Day 5 Invest in a good computer to make a career transition

When I lost my job I was tempted to curtail all spending outside of my basic budget. The only computer I owned was a family computer that was ten years old. It had an operating system and software dating to 1995. I thought I could get by with using this setup to do my Internet job search. I quickly found out that I was wrong. It was maddeningly slow.

My wife wisely urged me to invest in myself and buy a new laptop with wireless Internet capability. I hated to spend $1,200 dollars for the system and software but I am glad I did.
The ease and speed at which I could work was well worth the outlay. I could perform tasks that would normally freeze up my old machine.

The portability allowed me to type documents or check email while I waited in the car to pick up my daughter from school. I could take my computer and use it at the local coffee shop or library when I needed to get out of the house.

Having my own computer freed up the family computer. My wife and girls were used to using it for homework and correspondence. It was not fair to them for me to be using it all the time.

A fast computer with up-to-date software and good Internet capability is a necessity not a luxury.

If you just cannot afford to buy a new computer and pay the monthly fee for Internet service there is a temporary solution. Go to the library, the local worksource center or nearby community college and use their computers. You have limited access but at least you can accomplish some essential job search work online.