The New Year has come in with icy weather. Even Florida has been enjoying a little cool air – not so good for the oranges, of course. Natural gas prices have been rising so, where this is the source of heat, household budgets are under pressure. The law of supply and demand has kicked in with crude oil back above $80 a barrel. During the warmer months, the refineries focus on gas to keep us on the move. But as Fall turns into Winter, the need is for oil to keep us warm. This year, the cold spell is forcing the refineries to increase the focus on heating the home. At the pumps, the $3 gallon for premium-grade gas is here again. It’s around $2.70 for unleaded. The prices are higher this week than at any time during 2009. And the bad news is set to continue. The economists are saying the commodity prices are going to keep rising. If unleaded hits $3 a gallon, this could be a real tipping point for us all. Sure this is still less than the highs of the $4 gallon we saw in 2008. But the recession has been biting us hard. More of us have been cutting down on spending and paying down the debts. As the costs of basic household necessities rises, priorities change. Just think how much we buy in the stores comes in a truck that burns gas. If gas gets more expensive, those stores will pass on the additional shipping costs to us. That means less retail therapy. If we buy less, we don’t need the same manufacturing capacity. More jobs are at risk. The risk of a double-dip recession is all too real.

In the face of all this economic doom and gloom, we are left to make the best of how we live our lives. Those of us out in the boondocks of the exurbs are caught in the need to commute everywhere for most of what we need. Sure, the houses look pretty come the Spring sunshine, but where do we work? Where are the schools and shops? Even living in the suburbs is getting more difficult as owners give up the unequal struggle and shutter their stores. Trying to survive without a vehicle is only really possible in the cities where public transport manages to offer a basic service to key points around the central area. Even where commuting distances are short, the greenest of environmentalists is disheartened by the statistics showing the number of cyclists mown down by drivers. Where he still alive, Darwin would note the failure of the two-wheeled species to survive.

All of this combines to force us to search for ever cheaper car insurance. Assuming you don’t want to risk driving uninsured, the threat of the next premium instalment should be a real motivator to get into a routine of using the online search engines. They are all completely free and allow you to find the really cheap auto insurance quotes for all makes and models of vehicle on the road. There’s no obligation to buy but, if you do see a real possibility of saving enough dollars, you can make the change. Remember, insurers always make attractive initial offers to get you interested. In this, always remember to check the small print in your existing policy. Some insurers try to lock you into your policy for a minimum time and impose penalties if you terminate early. There are always traps for you to watch out for in the cheap car insurance market.

Before investing in a dedicated server take the time to understand what it really takes to operate a web server company. Do you have…

o patience with handling complex technology?
o computer and technical know-how?
o a background in Computer Science?
o familiarity with Control Panels and their limitations?

Another huge reality factor is the demand for 24/7 service. Most internet and website customers now are accustomed to getting tech support around the clock, any time they need it. The bottom line is that you or your employees will be expected to be on call 24 hours a day for to handle sales calls and requests for technical assistance. One of the necessities of running any internet-related business is immediate response if customers are going to remain happy and loyal. Are you prepared to support the needs of your clients if you decide to start a web hosting service?

Be Familiar with All Components

Familiarity with all the latest software is at the top of the check list when it comes to having the tools you need to be a web host. You will need to know what software is available on the market, how it works and what is the price tag attached. Eventually you will be installing this software on your web server to accommodate the needs of your customers.

If you intend to host using a Window 2000 server you will need to have an in depth comprehension of IIS. On the upside, Microsoft offers a huge library of information that describes everything you need to know about their software, but it will require a time commitment on your behalf to read through it all.

Should you be considering a Linux server, you be called upon for your knowledge and command of Secure Shell Security (SSH). You’ll find yourself floundering helplessly if you do not have a sturdy background in Telnet commands if you are using Cpanel as your control panel.

There are some options available as far as how much money you will need to invest up front, but the key here is that you will need to have startup capital to get going. The software you will be required to purchase can be quite costly and your customers will expect you to offer them the best. They are not likely to settle for anything less than a sturdy, reliable server such as a Dual Pentium. This is also really the only way you will have complete control of anything that is going on with your network.