Agincourt Technologies Ltd

Save money with I.T

In this time of economic crisis we are all looking to save money where possible, and not only can IT spending can be cut quite easily but it can actually help lower other bills too.

I.T Spending

It is easy to get caught up in the marketing spiel reeled out by IT companies and in the past this has led a large amount of people to purchasing hardware, software and other products or services which simply aren"t suitable to their needs. If there is one thing we should take away from the economic climate it is that we need to take more care in decisions. Better decisions lead to less waste... simple.

If you use something consistently on a daily basis, then you should probably go for the best in your budget, but sometimes you can get away with a cheaper product. Take Microsoft Word as an example, how many features do you really use? Most people just use it to type documents and format them a little, in which case something like OpenOffice (openoffice.org) or Google Docs (docs.google.com), both free, would be perfectly acceptable, so it's worth checking out what software is out there before rushing out to buy the biggest brand.

The same approach goes for hardware. Just a few years ago a 100GB hard drive, or a 128MB MP3 player were both top-end items, nowadays neither would even be considered as viable options, needs may have changed but not so drastically. Next time you're considering the 16GB iPod over the 8GB you can probably save yourself a significant amount just by being reasonable about your needs.

In summary, the most expensive option is not always the most suitable. Give open source and web applications a chance - after all it"s not costing you anything to give them a go!

Other Bills

Our phone bills are one of the only things not to rise recently, however they can still be reduced by using a VOIP (Voice Over IP) service such as Skype (skype.com). Skype allows for free computer-computer calls, and cheap computer-phone (and visa-versa) calls, all you need is a microphone or a Skype-enabled phone. Arranging with clients, suppliers, friends and family to use Skype instead of landlines or mobile phones can save you a bundle, especially if they are long distance calls you are cutting down on.

When it comes to buying a new computer you might wish to consider a laptop, they use much less electricity than a desktop, provided you don"t leave them on charge 24/7, and they give you the added bonus of mobility.