as possible.
Since yours go to a babysitter three days and are home when hubby is, he really needs to help with them during your set work hours, and then you could take time afterward to do something as a family or as a couple, or maybe he needs some alone time too. He needs to keep them out of your "space" so you can get finished, just as if you were working in an office outside the home.
When mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy...so take some time to plan how you want your life to be on a daily basis. Strive for it. Everyday will not be like you plan, but you will feel more like you HAVE control when you TAKE control. You cannot do it all on your own and no one should expect you to. I have felt that very same way many times, but there is only one Tami and she can only do what she can do in a 24 hour period, nothing more. Just make the best of every day so you get to spend time with your family because that is what it is really all about anyway!
Just my two cents worth!
Have already sent my 2-cents worth
on the subject. Found this address for him: oreilly@foxnews.com
I stress heavily the security aspects of having all our personal info floating around Indiastanippines. Anyone who posted a comment under TravelinMT's newspaper article might want to send O'Reilly a variation of that. I'm all for pouring on the heat and letting everyone possible know about this. Sent Glenn Beck the scoop a couple of days ago: me@glennbeck.com.
Vive le revolucion!
My 2 cents worth
The other posts are spot on about AHDI selling us down a river, but most of the hospital jobs that allow you to work at home as an employee give preference to CMTs in the application process, so if you are looking for a position like that instead of working for a national you might want to consider getting it. It all depends on your employment goals. Good luck!
accounts - plus my 2 cents worth
I started doing part-time when working at a hospital as an Admin Sec/Assistant as docs were unable to find decent transcriptionists. Went to full-time as my hubbie was a trucker and gone a lot and started in 1989 full-time. At first did brochures/flyers to offices, subcontracted to local companies. Then they started coming word of mouth. I have not added an account for 5-6 years as have had enough but recently one of my favorites passed away and so will be adding another after Chrisitmas. Have thought about expanding more with more IC's but I really have trouble finding people that are dependable and realize that sometimes work comes first and it is my name out there. Since I am a small MTSO I can only pay 8.5 to 9 cents per gross line but all they do is type and I print, deliver and pick up. My oldest psych account has been with me since 1988 and my latest since 2000 so they stay with me. Pay on time, treat me pretty well and so can't complain too much. My last mailing, mailed out about 90 to 100 flyers and got 5 phone calls and 1 account but again that was 5 years ago.
Some of you have to realize the cost of running and maintaining a business. Though the doc gets $50 to $60 per office visit, more with labs, but think of their overhead in the office. Also lots of times they only get 60 to 70% of what they bill out. They not only have to pay me for the typing -- 35 to 40 lines, (3-4 dollars) but the receptionist, billing clerk, nurse and themselves. So the docs are not getting rich and I again say it is the insurance companies that put the squeeze on them and causing a lot of them to look for cheaper ways of doing things.
taxes -- see my 2 cents worth
To many variables -- are you married, what are your deductions, etc. See what was held out when you were an employee and match that amount. Your SS will be 7.5 more but some of your deductions can offset that. Buy a copy of Turbo Tax and do a planning sheet on what you have made this past month or expect to make. I pay very little but then I contribute a lot to my self employment pension. How long have you been an IC -- i f just starting won't have to worry for a while. But without knowing your entire financial picture it is hard to estimate whether it be 10 or 15 or 20%. I pay less than 10% but that is because I have many deductions. Look at last year taxes and see what you paid. If that is what you are estimating on making divide that into quarters or monthly. If married have hubbie over withhold. Again without more info we are just guessing. Patti
My 2 cents worth here (smile) ...
It's one thing to have a perspective as an MT, new or experienced, saying that the generalizations from MT Pundit are true or not (and I take his/her comments as generalizations, not true in every situation).
However, when you work with an abundance of both experienced and new MTs, it is very different. You really do see the trends being referred to in this thread.
For everyone who exclaims how adaptable they are but rant on and on, you probably are not as change-friendly as you think and it shows with your exasperated statements.
There are always exceptions to the rule but by and large what Pundit has said seems to be the overall trend in working with large groups of both experienced and new MTs.
I think offshoring has nothing to do with this. It is a separate issue altogether and will happen regardless.
I do think he/she has given excellent advice for those who want to hang onto this profession as long as possible.
It is much easier to go to the eager new MT minds and give instruction or feedback than to go through the arguments and backlash usually resulting from the same situation involving an experienced MT.
Glad I'm out of it!
"Just had to give my 10 cents worth"
Here's a dollar.
I'm paying you in advance for the next nine accurate statements you make. 
I signed it, and added my 2 cents' worth, as well!
Maybe we should print copies of this letter, stand outside hospitals and clinics, and hand copies of it to patients as they're leaving. Or else put it on their windshields in the parking lot.
What we're worth
 Right now I get $23/hour. Seems like a lot, but where I work we're subjected to a lot of abuse. So right now I'm starting to wish I could make more. I only know how many minutes of dictation I do on an average day (about 130-140), but have no idea how many lines that translates to. Wish I did know, to see if maybe I should be working somewhere else on a per-line basis.
That's because we're worth it!
getting paid what (we think) we're worth
You may chuckle at what you're being offered, but there's a possibility that the company you're applying for a position with cannot offer more than that. If they're billing the client 13 cpl but after all of the overhead (401K plans, paid time off, software programs for MTs, employer's share of the SS tax, etc), comes out 5 cpl (which leaves 8 cpl), how are they going to keep enough for company expenses (i.e. lawyers, accountants) and still pay a decent line rate to the MTs.
So, unless you have access to the accounting books and have access to the profit and loss statements, you don't really know why MTs are not offered more than they were in the late 1980s to early 1990s.
You're absolutely right that we are worth more, so when are you going to stop
.
Nine cents is fine if you're working for someone else. sm
But, not so good if the account is your own. :)
If you can't afford to pay a transcriptionist 10 cents a line then obviously you're part of th
The reality of the situation might be, Gloria, that no one is willing to pay your business more than the "going rate" because they just don't think you're worth it.
It probably means you're not Indian and won't work for 2 cents a line.
``
I'd hire an attorney and do a quickie divorce. They're cheap and well worth it.
If it's uncontested the attorney can help you amicably sort through what needs to be split and do it fairly and according to the laws of your state. This will avoid potential problems later.
12 cents. I'd love to make 12 cents. sm
a line as an employee. 17 years acute care experiencing doing all work types and I only make 9 cpl plus incentives.
8 cents versus 9 cents
Wait a minute....9/55 is to 8/65....would not 9/55 be significantly higher pay than 8/64 (spaces are not counted in either case)?
8 cents a line. Should be 10 cents for over 10 yrs exp but
b
For Pete's sake, you're not terminating a pregnancy, you're just typing a report after the
It's already been done before you even hear about it, and NOTHING changes regardless of whether you or someone else types it. Sheesh.
It's not funny when you're on a board where language is one skill you're selling.
.
Hope you're gonna have a glass of wine while you're relaxing
in your spa goodies. Congrats!
Well, you're all complaining that accounts are current and work is low, so, gee, maybe they're
focusing on WORK, as in CLIENT and transcribing, as maybe half of you should be focusing on!!
If you're experienced, try for 9cpl or higher, and you're lucky to get that! nm
s
Skip it. No one cares. Either you're good on the test or you're not.
x
You're probably right. Plus we're losing our percentage of good people by .... (sm)
allowing every loser from every 3rd world country on the planet to just stroll on into our country, some legally, most illegally, and take advantage of the social services all us hard working little gerbils pay for by having money taken out of our pay every month. But I don't think we're all lazy. Just the ones on permanent welfare driving around town in brand-new Cadillac Escalades. Saw one just today on the Bayshore Fwy. Brand-new black Escalade with expensive spinner wheels, with 5 or 6 Mexicans in it. Well, who knows - maybe they stole it and it was on its way to a chop-shop. Smart-and-hungry people aren't always hard-working and honest.
You're not going to find a word expander for free. You're going to have to pay
g
You're forgetting all the stuff you can't buy when you're UNEMPLOYED!
Unemployed people have a hard time buying anything, including cheaply made offshore products. How many will have to end up depending on public assistance? That means more tax dollars being eaten up - besides the taxes NOT being collected from the overseas workers. In the long run, are you really enjoying a lower price?
If you're on the job, ask for samples to do it how they want it. If you're testing, separate o
s
You're not losing it, you're burned out on your main job.
I feel for you... I am having my own "version" ;-) of these kinds of struggles. Lots of recent changes at the admin level have made my job do a 180, going from a really great one to a really crappy one.
For me, it's a struggle to get through the day with a shred of motivation. I get distracted in the way you discuss as well.
I just try to make my environment as comfortable as possible and make the best of it while I decide what the best way is to deal with the burnout... I figure if I can't change my inner brain workings so that I still like this job, I need to find another one, or this feeling will possibly get worse!
I hope it works out for you. Wish I had some better advice for you, but this really does look like burnout and extreme job dissatisfaction to me. We all wear it differently. Try to be good to yourself while you figure out a solution.
Don't know what you're complaint you're making with this post. sm
You stated in your original post that you don't want to work weekends or odd shifts. What is your definition of an odd shift? Second shift? Third shift? Sounds like you want to work M-F on days. Sounds kind of rigid to me. 
Personally I like second shift, so everyone working days means more work for me!
A job worth doing is worth doing well ...
If you do not want to do your best, get another job.
But that is what I would do - worth the $.30
nm
what are your worth?
To do business at this rate, the hospital would have to be contracting the jobs themselve. Most hospitals I am aware of, go through a service, which has overhead. So to that 7 cents you have to add pay for management, building, utilites and all the other costs of doing business. The services I work for charge anywhere from 11 to 13 cpl, so it really isn't any cheaper to go through a service or have your own accts from the hospital point of view.
And is it worth the $189?
It sounds quite interesting, but that's a lot of money to shell out for an expander. Do you find your production is a lot higher compared with regular word expanders?
For what it's worth...SM
I did say that in my opinion, drinking on the job, regardless of amount, was unprofessional and somewhat irresponsible. (I stated MY opinion of the SITUATION, not directed at anyone in particular.) I think most employers would agree with me on that one. You obviously do not. This topic has been discussed and removed several times now - if you don't like the "unpleasant" posts, why keep bringing it up? Do you need the validation from complete strangers?
Don't post the topic if you're not prepared to deal with multiple viewpoints. Simple as that.
Worth it?
YES! An ergonomic keyboard does take a couple of days to get used to, but I doubled my typing speed after those couple of days and do not get "tired" hands as quickly. I would strongly recommend getting one!:)
Yes, it is worth it! sm
We have VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance--should be on the web) and it's great. You can pay monthly or all at once. It doesn't help much with the little bumps and bruises, but our boxer had a major ACL repair done and it saved us tons of money. She's worth it!
for what its worth
your marital relationship is the most important relationship in your life- its who you chose - you din't choose your parents, siblings or kids- everyone deserves to be valued and respected in that most important relationship- if you are being repeatedly hurt by your spouse or you are hurting your spouse -after you are aware that behavior is causing pain, no matter what it is - then you are not valuing your relationship or being valued in that relationship... Either way, you need to do something about it- get counselling at the least
Not worth it!
In my opinion, it would be better to wait for something that pays a little more. At 6 cpl you are going to work your butt off. I mean, if you think about it that's what the people in India are getting paid, either 5.5 cpl or 6 cpl. I think American MTs are worth more, much more, but that's just my opinion. If your current job is not too, too bad where you can't wait it out, I would say look around and give it a little more time. Gook luck!!
Is being an MT really worth it?
I've been doing it for about 10.5 years and have interacted with a number of fellow MTs. One thing I notice is that very few of the wonderful MTs I've known have been WITHOUT depression, anxiety, and/or panic disorders.
Is it possible that sitting in front of a CRT doing the same thing all day every day in complete physical isolation isn't healthy?
There are lots of reasons I want out of this business. There's one. Have a good day :)
worth it
You are right about being isolated. Right now I have my 3-year-old at home with me, but in a couple of years, it is going to be me and the cat until the kids come home. I'm not really worried about it though. I know a few moms and other MTs can call if I get lonely.
As for the depression and axiety, I had before coming into this profession. You just have to take every day as it comes and enjoy the sunshine when its there.
Very worth it
I bought mine of ebay about 7 years ago for around $700 new and love it. It is well worth the money as it will never wear out.
I tried it. It is only worth it if you -
want to read about how wonderful it is that they are now training and credentialling overseas MTs. That is the truth. If you don't believe me, you can waste your money on it.
Not worth it
I didn't quit smoking with Wellbutrin, but used the generic nicotine gum 4 mg then 2 mg, which tasted awful, but stopped the waves of rage from quitting smoking. Wellbutrin made me giddy for a few hours, then I crashed almost instantly and would become solemn and depressed, which made me want to smoke. Does anyone know why there is a drop off like that? Is that normal with these types of drugs? I don't take anything in the way of medications unless I am deathly ill.
Yes, well worth it (SM)
It was definitely worth the $15K, but after years of trying all the other fertility treatments and having them *fail* (total of all of those was probably $10 to 15K as well) it was just such a risk. I knew if it worked it would be worth every dime and then some, but if it failed it would only send me into a deeper depression. Not a good thing. Thank goodness for happy endings. Make that thank GOD!
I'm so glad to hear other success stories. No one knows the agony of infertility unless they have walked in our shoes :-(
Thanks for the post.
Would it be worth it?
Hi everyone. Been reading your postings and thought you could help. I presently work in a clinic but have been mulling the idea of working from home. Would it be reasonable to assume I could make at least $9.00 an hour working from home (realizing I would get paid by cpl) Should I quit my job and go for it?
Thanks
Here is my exp for what it's worth: SM
I used to do what you do....I felt like I had a lot to offer, never had a problem getting a job that paid a good wage, great insurance, great vacation.
I got into MT as a fluke and for the 1st 5 years I made a ton of money and worked at home. Along the way, I became less desirable as an administrative assistant--had been out of the field for too long, I think.
When the MT pay started going down and I found I had to work 12-14 hours a day to make less than what I was making in the beginning, I really have tried to get an admin. asst. job again, but I am losing the job to people who have been employed right along the way while I was here at home.
Stay with this job--ride it out. You are likely to have to work 12 hours a day or more to get your lines in and keep your benefits if you come home to work.
What you are worth
I don't believe it is true that MT is a bad field or a declining field. It is a great field and anyone who is capable of going through the education and gaining experience will find it is well worth it. Negative attitudes make every job unappealing.
Get the training and check out the companies. I have been an MT for 17 years and have always made no less than 50,000 a year. I only work 8 hours a day, no weekends. I love the job.
Is it worth it?
I posted a message yesterday on the New MT board. I haven't seen a response. Can anyone give me advice?
I am disabled and need to train in a new profession. After some reading and researching, I wonder if I should learn MT.
With so many jobs going to India, Philipines, etc is there really work (and I mean work that will pay me enough money to more than survive) in the US?
With Dragon, is it easier for non English speaking persons to transcribe? I am really nervous. I can't waste time and money learning something that is no longer offered here.Is it worth it?
I apologize for the redundancy. I am new to posting, and this is my third try.
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