Great 'how to help people who aren't online?' Hunt

Former_MSE_Penelope

Great 'how to help people who aren't online?' Hunt

There are hundreds of ways of saving money by being online, from comparing cheap energy to opting for online billing. But many, often pensioners, still aren't online, so we'd like to hear MoneySavers' tips on how they help them whether it's setting up an email address for them or doing an online insurance comparison.

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TheXO

My partners dad is about 73 and never used the internet before. About 2 months ago his car insurance came up for renewal. The renewal quote was for £300!!! I said I can that cheaper for you, so after using QuidCo and trawling through the comparison sites I ended up saving him £130!! :j

Now he rings me every week asking to check online for everything ranging from shopping to insurance (defo in his good books for the future )

I say actively help those people who may not know that they can save £££'s a year (go on, do a good deed )

littlerose12345

I do the same for my parents although they are trying to become more internet savvy.. I've taught my dad to ebay, and google and he knows all about quidco!

cashferret

I also did a full utilities, insurance, etc. review for my Mum online to find the best deals as well as all the other big money-saving checks that Martin recommends like checking that they're in the correct council tax band.

She's temporarily unable to drive so now when I know she's looking for something in particular I can save her a trip if I can find it online and get it delivered (saves a taxi fare because not everywhere is accessible by bus).

Last year I did most of her Xmas shopping for her at discount rates on Ebay and Amazon, and she didn't have to drag herself all over town in the cold weather.

I find that she is constantly surprised about what is available online (the GasSafe register, being able to order library books, etc.) and this is a good reminder to me that I should make a list of what there is and print it off for her so she can see what I can easily help her with online.

jenny.steele

One of the ways you can help someone else get online is to visit http://www.helppassiton.co.uk

There are free beginners courses on mouse and keyboard skills, as well explaining how to set up an email address, use a search engine and how to stay safe on the Internet.

You can also call free on 0800 77 1234 to find your nearest UK online centre where there are friendly staff and tutors on hand to help you with you get to grips with computers and the internet.

greyfox

I arranged car breakdown insurance for our neighbours who not only aren't online but also don't have a credit or debit card. Got a really good deal for them as a result of checking this site + cashback from Topcashback (which I passed-on to them when it came through). One happy couple who no longer worry when they go on long journeys!

jennyho_2

My mum recently told me they had had a guy out to look at their hot water tank as they where thinking of getting a new one, the guy had told them that what they had was illegal and was going to cost them a lot to replace. As both my mum and dad are pensioners and my dad is disabled I thought that there must be something in place to help them! I checked on the MSE website and I found out about a website called the Energy Assistance Package for people in Scotland, they called up and got a free energy check for their home and on Monday they found out they where getting £4000 worth of help with their heating, hot water and insulation! I'm so pleased for them, they both find the internet very confusing so there is no way they could have found out about it on their own! :T

gonzo127

i have also done the insurance price comparison thing which is usualy a big plus point for a lot of people, what i have tended to find is that the people who do not use the internet are of the mindset that they have not used it up until then so what is the point,

if you can actually show them what can be done with it such as saving so much money on insurance i have generally found that their interest has been sparked for examplemy parents from not owning a computer ~2 years ago to now running a online account for their gas and electric, doing the price comparisons for insurance etc and using quidco, - still working on internet grocery shopping but i am sure they will get there

RochdaleLibraryService

Public libraries across the country provide access to the internet. Many, like us, provide this as a free service and we welcome anyone who wants to come in and use them.

If someone's not comfortable with coming in and having a go by themselves we do informal 'drop-in' sessions at many of our libraries where someone will be around to show you the ropes and give you a bit of encouragement.

If you want something a bit more structured, but still informal, most of us are UKOnline Centres. One of the UKOnline services we provide is an online training course called Myguide. This includes the basics, which is great for anyone who's never used a computer before at all, and modules explaining online services like email and shopping online. We can help you register with Myguide and we can provide you with some tutorial support if you think you need it. Once you're happy that you know what you're doing you can work through the course at your own pace; if you're not sure about something you can always go back to that part of the course to have another look and there's no pressure on you to look at any particular part of the course on any particular day. Just don't try and do it all at once - there's a lot of stuff in there!

Our Myguide sessions are very popular. If you ask at your library they'll be able to tell you if there are any sessions available locally.

HTH

leathersofa

It can't be said too often or too loudly that public libraries are just pure gold when it comes to providing internet access and free tuition. I get very fed up with seeing women's magazines in particular publishing letters from older women saying they can't go online 'because they can't afford it' and that this means they are excluded from some things. Leaving aside the distinct possibility that this translates, in some cases, as 'I don't want to go online', I feel these magazines shouldn't encourage Luddism when public libraries had so much money poured into this very thing by the last Labour government. Public libraries rock and it's a win-win situation - the uncomputered, so to speak, get free access and tuition, and the libraries get increased footfall to show to anyone who thinks they aren't used enough to justify their funding.

wildthing01

my mum isn't online, so i tell her about all the money saving stuff on MSE, and if there's freebies etc, i cut her in. also, i have set her up an email account so we can register her for things like the milk and more deal a while back. i also make sure i order dvds and stuff for her off amazon etc, else she goes into HMV and spends a fortune on them!