You know in the past month or so, Several people I have talked to, Have been concerned at the High cost of their 24/7 Internet access, So much so that at least three people I know are concidering going back to paying per call and limiting their Internet access to after 6pm and Weekends only.
This started me thinking about my own account (24/7 Blue Yonder £20 per month). Slightly more expensive than most, But I have always had good service and see no need to change.
Now £20 per month IS a lot of money to certain people (Myself Included) and perhaps it could be better spent elsewhere.
However after thinking a great deal about my use of the Internet, I have come to realise that the outlay of £20 is actually recouperated just by the Savings I can make on line.
In the rest of this article, I but scratch the surface of my Internet use, But have selected several instances where You or anyone can/Could save cash by using the Internet.
Email :-
Prior to going on line, I used to purchase at least £1.50p of postage stamps per week ...Around £6.00p per month. Email has all but taken over from Letter writing and high postal charges.
However this is not the only way I save money by using email.
Technical help Phone calls cost an "Arm and a Leg" ..Up to £1.00 a minute! .. However most companies will happily respond to your email queerie at no extra cost to yourself.
Mailing lists are another great source of Free information. Select a list concerning a subject close to your heart Computing/Gardening/ Caravanning etc. Most people on these Mailing lists may possess a greater knowledge than you and will happily assist with any question you may have.
Shopping on line:-
I do realise that certain people are concerned about passing Credit card details over the Internet, However Handing your card to a Waiter in a Resturant can be just as dangerous.
Ann (Better half) and I make regular trips to the Knockhill Motor Racing circuit (Some 30 minute drive from our house).
When Knockhill host the Bigger race meetings (F3 or Super Bikes) the tickets can often cost £20 each.
Pre-Booking these over the Internet and we save £3.00 per ticket.
A great many companies offer a discount for online shoppers and good savings can be found.
Save on Petrol Costs:-
NO.. I don't have a petrol driven Computer :)
However It is possible to save on your motoring costs by being on line.
How? ... Simple.
Often we All have to visit people Living in unknown Areas/Towns. For example perhaps you have to make a bussiness call to a private house in an area you don't know .. Or perhaps Friends or Family have just moved home to a New housing Scheme.
Yes we can purchase Town Street Maps .. However these are normally outdated when you buy them, They might contain several Blank Streets, Meaning that when the Map was printed, the Street names had not been decided.
So whats you options ...Drive around in Circles for hours looking for your Friends house. Stop and ask someone.
"Sorry Never heard of it ...When I first came here these When I first came here these (Waving at hundreds of houses) were all Fields".How long have you stayed in this area?
"Three months"I'm sure you get the Idea. So how can the Internet help.
Easy ...Open a search engine such as Google and type in "Maps"
Up comes a list of excellent sites ...My personal favorite is the Yahoo one ...Load up your preferred "Map" site ..Type in the Address and hay presto ...I Map of the Area appears on the Screen with your friends house circled in red.
You can zoom or un zoom this Map until you get a clear indication of where the Property is situated ...Then press print.
Easy huh?
Search for Freebies:-
Yes believe it or not ..There are thousands of companies out there Wanting to give YOU free samples or Vouchers with money off their Product.
Students/Pensioners/People with a limited Budget or (Like Me) Miserable old Buggers that like things for nothing ...Take heed ;)
Try it for your self ... Two good sites to start you off are
http://www.britishfreebies.co.uk/
http://www.dailyfreebies.co.uk/
These site are full of Free Samples, Or Printable vouchers on a great many products ...From Tea bags/Dog Food to Free flights.
Tell you What ....Look up my house location on Yahoo Maps, Book yourself a Free flight to Glasgow ...And I'll let you have a free Cup of my latest Tea Sample ;)
Conclusions:-
There is of course many other ways of Saving/Making money via the Internet ..This small last minute article barely scratches the Surface, However if it helps in any way to make the Internet a more profitable and enjoyable experience, Then I have achieved my aim :)
Why not mail us and let us know of Your Ideas or Sites used for Saving money on the Internet. Any suggestions made will be fully checked and Posted in future editions of the CRYPT.
