online classes

9 Things You Can Do Online Besides Watch Cat GIFs

Andrea Cannon — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 10:30:32 +0000

On the rare occasion that you have some free time, there are a variety of productive, frugal ways to browse the Internet — other than watching an endless stream of cat videos on YouTube. By taking advantage of your free time and getting the most out of your browsing, you can improve your life and achieve your goals more quickly. You can even save time and earn money along the way. Here are a few ways to wisely use your web time.

1. Review Your Finances

Check your online statements to balance your bank accounts and credit cards. This will help ensure that your budget is on track for the month. While you're at it, you can also pay your bills and check in on your investments. (See also: 5 Tricks to Consolidating Your Debt and Saving Money)

2. Organize Your Computer

Organize the files on your computer so that you can be more productive at work. You can also run computer cleaners to clear away junk files, free up space, and even increase computer speed. (See also: Make Your Computer Last (Almost) Forever With Some Simple Tricks)

3. Take a Class

Online classes span an endless range of subjects. They can help you learn a new skill or explore a new hobby. You can even study for a certification in your field to advance your career and help you seek new employment. (See also: 7 Certifications That Add Big to Your Salary)

Whether you want to learn something new or would like to improve your craft, anything can be accomplished with online courses. If you don't want to sign up for a course, consider finding an e-book that highlights your new skills. (See also: 7 Things You Must Know Before Taking an Online Class)

4. Learn to Code

Not everybody can master coding, but if it's something that interests you, there are endless free resources to get you started. Spend some time on sites like Codecademy during your free time if you'd like to build a website or learn to decipher code.

5. Learn a Language

Learn a new language with sites like Duolingo, which is free to use. Best of all, you'll feel like you're playing a game while you learn a new language. (See also: You Can Learn a New Language)

6. Learn to Speed Read

You can learn to speed read using free online apps like Spreeder. This can save you time, help you read faster, and increase your productivity. (See also: 17 Cool Jobs for Book Lovers)

7. Network

Spend some time fixing up your LinkedIn page and reach out to colleagues and contacts. This can improve your working relationships and help you find a new job when you need one. (See also: 30 Minutes to a LinkedIn Profile That Gets You Hired)

8. Write

Whether you are interested in writing articles, have a knack for poetry, or have considered starting your own blog, use your free time online to pursue your passion for prose. Best of all, you can even make some money in the process. (See also: 22 Websites That Will Pay You to Write for Them)

9. Play Games and Watch Videos for Cash

While playing games on your computer might not seem productive, you can actually make money while doing so. Sites like Swagbucks will give you points for playing games, watching videos, answering surveys, shopping online, and searching the Internet. You can later trade in your points for cash or gift cards. (See also: What Pays More: Online Surveys or the Gig Economy?)

This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Use the Holiday Quiet Time to Boost Your Career

Kat Tretina — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 11:30:08 +0000

Depending on your office's culture, it can become a barren wasteland starting right after Thanksgiving, and stay that way until after the New Year. Especially if your office is open the week between Christmas and December 31, it's completely common to find yourself as one of the few people in the office — if not the only one!

And while bingeing on Netflix or having chair races with the only other person in the office may sound appealing, office quiet time is a golden opportunity for you. The empty office gives you a chance to prepare for the new year and build your skills. Instead of whiling away the hours on Candy Crush, try the following ideas to be productive.

Take a Course

Whether you want to learn how to code, dream of graphic design, or think mastering advanced Excel functions will help you in your current work, there are free and low-cost courses available to help you meet your goal.

Coursera

Coursera offers free classes from top universities like Yale, Harvard, and Brown in subjects like psychology, neuroscience, or fundamental programming concepts. While you cannot get credit for the classes you take, these are excellent resources for developing new skills.

Udemy

Similarly, Udemy offers free classes, but they also have more in-depth classes with a fee, too. Udemy courses tend to be more niche-focused. If you want to learn about the latest in social media, such as how to use Periscope for brand promotion, or how to use Photoshop's editing features, Udemy offers many options and self-paced learning opportunities. While even Udemy's paid classes tend to be very affordable, if the lesson can be applied to your work, check with your manager to see if the company will cover the cost. Your initiative will show a good use of your time during the slow season.

Research Tools That Can Improve Your Work

During the busiest months, it can get so crazy you don't have a lot of time to research ways to streamline processes or make your job easier. So you stick to what you know and what works, even if it is inefficient. The slow weeks can be a great time to find new ways of doing business that can make your life simpler in the new year.

There are many free or cheap tools available for every line of work. Below are just five free options that can help you in different industries, but there are hundreds of tools that can improve efficiencies and empower you to be more productive.

Asana

If your company struggles to keep up with deadlines and track who is accountable for what, Asana can be a gamechanger. Asana allows you to create tasks, assign people to each step, and set public deadlines. Asana is free for for teams up to 15 people, so it can be great for individual departments to stay on track and keep projects moving forward.

Canva

If you run social media pages, coming up with images for the different channels can be a major timesink. And if you have to wait on someone else to do them for you, that can make it difficult to capitalize on breaking trends. Canva allows you to create polished, professional-looking images in minutes, even if you have no graphic design training yourself. There's thousands of free templates, and while you can upload your own photos, they also offer stock photos for just $1.

FullContact Card Reader

Whether you work in sales, procurement, or marketing, gathering business cards is part of the job. And it's all too easy to accumulate a stack and forget about them, or lose them altogether. The FullContact Card Reader scans the business card and saves the information to a designated place that you can organize and search. You can save up to 1,000 contacts with the free version.

HemingwayApp

If you're a writer, you'll enjoy HemingwayApp. Not only does it recognize typos and grammatical errors, but it also highlights bad habits like passive voice, excessive adverb use, and overly complicated sentence structure.

Written Kitten

Have you been delaying writing an email or starting on a sales report? Meet Written Kitten, an utterly ridiculous free tool that may get you inspired. After you write 100 words, the site rewards you with an adorable picture of a kitten. Just don't allow yourself to cheat the system and start writing nonsense just to see the next cat.

Take Advantage of Your Time

It can feel like a real drag as the only person in the office. But this time of the year can be a fantastic chance to invest in yourself, learn new skills, and optimize your productivity. Dress comfortably, load up your phone with great music, and try these courses and tools to set yourself up for a strong new year.

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This article is from Kat Tretina of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

3 Ways to Get a Legit Business Education Online

Matt Bell — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 21:00:04 +0000

Business majors are in demand. A recent survey by Millennial Branding and Beyond.com found that 18% of companies are interested in hiring business majors — second only to the 27% of companies looking to hire engineering and computer majors.

There's a need for people with business degrees, or at least business skills. And the Internet offers a dizzying number of flexible, low-cost options for learning the ways of business. (See also: 8 Cheap Ways to Continue Your Education Without Going Back to School)

Here are three approaches to getting a quality business education online.

1. Earn a Degree

A growing number of schools that offer traditional undergrad and graduate degrees in business now offer completely or mostly online options for obtaining a degree. Such programs typically have admissions requirements that are just as rigorous as their on-campus degree programs, although some offer open admissions, meaning all you need is a high school degree or a GED. Participating in a degree program is, by far, the most expensive route toward an online business education. Still, if it's an actual degree you're after, online programs are less expensive than on-campus programs.

To help sort through the various online degree offerings, a few organizations list, rank, or help you search for programs that meet your needs or interests:

U.S. News & World Report ranks online programs in general (not by program) and graduate business programs, using criteria such as faculty credentials, student services, and student engagement (opportunities for interaction with other students and teachers).
TheBestSchools.org offers various online program rankings, from the 20 Best Online Bachelor's in Business Management Degree Programs to the 20 Best Online Bachelor's in Marketing Degree Programs. Its criteria includes academic excellence, return on investment, and "incidental benefit" (student satisfaction, graduation rates, campus safety, and more).

Of course, if there's a particular school you're interested in, just search on the name of the school and "online business degree" to find out if it offers such a program.

At the early stages, though, the below examples ought to give you a sense of how some school's online programs match up to there on-campus counterparts.

Penn State

Penn State offers numerous online undergrad and graduate business degrees through its World Campus. Tuition costs $518 to $559 per credit — almost 25% less than the in-state on-campus tuition. Compared to the out-of-state tuition, the online costs are less than half the price.

Indiana University

Indiana University's well-regarded Kelley School of Business, likewise, offers an online MBA (students need to spend one week on campus in Bloomington, IN for an "intense introduction to the program"). Tuition costs $1,175 per credit hour. With 51 credit hours required, that comes to nearly $60,000 plus about $100 per course for books and other course materials. By contrast, the school's on-campus two-year MBA program costs $104,000 for in-state students and $143,000 for out-of-state students, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

Northwestern University

At Northwestern University, you can't get an online MBA, but you can get an online Master's Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. It costs $3,744 per class (13 classes required), $115 technology fee per class, and a $500 deposit for a total of a bit over $50,000. By comparison, the five-term, full-time on-campus Integrated Marketing Communications program costs over $130,000, including tuition, room and board, health insurance, books, and everything else.

University of Phoenix

And finally, a lower cost option is to obtain a degree from the University of Phoenix, which has been providing online learning for 20 years and is the nation's largest for-profit college. Beware, though, according to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, this school came under fire last year over questions about retention and graduation rates, some of its educational processes, and other issues. Ultimately, it was re-accredited, but told that it needs to make certain improvements.

2. Earn a Credential

If you don't need a full-fledged degree, but still want some type of credential to show for your efforts, there are several options.

Harvard CORe

Harvard just introduced a $1,500 online HBX CORe program (Credential of Readiness) consisting of three business courses: business analytics, economics for managers, and financial accounting. It's designed for undergrad students who want some business knowledge, non-business grad students, and those early in their careers. Right now, the program is limited to students who live in Massachusetts, but eventually the school plans to introduce additional business classes and make them available to students worldwide.

Extension Programs

Many schools offer certificate programs through their extension or continuing education programs. For example, UCLA offers numerous online business certificate programs, such as a Business Administration Certificate With Concentration in Finance for a total of just under $11,000.

MOOCs

Online platforms such as Coursera, NovoEd, edX, the Open University on iTunes U, and Udacity offer a huge number business classes, some of which offer the option to obtain a certificate for an additional fee.

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania now makes its first-year MBA classes, such as An Introduction to Financial Accounting, available for free through Coursera, including a Statement of Accomplishment signed by the instructor and issued by Coursera.

Coursera and other online platforms also offer higher-level certificates that are issued by the platform and the partner university. For example, you can take a class from Vanderbilt through Coursera called Leading Strategic Innovation in Organizations. The course may be taken for free. Or, if you want a Verified Certificate, that costs $49. While such certificates don't represent college credit, they may provide stronger proof that you successfully completed the course, a bit more prestige, and perhaps more help in obtaining tuition reimbursement from an employer.

3. Gain Some Knowledge

MIT's OpenCourseWare site offers MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) content from over 2,000 of the school's courses, including many undergrad and graduate classes from the Sloan School of Management. While you can't get a degree from completing the courses, they are all free. You can download lecture notes, assignments, exams, and in some cases, video lectures.

Many other universities, such as Stanford, make many of their courses available in similar fashion.

One of the more innovative uses of these free online courses can be seen in the experience of Laurie Pickard. From her home in Rwanda, where she works for the United States Agency for International Development, she's working through a handpicked assortment of free online grad school classes from some of the world's best business schools. While she won't receive an official MBA, she'll have what she considers to be the equivalent. She's chronicling her experience at an appropriately named No Pay MBA blog.

You'll find countless free online non-credit classes on the platforms mentioned earlier: Coursera, NovoEd, edX, iTunes U, Udacity, and others.

No Shortage of Online Learning Options

Online education is a fast-growing space, with a lot of experimentation going on among schools and platforms. Many questions are emerging along with that growth, such as how much value employers will place on an online degree versus a traditional degree, and how resume-worthy are non-credit or certificate classes. But for students looking for flexible, low-cost learning opportunities, there have never been so many options to choose from.

Have you taken an online university class? What's been your experience?

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This article is from Matt Bell of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Things You Need to Know Before Taking Online Classes

Beth Buczynski — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 13:00:34 +0000

Online classes are all the rage, and with good reason: The cost of higher education has skyrocketed. Those unwilling (or unable) to take on a mountain of student loan debt are forced to seek alternatives, and for many, that means earning a degree online. (See also: 8 Cheap Ways to Continue Your Education Without Going Back to School)

Advocates of distance learning programs tout advantages like flexibility and reduced cost, but is that really true? Listed below are some unexpected ways going to school online could cost you in the long run.

1. Lack of Human Interaction

The obvious difference between attending traditional classes and taking them online is the lack of people. No face-to-face teacher time, no sharing notes with your peers, no group projects. Often the discussion and debate that takes place in the classroom is what leads to true learning, and distance learners miss it completely. Not to mention that restricting oneself to only electronic messages leaves the door wide open for miscommunication.

2. You May Still Have to Commute

To combat the problems that arise when students and teachers never meet, some programs take a hybrid approach and require that virtual students come to campus several times throughout the course of their degree. If you choose an online program based out of state, or have limited resources for commuting, this will be costly and possibly take time away from work and family.

3. Hidden Fees

If you're attracted to online classes because of the flexibility, you might want to investigate how much it's going to cost you. Some online universities penalize students who just want to take one or two classes at a time. In addition, according to US News, "prospective students should also keep an eye out for assessment fees, graduation fees and yes, even parking fees when shopping around for an online degree program."

4. No FAFSA

If you're depending on Federal Student Loans to pay for your online education, be very careful when researching potential programs. An online school must be accredited by an authorized agency in order to participate in the federal financial aid program. Be on the lookout for fake "accreditors" whose fraudulent names sound real, but will get you rejected from FAFSA.

5. Less Experienced Teachers

Not everyone that has an advanced degree is cut out to be a teacher. Even fewer are cut out to be good teachers in an online environment. To qualify for online teaching positions, most schools only require a Master's degree, and in some cases, proof that the would-be teacher has taken a cluster of advanced coursework in the area they wish to teach. (See also: Could Online Teaching Be for You?)

6. No Extra-Curricular Activities

Ready for a shock? Often the most valuable college experiences happen outside the classroom and traditional coursework. Internships, apprenticeships, student government positions, summer research projects, Greek organizations, and academic clubs — these are the places you gain real job skills, and network with people who can help you later in life. They're also much harder to access if you're an online student. (See also: Is Taking Online Classes Right for You?)

7. You're More Likely to Fail

Schools that offer online classes love to promise how much easier it will be than traditional college. What they don't tell you is that unless you're incredibly disciplined, you're more likely to fail out of distance learning courses, thus wasting a ton of money. According to the New York Times, "...[S]tudent attrition rates — around 90% for some huge online courses — appear to be a problem even in small-scale online courses when compared with traditional face-to-face classes… Courses delivered solely online may be fine for highly skilled, highly motivated people, but they are inappropriate for struggling students who make up a significant portion of college enrollment and who need close contact with instructors to succeed."

Learn more about the hidden costs of online classes in the infographic below:

Source: Affordable-Online-Colleges.net

Have you taken college course online? What was your experience like?

This article is from Beth Buczynski of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Is Taking Classes Online Right for You?

Sarah Winfrey — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:48:16 +0000

Whether you’re looking to start a degree, finish one, continue your education, get some new certifications, or just expand your horizons, there’s probably an online study program out there that would give you what you want.

While many students find these programs a boon to their education, the truth is that there are both benefits and drawbacks to studying online. As someone with experience teaching college courses online, I know that they work well for some students and situations and don’t work well at all for others. If you’re considering taking the next steps in your education online, think about these factors before you jump in. (See also: How to Succeed as an Online Student)

The Benefits of Online Classes

Though some of the benefits of taking online classes are obvious, others may not be as clear. Keep in mind that all of these will not pertain to every situation, but they should help you see how studying over the web could benefit you.

Take Classes You Wouldn’t Otherwise Have Access To

Are your interests obscure, or would you like to get a degree in something that’s only offered in a few places around the world? If you choose an online study option, you won’t have to relocate to get the knowledge and certifications that you want. Since moving around isn’t an option for some people and isn’t desirable for others, online classes can mean the difference between getting a university education and not having that opportunity.

Get the Education You’ve Always Wanted

Whether you started a degree but couldn’t finish it or you never got going, online classes offer you the chance to get your degree right where you are. Since all you’ll need is a reliable computer and an Internet connection, you won’t have to move around or spend too much money to get up and running. In addition, there are all sorts of online study options out there. Some programs, for instance, specialize in helping people finish degrees already started. Others work with those who have not started and try to get them through as quickly as possible.

Work on Your Schedule

One of the best things about studying online is that you don’t have to change your schedule to accommodate a class schedule. Instead, you can work whenever it’s convenient for you. This makes online classes a great option for people with inflexible work schedules, or for those who care for small children and don’t have a good childcare option. In addition, if you know your best thinking hours are at night, you can make sure those are the hours when you do your classwork.

Work at Your Own Pace

Similarly, most online classes allow you to work at your own pace, at least within some broad parameters. Usually, you’ll have to complete your classwork within a semester or a year, but when you turn assignments in and take your tests and quizzes is entirely up to you. Sometimes you’ll have more of a schedule than that, but for the most part you’ll get to choose your own deadlines and due dates. This means you don’t have to worry if something comes up and you can’t get that paper written. It also means you can complete a whole course in a couple of weeks if you’re especially focused.

The Drawbacks of Online Classes

Most people, especially when excited about a new online course of study, don't realize some of the drawbacks until they're signed up and in the middle of a course. While these shouldn't deter everyone from taking online classes, thinking them through should help you decide if this method of study is right for you and your situation.

Course Quality Varies Drastically

While most online courses hit at least a minimum standard (because they’re offered by accredited institutions), the quality of an individual course often depends largely on the professor. If you have a prof who enjoys teaching the subject matter and who is comfortable and experienced working online, you can have a great experience. If, on the other hand, you get someone who is just doing it for the money or because teaching online is supposed to be easier than teaching in the classroom, you could be in for a struggle.

Getting Feedback Can Be Difficult

Though most online professors are supposed to be accessible by email or through the course delivery system, actually getting someone to answer your questions can be difficult and take longer than it might for a class in the traditional format. If you save an assignment until the very end and then don’t understand how to complete it, you might not be able to finish on time. And if you end up with a big question or very confused about an important concept, explaining it online may be nearly impossible.

A Lot Depends on You

Are you a self-motivated person who gets things done without being nagged, or do you tend to forget deadlines on things like bills and other paperwork? If you struggle to complete what you start or to finish things on time, think twice about taking an online course. These are real classes, after all, and your grades will show up on your transcript. Since you may need to submit this for further educational opportunities or to qualify for certain jobs, you’ll want to be sure it shows you at your best.

It Can Get Expensive

For some reason, most people think that online classes are going to cost less than traditional studies. While some schools will offer a small discount for these courses, others actually charge more. After all, someone has to reimburse the professor for rewriting the course for an online format. Besides, schools need all the money they can get these days, and they know that many of the people taking courses online are doing so simply because they don’t have other options. When you’re backed into a corner, you’ll pay more to get out of it.

Finding Online Programs

If you've sifted through the benefits and drawbacks and decided that studying online is right for you, the next thing you need to do is find a program to pursue. When you're looking for an online course of study, you first need to decide what type of course you want. Are you looking for an undergraduate or graduate degree, to finish an incomplete degree, or for a quick certification in something new? The following sites can help you find the programs you want and need.

U.S. News: Online Certificate (Non-Degree) Programs — An overview of how an online certificate could help advance your career as well as links to schools that offer these programs.
CollegeScholarships.com: List of Accredited Universities Offering Online Degrees — This is a long list of colleges across the U.S. that offer both online degrees and degree-completion programs. If you're looking to complete a degree, run a "Find" search in your web browser for the words "degree completion," so you don't have to read all the entries.
OnlineSapiens.com: List of Online Degree Programs by Major — If you know what you want to study, this can be a great way to go straight to those programs without having to sift through everything else. Keep in mind that this list is not comprehensive, but can be a great place to start.

Once you've found some programs you're interested in, try to talk to representatives of the university, as well as to a current student or two. That way, you'll be able to get a better feel for the programs and what they're really like. Then, make your final choice based on all of the information before you.

When you've done that, work hard and reap the benefits of a quality education.

This article is from Sarah Winfrey of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Succeed as an Online Student

Julie Rains — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:02 +0000

If you’re considering online studies, don’t underestimate the workload, discipline, and communication skills needed to succeed. Here are tips on excelling as an online student.

Choose courses carefully.

Make sure that you have the time to commit to classes, especially if you are pursuing a degree. Don’t let the lure of flexibility fool you into thinking that you can easily fit studies into an already full schedule. Some classes may take a few hours each week; others may require several hours weekly plus extra time to complete projects. And, beware that new degree programs and courses may be particularly difficult as content and technologies are in the process of being perfected.

If you are interested simply in learning a specific skill rather than earning a degree, consider online classes through the community college or specialized training offered by professional associations.

Become familiar with online learning technologies.

Try to do this before class starts or as quickly as possible after the session begins. Some tasks, such as uploading assignments to a designated location on BlackBoard, can be intimidating on a first try but simple after you've done them a couple of times. The less exertion expended in mastering online tools, the more effort you can place on learning course content.

Read recommended materials.

I know this advice may seem incredibly obvious. But many lecture-format classes require students simply to show up and listen; even if you complete the reading according to the syllabus, having an instructor provide you with context and give explanations makes it easier to glean pertinent information from written materials. Many online classes require students to react to materials in forum discussions, which is difficult if you haven't done the reading.

Participate in discussion forums.

If you are the first to post in the forum, you can share basic observations to start the conversation; but if you arrive later in the discussion thread, then you’ll need to offer deeper, unique insights.

Don’t presume that classmates share what you might perceive as cultural norms. Framing comments with mentions of professional and personal life experiences, or sharing these experiences when introducing yourself at the start of each course, can help classmates to understand your perspective and avoid antagonizing them.

Finally, don’t be a hit-and-run poster who visits the forums just once a week, makes comments, interacts with no one, and then exits. This approach may mean that you comply with course requirements but doesn’t really advance your knowledge. Even if you are an expert in a topic, you can learn from the uninformed perspectives of newbies. Just getting insight into what other people understand about a topic is useful — you can then tailor your communications in class forums and outside of these forums more effectively.

Turn in assignments on time.

Online classes may place more emphasis on projects rather than tests so you’ll need to plan your workload carefully. While you might be able to cram for a final exam, most people can’t wait until the last minute to get topics approved, find credible sources, compile research, and collaborate with project partners.

Try to turn in projects ahead of time so that if something unusual happens — a snowstorm-induced power outage or even a brief loss of broadband — you’ll still meet deadlines. You might be able to fudge a turn-in time in the offline environment but, online, time-stamped submissions of uploaded research papers and PowerPoint projects make it difficult to hedge on when you actually turned in an assignment.

Serve as project manager.

You can influence the direction of projects and add to your leadership skills. If you don't think you can handle planning and leading projects, be an active participant by contributing your talents, completing project tasks on time, and helping the project manager with compiling components into a finished report.

Create a portfolio of your projects.

Showcase your knowledge and skills. Some potential employers and clients may not fully grasp that an online degree is just as valuable as one earned in a traditional setting. The portfolio is evidence of your work, and can help you land deals for similar projects and serve as a point of conversation in interviews.

I experienced the demands of online learning when I earned a graduate-level Certificate in Technology and Communication at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a longstanding brick-and-mortar institution of higher learning. And, recently, I spoke with a 20-something female about her degree studies at the University of Phoenix, well-known for its online programs. Despite the differences in our backgrounds and universities, we had similar encounters as online students.

This article is from Julie Rains of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Pursuing Interests: Free to $1K+

Julie Rains — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Pursuing interests and learning new things, such as taking a class in environmental science, can be costly or not, depending on what your interest is, what happens to be available in your community or online, and how flexible your schedule is. If you or your family members happen to choose pricier interests, you can try to mix it up with some freebies of your choice.

Ideally, I'd like everyone in my family to have the same interests so that we can spend more time together and focus time and money on a few things (my choices would be swimming, hiking, canoeing, and cycling). My kids haven't conformed to my image and have pursued activities that I would never consider (community theater comes to mind).

So, I’ve been torn between spending Saturday mornings on my road bike and some other free time I might have in the gym. I don’t want to mislead anyone who might think I’m a fitness freak (not that there’s anything wrong with that) but carving out workout moments in addition to taking care of children, working, cooking meals, washing clothes, keeping up a social life of sorts, and more is daunting.

When Wall Street Journal’s Love & Money columnist Jeff Opdyke wrote about trying to find time (and money) to pursue new interests last Sunday, July 15, 2007, his article “So Many Interests, So Little Time” resonated with me.

Mr. Opdyke tells of the time and money his family spends on fun and enriching activities for the kids: soccer, baseball, dance, gymnastics, and piano are mentioned. His concern, like mine, is that the adults in the household may not pursue interests for themselves, such as language, art, or golf lessons. Some of you may consider this selfish; others, foolish. Whether you think that parents’ wants should be set aside or adults’ wishes honored, the dilemma of spending (how much?) and allocation (on whom?) exists.

What surprised me about this discussion the most, though, was that Mr. Opdyke budgets close to $300 per month for his kids’ activities (none for the parents, by the way). It made me consider how much I spend to let my kids pursue their interests.

My youngest has asked, on more than one occasion, if he could take Tae Kwon Do lessons. A school near us promotes itself heavily including offering special sessions at his public school and hosting kids’ birthday parties, one of which my son attended. I’ve resisted his pleas, and while I wouldn’t mind him benefiting from the exercise and discipline, I just can’t justify $50 per month for, well, indefinitely. Kids take lessons 3-4 times per week for a few to several years.

This summer, however, has been the most expensive ever (just under $1,500), mainly because my oldest child (a middle school student) is taking an online class in environmental science offered by a private university. The class and the cost was one that I considered very carefully but I decided that it was worthwhile for him to participate (it was really my idea and I had to convince him to sign up) because I wanted him 1) to get used to online class format with its discussion board and electronically submitted assignments, 2) to learn something about environmental science, and 3) to realize that there are some super-bright kids out there, who may one day (hopefully) be his university classmates or workplace colleagues.

The oldest also spent a week at a church camp/youth retreat in the mountains. My youngest child is participating in a public school-sponsored enrichment program and taking classes in science, scenery design, and sports.

Our spending during the school year looks quite different. Activities in the past year or so are listed here and free unless listed otherwise:

Community Theater

Cotillions (etiquette and dance, $75)

Odyssey of the Mind

Open Arms Community (outreach to children from troubled families)

Vacation Bible School (one son was a participant; the other, a youth worker)

Y League Basketball ($45)

Art Lessons ($90)

Swim Lessons ($45)

Church Youth Group (talk sessions, games, suppers)

At least one child has learned how to:

sing and dance in a group;

endure long theater practices;

interpret instructions as a guideline not a limiting force;

ask a girl for a dance;

be yourself and enjoy people actually liking you just for that;

give money to a cause that helps to alleviate hunger through sustaining agriculture;

swim backstroke;

relate to other people even when they're being annoying.

So, there’s our list of activities, not totally frugal but under $3,600 per year. As for me, I pursuing my interests, hoping to learn and grow by being involved in a book club, helping kids to lead brainstorming sessions as an Odyssey of the Mind coach, figuring out cycling and endurance fitness, and maybe picking up a new language soon (Spanish, sign language?), with costs ranging from free to much more for equipment and training facilities. If you (as an adult or a child) have participated in a particularly life-enriching activity, especially one that costs little, please share your experience.

Photo of Environmental Science textbooks by me

This article is from Julie Rains of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Continue Your Education...Online

Sarah Winfrey — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:46:33 +0000

If you're right out of college, often the last thing you want to think about is more education. In many fields, though, continuing education is not only a good idea, but is necessary to keep up in your field. If you're not right out of college, there are probably fields you want to explore or items of knowledge you wish you had studied (or paid more attend to!) in school.

In either case, never fear, the Internet is here!

Seriously, educational opportunities abound on the Web, and not just for programmer/designer/entrepreneur types. Resources are available for everyone, and the ones I offer you here are only a smattering of what is available.

1. Programming/Design

Web Design Process

This offers an introduction to all the things you should think about when you're designing a site, whether you're on the purely creative end or the technical end or some combination of the both. Great for those designing sites for the first time, or for those who want to revamp their design process.

W3Schools Web Tutorials

If you're looking to learn the languages and processes of web design from the ground up, there isn't a better place to start than this. It's totally easy and totally free, which is totally awesome. Simply pick your language, and start learning.

2. Language-Learning Links

How to Learn Any Language

This site offers advice on choosing a language and different strategies for learning different languages. It has profiles of different languages and prominent linguists, help with obscure sounds, and forums where you can interact with other people learning your language.

Languages on the iPod

Is auditory learning your thing? Then this is the place for you. If the list of podcasts that will help you learn languages offered here isn't comprehensive, it's pretty darn close. If nothing else, this is a great way to find out how those hard words are actually pronounced!

FriendsAbroad

For the "immersion learners" among us. Meet up with people who speak the language you're trying to learn and chat online. Maybe you can help them learn your langague, too! So much fun, because you're talking to real people, not computer-generated robot voices.

3. University Courses Online

Pick a link, pick your class, and follow the site's instructions.

Enjoy! May you find all the tidbits of knowledge you've been looking for!

This article is from Sarah Winfrey of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: