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This page contains a wide variety of links to other websites. From Hotels in Orlando to how to research your family tree. So get surfing the net ! Just click on the underlined link. To return here click on the 'Back' arrow. For Financial site links click HERE
A new sister site has been developed
at
www.silversurfers
.com.
This is a more
professional and commercial site but will not offer one-to-one help
from
me.
However there are already some very interesting articles on there and
you
can register to get regular notifications
One special site, which I use frequently is Wikipedia. There is information about almost everything under the sun and much of it is contributed by volunteers around the world. I really do believe that information is the key to human advancement and understanding, so I feel that it is worth supporting.
Did you know that you can move down the list of links by pressing the Tab key ? Then press Enter to go to a selected site. You can also move down the page by pressing the space bar.... holding shift to move up again.
Now where's that dictionary ? No need : https://dictionary.reference.com/ Dictionary, thesaurus, language translator and more.
Sites relating specifically to older people, including Health sites, have been moved to Here Click on this link. For Savings and Investments click Here and Computer purchasing click Here.
Some folks have saved a fortune using these links. One couple saved hundreds on flights to New Zealand. I have saved a couple of hundred on a holiday and lots on travel and house insurance. For computer bits I favour www.ebuyer co.uk For books and many other items try Amazon. It really pays to shop around.
http://www.yourlocalcinema.
https://seatplan.com/ Not only can you see reviews of
live theatre shows but can
see exactly where there are avaiable seats.. They would also like you
to send in a review of the seats you found good (or the opposite !)
https://www.theatrebreaks.com/
Theatre Breaks offer theatre and hotel packages in London,
Edinburgh
and Stratford Upon Avon with optional rail travel. Packages also
include
events like the Chelsea Flower Show, .
CASHBACK and VOUCHERS See below under shopping
AUCTION SITES
www.ebay.co.uk ebid.net
www.icollector.com
BOOKS etc
www.amazon.com Get second hand and rare books
www.bibliofind.com
CARS I have bought two cars as a result of internet research. Very happy with both. But do be careful. Scammers can use the 'net' to sell fictitious or cloned cars. 'Which?' did a study and found that new cars were often much cheaper on line
http://www.visitcars.co.uk Buy or sell cars. Free advertising for your car
http://www.breakdowncover.org/ Not quite what you expect but great news on the motoring front
Brokers include
www.Ukcarbroker.co.uk and www.buyacar.co.uk
which specialises in supplying discounted cars without the waiting
lists.
A large selection of new and used cars available, but no older cars.
Car
supermarkets include www.cargiant.co.uk and you can
try http://www.uk-car-discount.co.uk/
www.autoexpress.co.uk
www.BroomBroom.com If you are nervous about buying on line then you can
still
use it to research prices before bargaining with your local dealer.
www.dvla.gov.uk/vehiclelicence To tax it on line;
www.askmid.com. MOT at
www.kwik-fit.com
can be booked on
line
To find the correct tyre pressures, type in the registration at https://www.tyresafe.org/tyre-safety/tyre-pressure-check
COMPUTING & COMPUTERS
Spare equipment? These days schools would love laptops or tablets. Find a loving home for it (UK only) Get equipment for clubs etc.
www.computer-aid.org if you have a spare computer. They will collect and check them out for schools.
www.learndirect.co.uk Another government sponsored initiative providing more advanced courses
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/All kinds of help for the disabled PC user.
See my pensioners page for more info on accessing the net with disabilities
www.argos.co.uk/ www.ebuyer.com www.7dayshop.com
Web based e-mail addresses Outlook.com and www.gmail.com
Find the Best/Worst ISP :
www.ispreview.co.uk
Check
for cable, landline, mobile etc.
Viruses and Virus Hoaxes : www.avg.com www.avast.com www.f-secure.com www.mcafee.com www.symantec.com (now Broadcom) www.sophos.com
General Help :
www.techsupport guy
www.howstuffworks.com
www.pcpitstop.com
(& PCmatic)
EDUCATION and TRAINING Do you realise that you can get a loan for approved courses and that this does not have to be repaid until you income exceeds £21,000 p.a. ? This is not passed on to your heirs! As an example see Birkbeck College, London.(get a degree with evening lectures)
https://www.distance-learning-centre.co.ukThe Distance Learning Centre provides over 250 courses for people of all ages who cannot access school/college or university.
http://www.open-university.co.uk/ The Open University
www.educationquizzes.com. These are quizzes to help children (and parents) with Sat3 tests
https://www.wea.org.uk/ Workers Education Association
A free site to help you learn about Excel Spreadsheets (Click the link)
http://typefaster.sourceforge.net/ Free touch typing tutor program
www.open2.net
(both lead to Open
University) or phone 0800 77 1234 to book your Free
Internet
starter session with the government sponsored UKonline
https://u3a.org.uk
(University of the Third
Age) www.free-ed.net Free
courses in almost everything.
Encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
www.remoteemployment.com
Specialist site for home working jobs
EQUIPMENT AND SITES FOR DISABLED AND
ELDERLY
PEOPLE
AGE ACTION ALLIANCE. Useful for all kinds of help for the elderly
Abilitynet Look for free home help on computing if you have a disability of ANY kind
https://www.welcomemobility.co.uk A wide range of daily living aids
https://www.moreability.co.uk/ Provides bathroom equipment, making it easy to use, giving your freedom and dignity
https://www.shopmobilityuk.org
The main page for the
Shopmobility organisation. You should book a scooter and there is
a charge e.g. £7.50 or so a day
Shopmobility is for anyone, young or old, whether their disability is temporary or permanent. It is available for those with injuries, long or short-term disabilities – anyone who needs help with mobility. Shopmobility is about the freedom to get around. You do not need to be registered disabled to use it. Does it cost ? All schemes operate slightly differently; some provide Shopmobility as a free service while others make a charge. This is indicated by the symbols in each entry. Most schemes welcome any donations you wish to make.
www.motability.co.uk (cars)You or your driver(s) will qualify for all the benefits of a Motability car if your receive either the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Allowance or the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement. The benefits include a choice of 4000 new cars; insurance and tax; breakdown service; servicing and maintenance; replacement Tyres and a 60,000 mileage allowance. You have to pay them your weekly mobility allowance.
Age UK will supply a number of free guides including Care
homes, Winter,
Home adaptions, Stair lifts, Baths, Fuel, Equity ReleaseHome insurance,
Alarms,
a Carer's Guide if you call 0800 169 29 39 or visit
www.ageuk.org.uk/guides
In
April 2015 AgeUk started a help line which can be accessed from 8 a.m.
to 7 p.m on 024 7643 3043 (local call) every day of the year.
http://www.staysure.co.uk/home The over 50s Specialists
https://www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/looking-For-care/live-in-care
https://www.manageathome.co.uk/ Manage At Home are a UK based retailer of disability & mobility aids.
https://www.meritltd.co.uk/Has a range of equipment at very reasonable prices. Hearing aids, Pain relief (TENS), Shopping Trolleys, Scooters, Stair lifts, Canes and Guides to equipment of all kinds such as adjustable beds
www.age-enable.com UK
family run company providing
useful products for the elderly to enable them to enjoy living
independently
at home and make senior living easier. From walking sticks to pill
boxes,
grab rails to shower stools. With free delivery on orders over
£30.
FINANCIAL (see also Savings page)
Ageuk.org.uk - To make it easier for people to access expert help and advice you can now just give us a call. Help is available every day of the year from 8am to 7pm on a local number, 024 7643 3043. ..
Compare Funeral Plans with funeral planning website Over50choices who offer one of the widest choices.
www.taxvol.org.uk is a charity which offers tax help to older people with a NET household income of under £17000 Phone : 01308 488066
The Government MoneyMade Clear site is now https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/
I often use a Paypal account both to buy and to sell things. It seems secure and the currency becomes irrelevant. They now say you can send people money as long as they have an email address. See https://www.paypal.com/uk/home as to how to do this
Pension information https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/. Look into SIPPS
www.litrg.org.uk The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group
The Financial Services Authority has a useful comparative site at https://www.fsa.gov.uk/, dealing with many different financial offerings. Just fill in what you want to do and it will show an up-to-date list of what is available.
www.thisismoney.co.uk/ (Daily Mail) www.moneyexpert.com www.learnmoney.co.uk
Did you know there is £8 billion unclaimed money in banks and Premium Bonds ? Maybe granny forgot an account ! Try www.mylostaccount.org.uk .For Building Societies go to www.bsa.org.uk To check Premium Bonds or National Savings go to http://www.nsandi.com The Pension Scheme Registry can check if you are due for anything https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/
In debt ?
The first port of call should be
your Citizens Advice Bureau
INSURANCE
Car insurance can be a problem for older people. An article in the Mail on Sunday dealt with this. It found that the chances of having an accident were 13% higher among the over 70s but that the cost of claims for over 75s was 50% higher than for those aged 60. As a result a number of companies are refusing to take on new customers over certain ages, though most will continue to insure existing customers who reach a certain age. For new customers More Than has an upper age limit of 79; Tesco made that 80, Churchill say 90 and draw the line finally at 99 for existing customers. The most amenable are Saga, Age UK and RIAS, but the cost of cover varies a great deal, depending on location, gender and, of course, accident record. Health factors may also be a consideration and it is essential that you inform your insurer (and DVLC). In the Mail's example, insuring an 84 year old living and working in London RIAS worked out the most expensive. Age UK was nearly half of the RIAS cost.... do shop around
https://www.norwichunion.com/nud/index.htm
(Now Aviva -10% off if you sign on the
web).
This company was recommended by a (60+) contact: :
www.cornhilldirect.co.uk
Brokers : https://www.confused.com/
Cars If you have a big 'No Claims
Discount' and your spouse
wants their own cover do shop around to see if you they can benefit
from
your good record. Try Churchill for what they term and
'introductory
bonus'.
TRAVEL INSURANCE Look
at my page
Here
GENEALOGY
<< See my page on the subject
I have not attached links to these sites, so you will have to key in
the
address, adding www. at the beginning. Some may charge to do
research
for you. WWW.GOOGLE.CO.UK CYNDISLIST.COM, ANCESTRY.COM,
FAMILYSEARCH.COM (Mormon church) FAMILY.COM. ROOTSWEB. COM
RECORDS@GRO.SCOTLAND.GOV.UK, GENUKI.COM (UK site),
ESSEXVILLAGES. NET, GOOGLE.COM, ASKJEEVES.COM, COPERNIC.COM.
PRO.gov.uk (Public Records Office) SOG.ORG.UK (Society of
Genealogists)
ARMY.MOD.UK FAMILYRECORDS.GOV.UK
MEMORIAL SITES
www.muchloved.com
and https://www.kudoboard.com/online-memorial
OTHER SITES TO TRACK DOWN LONG LOST
FRIENDS OR
RELATIVES (and dogs !)
www.animalsearchuk.co.uk www.missing-you.net
www.myoldmate.net www.familysearch.org
www.lookupuk.com
http://people.yahoo.co uk
www.bigfoot.com
http://uk.bigfoot.com www.army.mod.uk,
www.smartgroups.com
www.bureauofmissingheirs.com www.probate.com (charge made)
www.british legion.org.uk www.servicepals.com
www.missingpeople.com. www.missingpersons.org
www.peoplesearchers.co.uk
www.lookupuk.com www.infospace.com www.whowhere.com
www.switchboard.com
www.192.com (phone
number,
address, electoral roll), www.411.com (U.S. private phone numbers)
Track old school friends. www.friendsreunited.com is now closed. www.ukbirth-adoptionregister.com www.locatefirst.com/uk (UK Electoral roll) www.locatefirst.com/us and www.addresses.com (USA people finders)
HEALTH SITES
Most have been
moved to Here
HOLIDAYS & TRAVEL
All travel
links have been transferred to my Travel Page Help40.htm
HOUSEHOLD
British Gas offered £400 scrappage allowance on your old
boiler and
you could claim up to
£270 Green Deal Government
Cashback but this scheme closed when HMGov ran out of cash. And Br. Gas
did
not compare well on price, even with the scrappage allowance.
"Which"
did a customer survey over boilers and British Gas scored only 56%.
Bosch
did better at 74% but independent gas installers got as much as 86%.
To
get a list of registered gas fitters contact www.gassaferegister.co.uk
and
enter your postcode/
Solar electricity generation
: See my page on solar.
Wrongly Rated ? I was. Since Moneysavings Expert started to
suggest
that people
check their rating band 130,000 households have been re-rated.
See
HERE
for instructions as to what to do. For council tax bands see
https://www.gov.uk
Winter heating It is important
to check the latest government
offers as to whether you can gain from any of their energy saving
measures.
At least they have bludgeoned the energy providers to help fund the
schemes.
A government report said "Some 11 million people are expected to be
offered
assistance through the scheme. Almost half a million of the most
vulnerable
consumers would not see their bills rise at all this winter. Under the
package,
all low-income and pensioner households will be eligible for free
insulation,
saving up to £300 a year.
So ,you may be able to get
assistance with wall and roof
insulation and, more important with an efficient central heating
system,
including up to five radiators. Some people may get small grants if
there
is a hard winter. I was hoping they would double glaze my house.. but
no
such luck !
But a widowed relative thought she would ask for help with the
installation of a gas boiler. She qualified and the whole installation
was funded! Check HERE to see if you qualify
The
Energy Saving Trust
(0800 512 012) can tell you about grants (up to £2,000) from
power companies
and councils in your area. Tap in your postcode.
GRANTS In
addition you may find grants available to bring
substandard property up to scratch (such as damp, problems, installing
a
bath or shower, hot and cold water and inside toilet) There are more
generous
grants where disabled facilities are required, such as widening of
doors,
ramps, stair lifts and downstairs toilets. Although these may
be means
tested, no means test is applied if a child under 19 is disabled.
There
is even an 'empty rooms grant', to bring back accommodation to a
habitable
state and also lead (water) pipe replacement.
Compare your Gas , Electricity, Telephone and
Broadband :
www.uswitch.com.
Make sure
you include offers from companies with which Uswitch do not have a deal.
And bear in mind that all comparison sites are in it or their own good !
www.TheEnergyShop.com
is another
free, totally impartial, energywatch accredited price comparison and
switching
service that allows domestic customers find the best deals for their
gas
and electricity. Customers can compare deals from all the main licensed
suppliers
and then switch suppliers online or over the telephone. The whole
process
takes just a few minutes and customers switching for the first time can
typically
save themselves as much as £150 a year.
In 2021 the government enforced limit on energy prices ended.
People on standard tarriffs are likely to be able to get better deals
by changing supplier. Moneysavingsexpert has a method of changing
you automatically once a year if it benefits you. (and them)
If you want to compare bills for commercial/business energy
prices,
use www.utility-exchange.co.uk
Another useful site for this is
www.ukpower.co.uk.
Very simple to
use. But I find that there are so many factors to take into
account
that comparison is very difficult and the cold callers and swap sites
take
advantage of this. Some companies have got into trouble with
OFGEM
over this.
Check the value of your property and see trends :
www.hometrack.co.uk
INFORMATION
All governments sites
can now be found at
https://www.gov.uk/
including Jobsearch, student finance, Passport fees, Benefits, Council
Tax
Bands, Car tax, Business, Education, Housing, Disabilities, Taxes, The
Law
and Registrars
Ageuk.org.uk - To make it easier for people to access expert help and
advice
you can now just give us a call. Help is available every day of the
year
from 8am to 7pm on a local number, 024 7643 3043.
GENERAL ADVICE
(Citizens
Advice Bureau)
https://www.adviceguide.org.uk/
PARKING From October
2012 it is illegal for private companies
to clamp or tow away cars but authorised companies may still slap
parking
tickets on cars and pursue payment. It is expected that more companies
will
try this. To see the true position see
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets#start
Time, date, weather in any area of the world
https://www.timeanddate.com/
(also iPod, iPad and Android Apps giving the same information)
Encyclopaedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainpage
http://astronomylinks.com
(Astronomy )
Double Glazing. Your rights :
https://www.gov.im/lib/docs/oft/checkout/check_rights_db_glazing.pdf
www.nature.com
(science)
www.newscientist.com
(Science)
www.britannica
The famous encyclopedia
The British Library - View ancient documents e.g. Dead Sea
Scrolls.
Government
: https://www.gov.uk/
try Access to sites on Education, Caring, Housing, Justice, Disability,
Jobs,
Will
Writing http://www.legalwills.co.uk
Will Writing from £39
http://www.glosslegal.co.uk.
Try
it free. Each Will is checked by a qualified solicitor, and is then
professionally printed, bound and sent to you by post to make sure it
does
not get invalided by the probate office.
Other legal services can be found at
The
Coop and
QualitySolicitors.com
(a group
of 150 High Street
Solicitors)
www.lawrights.co.uk (now
called Compact Law) (Legal
questions)
What happens to your data after you have gone. See Deadmans
Switch
For a small one-off fee they will send you regular emails. If you don't
reply they will send out your prepared emails to nominated people
expressing your wishes
MAPS, POSTCODES AND TELEPHONES
www.address.com
Find people in the USA
AA
route planner
(for car journey planning)
Cyclestreets (for
cycle journey
planning)
National Rail
enquiries
(for train journey planning)
Ordnance Survey
(maps)
RAC route
planner (for
car journey planning)
TfL plan a
journey (for
public transport in London)
Traveline (for
public transport)
walkit.com (for
planning walks around cities
and towns in the England)
http://maps.google.co.uk/
(for public transport and car journey planning)
www.mapquest.co.uk
www.ukphonebook.com (phones, postcodes, addresses and maps)
Postcodes can also be found
HERE
(Royal Mail site)
www.getmapping.com.
www.royalmail.com
For international calling codes see
http://www.countrycallingcodes.com/index.php
Telephone numbers : http://www.bt.com.
www.old-maps.co.uk (download old maps of your area)
TV Guide a web page or download the app.:
http://www.tvguide.co.uk/.
Sport on TV e.g. football highlights for a week after the
games
www.virginmedia.com/sport
www.upmystreet.com
(now Zoopla) Information
about your area. House values, policing, best schools etc.
Just enter
your postcode.
www.saa.co.uk
Sites dedicated to helping
people with their art hobby.
Glasses : No
need to spend £300 - £500.
Get your prescription free from any optician - don't be
embarrassed
to just ask for it - and look at
www.glassesdirect.co.uk
or
www.specs-by-post.com
The latter
will send you your chosen frame with clear lenses. If you like them,
you
then return them with a photo, so they can pick the correct
measurements.
You choose the combination of features you like (bi focal, multifocal,
anti
-reflective, light reactive, stronger, lighter, anti scratch etc) and
send
them your free prescription. Voila. Who needs an optician ? If you
don't
save £200 I will eat my fedora.
MUSIC
Lyrics see
http://askbobrankin.com/finding_lyrics.html
for links to lyric sites
SHOPPING
Consumer Rights, Safety and Information. In the UK look for
the local Trading Standards Office or go to th the Citizens Advice
Bureau. For information in USA see www.consumersafetyguide.com/
Parcel Delivery. See myparceldelivery.com. Register. Enter the size and weight, get a quote and fill in the destination. Choose the speed and price you want. The parcel can be picked up or you can select local pickup points and take it in.
VOUCHERS and Promotional codes are the in thing these days with many companies vying for your business by offering money off and 2 for 1 deals. Have you ever noticed, when buying on line that it says 'Enter your promotional code here'. So what is that about ? Almost every large retailer is now doing this from Argos to Vodaphone and Wickes.
SmartClicks
- Discount voucher codes and online shopping offers.
http://voucherbuddy.co.uk/ Money
Supermarket
Vouchers http://www.topvouchercodes.com
Vouchersmarter, MyVoucher
Codes
And Cashback sites are
also all the rage. If you buy via them you
eventually
get cash back.
Topcashback; Casbackkings is
now Froggybank;
Quidco; To my
knowledge none
of these are related to Shopper Discounts and Rewards (Webloyaty
International)
which charges a monthly fee
http://www.cheaptraintickets.info/cheap-train-tickets-guide/
Is an excellent guide to how to save money on train tickets.
http://www.hotukdeals.com/
This site lists bargains that people have spotted in shops or on line
Cheapest petrol in you area (it changes by the day). Just put
your
postcode in at
http://www.petrolprices.com/
Get rid of your junk and find bargains. Join your local Freecycle. See
http://uk.freecycle.org/
http://www.trustedreviews.com/
Excellent site for independent views of modern gadgets
Don't forget the Which ? site at
http://www.which.co.uk/.
You
don't have to sign up for much of the info.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/buy/
www.kelkoo.com
www.pricewatch.co.uk www.tesco.com
www.iceland.co.uk
www.toysrus.co.uk
Telephone Calls
Telephone call charges are very confusing. At least computer based
telephony
should make competition fiercer. But you may still be paying
a premium
on some calls if you are not careful. Premium rate numbers include all
those
beginning with 090 and can vary between 49p and £1.50 a
minute of which
the recipient gets a substantial cut. But even the following numbers
have
variable charges : 0845 numbers ARE charged at 'lo-call' (not
local)
call rates. But 044 is charged at 5ppm at any time.
0870 and
0871 numbers are charged at the national rate, even if it is local and
pay
the owner a cut if you phone at peak times, whereas 0871918 numbers are
10ppm
at any time. Many companies will quote an 0870 number even though they
have
a free 0800 number. There is a website that enables you to
check whether
a company has a cheaper alternative. Study the
site at
www.saynoto0870.com
to
find non geographical alternatives to 0870 numbers. Always bear in mind
that
most telephone companies will charge around 5p for the first minute.
So,
if you are on pay-as-you-go dialup and get through but then your PC has
to
re-dial seconds later it is probably costing you.
With competition opening up the telephone market you should check the
comparative
costs of telephone suppliers. OFTEL suggests
www.uswitch.com,
who are allowed
to help you change. It only takes a few minutes and can save you tens
of
pounds a month, particularly if you phone abroad a lot. You
may
be able to save on telephone calls especially to the USA and Australia
(e.g.
2p per minute).
But the cheapest of all are video and audio computer
connections
such
as Skype. When it comes to cost, FREE is hard to beat ! See
Here.
Other Silver Surfer's Sites - see Here
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