Subscriptions & services

Posted on 3 Sep 2008 at 11:34

Use free AV software

Commercial internet security packages generally charge a subscription fee for updates. But if you don't mind setting up a few separate packages, you can protect your system without paying a penny.

Avira Antivir and AVG Free provide virus protection for free, while packages such as Safer Networking SpyBot-S&D and Lavasoft AdAware can protect you from spyware. There are free firewalls too, from companies including PC Tools and ZoneAlarm.

These packages aren't always as fully featured as their commercial cousins, so make sure you understand their limitations before making the switch. But combining the right tools can give you a good level of system protection for free.
£25 on our A-List security software, Kaspersky Internet Security 2009.

Hang up on your home phone

Although BT et al continue to offer ever-cheaper call bundles, nothing beats free. Install Skype (www.skype.com) or other VoIP software on your PC and you can make free calls to other members of the same VoIP network for gratis. You can use all those free minutes you never eat up on your mobile phone for people who don't have VoIP software installed.

Yet, even if you don't spend a penny on calls with BT, you still have to pay line rental at £10.50 per month, on top of your monthly broadband fees. It's possible to slash those costs by signing up for a 3G mobile broadband deal). There are almost certainly compromises to be made on both speed and convenience with mobile broadband, but with 3 offering deals from £10 a month that explicitly permit Skype calls, there are considerable savings on offer.
£186 a year, if you sign up for 3 and Skype, instead of BT line rental and ISP fees of £15 per month.

Use voucher codes

Loads of websites have promotional code boxes on their sign-up or checkout pages, and if you leave them blank you're missing out on free savings - from a few complimentary credits or a free bet at sign-up, to real-money discounts off purchases. We found 5% off laptops at Currys and Dixons, and up to 10% off smaller devices, such as GPS systems. Go to any number of sites, including www.discountcodes.co.uk, for the latest codes and vouchers.
£50 off a £1,000 laptop, using the Dixons discount codes.

Buy a local SIM abroad

Despite the best efforts of the EU, call and data-roaming charges from foreign countries are still the wrong side of scandalous. For example, O2 charges a stonking £6 per MB for data in certain parts of the world, and it's not alone. No wonder we regularly hear stories of holidaymakers coming home to face sports-car sized bills.

Before heading abroad, it's worth checking your network's website to find out what the call/data charges are and, crucially, whether your network offers any special tariffs for the county you're visiting. If you're planning to make lots of calls to local numbers at your destination, it might well be cheaper to pick up a local pay-as-you-go SIM, or even buy an international phonecard (such as those you see advertised in newsagents), which can often be used with your existing mobile. Check www.1st4phonecard.com for the best deals.