Further Education Without Breaking the Bank

Most personal emergencies are money related, or exacerbated by lack of funds. Finding ways to further your education makes you more employable and more valuable to your employer. The more education and skills you can gain the more money you can make, the better off you are going to be in financially trying times and amidst personal emergencies.

The most important thing you can do to secure yourself good employment is to become educated in a field that is easily employable. Going to college is the most obvious way, but with the cost of a college education increasing as well as inflation that is exceeding wage increases, and many other personal circumstances, sometimes going to college is just not an option, but all is not lost. Here is a list of ways that you could further your education more cheaply and with less time constraints than going the traditional college or university route. This is not a comprehensive list, there are many others, so if you are wanting to further your education, then do some research and find the best route for you and your family.

Learn a Trade

There are many jobs that are high in demand that don’t require a degree, however most require some form of training and perhaps even licensing. These types of training are usually a lot less expensive and a lot less time consuming than college degrees, but could be just as lucrative, depending on which jobs your comparing. For instance you could take an online course to become a home inspector for under $700 at your own pace that could take a few weeks to a few months to complete. Currently, according to a quick Google search home inspectors in my area can make between $50k - $100k. The higher end is for self-employed home inspectors. Maybe home inspecting isn’t for you, but there are a ton of other trades that might be. Check out your local college and see what trade licenses they offer. Many of them are done online, and all are significantly cheaper than paying for a college degree. My local college offers programs for trades such as HVAC, airplane mechanic, plumber, electrician, auto mechanic, welder, iron worker, etc…

Ed2Go.com

Ed2Go.com is legit one of the best platforms for finding a course online that’s taught by college professors who are highly qualified. They offer more than 750 online continuing education courses in 40+ industries and offer 150+ certifications through accredited partner colleges and universities. These courses are significantly cheaper than regular college courses. On their website, you can look for local colleges that partner with ed2go.com or search for a course and take a course from a college on the other side of the country, because it’s all done online. While these courses will not earn you a degree, you can earn certificates and skills that will be beneficial to your employment due to advanced skill training. They could also help you start or run your own business, or learn a skill you can use in your everyday life. There are courses in writing, design, business, nonprofit organization, photography, legal studies, computer/technical, and so much more. So what do you want to learn?

Employee Education Benefits

The prospect of paying for a college education may seem daunting, but one benefit that employers are increasingly offering is an education benefit. Such programs might range from partial tuition reimbursement to full coverage of tuition, books and fees. If you aren’t sure of your current company’s policy, reach out to someone in your HR department and ask. Be sure to understand all of the requirements to ensure that you qualify. 

A simple internet search will also show numerous companies who provide education benefits. Even entry-level jobs requiring little education or experience can open the door for you, as evident in the follow two examples:

• Walmart offers all of its employees (full-time, part-time, salaried, including Sam’s Club associates) an opportunity to attend college. Walmart covers the cost of tuition, books and fees. Walmart/Sam’s Club associates are eligible to apply once they have worked with the company for at least 90 days. Walmart expects that all associates who apply will be accepted. If an employee leaves the company before completing the degree, the employee does not have to pay back any cost to Walmart, but will no longer have their education subsidized going forward. There are specific colleges and degrees specific to this benefit, that include marketing, business, supply chain management, computer science, cybersecurity and many more. Once the associates have earned their degree they do not have to continue working for Walmart. 
• Chipotle offers employees who have worked for them for at least 120 hours, and who work at least 15 hours (2-3 shifts) per week, 100% free tuition for select programs. 300+ programs to choose from across 20+ schools, colleges, and universities in areas such as business, healthcare, technology, and more. Outside of those programs Chipotle offers its employees $5,250/year to further their education wherever and in whatever else they might be interested in. 

You can see how working for companies with an education benefit can be a huge money saver. Whether you’re looking into furthering your own skills and education or you are trying to figure out how to pay for your children’s education, these tips, tricks and leads are just the start. Do your own research, there are so many other opportunities out there.

*Please do your own research. Any of the businesses or websites listed in this article can change their policies at any time, in which case this information may no longer be accurate. 

To learn about financial prep and ways to stretch your dollar, check out this article here.