This isn't a blog post. This is intended for noobs.


No objection to that but why should there be a list of retailers?


So I threw in a few ref links. This is my setup and it's a basic guide to try and help out new users that seem to be told all these complicated ways.
Again, it's nothing to do with a blog and it's not great to call someone a noob when all thry are trying to do is help. I buy bitcoin, I sell bitcoin and I spend bitcoin.

I started with Bitcoin back in late 2013, just before the price exploded. I had actually read about it a year before this but after 10 minutes decided it was too complicated.

I decided to write this post because I have had a lot of trials and tribulations trying to get bitcoin to work like I want it too. I hope that this post will aid new users and perhaps more experienced users can help me out with some of my current problems.

Buying Bitcoin:
In my opinion buying bitcoin is still quite difficult. In the early days I spent ages registering at exchanges and then jumping through hoops trying to get my ID verified. After trying a whole bunch the only one I ended up with an account on is cryptsy.com. Cryptsy is a decent exchange and you can also buy 100's of alt currencies (litecoin, peercoin, ripple etc).

I don't however recommend buying from an exchange. For new users the simplest way to buy bitcoin is using localbitcoins.com. I also have an account at circle.com which is probably the simplest way to buy if you get it setup. I actually found it pretty easy although I have heard that some people find it quite difficult.
With circle you link your bank account and once verified you can buy any amount of btc in USD/GBP (other currencies may be available I don't know). You can then send your bitcoins to the wallet on your PC.

Bitcoin Wallet
When I first started with bitcoin the advice was to get bitcoin core. In my opinion Core sucks. It takes up like 60gb space, slows down your PC and takes ages before you can use it.
After using Core for several months I switched to Bitcoin Armory which I found equally sucks. If you are a new user don't bother with either of these two, they are designed for power users or corporations that need to store the whole blockchain.
I now use multibit.org. Multibit is a lightweight bitcoin wallet which means you don't need to download the whole blockchain. It starts like any other program in seconds and works like a dream.

Buying Stuff With Bitcoin
Once you have purchased your bitcoin and you have transferred them to your wallet you can then spend them (or HODL).

If you want to purchase things using your mobile phone with BTC I recommend you download Mycelium from the ios store or playstore. Mycelium is a great app that enables you to buy things using your phone via a QR code or BTC address. Obviously you need to transfer btc from your PC to your phone. To do this I used Mycelium to email me the bitcoin receive address. I then copied and pasted the address into multibit and added a note saying "funds for Mycelium". I can then use this same address everytime I want to send bitcoin to my phone.

Warnings
Please make sure you create really secure passwords and backup your wallet regularly. It's also worthwhile create a paper backup.
I wouldn't keep large amounts of bitcoin in your mycelium wallet either. Perhaps limit to $50-$100 or something.


MOD NOTE:
Referral part of links removed

I bought a chicken bhuna and a rogan josh curry tonight with bitcoin. Very nice it was as well. I didn't have to use a credit card either.

The bitcoin price will continue to fall. It's been falling all 2014 and dropped dramatically early 2015.
I can't see things changing anytime soon.

I have been spending BTC recently, fuck hodling.

I didn't know that. Going to check it out, thanks.

Hi guys,

I currently have just over 4 bitcoins. They are stored on my online laptop (win8). I have Bitcoin Core installed and downloaded Armory. I created a paper backup using armory.

Of course I want my bitcoins to be secure (who wouldn't)  but I don't have an offline computer, I have USB sticks but I find all this online/ offline really complicated.

Basically I want to be able to use my bitcoin daily. I was looking to renew some domains using Namecheap with btc but they have a QR code that you are supposed to scan.
I wanted to use Mycelium to do that but it's taking forever for armory to get ready so I can transfer the bitcoins to mycelium.

Sorry for rambling but this is what I want.

A simple solution for storing the BTC on my laptop. It should be lightweight, secure and not download the whole blockchain. Armory also slowed down my PC i7 processor as well. When I decide I want to buy something I should be able to use it within seconds.

Thanks

You suck at security.

I could find him but I am busy eating cake.

Thanks. Simple answer.

Maybe I am being simple, I don't know.

Anyway, I have downloaded Armory, I have waited overnight while it downloaded the blockchain, I have waited while it synced and I was hoping it would be ready to use.

I have been using Bitcoin Core and thought I would be able to send funds from there to Armory but when I try to open it I get the error "cannot obtain a lock on data directory.... Bitcoin Core is proberbly already running.

How to I move my BTC from Core to Armory?

I am on Windows 8.

Facebook tipping has not been released yet.

It would be good if vbulletin had a plugin that would allow sites like bitcointalk to accept tips.

Can't tell the smilie is rolling eyes.

And transfer them all to Bitcoin?

In the UK the vast majority of businesses use software like SAGE Payroll and Sage Instant Accounts to control their in-comings and outgoings as well as for paying employees.
If a company such as SAGE decided to integrate Bitcoin into future releases I would think this would make things a lot easier for businesses to accept bitcoin.
Also, how would this work? Is it no different than accepting EUR or USD for example? Is it as simple as coding a BTC field?

Well really just for the postage. I don't want to pay a fortune buying in USA or similar.

It doesn't help that this was moved to the service discussion sub forum. But, I am still looking.

I am looking for UK sites that have quality bitcoin t-shirts that I can buy with Bitcoin.

Thanks

Where do banks figure in all of this?

Well if the same amount of people sold bitcoin as those that bought the price would stay the same. If less people bought bitcoin than those that sold the price would decrease.
How is this preposterous?