I wondered if any one can help.......

Im looking to set up my own website, but dont want to spend a lot, Im happy to put the website together via a template but then theres hosting etc

Any advice / guidance gratefully recieved

have a look at my website and see what you think. its hosted by spanglefish but then i bought a domain for £15 and bought the advertising rights so dont have adverts posted on it.... all in all it cost me £40 including the domain and i dont think it looks particularly "amateurish" opinions on a post card please. lol.
its really easy too, they start it for you then you edit it as you want it..... www.spanglefish.co.uk  for more details.
i dont really understand the writing it yourself thingy but im a technophobe lol.

I am the least techy person that I know, and I set my website up on a free website provider, which had idiot proof instructions.  I wasn't even ashamed of it!!  :-)

I used it for several years.  Then, when they wanted to start charging, I decided that I didn't want their logo any more - not if I was paying for it.

I did get some quotes online (nearly bloody choked on prices!)

So I looked on the BT directory enquiries, for local website designers.  I found a guy working from home, living locally, and rather gathered that he had another employment, so it wasn't his only income.

I explained that I had 8 pages, including my homepage, asked if it was possible for him to use my design, rather than rewrite the whole thing, but I wanted another page for show dogs.  He tweaked it, I sent him the extra photos that I wanted, he suggested a couple of improvements to layout, and he will make any amendments free of charge.  I wanted a one off fee, not a monthly payment like the big boys wanted to give me.

If I remember correctly, my domain name cost me about £12 and is renewable in 2 years.   I got the name I wanted, and unless I want major changes, my designer is all paid for.  Can't tell you down to the last penny, but his charge was in the region of £300, which was a heck of a lot different to others that quoted.  I am more than happy to have a site that doesn't do someone else's advertising for them, and so far, any minor amendments have been free.

I do have admin access to alter photos and text on my puppy pages, and to add photos to show dog page.  This suits me, as the other pages will rarely need changes.  If I change my ISP it doesn't matter any more, so all in all, I'm happy with my website.

I use Microsoft's web site and all I have had to pay for is the domain name.  If you look in my profile at my cat website that's fully completed, my dog one has fallen by the wayside!

I have put a site up for a friend (now deceased so kept up in her memory) on 'Awardspace', no adverts and plenty enough space.

I use Serif Webplus to create mine.  Mines only basic even though you can do all sorts with the program.

Have you checked whether your service provider doesn't have free webspace as part of your package (I have mine with my ISP).

I used Webeden for our club.
It is easy to use and costs under £30 for 2 years, you can purchase the domain name for a little more(less than £10). I think in all it cost £36??

Thanks for everyones advice.

Do I have to buy the Microsoft? sorry to sound thick new ground for me! or can you down load it free?

Thanks again

You can get older versions of the Serif Webplus program free, http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/WebPlus/default.asp?SP=FSS-G800&gclid=COGg8IffgJ8CFVVu4wodwA8lIw and also Awardspace is free hosting, but as I said you may already have free space you didn't realise you had with your Internet service provider so do check.

I have designed a few web sites for business but have lost the knack now lol! I found that webs.com do really easy and FREE packages that you can adjust to suit your requirements, add your own domain name and remove their advertising from (for a small fee). They even have in built shopping carts and photo galleries should you need them.

Google Sites is also a free tool for creating websites which has inbuilt templates. Not used it personally but have seen sites created with it which look good.
http://www.google.com/sites/overview.html

I agree with Zaska re: webs.com. I've built a few sites with their templates and they are dead easy.

I use Freewebs, everybody always comments on how good it looks.

Thanks for everyones help, of to have a go

I use freewebs too...link in my profile...
I have not really played around with everything you can do and only have a free one...But I think you can do quite a lot and not have the adverts if you pay a little... Very easy to use.