overwhelmed & have questions - please help!

**Judi Dial** · 09-03-2009, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by Siebrie

Can you touchtype? Maybe you can call a hospital or lawyer's office and offer to type? I've never done it myself, but I understood that they will send you dictation tapes or sound files, which you then type out and email back to them. They may lend you a computer, tape recorder, headset, foot pedal, etc. Maybe you can do a little internet search to figure out what to charge.

The problem with doing the hospital or lawyer stuff is that the language used, ICD9 codes for example (medical diagnosis codes) need to be learned to do it easily and well. The idea has merit, but the specialized vocab. of both those fields would need some studying first I think. I've done medical data entry for a service bureau and that's how I learned them. See if there's a service bureau in your area perhaps?

Judi

**pryor208** · 09-03-2009, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by NikoSan999

Ok, you have a bachelor's in accounting but they never taught Quickbooks? At all in 4 years? Was this online college? Or how long ago did you go? Amazing..they touch on it in high school here.

I went to the local university, graduated a few years ago. They spent most of their time teaching us accounting principles, not software. We learned basics of Access, but I think Quickbooks wasn't as widely used as it is now. I'm going to look at the library for a Quickbooks for Dummies book and teach myself.

**Greebo** · 09-03-2009, 10:13 AM

If you know accounting, you should be able to figure out Quickbooks. Accounting class shouldn't be about how to use software, it should be about how to apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. That way you can do it w/ or w/o computer software.

**pryor208** · 09-03-2009, 10:17 AM

Even in hard times, I've been able to help others! I got a few requests for the food bank info that people sent me off of my local freecycle, and was able to compile it and send it on to some other local people to help them out. That made me feel pretty good.

Dealing with Verizon to cancel our phones is the major headache right now. They claim that unless their techs can verify that we don't have service in our area (down in the bottom of a valley in the country) then they'll hold us to the early termination fees, which are about $200 per phone. Regardless of what they decide, we can't afford to pay the fees, but can't afford the cell phones anymore. My in-laws live just 250 feet from us in their home, and have to keep their phones in certain places in the house so that they don't miss a call due to no reception. And their home is a large cabin, whereas ours is a mobile home, so material of the walls can't be an issue I think. Verizon's just being a booger to deal with, wanting to get their money if they can.

The local phone company (CenturyTel) is putting in a land line today and it'll save us a ton each month plus we qualify for a discount because of our income level.

**pryor208** · 09-03-2009, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Greebo

If you know accounting, you should be able to figure out Quickbooks. Accounting class shouldn't be about how to use software, it should be about how to apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. That way you can do it w/ or w/o computer software.

Exactly! I've found an online tutorial for "bean-counters" that reviews the basics and it's all coming back to me, terminology and rules and all. I found a tutorial showing some of Quickbooks features, and it's pretty self-explanatory, so I'm sure that I could use it right off easily enough.

**LuvMyHubby** · 09-06-2009, 12:51 PM

Some times local community action programs run courses for tax prep if you volunteer to help with taxes for the elderly on a fix income etc. however, I do not believe there is any reason that you would not be able to use that knowledge on your own time to make some money.

Also, they have weatherization programs and LIHEAP programs for those who are income eligible.

Hubby's hours are cut, so he may need to take on a part time job or two especially if he is dead set against you working outside the home.

My BIL heats with wood, he will offer to pick up peoples fallen trees and/or cut down if needed. If you have a town garage you may be able to get wood trom them that they were going to chip anyway. Speaking of towns, pretty much all of them have a general assistance program, that will help with food and such.

Best of luck to you.

**Wendy99** · 09-06-2009, 01:51 PM

Tightwad Gazette - see if you can borrow it from a local library - tons of ideas in that book .. I have it and love it!!

**pryor208** · 09-12-2009, 09:20 PM

More ups and downs, not sure if this is life or a roller coaster...and I'm not a fan of roller coasters

Hubby may lose his job entirely, the boss has orders from higher ups to cut payroll AND increase revenue...I'm the accounting person and I could tell them that's not possible. There's just not enough business coming in right now. So he's job hunting, and I'm job hunting as well. We've discussed it, and much as he wants to be the provider and is doing his best to do so, I'm looking for one to keep us covered in case he can't get one (winter is a bad time for an auto tech to be job hunting because things are slow). One of his coworkers needed a babysitter for his 1 year old for a while, which works out great as a short term solution. He can't pay me much, but as long as I can keep up with housework and my family while the bills get paid, I'm enjoying it. Life has a way of working things out a little at a time. And next time I'll have a stockpile and emergency fund to keep us from worrying so much.

**CouponShelle** · 09-12-2009, 11:22 PM

That's awesome you found a short term solution. Are there other kids nearby that you may be able to babysit for?

Sounds like you're doing well considering the "murphy's" that keep getting thrown at you!

**Nishu** · 09-14-2009, 10:13 AM

Craigslist has a listing section under jobs for accounting. You should have a look there and see what they have. You might be able to offer work to people who run their own small businesses and don't want to hire a part time accountant.

**jlaporte** · 09-17-2009, 06:31 PM

well everyone has pretty much said it all. u r in my thoughts and i hope ur situation works out.but once u r back on ur feet try to stockpile what u can. food,tp,anything. i like to take dollar bills as well as loose change. it adds up fast when u cant see it. thats saved us many time when we fell short.

**Judi Dial** · 09-17-2009, 11:48 PM

Re the accounting...when I first started working in business, my boss at the bookstore had a bookkeeper who came every month, doubled checked her balancing of the checkbook, and made out the check I think for the sales taxes. Nothing major, just made sure that things were getting done and done correctly.

When I started my business I had someone who was I thought going to do the same, but some how the bills got bigger every month, no matter how much of the work I did, so we parted company. But I could have used someone to come in and talk to me about my money and what was what on a regular basis.

If/when you can get around, you might see if you can get some local small businesses who want to pay you a minimum (like $20-$50 a month) to come in and look at what's going on for an hour or so and talk to the re what's going on? In this economy, two eyes are better than one, and they may (or may not) see the value. I sure would have loved that, but never found someone.

Judi