ShareThisIf you're serious about working from home, then it's time to set up a serious home office.Your company will likely let you take home all the pens and Post-its you want, but don't expect to be reimbursed for buying an iPhone to use as your "work computer." Likewise, consult a tax adviser before you go taking the IRS's Home Office Deduction for your supplies."To get a tax deduction, you would have to be working at home full-time," says Jessica Lunsford of Telework Tampa Bay.So don't break the bank, but do invest in these home-office essentials.-- Legit workspace. A spare bedroom is ideal, because you can lock the door. Your dining-room table can work, too, provided it offers adequate space and quiet. Consider using a decorative screen to send a visual cue that you are in your "office" and not to be disturbed. In a pinch, try a closet. Adequate lighting is also essential. Wherever you set up your office, keep a wastebasket, beverage and other must-haves within an arm's reach. Make your workspace appealing so you're not tempted to nap.-- Comfortable chair. Invest in an ergonomically correct office chair. This is a great excuse to road-trip it to Ikea.-- Child care. You wouldn't bring your kids to work and expect to get much done, so why try to play "Hungry Hungry Hippos" while you're on a conference call at home?-- Computer. If planning to use your own PC, you might have to sign a document confirming that it meets your job's standards for speed and memory. Larger corporations may also install security software for you.-- Phone with voice mail. Give colleagues your cell and home numbers, and check messages often. Also, keep a list of colleagues' direct phone numbers handy.-- High-speed Internet. To save your daytime phone minutes, log on to skype.com and download free software that enables you to make long-distance phone calls through your computer for less than a penny per minute. Encourage your colleagues and clients to use it, too: Skype-to-Skype calls, conference calls, video calls and instant messages are free.-- Remote access. Remote Desktop allows you to connect to work from home. When you turn on your home PC, the screen will look just like it does at work. Microsoft Remote Desktop is included in Windows XP Professional Edition, which costs about $300. Apple's version costs about $225.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)
Setting up a serious home office
Submitted by SHNS on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 15:57
Paying taxes unites us. It also divides us. People can pay five and even six times more in state and local taxes than other folks in similar circumstances making similar incomes.
Who's got your number?
In one of the fastest-growing forms of identity theft, crooks are stealing tax refunds by swiping personal information and using it to trick the Internal Revenue Service.
A Serious Home Office Requires A Serios VoIP Program
If you are setting up a serious home office, you need a VoIP client which is reputable, reliable and well supported. Skype is none of those. What Skype has is a large installed user base. What Skype doesn't have is:
- Support. None. If it doesn't work, your on your own, from installation to crashes.
- Reliability. Skype is subject to service outages, ranging from FOUR DAYS WORLD-WIDE last August, to local outages of anywhere from a few minutes to a few days
- Reputability. Only within the past year, Skype has withdrawn SkypeIn numbers from users in London, with practically no ntice; dropped the Skype Unlimited calling plan; dropped the Skypecast service with 5 days notice.
- Accountability. If Skype decides they are suspicious of your account, they will block it, immediately and unilaterally, without bothering to notify you. You are left to discover for yourself that it doesn't work any more, and then try to contact Skype Support to find out why, what to do about it, and how to get it working again. See above about Skype Support.
In setting up a home office you would be better to advise your readers to try one of the excellent Skype alternatives, such as SightSpeed or ooVoo.