The more enlightened employers treat personal Internet access the same way they treat personal phone calls on company phones, i.e., a modest amount is tolerated. I typically check this forum and my e*Trade account once or twice per workday, while I'm taking a break or waiting for a big computer simulation to run.

Consider getting a used first-generation Pentium computer and a free dial-up Internet account at home. Participating in this forum does not require the latest, most powerful hardware and software.