OT: so excited

All you need is web space, a domain name and a blogging tool, it is silly to pay every month when you can have one for less than $20 a year. I purchased webspace from ebay, 3 domains for $10 a year. I already had the domain name ( you can get a .com at godaddy for 8.95/year or a .info for 0.99/year) so I just set up a subdomain for my blog ( make sure you get a host with unlimited subdomains and MySql databases). I had each domain set up with its own control panel (you have to ask for this or otherwise the default is usually they set up one and the other 2 are add on domains) and gave one to my son and one to my niece. I use blogger, it is free and when you have your own webspace there are no ads and you can chose to remove the blogger banner. I found blogger to be the easiest but if you buy webspace with a Fantascio panel there are a few different free blogging tools that are available if you don't like blogger.

It takes only a few minutes to set it up. You chose or make your template (you need advanced html knowledge to make your own) and tell blogger what the ftp access to your blogspace is. From there you just post and when you hit publish blogger takes care of everything and in less than a minute you will have a blog provided the dns for your webspace has propagated throughout the web. (this usually takes 24-48 hours after you purchase a domain name and set your name servers).

Summmary.

1. Purchase a domain name. (0.99 to 8.95)
2. Buy webspace ( for 3, you can use one for your altered stuff and give your hubby the extra one)
3. Set the name servers at goddady or whenever you chose to buy a domain name. This will take 24-48 hours at most to propagate.
4. Join blogger
5. Tell blogger your ftp info and pick a template.
6. Post and enjoy your new blog.

we have webspace through 1&1. hubby doesn't need anymore domains, he has like 7 for business. i have a domain name through 1&1. i don't understand much of anything about computers, except to surf, email, etc. i've had to slowly learn because with DH out of town, i can't just go into the office and bat my eyelashes and tell him i need help. he has to walk me through stuff on the phone. i'll have to email your response to him and have him read it. he hasn't ever set up a blog before, but he uses ftp alot. i do know that because he talks about it. :) thanks for all the info. it will definatly come in handy.

Anji

Welcome to the Blogosphere from a fellow blogger! :-)

Carolyne in TX

If you already have a domain name and webspace all you need to do is join blogger and ask your husband for the following info FTP server

It will be something like ftp.yoursitename.com

your user name and password and that's it!

Plug the info into the ftp info on blogger, pick your template, fill in info like the name of your blog, timezone etc and you are all set! (it is not as hard as it may sound, my 12 year old niece figured it all out in less than an hour)

I would ask your husband to set up a subdomain for you because if you publish to the main directory it will overwrite your index page.

Congrats Anji!