6 Ways The Internet Can Save You Money

Communication 

Postage is high, phone bills are higher…but we want to keep in touch. Sending emails means not having to shell out on stamps, using Skype means no more exorbitant phone bills for calls and of course, using social networking sites such as Facebook means we can keep in touch and share photos, music and videos. All for free.

Entertainment

The Internet offers a world of free entertainment. Watch movies, catch up on a TV show you missed (or miss) and listen to radio shows from all over the world. Download music (some music is free) and create your own playlists. And if you’d rather just have a quiet night reading, there are hundreds of online books, both classic and modern for you to choose from. 

Transportation

Booking online is a great way to save money. For example, train tickets booked three months in advance of travelling can be more than 50% cheaper than what you would pay on the day at the station. And, of course, flights on the cheaper airlines such as Easyjet and Ryanair can generally only be purchased online. 






Education

Of course, just because something is written on the Internet does not guarantee that it is true. However, there is a wealth of useful information to be found there. It is certainly a good starting point for research, through online library services, specialist websites or encyclopaedias.

Equally, there are many free online courses and tutorials teaching skills as varied as patchwork, cooking or carpentry. Demonstrations of skills can also be watched on Youtube.
 
Research                              
 One way to save money is to research what it is you intend to buy. Online reviews cover virtually anything. This means you can find out about goods and services before buying. If there are several companies offering similar services or supplying the same goods, there are comparison websites which can help you make a considered choice. These are particularly useful for comparing supermarkets, insurance companies and banks. 

Swaps

The Internet lends itself perfectly to swaps of all kinds....

Read It Swap It is a great source of new reading material….whilst not overcrowding your bookshelves. 

Streetbank is a community project where you can swap items or services with your neighbours. 

Through UK Holiday Swapshop you can swap your home with like-minded house-owners for a holiday of a lifetime. 

And if you just want to spruce up your wardrobe, you can find out about the latest clothes swap event at Swishing. 

NB

As with anything related to money, be on your guard against scams. While many things on the Internet are legitimate, there are a fair number of things that are not. Make certain you only deal with secure websites when entering personal information.

Despite the need for caution, it’s well worth taking the time to learn the applications, websites, and computer skills that help you save money.

Ten Reasons to study at The Potten Computer School

1 Starting from Scratch 

When students first come to The Potten Computer School, they often ask us to help them buy their first computer…so Lesson 1 consists of internet research on which computer best suits their needs. Computer chosen and bought, we advise them on how to get their internet connection and help them set the computer up at home.

2 Keeping in touch 

With family and friends scattered all around, keeping in touch by email is essential. An email address is also used for online shopping, booking holidays, organizing theatre visits…the list is endless. Thus, one of our most popular first courses combines Internet & Email, including Skype, for free internet calls.

3 Getting confident 

Even when students have had a computer for a while, they still have questions about how to use them effectively. Our Using the Computer courses teach students what to do with updates, how to manage their files and folders, how to create a personalized desktop, how to make the computer secure…in other words, how to take control and feel confident.

4 Making the most of digital photos

Digital cameras have made photography more accessible to all. Our Digital Photography course teaches students how to download photos, sort them into albums, edit, create collages, make web albums and share photos with friends and family. At an advanced level, students use Photoshop Elements for creative, exciting photo projects.

5 Running a small business   

Being able to use a computer effectively can make a world of difference to small business owners: setting up a website, using social media, creating publicity such as flyers and posters, book-keeping…the list can be quite daunting. Students tell us what their priorities are so we can design a course to help them learn all the skills they need to make their business easier to run.

6 Finding a new job 

Obviously, not everyone wants to be self-employed. Some people want to return to previous jobs after a break, or are looking for a new job altogether. When updating skills, it is a great idea to get a qualification to prove it. Our most popular qualification course is for the widely-accepted ECDL (European Computer Driving License) with an option to continue onto the Advanced ECDL.

7 Starting Young 

 
Our youngest students love computers, and are always full of creative ideas. Our Art packages, Photography and PowerPoint courses, to name just a few, are always popular. Having said that, a great way to give children a head start at school is for them to learn how to Touch Type…..not a bad idea for adults either.

8 Preparing for school exams 

Older school children can also benefit from lessons at The Potten Computer School as we offer tuition in Computer Studies, Administration and Maths at Intermediate 1 &2 and Standard Grade.

9 Creating a Bespoke Course 

Unlike most computer training schools, we design each student’s course to suit. Rather than having to fit into a pre-defined course, our students can tell us what their priorities are and what they want to concentrate on.

10 Choosing lesson times

The Potten Computer School is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10.00am to 6.30pm (8.00pm Wednesdays). Students choose how often to attend and when. Whatever time they choose, they are never with more than 2 other students…making sure that the hour is profitable.



This article was originally written for publication in the Portobello Local, a free monthly magazine created by Rosalind Evans.

For inclusion in her magazine, contact: rosalind@evansindependent.co.uk

Five tips for buying a new computer

Here are my thoughts on buying a new computer which, as you know, can be a tricky business. 

Do your research

Find out about the computers on offer, by reading:

• Editors’ reviews - based on short-term lab trials
• User opinions - based on longer use revealing the plus and minus points
• Manufacturer’s information – how they intend the product to be used and what makes it stand out

With these three perspectives you should feel equipped to work out if the computer is right for you.

Memory is a must 

The most important thing to consider for any new computer is the amount of memory or RAM (random access memory) it has.  When your computer is running slow, it might not tell you that it doesn’t have enough memory. It will keep things going (as best as it can) by using part of its hard drive space as a kind of additional memory known as swap space or virtual memory.  

So, to avoid problems, make sure you give a computer the RAM it needs – for most users, between 2GB and 4GB is enough. However, for serious gamers, you might consider going up to 6GB.

Shopping online v. in store 

When buying a PC, you can always change the monitor, keyboard and mouse in order to get the right fit...so you can just about get away with ordering them on line. 


However, as laptops have an integrated keyboard, mouse and monitor you really need to go into a shop to give it a test run.  Check the keyboard for good key action, make sure you like the kind of mouse pointing devices the laptop uses (or buy a wireless mouse) and check the brightness and size of the monitor.  Finally, if mobility is an issue, test the weight (including the battery).

Take advantage of special offers

Although there are new models of computers coming on the market every few weeks, they often differ very little from month to month. So don’t be afraid to buy "old stock". 

Equally, there are often very good offers from online retailers such as Amazon. And just to be confusing, many retailers with a high-street and online presence (such as PCWorld) are often cheaper online than in the shop.

Shop for a price somewhere in the range of £380 - £550 (for either a PC or a laptop) and you are unlikely to go wrong.

Find out about customer support 

Computers are largely made from the same components, with slightly different packaging.  So, don’t worry too much about looks…instead, shop for a brand that will have good customer support.   

Once you have a fair idea which computer you’d like to buy, ask friends and other users online what kind of product support experience they have had with that brand.  Check the warranty, support section of the web site, and even call their free support number with a test question to see what the people are like on the other end.

This article can also be found in the Portobello Local, a new free magazine circulating in the EH15 and surrounding area.