Category: Working Parents

Almost 4 million Americans now work from home, and the number continues to grow. This growing number includes transcription jobs from home.

If you’re an excellent typist with a desire to work from the comfort of home, you might consider joining the ranks of transcriptionists. This job requires some specific skills and knowledge to get started, but it’s simpler than you might think.

What’s Involved in Transcription Jobs?

A transcription job involves listening to and typing out audio recordings or live events. The process involves interpreting and editing to make the transcription easier to read and understand.

The job requires certain equipment to get started. You’ll need a computer with a word-processor. You’ll also want headphones to make it easier to hear and interpret the audio.

You’ll also need audio software to download the necessary files. While it’s not required, a foot pedal proves helpful to change the speed of the audio. This equipment makes it easier to complete the transcription with less trouble.

Types of Transcribing Jobs

Transcription jobs prove necessary for every industry. This means there’s plenty of opportunities. This also means there are different types of transcription jobs available.

Transcriptionists can expect an average salary of $30,675. The full amount depends on the industry and type of transcription job you choose.

General Transcription

General transcription encompasses most types of transcribing jobs. You’re completing services from any type of audio. This includes

• Lectures
• Interviews
• Workshops
• Webinars
• Conference calls
• Dictation

Any audio recording that needs a typed transcription falls under general transcription. General transcription also includes data entry jobs, where you add data to company databases.

Legal Transcription

Legal transcriptionists deal with the legal profession. This involves knowledge of legal terms and procedures. Most companies hiring legal transcription services require someone with experience in this field.

Financial Transcription

Financial transcriptionists need knowledge of specific industries. They also need an understanding of financial reports and terminology. If you choose this transcription niche, you should choose an industry you have experience with.

Captioning

Captioning involves transcribing videos, webinars, and lectures. You offer captions for people that can’t hear the audio. This means you’re required to transcribe background and other sounds too.

Real-Time Transcription

Some transcription involves live audio. This means you can’t slow down the audio and need the ability to keep up. This means you need more than an adequate typing speed. This includes options such as court reporting.

Medical Transcription

Medical transcription requires specialized training and certification to complete. This involves a certification program or Associate’s degree. 

A medical transcriptionist deals with physician and hospital dictation. You interpret these recordings to add notes to patient records.

Finding Transcription Jobs from Home

It’s important to watch out for scams when seeking a transcription job from home. Many scams exist, and you need to look for legitimate transcription options such as transcription services online.

Many places look for someone with experience in an office setting, but this isn’t always a requirement. For medical or real-time transcription you will need specialized training and certification. Other transcription options will sometimes hire new transcriptionists though.

How to Get Started with Work from Home Transcription

Most places will require you to pass a typing test for speed and accuracy. Most look for at least 60 words per minute with minimal mistakes.

If you’re just getting started with transcription work, you might consider a basic data-entry job. This option won’t pay as much as other transcription jobs, but this will help you gain experience. 

If you start with data-entry options, you’re also more susceptible to scams. This makes it more important to check the company you plan to work with. For instance, if they insist you pay for a certification program to work for them, this gives an indication a scam’s involved.

Skills Needed for Transcription Jobs

Along with typing skills, you need organization, proofreading, and editing skills to complete your work. It’s a good idea to find programs that will help you test and increase your typing and proofreading skills.

You will also want adequate office space to increase your focus. You want to find office space that allows for privacy and quiet so you can hear the audio. Headphones will help with this endeavor.

To increase your organization, you should also create a schedule. This will help you increase productivity and stay on track. You also need to ensure that people in the home with you understand the need for uninterrupted work time.

You can also look into apps that help you shut off time-wasters during your work time. Do what you can to ensure you stay on task. The quicker you can complete the jobs, the more money you can make.

How to Find Transcribing Jobs from Home

If you already have connections in specific industries, you can use these networks to look for transcription jobs. Let your connections know you’re looking for jobs so they can let you know of opportunities.

You can also look into companies hiring transcriptionists. Many online services seek new transcriptionists to complete jobs for their companies. You can also look into websites with job listings.

For basic data-entry jobs, microtask sites usually offer the best opportunities. These websites usually pay the least but will help you get started. Freelance bidding sites also allow you to find data-entry and other transcription jobs.

Do your research before agreeing to work with a company. If they ask you to pay a fee to work with them, you should steer clear. The only fee you should consider involves the specialized equipment to do the job.

Evaluating Work from Home Options

Do transcription jobs from home sound like a perfect opportunity for you? Or do you need something a little different? You want to make sure you choose an option that works with your strengths.

Would you like to look at your other work from home options? Whatever choice you make, you want to ensure you get the most out of your options. Check out our other work from home options and tips to help you choose.

The time and place of your birth tell you a lot about who you are and who you may become. It will not predict the future, but it will define how you move forward through life.

Carl Jung believed that this was due to coincidence, which he would call synchronicity.

Each of us is born with a certain predisposition toward a way of being. If you are unsure about which career you should choose, you could find the answer in your natal chart.

Your zodiac sign could help you figure out which career path is right for you. Read on to find out how astrology could help your job search.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

You’re strong-willed and determined. Your enthusiasm for life can come off a little assertive, but it’s only because you want to see things done the right way.

You want a career that will challenge you to outdo yourself. Consider a career in sales or marketing to make your enthusiasm work for you.

You would do well in a leadership position. Aries thrives on independence and competition.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Taurus is a sensual sign, fixated on physical pleasures. You would do well working with anything involving the senses, such as cooking or pottery.

You also strive for financial stability, so you will find fulfillment in any career that allows you to live a comfortable life. Consider banking or investing.

Don’t ignore your love of decorating. Taurus loves to keep everything organized and clean. Consider a career in design or crafting.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Mercury rules Gemini, making these solar natives fantastic communicators. You love to be around people and share information.

You would succeed in any career that involves communicating information, such as event planning.

You love words and would thrive in a career such as journalism or blogging.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

The moon rules Cancer, making it the mother of the Zodiac. This water sign is incredibly intuitive and caring.

You love to nurture any living being. You would find a career in nursing, teaching, or social work to be valuable.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

As a Leo, you are charismatic and love attention.

You would enjoy any career that allows you to share how great you are to a wide audience of people.

Many Leos find themselves drawn to careers in entertainment, such as acting or singing. You may also enjoy interior design or visual art.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Virgo lies on the axis of service, opposite Pisces. Unlike Pisces, you are meticulous and have a keen eye for detail.

You do well in careers that allow you to help others. You like to see that a project happens in an organized and efficient manner.

Think about a career as an office manager or detective. Your eye for detail will benefit you.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Libra are social people. You need to surround yourself with people all the time.

You would do well in any job that requires you to work with a lot of people, such as customer service.

Libra is also a sign of justice. You cannot rest at ease if you sense something is unfair. You may enjoy a legal or political career.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

You’re a complex, emotional abyss. You love to stare into another person and analyze their being. This aptitude for psychoanalysis can be somewhat intimidating to others.

Scorpio is a water sign, so you are intuitive and pick up on others emotions.

As you tend to seek the truth, you may find yourself drawn to a career as a detective, therapist, or counselor.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

You love to learn and explore. They thrive in environments that foster a thirst for knowledge and adventure.

You might find fulfillment in a career as a professor, coach, or travel writer.

You are a risk taker with a strong moral compass. You would love a career in law, such as a judge or attorney.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Climb that mountain, mountain goat!

You are a goal-oriented individual. When you set your mind to something, you will climb the mountain to reach the summit.

You are ambitious and dependable. A Capricorn is content spending his entire life working his way up the ladder in his field.

You can do anything you set your mind to.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18)

You are forward-thinking and unusual. You seek to improve the world by first showing the world how different you are.

You love to stand out.

You would succeed in any career that allows you to impact social change. You would make a great activist.

You may find that dedicating yourself to one career is a boring waste of time. Are you wrong?

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

You are highly imaginative. Sometimes, you may find that you drift so far into the world of dreams that you forget how to function in the real world.

This is why many Pisces natives prefer the life of the struggling artist. You want to write and draw and paint all the time. Your imagination is unlike any other, and you may inspire others.

Be careful not to escape too far into the dreams, though. Don’t spend all of your time reading your daily love horoscope.

Pisces the most intuitive and selfless of the Zodiac signs. Any career that allows you to give to others will do.

Try nursing, counseling, or veterinary medicine.

Finding Your Career Path With Astrology

Maybe you remember your first-grade teacher asking you to draw a picture of what you wanted to be when you grew up. One kid drew a fire hydrant and another drew an astronaut.

You drew a rainbow because you’re a Pisces.

Things have probably changed since then. Now, you may be even more confused.

Luckily, astrology can help you determine which career path is right for you. Consider sitting down with an astrology to find out what you could be doing to better yourself.

Check out more Thrifty Momma Ramblings to find out more about how you can be live a better, more cost-effective life.

Playing referee, balancing the finances, and putting other people’s needs first. These are only a few of things you’re responsible for as a successful entrepreneur. And as a successful single mom.

It’s no wonder that these two worlds can seamlessly coincide. But only with the right mindset and drive.

Read on to discover how to be a successful single mom and entrepreneur without sacrificing your sanity or your life savings.

1. Identify Your Work-Life Balance

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for any entrepreneur but this is especially true if you’re a business mom. As the matriarch of the family, your children need your support, love, and nurturing. And as a business owner, your company also needs your attention and care.

Burning the candle at both ends isn’t healthy and could lead to a breakdown both at home and at work. Set realistic expectations as an entrepreneur. This means creating a flexible schedule for yourself and hiring reliable staff in your absence.

It’s also important to schedule time with your family. Maybe it means taking off every Saturday to watch your kids play sports or making sure you’re home each night for dinner.

A work-life balance is also about self-care. If you don’t take care of yourself mentally and physically, you won’t succeed at home or in business.

2. Get Your Kids Involved

Every entrepreneur knows that your business becomes your second baby. But as a single mom, you have real babies at home that need your attention.

For many entrepreneurs, their business becomes their second home. If you’re spending a majority of your time at your establishment, bring your children along when possible.

Depending on the type of company you run, try involving your children in your work. If you run a retail business, let them help run the cash register or stock the shelves.

When you’re working after hours, let your kids set up their tablets or laptops beside you. That way you can both be working together. Their involvement will help you both feel less distant.

3. Don’t Lose Focus

What is life without purpose? Keeping the vision and focus for your business at the forefront of your mind is key when life gets overwhelming.

Doubt and uncertainty are common feelings when you start your own business. You might even ask yourself things like, “Why did I think this was a good idea, again?” If you can’t answer that question, then the demands of splitting your time between home and work may not seem worth it.

But if you can answer this question with things like, “To build a brighter future for my children” or “save money for their college fund”, then it gives you a purpose. And the sacrifice won’t feel so great.

4. Find a Successful Single Mom Support Group

Single moms share a special bond that only other single moms can fully understand. It’s a job that takes sacrifice, selflessness, and hard work.

Many of the same skills are required for running a successful business. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals is essential for success. Find other successful single moms and work together.

You can bounce ideas off one another. Lend a hand when needed. And lift each other up when things get rough.

You can also pool your resources. Collaborate by using the same suppliers, payroll services, or advertising firms. Read more about the benefits of advertising and sign displays at this site.

Single moms can carpool, swap coupons and plan play dates in the park to help unwind.

5. Prioritize

It’s easy for both moms and entrepreneurs to get overwhelmed with demands and obligations. If you’re tackling both these challenging jobs, you’ll need to prioritize.

Try making a list of what needs to be done in chronological order. Determine which tasks can wait and which need your immediate attention. If there’s an overlap in events, adjust your schedule accordingly.

For many successful single moms, their children’s needs outweigh work obligations. That’s why hiring reliable staff who can handle the business in your absence is an important ingredient in your success.

6. Delegate

Letting go of control is difficult. Especially when you’re used to being a one-woman-show at home. But delegating tasks as an entrepreneur will help reduce your stress and give you more with your children.

Hire reliable and trustworthy employees in managerial positions. Make these people responsible for important jobs like opening and closing your establishment and scheduling staff.

Train them in duties that you normally perform. This gives you the freedom to schedule days off and not worry that things won’t get done.

7. Be Creative With Your Funding

Keeping your head above water financially as a single mom can be extremely difficult. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up your dreams of being an entrepreneur.

Don’t let limited funding crush your business before it’s even off the ground. There are a lot of ways to get financial backing for your business venture.

In fact, there are financial resources available specifically for single moms. Small business loans, payday loans, and grants are other funding options.

One such program is the Community Development Financial Program (CDFI). The CDFI works closely with different government departments as well as the Small Business Administration. Together, CDFI’s are designed to support small businesses and offer economic opportunity and house in areas.

Get creative when it comes to financing your entrepreneurial dreams.

8. Surround Yourself with Positivity

You need positive influences in both your personal and professional life. As a single and successful mom, you need a core group of friends and employees that want what’s best for you and your children.

Steer clear of dating men that don’t support your dreams or appreciate your work ethic. If your partner feels threatened by your success they’ll quickly become a hindrance, not a help.

Hire employees that you can trust and who share your same vision and passion for success. Perhaps bringing a business partner on board would help alleviate both your mental and financial stress.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Being a successful single mom and a successful entrepreneur are more similar that one might think. They both take patience, hard work, passion, and balance.

When you arm yourself with the right recourses and surround yourself with the right people, nothing can stand in your way.

If financing is your concern, check out this great post on cutting expense for your small business. After all, being frugal is another skill mastered by most single moms.

Most mothers would spend every dime they have to ensure that their child has a happy, successful life. That’s just what you do as a parent – you hope for the best for your children and you work as hard as you can to provide that.

But, what if you could be more confident about your child’s future and spend less to create a good life for them? What if something as simple as investing in a quality pre-school program could create many long-term benefits for your little one?

It can.

Top-notch pre-schools are pretty expensive at first. They end up paying for themselves, though. These learning environments offer so much for young children and their parents; they’re an investment you make at the onset of a child’s life that does wonders for them throughout their growth.

Here are 3 benefits of a good pre-school.

1. Sets Children Up for Success

Children who are in a welcoming, education-focused environment as toddlers do better when they enter kindergarten, 6th grade, and yes, even college. They’re given the tools they need to succeed as adults early on.

They learn basic book smarts in pre-school like the names of colors and the alphabet, but more importantly, they’re learning about how to interact with the world around them. Pre-school-age children thrive when they have a healthy amount of support and attention from adults.

It’s hard for parents to offer that when balancing work and family life. A pre-school full of teachers and caretakers who love children, though, is ready to give each child the love they need.

Such attention makes them better students and better people overall as they continue to grow. It’s worth finding out more about the specific activities that each pre-school offers to ensure these benefits.

2. Gives At-Risk Children a Better Chance to Excel

The benefits of a quality pre-school are even more clear to see in at-risk children who have learning disabilities. It’s much harder for these children to get ahead in the world when they become adults. But, being part of a progressive, caring pre-school classroom helps them learn how to succeed in their own way.

These children are given the support they need to do simple tasks and to understand concepts that are more complex to them. Their pre-school teachers use positive words of encouragement and healthy correction habits to include at-risk children with the classroom, but also to give them the individualized attention they need.

3. Reduces Crime and Increases Access to Medical Care

Another way that pre-school saves you money and boosts your child’s chances of success is that it keeps them on the right path. Children who attend a good pre-school are less likely to end up with a criminal record. They’re also more likely to receive the medical attention they need as a child, which is a big part of their overall development.

Not all families have the time or the money to take children to every single check-up. Enrolling children in a pre-school with medical attention available gives them the resources they need access to. It provides peace of mind to the parents and necessary medical attention to the children.

This leads to better development in the mind, body, and character of a child. Conversely, that means their risk of crime lowers and their chance of success – getting into a good college, being financially stable, etc – increases.

How to Find the Ideal Pre-School for Your Little One

It’s one thing to realize all the benefits that a pre-school can offer your family, but it’s another to find the right one for your child. Take your time making your decision.

Research all the top pre-schools in your local area. Consider how long they’re able to take care of your child each day and all the attention they give them throughout each day. Talk to other parents and visit a few schools, too.

For more motherly tips and tricks to help you set your child up for success, click here.

The global marijuana industry is poised to hit $31.4 billion in sales.

Are you a stay at home mom who wants to break into the marijuana industry? You’re not alone.

And it’s easier than you might think.

While most of your friends might be shilling make-up and other hustles, you can break into the weed industry as a stay at home moms.

In this article, we’ll detail some of the ways you can break into the multi-billion dollar legal weed industry with an incredibly flexible schedule.

Stay at Home Mom Job: Freelance Writing

Were you great at English in school? Do you have a few clippings here and there?

You could work as a content creator for a local dispensary.

Many companies are turning to content creation and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to ensure their sites rank higher than anyone else’s. In turn, you have a lot of people wanting content creation. Weed dispensaries are no different.

You can contract with a local weed dispensary or a third party that writes articles for the dispensaries. You might be well on your way to writing copy about marijuana all day long.

Graphic Design

Many dispensaries are starting to have a pretty pronounced web presence. This is because many of them can sell specific items online. CBD oil, for example, which lacks THC, is legal in all 50 states. As a result, they can ship it anywhere in the US.

You can find examples of this on Medical Marijuana Inc’s website.

Because of this, many need a good graphic designer to help get their website up and running. If you have previously worked as a graphic designer, or you’re a whizz at Photoshop, this is a great way to get your foot in the door of the marijuana business.

You can spend your days creating logos for a variety of web presences, but you may also be called upon to help brand marijuana products themselves.

As dispensaries become legal, more and more individuals want their logo and product noticed. As a result, they may need graphic designers to help create logos and artwork for the products.

You could be the next brand designer for a potentially huge and iconic marijuana dispensary or business.

Social Media Manager

Are you a social media whiz? Did you work in social media before you had kids? If so, this might be a great fit for you.

As mentioned previously, many dispensaries want to up their web presence. This includes not just websites but also connecting customers through social media.

If you know how to get, maintain and engage a following online, this could be the role for you. You might be able to grab customers for your local dispensary, and slowly climb up the ranks.

Distributors

If you have experience in the corporate world, you could become a distributor for wholesale marijuana or CBD companies.

For those who already have the skillset, it can be a lucrative job from the comfort of your own home. Though typically, it may require a little bit of traveling each day.

Distributors are responsible for ensuring that local dispensaries get the products they have ordered from a wholesale weed company. This may include strains of bud, bongs, edibles, budtender training, and other paraphernalia.

Although the job is more like a regular 9 to 5, you’ll still be getting a big slice of the marijuana pie. You’ll have duties like managing the books, creating invoices, making sure companies have paid for their products, attend marijuana conventions to inform the wholesaler about new products and recommend new items to dispensaries.

This is a great way to marry your love of marijuana with your desk job skills.

Promoter

While a marijuana promoter might sound a bit shady, it actually is pretty run-of-the-mill when you dissect it.

There are many ways you can promote marijuana growing, and one is by helping with the regulation of the industry. There are organizations dedicated to ensuring that an industry of organic marijuana exists so that the products can be USDA certified when the government allows it.

A promoter educates growers on how to ensure their plants are clean and safe and helps begin the standard for organic marijuana.

They also discuss the opportunity to join the program with budtenders and those who are working independently. They often receive a cut of the memberships to the organization they sell.

In most instances, aside from education, they will be prompting budtenders to adhere to a specific standard to ensure their marijuana will be labeled as organic.

Business Consultant

Before you had kids, were you working in the corporate world? Do you have a keen eye for business and what business owners need? If so, working as a freelance business consultant could be a great way to earn a living.

The marijuana business is very new. As such, not everyone who is opening a business knows exactly what they’re doing. They may be so swept up in the fact that they get to legally sell weed that they’re not making good business decisions.

As a business consultant, you can help individuals get set up. You can help with everything from infrastructure to the legal ins and outs of running a business. You can help a new dispensary with everything from filing taxes to hiring the right people to training them.

As a business consultant, you’ll work with dispensaries at the ground level and then help them grow their wings and fly on their own. As the business is so incredibly new, many people will need guidance at the beginning.

Working For Stay at Home Moms

Working as a stay at home mom can prove challenging, no matter what industry. While you may get to be home with your kids the majority of the day, you’ll still need to put in a full day’s work. This can be a bit challenging for some individuals. Still, the flexibility it offers is often second to none.

And, you can merge your love of family with your love of marijuana, which is the best of both worlds.

For more tips on earning money as a full-time mom, visit our blog.