Forum

• # 102585
• Mon 10 Nov 2014 12:59 PM

Hi everyone

I've just joined as a student and over the coming months I hope to get up to Affiliate membership relatively quickly.

I'm on a very tight budget having been unemployed over 5 years and my studies are being funded by credit card :(

I'm looking at software requirements for the computersied exams and there is no way I can afford an outright purchase of Sage at this stage. As my aim is to be self employed and working in predominately the not for profit sector and charites I would be looking at setting up my own spreadsheets for clients anyway.

The cheapest way I can see of doing the computerised modules is to buy a 3 month subscription of Sage One at about £35.00 and then get through the module and exam before the subscription runs out.

Is Sage One suitable for level 2 study and exams? 

If I had to buy software outright for the course I could possibly manage a copy of Sage Instant which is on Amazon at £113.00 but if I can get away with the £35.00 option then that is my preference.

does any one have any recommendation about how to get the cost down even further than a 3 month subscription?

I notice that Solar has a 30 day free trial but I'm not sure I cna get through all the study and book exames in under 30 days.

thanks

Kevin

• Fundraisers Wales - fundraising, financial and communication support to charities and not-for-profits

• 
  Quote
  

• # 102587
• Mon 10 Nov 2014 01:42 PM

Good Afternoon Kevin

You could go for a Sage 50 training course that includes the training, certification and 180 days use of Sage 50.

Check out ebay - have a look at :-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sage-50-Accounts-Self-Study-Course-Stage-1-new-sealed-/181579143487?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item2a46f5d93f

I did my old style level 2 Computerised accounting on a similar package (from a training provider).

Regards

Trevor

• Failure is only the opportunity to Begin again, only this time more Wisely. Henry Ford

  Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. Robert Collier

• 
  Quote
  

• # 102592
• Mon 10 Nov 2014 03:43 PM

Hi Kevin,

I'm in a similar boat (self studying for level 2 B3) and i had a look at Sage One a couple of weeks ago - it didn't seem to cover everything so i'm attempting to get through it using 'Solar' - another alternative I looked at was Zero - they also do a free trial and then i think the pricing starts at £9 a month.  Although saying that - the ebay link from Trevor looks like quite a good bargain!

Best of luck

Simone 

• 
  Quote
  

• # 102594
• Mon 10 Nov 2014 03:53 PM

Thanks Trevor for that link, it looks like a good way of getting affordable SAGE accounting. 

I'll check Ebay when I get closer to that module to see if there are any other offers.

I agree with you Simone that at £15.00 it looks a bargain, I'll watch it and see what the final price goes for. Not sure it will be that cheap though :)

thanks

Kevin

• Fundraisers Wales - fundraising, financial and communication support to charities and not-for-profits

• 
  Quote
  

• # 102595
• Mon 10 Nov 2014 03:54 PM

Sage do courses for both line 50 and instant. They include a six month licence for the software which will do fine if you can complete in that time. These courses are usually available on e-bay below the advertised prices.

E-bay also has offers on Quickbooks which has the advantage that it can be used for multiple accounts, an advantage for practising bookkeepers, although the cheaper Quickstart does not take credit purchases which makes it unsuitable for the exam. You need the full QuickbooksPro.

I took and passed the exam using the open source GNUcash which is a free download. See www.gnucash.org, but it may be difficult to get a higher grade with this, not sure!

• 
  Quote