In a profession where work fluctuates regularly, such as professional court reporting agencies, managing a budget can be difficult if not impossible for some. Those new to the trade often struggle until they get up to speed with their veteran counterparts and can output work faster.
Court reporters charge by the page, so having "pages" to work on is the key to maintaining a steady income. Ups and downs in scheduling for court reporters makes it unlikely to predict how much work will be coming in the next day or the following workweek.
Bills
A court reporting agency tends to have a smaller workload in the summertime and around holidays. When attorneys are off on vacation and courts are closed, stenographers have little work. Regular monthly bills will not wait for a more convenient budget time to be due. Paying minimum amounts on credit cards only makes the payments higher with each passing month. Finding a way around that requires extra work and/or creativity.
Budget
To create a budget that works, gather all bills together to calculate a reasonable monthly estimate of the total needed. Figure in the average amount in credit card payments. Make sure that each month the minimum budget requirement is met. Do what is necessary to meet the budget goal. Any excess money earned should be promptly put into a bank account until it is needed for an emergency.
Workload
Court reporting agencies keep their employees as busy as possible. Workers should never turn down an assignment if they are available and physically able to pick up work. While it may add extra pages to the pile, transcripts are not ordered by every client. If they are ordered, the court reporter may hire someone to proofread the product before it goes out to speed the process along.
Occasionally, stenographers from two different court reporting agencies will be scheduled for the same job. Etiquette usually follows that the one who arrived first gets to stay and take the job. A busy court reporter will frequently volunteer to let the other reporter stay if they wish. The prudent reporter will always be willing to stay and take the job, whether it is at 6:00 on a rainy Friday night or when they are overwhelmed with pages.
Taxes
Court reporting agencies handle taxes different ways. The most common is for the court stenographer to file a w-9 form and file a 1099 form at the end of the tax season. Keeping a careful tally and setting aside money when possible will help reduce the tax crunch of having to pay at the end of the tax year. Consult an accountant for details and tips on how to claim deductions and file correctly.
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Author writes about a variety of topics. If you would like to learn more about Court reporters , visit http://www.huseby.com/.Distributed by Content Crooner
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